Photo: exploreedmonton on Instagram

Though we tend to think of cities such as Toronto and Montreal as Canada’s most vibrant places, there are a number of other Canadian cities that are home to vast cultural experiences and escapes. Edmonton may seem like an unlikely destination for the culture vulture, but it is quickly becoming a hotspot for a myriad of festivals and events. This autumn, try escaping to Alberta’s capital to soak up the local arts scene, channel your inner comic book geek and sample a variety of local wines.

Be inspired

Visualeyez is an annual performance art festival that features the work of five Canadian artists. This year, the selected artists will explore the theme of ‘kindness.’ The festival’s week-long scope allows for the artists to work together and collaborate and concludes with three days of public performance from September 22^nd to 24^th.

Unleash your nerdy side

From September 23rd to 25th, over 30,000 fans will flock to the Expo Centre for The Edmonton Comic and Entertainment Expo. The event will feature panel discussions and workshops, and includes meet and greets with celebrity guests from popular franchises such as Star Wars and Doctor Who, to name a few.

Celebrate independent filmmaking

The Edmonton International Film Festival, which is also known as the EIFF, shines a light on many of the unique voices within filmmaking on both a local and international scale. From September 29^th to October 8^th, the festival will screen 55 feature-length films and over 100 short films.

Photo: eatnaaco on Instagram 

Indulge in great food and drink

On November 4^th and 5^th, the Edmonton Rocky Mountain Wine & Food Festival will return to the Shaw Conference Centre for its 15^th year. Wine connoisseurs will have a chance to savour some vin from around the world, and also sip on scotch, port, import and micro-brewed beers. If you’re hungry, tuck into appetizing delights from the local hotels and restaurants which are participating in the festival.

Enjoy some tunes

The Yardbird Suite is a prestigious jazz venue that has been a key fixture in Edmonton since 1957. From November 4^th-12^th, they will host the Yardbird Festival of Canadian Jazz, bringing together some of the top jazz musicians that the country has to offer. Some of these featured performers include the Tom Van Seters Quintet, Leonard Patterson Group and Chris Andrew Trio.