Touted as the largest outdoor food festival in Canada, Taste of Edmonton is back for its 35th year and will be taking place at Capital Plaza from Thursday, July 18th to Sunday, July 28th.

Taste of Edmonton is all about showcasing the city’s best selection of food and drink. It allows you to get up close and personal with the top players in the local restaurant and food truck scene. Because Edmonton is such a diverse city, you’ll get the chance to sample cuisine from all around the world. The festival will be taking place from 11 am to 11 pm every day except for the last, when it will run from 11 am to 9 pm.

There’s always something for every palate available at Taste of Edmonton, from savoury dishes and sweet desserts to beer, wine, and tasty cocktails. You’ll find plenty of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options as well, so don’t hesitate to come along even if you have certain dietary restrictions.

The very first Taste of Edmonton was held in 1984, and the event shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. In fact, this year’s festival promises to be bigger and better than ever, with 350,000 attendees and over 80 vendors offering more than 92 different food samples. Come check out what some of Edmonton’s newest and hippest restaurants have to offer, as well as what all of your favourites are up to.

Capital Plaza will be set up in the style of an Italian piazza, a traditional city square. There will be plenty of seating and spaces for you to relax while you enjoy your food and drink. If you’re bringing the little ones along, you can spend some quality time together at the Kids Korner. Capital Plaza is located directly in front of the Alberta Legislature, on 108 Street and 99 Avenue.

The festival is completely free to attend, but you will need to purchase festival tickets to exchange for food and drink samples from the vendors. A book of 40 tickets costs $69.50 (including tax). Since 40 tickets will get you quite a lot of samples, consider splitting the cost among your group. Any leftover tickets can be donated towards next year’s festival.

Aside from the delicious food and drink, Taste of Edmonton is also known for hosting the largest free outdoor concert series in Canada. Concerts will be taking place every evening from July 18th to July 27th, starting at 6:30 pm. The all-ages shows have a diverse lineup that will appeal to the musical tastes of all festivalgoers. Just a few of the musical acts you can expect to see include Jayden Paz, Tebey, Sister Ray, Jen Grant, Marlaena Moore, Tokyo Police Club, Tyler Shaw, and Classified.

Taste of Edmonton will be happening rain or shine, so make sure you check the forecast ahead of time and come prepared for the weather. It’s definitely worth it to brave both the rain and the heat, as there is no better way to get acquainted with Edmonton’s fantastic food scene.