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Which river runs through Edmonton, Alberta?

Which UNESCO World Heritage Site in Alberta preserves a cliff used by Indigenous peoples for nearly 6,000 years to drive and hunt bison?

A) Dinosaur Provincial Park

B) Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump

C) Waterton Lakes National Park

D) Elk Island National Park

Hey Edmonton!

Thursday's here!

We have an interesting one today.... by popular demand some of you have literally inquired on a piece of Edmonton history. We got you, and it's uploaded below.

Also, dig into the wide selection of 'Things to do this weekend'. That's loaded too..

:)

Lets get to it!

Image source: Wikipedia

Ever wonder how Edmonton got its name?

Our city’s story begins in 1795 with the founding of Fort Edmonton by the Hudson’s Bay Company.

The rugged trading post was named after Edmonton, England, the birthplace of HBC Deputy Governor Sir James Winter Lake.

However, that’s only one part of the history.

Long before European arrival, this area was known by Indigenous peoples as Amiskwaciy Waskahikan, the Cree name for "Beaver Hills House."

This deeper history is central to Edmonton's modern identity.

The city is actively embracing reconciliation, seen in major changes like adopting Indigenous names for all city wards and the CFL team's switch to the Edmonton Elks.

This ongoing conversation shows a community working to honor its full, complex heritage.

1. Outdoor and Nature

FREE City of Edmonton Play Rangers: Join a FREE family-friendly outdoor drop-in program for kids ages 6-12 featuring shelter building, disc golf, and outdoor games in Edmonton's beautiful River Valley. No registration required, just show up and play! 

Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025 Time: 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM Location: Whitemud Park Day Camp Fire Circle (13909 Fox Drive NW) Cost: Free Click for details

Scare on the Square: Wear your costume and participate in FREE Halloween fun at Churchill Square! Enjoy the Scare-itage Classic, explore a haunted maze, and experience family-friendly activities presented by the Edmonton Arts Council.

Date: October 25 - 26, 2025 Time: 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM Location: Churchill Square Cost: Free admission Click for details

Boo at the Zoo: Celebrate Halloween with the animals at Edmonton Valley Zoo! Kids in costume can trick-or-treat around the zoo, meet special characters, and discover fascinating facts about "spooky" animals as they enjoy special Halloween treats.

Date: October 25 - 26, 2025 Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Location: Edmonton Valley Zoo Cost: General admission (advance tickets required) Click for details

Pumpkins After Dark: Walk through this spectacular Halloween experience featuring more than 10,000 hand-carved pumpkins illuminated at night. This award-winning event transforms Borden Park into a magical pumpkin wonderland with displays, themes, and photo opportunities.

Date: Running through October 31, 2025 (including Oct 24-26 weekend) Location: Borden Park Cost: Tickets required (discount code: JILLPAD10 for 10% off) Click for details

Halloween at Magrath Mansion: Walk the beautifully decorated grounds at one of Edmonton's most stunning heritage homes! The campus is completely decked out for Halloween with spectacular displays perfect for photos and family fun.

Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025 Time: 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM Location: Concordia's Magrath Campus (6240 Ada Blvd) Cost: Free admission Click for details

2. Shows & Entertainment 📺

The Grand Dueling Piano Show: Experience an unforgettable night of live entertainment at the newly renovated Mill Craft Bar + Kitchen! Featuring world-class performers Sean Sonego, Katie Perman, and Spenser Poole playing your favorite songs on dueling pianos.

Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025 Time: 7:30 PM - 11:00 PM Location: The Mill Craft Bar + Kitchen (4810 Calgary Trail NW) Cost: Tickets required Click for details

Cirque Kalabanté's Afrique en Cirque: Be transported by this breathtaking fusion of acrobatics, music, and dance that celebrates African culture. Experience dazzling stunts, live Afro-Jazz rhythms, and vibrant costumes in this one-night-only performance.

Date: Friday, October 24, 2025 Location: The Arden Theatre Cost: Tickets required Click for details

Casper 30th Anniversary IMAX PJ Party: Come dressed in your comfiest pajamas (or costume!) for a morning screening of the 1995 Halloween classic "Casper" on the giant IMAX screen. Plus, check out the Laser Halloween Spooktacular in the Zeidler Dome!

Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025 Location: TELUS World of Science Edmonton Cost: Tickets required Click for details

Reel Family Cinema - Beetlejuice: Enjoy a family-friendly film with FREE admission for kids 12 and under when accompanied by a paying adult. This weekend's feature is the classic "Beetlejuice."

Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025 Time: 1:00 PM Location: Metro Cinema Cost: Free for kids 12 and under with paying adult Click for details

Fright Night at Galaxyland: Experience West Edmonton Mall's wildly popular Fright Night featuring thrilling rides, roaming zombies, top music hits, and spooky costumes. The perfect blend of adrenaline and Halloween fun! Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025 Time: 6:00 PM onwards Location: Galaxyland, West Edmonton Mall Cost: Tickets required Click for details

3. Arts, Crafts & Culture 🎭

Haunted HallowFest at Muttart Conservatory: Celebrate Halloween in a unique, family-friendly setting! Enjoy face painting, airbrush tattoos, crafts, and a circus workshop while exploring the beautiful pyramids. Check out the current feature exhibit "Bonsai and Blooms."

Date: Sunday, October 26, 2025 Time: 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM Location: Muttart Conservatory (9626 – 96A Street) Cost: Included with general admission Click for details

FREE LEGO Store Make & Take: Kids (and adults!) can enjoy building and bringing home a special LEGO creation. Build a LEGO Witch for Halloween plus participate in an in-store pumpkin hunt! Aimed at kids aged 6+.

Date: Sunday, October 26, 2025 Time: 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM Location: LEGO Stores (Southgate Centre & West Edmonton Mall) Cost: Free (while quantities last) Click for details

Royal Alberta Museum Halloween Activities: Enjoy drop-in activities including "Museum Makers – Mixing Potions," "Spooky Old Timey Tunes," and "Spooky Specimens." Museum admission is FREE for kids aged 18 and under!

Date: October 25 - 26, 2025 Location: Royal Alberta Museum Cost: Free for kids 18 and under Click for details

Make Break at Michaels Stores: Drop-in crafting opportunity featuring this weekend's project: a Beaded Eyeball Plant! Simply purchase a clay pot and the rest of the supplies will be provided.

Date: Sunday, October 26, 2025 Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Location: Michaels Stores Cost: Clay pot purchase required Click for details

All Hallows Afternoon at John Walter Museum: Little ghosts and ghouls are invited to come in costume with their treat bags to practice trick-or-treating between the historic homes while learning some spooky history!

Date: Sunday, October 26, 2025 Location: John Walter Museum Cost: Check website for details Click for details

Halloween Scavenger Hunt at Marketplace at Callingwood: Pick up a scavenger hunt sheet at Safeway and collect stamps at participating retailers. The first 100 families to finish win a free pumpkin! Includes costume contest, games, and music.

Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025 Time: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Location: Marketplace at Callingwood Cost: Free Click for details

Trunk or Treat at Fall Fest in Spruce Grove: Fall Fest in downtown Spruce Grove includes trunk or treating, vintage car show, costume contest with prizes, scavenger hunt, pumpkin painting, live music, fall market, and free hot chocolate!

Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025 Location: Downtown Spruce Grove Cost: Free admission Click for details

Howl-O-Ween Extravaganza for People & Pets: Furry friends and their families are invited for a ghoulish spectacle filled with adorable races, tasty treats for pups and humans, and photo-worthy moments to capture Halloween magic!

Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025 Location: Edmonton Humane Society & Animal Care & Control Centre Cost: Check website for details Click for details

Halloween Treasure Hunt at Londonderry Mall: Come in costume and pick up a map at Guest Services. Complete the hunt and claim your prize!

Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025 Time: 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM Location: Londonderry Mall Cost: Free Click for details

Ghoulishly Good Showhome Events: Three FREE showhome events this weekend, each offering family fun, festive treats, and beautiful homes to explore during spooky season!

