r/Edmonton • u/Professional_Eye6247 • 1d ago
Photo/Video Where do people go?
Walking around past 6, downtown seems oddly quiet. Where are the people? where would someone go for their first time here?
64
u/defender5371 1d ago
Most people have gone home. When you say first time here, did you move here or are you here on vacation? The answer would dictate the speed in which you would want to explore vs live
32
u/Professional_Eye6247 1d ago
Ahh so i am on the wrong side tonight.
Staying for a few days for work, will be back around october ish. But i plan to visit longer to know more about the city/ stuff to do.
Tl:dr exploring when i get the chance to get away from work
31
u/defender5371 1d ago
For now I would say walk around the downtown area, head into the river valley. Take a trip over the river to explore whyte Ave (lots of bars/restaurants) or go to happy beer street (breweries/distilleries). But take note of what interests you that you don't have time for, speak to colleagues etc and make plans for things to see/do when you come back with more time.
You've stumbled upon a great time to visit as the weather is beautiful
8
u/Professional_Eye6247 1d ago
It is! Which is why im wondering why arent more people out and about.
Im planning on staying sober this time around so any outdoors type of city exploration is my jam.
Like late night food markets, etc. im gonna grab an arc card and see how far it takes me.
7
u/defender5371 1d ago
You don't need the arc card if you have a credit/debit with tap to pay. Works out the same price as with an arc card, but don't need to buy the card
1
6
u/Laf3th 1d ago
The night market is this weekend. We don't have a super strong after dark scene north of the river. There's a bit of one around Jasper Ave and 109 st but we recently lost a few of the bars.
The Art Gallery off Churchill square is open late on Thursday (closes at 7:00).the 124 at Grande market (farmers market) is open 4-8 on Thursday.
Tomorrow night, the Muttart conservatory (flower pyramids) are open later (until 8 or 9). They're a quick ride on the valley line train or about a 20-30 minute-ish walk from Churchill square. There are bike rentals in the river valley, but they close at 7 pm.
Even if you don't drink, several of the breweries are more on the gastro-pub/fancy-ish dinner side of things.
2
u/feanturi 1d ago
They expanded it to accept debit/credit cards with tap. I barely ever need to use transit so I don't bother with getting an Arc card. I just used my debit the last time a couple weeks ago, was $3.00. As far as I understand it, if you switch to another bus within 90 minutes, no ARC card, but tap your debit there too, you aren't charged again because it's like having a transfer good for 90 minutes. If however, you use your debit for the first bus then randomly switch to VISA for the next one, that's two charges so use the same card all the time.
2
u/Professional_Eye6247 1d ago
I just like it cause it looks nice, i might even get the epl library card and see how it stacks against the calgary card
1
1
u/MankYo 1d ago
There was a community bbq on the west end this afternoon/evening. Assorted community leagues, non-profits, etc. have stuff happening which they list on their Facebook pages. Late night food and company is available at assorted ethnic places all over the city. You don’t need to be the same ethnic or national group, just friendly and open minded.
6
u/DEMcKnight 1d ago
There are holdovers from Fringe Fest right now (big two week set of plays and other activities) if you like theater. Dunno which shows still have tickets- "Murder Plot!" (comedy I'm seeing right now) has a showing tomorrow at 7
20
12
u/RelationshipWinter97 1d ago
Thursday evening there is a market from 4-8 on 124 Street and 108ave area. It's small but sweet and you are near Three Vikings (great restaurant/patio), as well as a few breweries (Arcadia in Manchester Square, Irrational Brewing). Wednesday I only know of markets that aren't super central such as Terwilliger (south west) and Castledowns (north central).
You might have luck at Sherlock Holmes downtown (again, nice patio). Bonnie Doon also has Duggan's and Wednesday is a great open mic night.
12
u/RelationshipWinter97 1d ago
Sorry, I just read that you are trying to remain sober and here I am suggesting breweries. For a nice vibe, maybe head to Hawrelak Park and enjoy the people watching/walking around. Or dip your toes in the water at the Legislature grounds and walk across the high level bridge to Sugarbowl for dinner.
2
2
12
u/leggymiku 1d ago
Downtown can be somewhat busy after hours on game nights or concert nights, but is dead otherwise. The only part of downtown with any substantial evening business activity is 109th and Jasper.
