After over a year and a half of living through a global pandemic, we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Even though it’ll be a while before we’re able to live our lives carefree, we should still be able to enjoy and celebrate Edmonton’s summer this year! Here are some ways our team will be celebrating Edmonton’s beautiful summer, and hopefully we’ll inspire you to do the same.

Park hangouts (with beer or wine!)

Last summer was filled with many socially distanced picnics, and we definitely plan to continue doing it this summer as well. But this year it’ll look a bit different because we can now enjoy alcoholic beverages while we’re soaking up the sun in select public parks! In Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Whitemud, William Hawrelak, Government House, Victoria, Gold Bar, and Rundle Park, you can enjoy alcohol legally between the hours of 11 AM and 9 PM daily. Learn more.

Grab some takeout from Edmonton’s incredible food scene, pack some booze, grab a blanket and a good book, and soak up the sun all summer long.

Electric scooter around the city

eScootering will never get old. There’s just something about cruising around the city with a few friends—whether it’s travelling from A to B or just going for a joy ride.

This summer, another eScooter threw itself into the ring: Spin. Alongside its competitors Lime and Bird, Spin is offering free 30-minute Spin rides to essential workers in need of safe and socially distanced transportation during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic!

Workout outside

The past year has been challenging to those who let loose by getting their sweat on. With gyms, group fitness classes and private training on again and off again, the Edmonton fitness scene has had to get creative.

XTherapy is taking things to the roof! Literally. While the COVID closures were on and off, XTherapy decided to rent out the rooftop of a nearby parkade and take their spin classes outside. Pandemic or not, this is a unique way to get a sweat in. If we’re lucky, these classes will come back!

Hive HIIT in the park is another way to get a high intensity workout in! With gathering locations in multiple areas of the city, Hive HIIT in the park might be right up your alley. Just sign up online, bring your yoga mat and water bottle, and let their incredible instructors do the rest.

The University of Alberta also provides an interesting way to get your sweat on. Though it’s new to us, the U of A provides a free outdoor gym all year long. The space outside represents a joint initiative between our Healthy Campus Unit, Campus & Community Recreation, and Facilities and Operations.

The last and probably most common way to get a workout in is by going for river valley runs and doing stairs. On any given day, you’ll find dozens of Edmontonians sitting in Ezio Faraone Park getting their workouts in!

Visit The Backyard 

New to downtown Edmonton, The Backyard is a place to unwind, connect and discover all things local. This space is a one-of-a-kind gathering place that can be transformed to accommodate all types of events. From yoga classes to concerts to private events, The Backyard’s programming brings energy & creativity to our downtown! Be sure to keep up to date on this initiative by giving them a follow on Instagram.

Stop by the Whyte Avenue Art Walk

Isn’t it great to see some normalcy returning to our city? A summer staple, the Whyte Ave Art Walk is back again between June 4th and August 1st. The only difference is that this year, the well-known event is moving indoors to the former Army & Navy building. 

Fun fact: the Art Walk was started in 1995 when a group of Edmontonians thought Whyte Avenue should have artists outside painting like they have on the Left Bank in Paris. It started with 35 and has grown to over 400 artists and more than 40,000 visitors. 

Enjoy the summer festivals

Edmonton is a beautiful city to live in for many reasons, but at the top of most everybody’s list is the summer festivals—and it’s looking like this year will be filled with them! Though most of us are probably already aware of Edmonton’s annual summer festivals, here is when we can expect them to happen:

The Works Art & Design Festival – June 24 – July 6, 2021

Edmonton International Street Performers Festival – July 9 – July 18, 2021

Taste of Edmonton – July 22 – August 1, 2021

K-Days – July 23 – August 1, 2021

Edmonton Heritage Festival – July 31 – August 2, 2021

Edmonton Fringe Festival – August 12 – August 22, 2021

Take a stroll through the Botanical Garden

An underrated Edmonton experience is the University of Alberta’s Botanic Garden. In this stunning forest garden, you’ll discover how nature ignites your “happy hormones” while you experience a peaceful, beautiful natural environment. Explore cultural gardens, northern climate-hardy plant collections and extensive natural areas, all on 240 acres.

There you have it! We hope you continue to stay safe this summer season. If you have any tips on things to do in Edmonton this summer 2021, give us a shout – we would love to hear from you! 

Is your dad hard to buy for? Ours are too. But just because they always tell us that “no gift is needed for Father’s Day” year after year, doesn’t mean that they don’t deserve to feel special and loved!

We at TruHome put our heads together to compile a list of gifts that we know your dad (or father figure) will love. And as always—most of these ideas help support local Edmonton or Canadian businesses. Keep on reading to get some ideas!

