#287 Edmonton Festival Season- Eat, Play, Laugh!

We sit down with two Donovans to preview Edmonton’s festival season and the big collaboration that connects Taste of Edmonton, K-Days, and the Great Outdoor Comedy Festival. We break down what’s free, what costs money, why affordability matters, and how the Eat Play Laugh pass turns one summer weekend into a city-wide plan.

• Free entry and free stage performances at Taste of Edmonton 
• Food tickets model and why ticket pricing stays unchanged since 2018 
• Spotlight on local independent restaurants and community impact 
• Great Outdoor Comedy Festival at Kinsmen Park and the outdoor “bring a chair” vibe 
• How the comedy festival started in Edmonton and grew across Canada 
• Eat Play Laugh bundle details, what’s included, and why festivals choose collaboration 
• Key dates for Taste of Edmonton, K-Days, and Great Outdoor Comedy Festival 
• Limited availability and why the package is expected to sell quickly 
• Culture and performance teasers including South Asian dance groups 

For more information visit eatplaylaugh.ca

IG: @theuniversalradio

Transcript

Welcome To Festival City Edmonton

SPEAKER_02 0:13

It's a universal radio network, and festival season is around the corner in Edmonton, and we know Edmonton is known as Festival City. To talk about this further today, I have not one but two Donovan's in the studio.

SPEAKER_01 0:25

Yeah, it's D Squared.

SPEAKER_02 0:26

You're getting the D Squared. It's a great day here.

SPEAKER_01 0:29

Yeah, an unusual name, and now the and there's two in the same room promoting the same thing.

Taste Of Edmonton And Keeping Prices Down

SPEAKER_02 0:35

It's amazing. We also saw a really exciting announcement this morning. We're gonna get into that, but before that, let's introduce you. We have Donovan from the Taste of Edmonton.

SPEAKER_00 0:43

Hi there, thanks for having me.

SPEAKER_02 0:44

Absolutely, Donovan. It's always a pleasure working with you. Taste of Edmonton, thank you, is back once again. We love partnering with you and also just every year seeing how much it's growing in the city. So tell me a little bit more of what Edmontonians can expect from Taste of Edmonton this year.

SPEAKER_00 1:00

Very good question. As as we all know, the city of Edmonton is growing and it's expanding to all four corners of our city. For Taste of Edmonton, it is an environment that anybody is welcome. It's free to enter. All of our performances on our McClendon Ross stage are always 100% free. The the part that costs money is the food tickets to be able to purchase tickets and then uh redeem those with our restaurant partners. Here's the good thing: I have not increased our tickets since 2018. We understand that it is hard out there, the cost of everything has increased. Here's where the taste of Edmonton is a little bit different. I've got the best partners on the planet that I get to work with. And they tell me, hey, you know what? We believe in Edmonton, we believe in Emmontonians, we want to give everybody a break. And so I present it to my restaurant partners. They come back glorious and say, absolutely, you know, these are mom and pops, these are not big chains that, you know, have buying power from big major cities, these are your neighborhood eateries, the people that are on the face of the the uh store or the restaurant are the people that are making the food for you. And you know, those are our people, those are the people that are heavily invested in Taste of Edmonton, and all that we want to do is put on a great show. Edmonton is known as Festival City. There are so many cool things to experience. Part of the reason why Donovan and I are both here today is to talk about some of those great experiences, and you know, running Taste of Edmonton, I I've got the best job in the world. I truly do, because yes, we get to break bread with friends and family and all the festivalgoers that are coming to it, but we also get to give back to our community, and that is really what makes my my heart jump in my world sing. And so for me, uh being involved with Taste of Edmonton, it's truly about the community. We're breaking bread with friends and family.

SPEAKER_02 2:59

Thank you, Donovan. And I have to say, Taste of Edmonton's become such a large identity of the city. Every year I know people that look forward to it, I know people that travel to just be a part of it every year. So I appreciate you sharing that. We also have another Donovan here today, and actually for the first time on the Universal Radio, I'd say. I know. Well, I'm excited to have you.

SPEAKER_01 3:20

We're both excited. Oh, are you excited? Absolutely. And we're all excited.

Great Outdoor Comedy Festival At Kinsmen

SPEAKER_02 3:24

We're all excited. I love it. And Donovan's here today to talk about the Great Outdoor Comedy Festival.

SPEAKER_01 3:30

Ranger Donovan. I'm here for the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival. Yeah. Uh, July 17th to 19th at Kinsman Park, we're bringing in some of the biggest comedians in the world in the best venue in the world, the Great Outdoors. And uh, yeah, and we've got like Matt Reif is gonna be there, Aziz Anzari is gonna be there, Pete Davidson's gonna be there, Adam Ray's Dr. Phil is one night, uh, Hassan Minhaj is gonna be there, Ronnie Chang. It it's a huge list of the biggest comedians in the world um in our beautiful city.

