{"data":{"id":"7ff7ad52-632a-46af-abcd-afd3d3d40828","originKind":"SYNDICATED","title":"Fun stuff to do in Edmonton: Ukrainian Fest, Cat Fest, Drag Fest and Tekkonkinkreet","summary":"Ukrainian Fest: Bolstered by a gigantic local population of 150,000-plus, the Edmonton Ukrainian Festival Friday and Saturday is Western Canada’s largest, so let’s start off by teaching you a little Cyrillic, namely our city’s name: Едмонтон.\n\nWith chubby perogies, creamy nalysnyky and the must-try kubbie burger, the food is an obvious lure, but the shopping is also well worth it, too — not to mention various craft workshop including pysanky egg-decorating at 7 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday.\n\nMost fun of all, wandering around with a beer as various local Ukrainian dance troupes spin and grin to jaunty folk songs, impossible moves in stunning costumes.\n\nThere’s plenty of live music, too, including at UFest After Dark 9 p.m.-11 p.m. each night, Neech Friday, Zabava u Koli Saturday.\n\nSee you there and Slava Ukraini!\n\nDetails: 5 p.m.-11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday at Borden Park, free admission.\n\nCat Fest Finale: The monthlong Cat Fest’s main event meows down Sunday, meaning everything from informative panels to yoga with cats to actually adopting and taking home a forever friend is all up for claw-grabs.\n\nThe cat-themed contest prizes will be awarded for art, poetry and photography and of course, besides all sorts of cool breeds to check out, there are celebrity Instagram stars present — this year’s adventure cats being Fitzcapades and the Puff & Cocoa Climbs.\n\nBest of all, proceeds are a huge fundraiser for local cat rescues, having raised almost $200,000 since 2014. Well done!\n\nJust a fun and heartwarming time, all around, the purr-fect antidote to all the things you don’t want to think about among instant whisker friends!\n\nDetails: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday at MacEwan Robbins Centre (10910 104 Ave.), $15/adult, $14/senior, 12 and under free at edmontoncatfest.com.\n\nEdmonton Drag Festival: If those two festivals weren’t festive enough for you, this non-profit, 2SLGBTQIA+ extravaganza turns up the party vibes, starting with a massive cascade of drag luminaries and DJs at the Queetiosity showcase.\n\nOpening night includes The Girlfriend Experience, King Molasses, Jada Shada Hudson and Rileasa onstage starting at 7 p.m. Friday on Churchill Square, with over 80 performers the next day going from noon–10 p.m.\n\nTea Time, Drag Bingo, celeb meet-and-greets and lots of panels are also on deck, full list and schedule at edmontondragfestival.ca.\n\nEngage the fabulous!\n\nDetails: 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Fri., noon–10 p.m. Sat., noon–8 p.m. Sun. at Churchill Square, no charge.\n\n100 Years of Miles: Award-winning local bass player Rubim de Toledo leads this special nod to Miles Davis’ big birthday (May 26, for the record) with a killer band playing Bitches Brew.\n\nBob Tildesley is on trumpet, Jim Brenan on sax and bass clarinet, guitar by Peter Belec, Chris Andrew on keys, Daniel Stadnicki doing percussion, with Igor Hnydyn drumming.\n\nSounds like a killer jazz show!\n\nDetails: 7 p.m. at OSPAC (8426 Gateway Blvd.), $25.\n\nTekkonkinkreet (2006): This 4K remaster of one of the most visually dynamic anime films ever is a must-see, a weird, gangster-riddled future where Japan and Southeast Asia meet.\n\nOrphans Black and White struggle to survive as a megacorporation threatens even the little they’ve managed to hold on to.\n\nP.S. If you’re somehow wary of The Mandalorian and Grogu film, it’s actually an action-packed return to first-season form on the big screen, full of amazing Easter eggs like the Dragonsnake from The Empire Strikes Back and a full-scale arena battle with huge nods to Chewbacca’s chessboard.\n\nSeeing it in 4DX is highly recommended … if your back can take it.\n\nBack to Tekkonkinkreet, though, it’s happily Japanese with subtitles; don’t miss this rare screening.\n\nDetails: 9:30 p.m. Sunday, 6:45 p.m. Wednesday at Metro Cinema (8712 109 St.), $14.\n\nfgriwkowsky@postmedia.com\n\n@fisheyefoto.bsky.social\n\nRelated Arrested Development, Cat Power, Nathaniel Rateliff headline 2026 Edmonton folk fest\n\nStars of The Boys coming to Edmonton Expo this September\n\nBookmark our website and support our journalism: Don’t miss the news you need to know — add EdmontonJournal.com and EdmontonSun.com to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here.\n\nYou can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun.","url":"https://edmontonjournal.com/entertainment/festivals/fun-stuff-to-do-in-edmonton-ukrainian-fest-cat-fest-drag-fest-and-tekkonkinkreet","imageUrl":"https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/edmontonjournal/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/0529-take5-ufest.jpg","publishedAt":"2026-05-29T11:05:45.000Z","sourceLabel":"Edmonton Journal Music","tags":["Festivals","Local Arts","Movies","Music"],"authorName":"Fish Griwkowsky","contentHtml":"\"Edmonton