Date: October 25 - 26, 2025 Location: Various locations Cost: Free Click for details

The Grand Dueling Piano Show (also listed in Shows - this is an evening entertainment option)

Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025 Time: 7:30 PM - 11:00 PM Location: The Mill Craft Bar + Kitchen Cost: Tickets required Click for details

Fright Night at Galaxyland (also listed in Shows - evening event)

Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025 Time: 6:00 PM onwards Location: West Edmonton Mall Cost: Tickets required Click for details

Villains Soiree: A Charmed Affair hosts wickedly fun family nights featuring favourite villains, themed treats and beverages, crafts, photo opportunities with characters, plus the best dance party around!

Date: October 24 - 25, 2025 Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Location: Check event page Cost: Tickets required Click for details

Halloween Party at Polish Hall: Come dressed in your spookiest costume, enjoy drinks, and dance the night away at this annual Halloween celebration!

Date: Friday, October 24, 2025 Location: Polish Hall Cost: Check website for details Click for details

Movie Night at West Edmonton Mall Waterpark: Enjoy a unique movie experience at the waterpark setting!

Date: Friday, October 24, 2025 Time: 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM Location: West Edmonton Mall Waterpark Cost: Tickets required Click for details

Edmonton Elks vs. Calgary Stampeders: The final home game of the 2025 football season! CFL action with a "Spooktacular" theme. Halloween costumes welcome! Join the pre-game ritual at the Edmonton Elks Fan Park before kickoff.

Date: Friday, October 24, 2025 Time: 7:30 PM kickoff Location: Commonwealth Stadium Cost: Tickets required Click for details

Edmonton Oil Kings vs. Regina Pats - Country Night: Enjoy junior hockey action with a country music theme as the Oil Kings take on the Regina Pats!

Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025 Time: 7:00 PM Location: Rogers Place Cost: Tickets required Click for details

Edmonton Oil Kings vs. Calgary Hitmen - Military Appreciation & Family Fun Sunday: Support the troops and enjoy Family Fun Sunday as the Oil Kings host their provincial rivals, the Calgary Hitmen!

Date: Sunday, October 26, 2025 Time: 4:00 PM Location: Rogers Place Cost: Tickets required Click for details

Love Pro Wrestling 42: Life, the Universe, and Everything! Enjoy live professional wrestling entertainment!

Date: Friday, October 24, 2025 Time: 7:00 PM - 10:30 PM Location: Check event page Cost: Tickets required Click for details

Howl-O-Ween Pooch Parade: Watch adorable pups in costume compete in races! Features a photo booth and mini-market. Spectators asked to bring $2 donation for Ned's Wish pet charity.

Date: Sunday, October 26, 2025 Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Location: Greenland Garden Centre Cost: $2 suggested donation Click for details

Community Networking Meetup: For Entrepreneurs, By Entrepreneurs: Connect with a dynamic community of growth-minded entrepreneurs. Perfect for networking, sharing ideas, and building business connections in Edmonton!

Date: Friday, October 24, 2025 Time: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Location: Edmonton (check event page for specific venue) Cost: Check event page Click for details

Meet & Hit - Sunday Morning Tennis (Level 3.0 - 4.5): Tennis enthusiasts can join this weekly Sunday morning tennis meetup for recreational play.

Date: Sunday, October 26, 2025 Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Location: Forest Heights Tennis Courts (84 Street & 103 Avenue NW) Cost: Check Meetup page Click for details

Edmonton Business Network Meetups: The Edmonton Business Network is a community of active and aspiring small business owners and entrepreneurs. Check their page for specific weekend events.

Date: Various dates Location: Various locations Cost: Varies by event Click for details

Outdoor Adventure Meetups: Various outdoor activity groups meet regularly. Check Meetup.com for hiking, cycling, and other outdoor adventure groups meeting this weekend.

Date: Various dates Location: Various locations Cost: Usually free Click for details

Social Groups & Meet New Friends: Multiple social groups host events throughout the weekend for those looking to expand their social circle.

Date: Various dates Location: Various locations Cost: Varies by event Click for details

Our Food & Drink, and Happy Hours sections are now featured exclusively in our sister publication Edmunchie.com : Click here

A Guide to Unforgettable Adventures

Grandpa Joke Of The Day

Why did the hockey player bring string to the game in Edmonton?

So he could tie the score!

B) Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump

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