Your Saturday plans just got better.

Saturdays from June 20 to September 19, 2026, Rice Howard Way is turning up the volume, with live music, patio energy, local businesses, and Entertainment District activity in the heart of downtown Edmonton.

Start here before the show. Drift in after the market. Wander over between festivals. Gather your friends, explore the programming and grab something delicious from a local spot.

Summer Block Parties are the perfect casual hangout. Let Downtown surprise you!

Meet us On the Way.

Sip Happens Here

Summer Block Party takes place in the Rice Howard Way Entertainment District, which means that during permitted event hours, alcoholic beverages purchased from participating licensed businesses can be enjoyed outdoors within the designated district boundary.

The key bit: drinks need to be purchased from participating businesses, enjoyed within the Entertainment District, and kept inside the permitted area. Support local, keep it kind, and stay within the lines.

The Rice Howard Way Entertainment District runs along 101A Avenue between 100 Street and 100A Street, as well as along 101A Street between 102 Avenue and Jasper Avenue.

Getting here is easy. Rice Howard Way is in the heart of downtown Edmonton, close to restaurants, hotels, venues, transit, parking, and major summer events. The closest LRT station is Churchill Station, about a block away.

Participating licensed businesses: Sherlock Holmes Pub, Craft Beer Market, Bianco, Bar Trove, Woodwork, Sorrentino’s Downtown, Rosewood Foods, Zymo and OEB.

Coming Up on the Way

Each Summer Block Party brings a new reason to stop, stay, and see what’s happening on Rice Howard Way.

Here’s what’s coming up next. Programming details will be updated as artists, businesses, and special features are confirmed.

  • Summer Block Party is back on Rice Howard Way with funk, soul, R&B, big-hearted pop, and a closing set from Cikwes that blends nehiyaw chanting, hand drumming, soul, jazz, and R&B.

    4:00 PM | Funk the Matriarchy
    Grooves with a backbone. This female-fronted band celebrates women in funk, soul, and R&B with iconic anthems, deeper cuts from underrepresented artists, powerhouse vocals, and enough rhythm to get the whole block moving.

    5:30 PM | Paul Woida
    Loop-pedal wizardry, soulful vocals, wildly catchy songwriting, and one-human-band magic. Think emotional pop with a human pulse and several musical layers you did not see coming.

    8:00 PM | Cikwes
    A JUNO-nominated nehiyaw soul artist from Bigstone Cree Nation, Cikwes blends chanting, hand drumming, soul, jazz, and R&B into music that carries language, prayer, vibration, and full-body feeling.

    Denim Keychain Workshop with Alberta Craft Council
    Drop in anytime from 4 PM to 9 PM and create a custom keychain using upcycled denim, fabric scraps, felt, embroidery floss, sequins, markers, and more. Free, drop-in, suitable for ages 12+, and all materials are provided.

    Street performance on the block
    Keep your eyes peeled for Corey Pickett’s high-energy physical comedy and circus skills, up-close sleight of hand from Ron Pearson Magic, and The City Worker, who will be cleaning, fixing, dusting, and maintaining Rice Howard Way with suspicious levels of dedication.

    While you’re here, check out participating Rice Howard Way restaurants taking part in the Snack, Sip, Savour People’s Choice Competition, including Bar Trove, Bianco, Sherlock Holmes Pub, Sorrentino’s Downtown, Woodwork, and Zymo.

    Keep it local, keep it kind, and stay within the lines.

  • This week is bringing jazz, Latin-folk warmth, DJ energy, swing dancers, hands-on activities, pup-friendly moments, and plenty of reasons to settle into Rice Howard Way for the afternoon.

    Come early, find a patio, follow the music, and let the block do what it does best: turn “just stopping by” into a proper little downtown plan.

    1:30 PM | Benjamin Caufield Trio
    Live jazz from Edmonton drummer, musician, and recording engineer Benjamin Caufield, bringing a smooth afternoon soundtrack to the block.

    1:00 PM to 2:30 PM | Swing dancers
    Swing dancers will be moving through the block alongside the jazz trio, adding a little footwork, flair, and “wait, should we learn to dance?” energy.

    3:00 PM | Cristian de la Luna
    Latin-folk, pop, and global rhythms from Cristian de la Luna, whose music brings warmth, movement, storytelling, and a whole lot of heart to the afternoon.

    4:00 PM | DJ Kena Leon
    DJ Kena Leon keeps the block moving with a set built for patio lingering, sunny wandering, and one more lap around Rice Howard Way.