Ukrainian Fest : Bolstered by a gigantic local population of 150,000-plus, the Edmonton Ukrainian Festival Friday and Saturday is Western Canada’s largest, so let’s start off by teaching you a little Cyrillic, namely our city’s name: Едмонтон.

With chubby perogies, creamy nalysnyky and the must-try kubbie burger, the food is an obvious lure, but the shopping is also well worth it, too — not to mention various craft workshop including pysanky egg-decorating at 7 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday.

Most fun of all, wandering around with a beer as various local Ukrainian dance troupes spin and grin to jaunty folk songs, impossible moves in stunning costumes.

There’s plenty of live music, too, including at UFest After Dark 9 p.m.-11 p.m. each night, Neech Friday, Zabava u Koli Saturday.

See you there and Slava Ukraini!

Details : 5 p.m.-11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday at Borden Park, free admission.

Cat Fest Finale : The monthlong Cat Fest’s main event meows down Sunday, meaning everything from informative panels to yoga with cats to actually adopting and taking home a forever friend is all up for claw-grabs.

The cat-themed contest prizes will be awarded for art, poetry and photography and of course, besides all sorts of cool breeds to check out, there are celebrity Instagram stars present — this year’s adventure cats being Fitzcapades and the Puff & Cocoa Climbs.

Best of all, proceeds are a huge fundraiser for local cat rescues, having raised almost $200,000 since 2014. Well done!

Just a fun and heartwarming time, all around, the purr-fect antidote to all the things you don’t want to think about among instant whisker friends!

\"

Details : 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday at MacEwan Robbins Centre (10910 104 Ave.), $15/adult, $14/senior, 12 and under free at edmontoncatfest.com.

Edmonton Drag Festival : If those two festivals weren’t festive enough for you, this non-profit, 2SLGBTQIA+ extravaganza turns up the party vibes, starting with a massive cascade of drag luminaries and DJs at the Queetiosity showcase.

Opening night includes The Girlfriend Experience, King Molasses, Jada Shada Hudson and Rileasa onstage starting at 7 p.m. Friday on Churchill Square, with over 80 performers the next day going from noon–10 p.m.

Tea Time, Drag Bingo, celeb meet-and-greets and lots of panels are also on deck, full list and schedule at edmontondragfestival.ca .

Engage the fabulous!

Details : 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Fri., noon–10 p.m. Sat., noon–8 p.m. Sun. at Churchill Square, no charge.

100 Years of Miles : Award-winning local bass player Rubim de Toledo leads this special nod to Miles Davis’ big birthday (May 26, for the record) with a killer band playing Bitches Brew.

Bob Tildesley is on trumpet, Jim Brenan on sax and bass clarinet, guitar by Peter Belec, Chris Andrew on keys, Daniel Stadnicki doing percussion, with Igor Hnydyn drumming.

Sounds like a killer jazz show!

\"

Details : 7 p.m. at OSPAC (8426 Gateway Blvd.), $25.

Tekkonkinkreet (2006) : This 4K remaster of one of the most visually dynamic anime films ever is a must-see, a weird, gangster-riddled future where Japan and Southeast Asia meet.

Orphans Black and White struggle to survive as a megacorporation threatens even the little they’ve managed to hold on to.

P.S. If you’re somehow wary of The Mandalorian and Grogu film, it’s actually an action-packed return to first-season form on the big screen, full of amazing Easter eggs like the Dragonsnake from The Empire Strikes Back and a full-scale arena battle with huge nods to Chewbacca’s chessboard.

Seeing it in 4DX is highly recommended … if your back can take it.

Back to Tekkonkinkreet, though, it’s happily Japanese with subtitles; don’t miss this rare screening.

Details : 9:30 p.m. Sunday, 6:45 p.m. Wednesday at Metro Cinema (8712 109 St.), $14.

fgriwkowsky@postmedia.com

@fisheyefoto.bsky.social

Related

Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don’t miss the news you need to know — add EdmontonJournal.com and EdmontonSun.com to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here.

You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun.

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