Purchase a Glass Bookshop autobiography

Picture this: your dad asleep on the couch at 7 PM with a good book in hand. That’s pretty likely to happen, right? The Glass Bookshop is a new space in Edmonton, Alberta, that focuses on Canadian writing with special attention paid to queer and racialized writers, as well as the independent publishers who help to produce their work. This shop is sure to sell a piece of writing that your dad will enjoy—oddly enough, all of ours prefer to read autobiographies!

Cook him a grand meal from Cheap & Chunky

It’s no secret that most of our dad’s are simple when it comes to food. Meat and potatoes? Sounds like a plan. By using Edmonton-based blogger’s blog Cheap & Chunky, you’ll be sure to find a recipe that your dad will adore. The recipes are just as it sounds: cheap, delicious and crowd-pleasing. We recommend making the Homemade KFC Chicken Bowl or the White Mac & Cheese. Thanks Alli & Nathan for all the yummy ideas.

Commission a family portrait

Dad’s are softies for anything family-related, so why not get a unique illustration commissioned for him? A local artist named Julia Jantje creates beautiful, unique, cost-friendly portraits that anybody is sure to love. All you need to do is send her a DM to get started!

Buy him restaurant gift cards

Is your dad stuck in his ways? Ours are too—and sometimes they need a push to try out new things! That’s why an assortment of local restaurant gift cards is a perfect Father’s Day gift for your father figure. Not only does it help out the restaurants that are being impacted by the restrictions and closures, but it allows your dad to try out the incredible food that Edmonton has to offer. Here’s a list of some of our favourite restaurants and bakeries!

Stock his liquor cabinet

If your dad is like 90% of other dads, he probably likes to kick back with a cold one every once in a while. There are a lot of local liquor stores to support in our city, but one of our favourites is Sherbrooke Liquor. Located Central-North, this liquor store is family-owned and sells some of the most unique beer, wine and liquor options that you can find. In non-COVID times, you can even fill up your growler there!

Commission something from Lucky Bear

Though this Calgary-based artist’s website focuses mostly on jewelry, Lucky Bear sells a lot of unique trinkets that your dad is sure to love. You can also commission anything you want, such as rugs, wall art, mirrors, coasters or whatever you can dream up! Get something for yourself while you’re at it.

Buy him a MetalBird

You’re probably thinking, “what is a metal bird?” And we wondered the same thing, too. If your dad is an avid outdoorsy person, he likely has a soft spot for birds. Just as it sounds, MetalBirds is a metal bird silhouette that can be used for backyard decor. With the simple tap of a hammer, this beautifully crafted, iconic, life-like bird silhouette will transform your dad’s backyard, garden or environment into a work of art and put smiles on faces for years to come. They are produced in North American and built out of premium 11-Gauge Corten Steel!

Commission a painting of your family home

If you have a family home that you grew up in with your dad, it’s likely a sentimental place—whether you still live in it or not. So, commission a painting of it for your dad this Father’s Day! An incredible Edmonton-based artist, Nancy Nickleson, is the perfect person to do that for you. Not only does she do portraits of homes, but she also does pets!

Get him a handmade leather wallet

Wallet’s don’t get nicer than this. Clo’s General Co is an Edmonton-based leather goods company that you will love supporting—whether for your dad or for yourself. Get him a beautiful, long-lasting wallet, bag, belt, gloves, beer cozy… you name it! 

…And now for a few non-local things that your dad might die for.

Purchase him a corner measurement tool

Have you folks seen these on infomercials like we have? Designed for winding pipes, circular frames, ducts, etc. Ideal for fitting tiles, laminate, carpet, checking dimensions, moulding, the corner measurement tool is the perfect addition to any “Mr. Fix It” dad’s tool box.

Make him a Father’s Day Love Book

Want to make your dad cry of happiness this Father’s Day? Here’s your way to do it. Using LoveBook, you can create custom, sentimental books describing why your dad is special to you. Use its template books or customize it completely—it’s up to you. Bring the tissues and watch his eyes light up as he reads through his custom book!

Get him a custom bobblehead

If you’re not about making your dad cry from happiness, maybe you can make him cry from laughter instead. Handmade from polymer clay, a custom bobblehead might be the perfect gift for your dad this Father’s Day. You can even customize his clothing and pose! 

Buy him an Apple AirTag

“Where are my keys?” Said every dad, every single time they went for a drive. With Apple’s new bluetooth AirTag tracker, you’ll never have to hear that sentence again! And not only are these gadgets great to attach to keys, but you can also attach it to bags, put it in your car, or even add it to your pet’s collar!

Purchase him pretty much anything from Cuddle Clones

Is your dad obsessed with his dog (or cat)? Then he will adore this present! Cuddle Clones allows you to turn your favorite buddy into anything you can think of, such as a mug, a blanket, a golf towel… you name it. And as an added bonus, Cuddle Clones donates a portion of every purchase to an individual pet in need, a shelter or an animal welfare organization.

We hope we sparked some inspiration for your dad’s gift this year! We hope you have a safe, healthy and happy Father’s Day 2021.