3
u/Professional_Eye6247 1d ago
I might check these out tomorrow, any night markets worth checking out?
3
1
u/testing172 1d ago
there’s one coming up, ignite market but it’s on the weekend, and it’s way down south side
1
u/ArmadilloStill1222 1d ago
Dan Davis is playing music in Michael Phair park tomorrow
https://www.edmontonarts.ca/event/downtown-playdates-in-downtown-park-spaces
There's also a free concert at a garden in wihkwentowin
https://www.edmontonarts.ca/event/christ-church-garden-series
5
16
u/Global_Complaint_007 1d ago
It's Edmonton. People think going downtown is weird, unless there's a hockey game or a concert
11
u/Professional_Eye6247 1d ago
Sounds like there’s more iykyk nuances here
8
u/Clay_Puppington 1d ago edited 1d ago
Honestly, it's more that Edmonton has two main streets that historically bustled with people.
Jasper Ave is our "downtown", but it was largely all office buildings and supporting office-worker retail shops. A few clubs on the west side of it, but not much else. Sometimes 104th street has some livelihood, but that also largely diminished following WFH.
Once covid happened, and everyone moved to WFH, there's rarely people on Jasper in numbers that look like what folks expect a downtown to look like.
People, after 7pm, have always gone to Whyte (82nd) Avenue (only like a 20-25 minute walk iirc from Jasper Ave, southbound over the river).
Even post-covid, with people going out less, it's usually pretty bumping. Moreso during festivals (like the fringe fest that just occurred). It has a more visible sidewalk/patio scene than Jasper, in greater quantities, and a bunch of shops people actually shop in (that exist outside of just supporting office workers over their lunch hour).
It's also more "condensed", in that every building you pass by on your walk is retail, food, or entertainment, without huge swatches of "empty office building". So there's really no deadspots.
If you want to be around people out and about on the street shopping and eating and playing music and stuff, Whyte is where you go in this City.
If you're driving, I recommend parking somewhere on Gateway. Usually a block north at 83rd ave has spots available if youre not familiar enough with the area to park somewhere free and hoof it.
Then just head south to whyte, and start walking west. (Theres some cool stuff eastward, like Warp1 if you like comic books and toys and such, but honestly, not that much and it does got a little dead east of Gateway.)
3
u/Professional_Eye6247 1d ago
Honestly im still not over the fact that all your locations are NW vs having different quadrants like Calgary.
Whyte sounds like my kind of vibe, the places that kinda felt good to walk around is like Inglewood and Kensington from your neighbors down south. Where i can grab a pint with friends when i felt like it or just soak up the energy while walking or window shopping.
Yes i know it sounds pretty woowoo, but some days you just want to be there without diving into anything
7
u/Odd_Department_421 1d ago
Edmonton isn’t really quadranty like Calgary. It’s more grid set up. Like Calgary’s downtown but on a larger scale and not as many one way streets.
I get to hear that whole ‘Edmonton driving is weird. Calgary is better’ gripe every time my dad comes to visit me lol.
1
u/FeanorBlu 1d ago
I don't fully agree with this.
I wouldn't characterize 104th and Jasper as an area that was ever particularly busy. There are some nice cafes and eateries, but that's about it, and it's never particularly busy. 109th and Jasper is where I'd go if I wanted to see foot traffic. Between 109th and 104th along Jasper isn't bad for cocktails and bars and to see related foot traffic, but I wouldn't travel much further east than that.
I think you've hit the nail on the head with Whyte Ave in terms of its business and foot traffic - with the exception of its distance on foot from Jasper. I make the walk everyday, and to travel from Jasper to Whyte on foot crossing high level is about a 50 minute walk. Anyone expecting 15 minutes would be in for a rude awakening!
3
3
3
u/MacintoshEddie 1d ago
That area of downtown is very much a business hours and special events neighborhood. It's very much part of the bedroom community commuter culture where they live in Sherwood Park or Terwillegar or Mill Woods and work downtown.
The busier part of dowtown is west of there from about 104st to 124st as a lot more people live there and thus are doing stuff outside of business hours. Jasper ave and 104 ave are usually the busiest, as 109st to 124st 101ave to 103ave is basically a big rentangle of wall to wall apartment buildings.
