EDMONTON, ALBERTA--(MARKET WIRE)--Sep 30, 2008 -- As a global player on the festival scene - and Canada's leader - Edmonton and its surrounding regions host more than thirty established festivals running throughout the year.

Festivals in Edmonton focus on a wide array of artistic disciplines including dance, film, music, theatre and the visual arts. But as any tourist will soon find out, the excitement doesn't stop there: food, sports, and even seasons such as winter are also celebrated in this festival forward metropolis.

Summer is primetime for Edmonton's festivals - up to 17 hours of daylight allow organizers to take advantage of lush outdoor settings and late-evening sunsets - with events devoted to blues, bluegrass, folk, jazz and symphonic music all front and centre. It's also when some of Edmonton's big festival guns take to the stage, including the Edmonton Folk Music Festival, the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival and the Edmonton International Street Performers Festival.

Fall arrives with the screening of two film festivals - the Edmonton International Film Festival, which focuses on a veritable buffet of independent films from around the world, and the Global Visions Film Festival, a documentary oriented event that examines social issues from a local, national and international perspective - and the Edmonton International Lit Fest.

Winter heats up with the Ice on Whyte Festival, where artists use their talent to turn blocks of ice into works of art and the Canadian Birkebeiner Ski Festival, Canada's premier cross-country ski event, which follows the historic legend of the original Birkebeiner (Viking skiers) from more than 800 years ago.

Spring brings the International Children's Festival, an annual extravaganza that celebrates the performing, literary and visual arts for children, and Nextfest provides an exhilarating, original line-up of works by the hottest emerging professional artists from Edmonton and beyond.

But Edmonton's festival friendly reputation is about more than just an astounding array of choice. Whether it's the northern location or a history of artistic support, Edmonton festivals are a part of the tapestry that has woven itself into the fabric of the city.

Edmonton - Canada's Festival City - is a unique entertainment experience that is informal, friendly, fun and family-oriented - combined with high artistic and talent standards. For more information visit www.edmonton.com/tourism.

     Contacts:
     Edmonton Tourism
     Jenifer Christenson
     Director, Marketing & Communications
     (780) 917-7890
     Email: jchristenson@edmonton.com
     Website: http://www.edmonton.com/tourism