User:Routs/Enter your new article name here

Events Edmonton

Company type	Non-profit Organization
Founded	1965
Headquarters	Edmonton, Alberta , Canada
Key people	Jason Street, President Giuseppe Albi, General Manager
Website	www.eventsedmonton.ca

Events Edmonton is a small not for profit organization established in 1965 and is responsible for the creation and management of three festivals in the City of Edmonton, Alberta. These three festivals are A Taste of Edmonton, Canada Day at Louise McKinney Riverfront Park and New Year's Eve Downtown.

Organizational History

With the creation of Edmonton's Klondike Days Exposition in 1962, a small group of individuals thought it important to carry through the theme off of the fair grounds. As such, they started to create events in the downtown core, which were themed to tie into the Klondike Days event. After several years of producing these small events, it was decided that the group should legally formalize the organization. The Association was officially founded on April 22, 1965 as the Klondike Association of Edmonton, and then Edmonton Klondike Days Association (EKDA) in 1973. Although the events supported the overall theme of Klondike Days, EKDA was not directly affiliated with Edmonton Northlands, producers of the fair.

The Association was established by the efforts of many local business people and those simply interested in the overall enjoyment of the citizens of Edmonton. As they formalized a name for the Association, they also formalized the downtown Klondike events as The Festival During Klondike Days. As an non-profit organization, it was established by a volunteer board of directors who lead the day to day operations of the Association at the behest of the shareholders (all shareholders joined for a nominal fee, which never gained or lost value). Upwards of one hundred shareholders are active members within the organization.

In January 31, 2008, the Association officially changed its name from Edmonton Klondike Days Association to the more broad Events Edmonton. In large part, this change was completed as a response to the abolishment of the Klondike Days theme by Northlands. Also, the organization had changed its overall goal as an organization to become a leader of festivals in Edmonton, specifically in the downtown core.

Event History

Beginning in 1963, the yet to be formally established organization, began producing Klondike Days themed events, mostly in the downtown core of Edmonton. The variety and size events grew over the years. Some of the events established and produced by the Association are as follows:

• Sunday Promenade (1963)
• Klondike Breakfasts (1970)
• The Fun Tub Derby (1972)
• Klondike Kiddies / Klondike Revue (1972)
• Great Canadian Tray Race / Hotel & Tourism Olympiad (1973)
• Old Timers Lundeon (original Mayor's Klondike Luncheon) (1975)
• A Taste of Edmonton (1985)
• Mascot Follies (1985)
• Klondike Kate's Tea Party (1985)
• Klondike Kate's Dinner Cruise (1985)
• Klondike Kate's Seniors Cruise (1985)
• Senior's Picnic in the Park (1985)
• Extreme Strength Challenge (2003)
• New Year's Eve Downtown (2003)
• Canada Day Fireworks Festival (2007)
• Canada Day at Louise McKinney Riverfront Park (2009)

A Taste of Edmonton

The A Taste of Edmonton Festival is a ten day food, drink and entertainment festival that takes place annually in downtown Edmonton and is one of the largest of its kind in North America (annual attendance is slated at approximately 500,000 visitors). The current home for the event is Sir Winston Churchill Square, located directly south from Edmonton's city hall. A Taste of Edmonton features 40 locally owned restaurants, who each feature two menu items for sale. Each of these items can be purchased with Taste Tickets. Each Taste Ticket is valued at $1 each and each menu item varies in price but is usually between 3 and 5 tickets.

There are two separate licensed areas at the event, which are the Taste of Beer and the Taste of Wine venues. Again, all products sold at these venues are available for purchase with Taste Tickets. The selection varies but there is always a wide variety of beverages available.

The Taste Stage features daily entertainment. Most performances are musical in nature and most of the performers are from Edmonton. Each night features a headline entertainment act. All entertainment is free of charge as there is no admission or cover charge for visiting the venue.

This event began from humble beginnings in 1985 and was originally staged as a two day event at the Edmonton Convention Centre (today known as the Shaw Conference Centre). In 1993 the event moved to it's current location on Sir Winston Churchill Square and expanded to 5 event days. 2002 marked the first year the event moved to a 10 day format.

External links

• www.eventsedmonton.ca