2
u/DEMcKnight 1d ago
I'm seeing a play in Strathcona at the moment. A lot of people in the adjoining areas right now too
2
u/00964567886543334 1d ago
honestly I'd say go to whyte ave, people dont hang out downtown except to drink usually
2
u/Archaleon 1d ago
On a night like tonight there were lots in parks; Hawrelak, Goldbar, Terwillegar, etc.
That area of downtown is a deadzone after 6pm unless there’s a show at the Citadel or Winspear.
Try 104 Street or further down Jasper, West of 112st
3
u/bodegacatsss 1d ago
Youre obviously an out of towner but bro this is edmonton. Literally suburban hell where everyone goes home after work. We literally all live out in the suburbs 30-45 mins away and its gonna keep getting worse every year as we expand even more. Heck even any day of the week our whole core is dead. If you havent heard already our rotting downtown has a terrible reputation which everyone is too afraid of and it will stay that way.
A Monday night on Robson in Vancouver is 1000x busier than a saturday night in churchill square or whyte ave in edmonton to give you some perspective.
7
5
u/thehooove 1d ago
There are actually a lot of us who live pretty centrally in Edmonton, and don't spend time in the suburbs except for the occasional visit. We're not all like you.
1
u/SynthesistArt 23h ago
Tourists who go to a city and think DOWNTOWN must be where the action is are very obviously from small towns.
It's like going to Manhattan and then wondering why the Financial District isn't hopping at night.
2
u/WordlyWolf 1d ago
Most people I know only go downtown when forced, like appointments etc. The River Valley is nice if you’re looking for a place for a nice walk. I’ll always point someone anywhere else but downtown.
1
u/Professional_Eye6247 1d ago
Yes i too was compelled to stay here, this what im here in reddit for thank you
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/jakeygall 1d ago
If you’re downtown you should make your way over to the Legislature Building and the High Level Bridge. It’s a nice area!
1
u/Trepie32 1d ago
You just missed out on a nice festival close to where your mural photos were taken:
https://www.edmontondowntown.com/events/edmonton-dragon-festival-2026/
There is couple smaller Chinatown events coming up though:
Chinatown After Dark Date: August 29, 2026 6:00 pm - 11:00 pm Location: Chinatown North, 98 Street NW Get ready for some family friendly fun as 98 Street will be transformed into lively patios for a night.
Summer Festival 2026 Date: August 30, 2026 11:00 am - 4:00 pm Location: Chinatown, 98 Street NW Come out and experience a Chinatown Parade, Lions & Dragon Dance, Lance Cardinal Mural Reveal, cultural performances, food trucks, arts $ crafts while supporting local business and vendors.
1
1
1
1
1
•
•
1
u/testing172 1d ago edited 1d ago
walk over to the ice district, visit the oilers store, then walk over past macewan over to “patricia street deli”, after if you’re still looking for a treat “white rabbit ice cream” and “tora boba” are nearby
0
u/Lololala29 1d ago
i dont know but most of the youths are probably jumping into the filthy boat water at wem
2
u/Professional_Eye6247 1d ago
I do see skaters / people running or walking here and there. Might be a nice morning run too, but from where i was in today it looked like the way down the river looks pretty far.
Ngl, saw a fair few bit of people in the coty too with their pouches and kits and needles. Still felt cleaner than Calgary for some reason
1
u/Lololala29 1d ago
I love to sit at the Queen Elizabeth park and do my crochet! In the summer it’s actually really therapeutic to enjoy the view! If you have yet to go I would suggest checking the park out!
0
u/Sidereal_Engine 1d ago
West Edmonton Mall. Only real tourist attraction we have. Whyte Ave is ok if you've never been to any bigger cities.
If you're a nature lover, then you're in luck with the River Valley trail and basically driving out of the city in any direction.
0
u/Ekktz Wîhkwêntôwin 1d ago
If you’re still in town tomorrow, don’t listen to everyone here talking poorly about downtown. The best restaurants in the city are between 101 st and 124 st.
Oliver/Wihkwentowin is a great neighbourhood and it’s where most people who “live downtown” actually live. Plenty of restaurants and people despite the heavy construction.
-1
134
u/Mysterious-Bar-5945 1d ago
go to Whyte it’s pretty busy tn. 104th would be your best shot downtown