    More happening on the block:

    Citadel Theatre
    Test your spelling skills, spin to win some swag, and enter for a chance to win tickets to The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

    Sherlock Holmes Pub x SCARS
    Stop by Sherlock Holmes Pub from 1 PM to 4 PM for a hot dog fundraiser in support of SCARS. Good dogs, good cause, good reason to wander over.

    Alberta Craft Council
    A hands-on workshop is planned for the block, with details coming soon.

    Yard games
    Cornhole and PaddleSmash will be set up for easygoing, kid-friendly hangs between performances.

    While you’re here, check out participating Rice Howard Way restaurants taking part in the Snack, Sip, Savour People’s Choice Competition, including Bar Trove, Bianco, Sherlock Holmes Pub, Sorrentino’s Downtown, Woodwork, and Zymo.

  • More details coming soon.
    We’re still confirming a few block-level details, including featured programming, participating businesses, and special activations. Check back before heading down, and follow Foundry Events for the freshest On The Way updates.

  • More details coming soon.
    We’re still confirming a few block-level details, including featured programming, participating businesses, and special activations. Check back before heading down, and follow Foundry Events for the freshest On The Way updates.

  • More details coming soon.
    We’re still confirming a few block-level details, including featured programming, participating businesses, and special activations. Check back before heading down, and follow Foundry Events for the freshest On The Way updates.

  • More details coming soon.
    We’re still confirming a few block-level details, including featured programming, participating businesses, and special activations. Check back before heading down, and follow Foundry Events for the freshest On The Way updates.

  • More details coming soon.
    We’re still confirming a few block-level details, including featured programming, participating businesses, and special activations. Check back before heading down, and follow Foundry Events for the freshest On The Way updates.

  • More details coming soon.
    We’re still confirming a few block-level details, including featured programming, participating businesses, and special activations. Check back before heading down, and follow Foundry Events for the freshest On The Way updates.

  • More details coming soon.
    We’re still confirming a few block-level details, including featured programming, participating businesses, and special activations. Check back before heading down, and follow Foundry Events for the freshest On The Way updates.

  • More details coming soon.
    We’re still confirming a few block-level details, including featured programming, participating businesses, and special activations. Check back before heading down, and follow Foundry Events for the freshest On The Way updates.

  • More details coming soon.
    We’re still confirming a few block-level details, including featured programming, participating businesses, and special activations. Check back before heading down, and follow Foundry Events for the freshest On The Way updates.

  • More details coming soon.
    We’re still confirming a few block-level details, including featured programming, participating businesses, and special activations. Check back before heading down, and follow Foundry Events for the freshest On The Way updates.

Summer Block Party will keep moving all summer, with new programming details, business features, artist updates, and event reminders shared on our social media platforms as they are confirmed.

Follow Along for Summer Block Party Updates!

faq

  • Yes. Summer Block Party is free to attend unless otherwise noted. Food, beverages, and purchases from local businesses are at your own cost, so bring your appetite and your tap card.

  • Yes. Summer Block Party is family-friendly, with programming and block activity designed to welcome a range of ages. Some experiences may vary by date, so check the event details before heading down.

  • Summer Block Party takes place on select summer weekends from June 20 to September 19, 2026, with most dates happening on Saturdays. There are also two Sunday dates on August 9 and August 16, and there is no event on Saturday, August 15. Programming details will be updated on this page as they are confirmed.

  • Summer Block Party takes place on Rice Howard Way in downtown Edmonton.

  • During permitted event hours, alcoholic beverages purchased from participating licensed establishments may be enjoyed outdoors within the designated Rice Howard Way Entertainment District boundary. Drinks must stay within the approved area.

  • Only participating licensed businesses are part of the Entertainment District beverage program. Participating business information and updates will be shared on this page and through Foundry Events social media as details are confirmed.

  • Summer Block Party is an outdoor series. Weather-related updates will be shared through Foundry Events social channels where possible.

  • info@foundryevents.ca

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In the spirit of respect, reciprocity and truth, we honour and acknowledge that Foundry operates on the traditional territories of many First Nations, Métis, and Inuit whose footsteps have marked these lands for centuries. We are situated on Treaty 6, Treaty 7, and Treaty 8 territory, traditional lands of First Nations and Métis peoples. These treaties include the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprising the Siksika, Piikani, and Kainai Nations), the Tsuut’ina First Nation, the Stoney Nakoda Nations, the Cree, Dene, Saulteaux, Nakota Sioux, as well as the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region III and Otipemisiwak Métis Government. Finally, we acknowledge all Nations – Indigenous and non – who live, work and play on this land, and who honour and celebrate this territory.