SPEAKER_02 4:01

And I would say that's one of the more recent festivals that we've seen in the lineup in Edmonton, but we've seen it grow so fast.

SPEAKER_01 4:07

Yeah, we started in Edmonton just five uh this I think the sixth season or five, fifth season. I it becomes a blur because I work all year round with them now. Um, but yeah, it started out uh downtown um as a one-off, and uh David Spade at the time was like you should tour this around the world, and we were like, Well, how about Canada? Canada's uh a beautiful, gigantic place. So we started putting on festivals uh all across the country, so we do uh six now.

SPEAKER_02 4:35

And can you just clarify one thing? Did this start in Edmonton? It sure did, yes.

SPEAKER_01 4:38

Wow, absolutely. Mike Anderson, a trick star. Um he wanted it was gonna be the socially distance comedy festival uh because of COVID. And so it was the first festival to come back after the pandemic. Um, and the way they kind of did it was they had it outside, and it worked so well, they weren't sure if anybody was gonna show up, and people showed up like crazy, and here we are.

SPEAKER_02 5:00

And for those of you who haven't been, I'm gonna highly suggest it. It's a vibe in Kinsman during that weekend with your camping chairs, just enjoying it, the laughter, the community. It's so much fun.

SPEAKER_01 5:12

It really is, and I dress I'm a park ranger because I want to make sure everybody's safe and happy. I work the lineups as people come in, I answer questions, I get them in the park, I make jokes, and then I'm up on stage uh introducing the comedians. And uh the whole idea is to bring joy to the uh to the park and in the city. And uh, you know, I think that the other Donovan's job as well. Um, and it's that's our mandate. Like we have to make sure that people have the great time.

Eat Play Laugh Pass Explained

SPEAKER_02 5:37

So absolutely. And now earlier today we saw an announcement, a very fun announcement. Like as I said, Edmonton's Festival City. But this year we're seeing three major festivals collaborate. We have Eat, Play, and Laugh.

SPEAKER_01 5:49

Yeah, I came up with this whole thing all by myself. I woke up one morning, I looked at the pillows on my bed, and I was like, eat, play, laugh. I blew up the candles and I called Donovan.

SPEAKER_02 5:59

We're gonna get it I love it.

SPEAKER_01 6:01

I wish I could take credit for it. Uh it was Mike Anderson and Trickstar who contacted you, right?

SPEAKER_00 6:06

Yeah, it certainly was. So Mike called me at the end of 2024 and said, I've got this idea. And if anybody knows Mike, Mike is a titan in the industry, one of the most lovable humans on the planet. And so when Mike called and said, Hey, I've got this idea, I said, absolutely. I didn't know what it was, but Mike was calling and I was answering. And so he he expressed what this idea that he was thinking about with e Play Laugh and asked if I knew any of our counterparts over at Explore Edmonton. And I said, Absolutely. And so the E portion obviously is Taste of Edmonton, the uh laugh portion obviously is great outdoors, the one portion or the uh individuals that are missing here is the K-Dase portion, but we know enough about the city of Edmonton, we know enough about the great organization Explorer that we can speak on their behalf, and so it was it was a really innocent phone call from Mike Anderson that has blossomed into what now ePlayLaugh is. And so we did our inaugural uh ePlay Laugh last year, um, right around this time we launched, backed by overwhelming popularity. Uh, we were asked to do it again, and all three of our organizations with Taste of Edmonton, K-Days, and the Great Outdoors, uh, we we absolutely said yes. Yes. So, you know, it's it is a crazy good deal. You you have the opportunity to experience three major festivals that are happening over a course of one weekend, 11 days in Taste of Edmonton, uh, as an example, 10 days for K-Days, and all for$59. So Mike and his team really bought into what myself and my team do in the nonprofit world is keeping pricing down for everybody because we want everybody to experience all three of these great opportunities. You can come to Taste of Edmonton during any of the 11 days, you can go uh for the Saturday performance and Park Ranger the afternoon.

SPEAKER_01 8:08

Yeah, as Dr. Phil will be there. Um, and I think one of the things that I know talking to Mike was like there are only so many warm weekends, there are so many festivals. We don't want to compete with other festivals, we want to embrace other festivals and share the audience and the the joy and the laughter um and the good times, and so that's why we've just been we'll bounce you around the city uh of Edmonton over a two-week period to make sure you have the best time possible.

SPEAKER_00 8:33

That's absolutely correct, right? You know, Edmonton is a blue-collar city, and everybody loves a great deal, and especially in this climate, it it's very much for$59 to be able to go to experience three different major festivals, that's almost like getting out of weight, right? And you know, it's it's with the kindness of Mike Anderson and his team, and then also uh Jesse and everybody from Explore Edmonton, and you know, my board of directors buying into this as well. And all that we want to do is as Park Ranger Donovan was expressing, we want to bring joy to festival goers. This city, you know, there's so much tumultuousness that is happening in the environment. We don't want you to think about any of that. We want you to laugh your backside off, we want to feed your belly, and then you know, jump on all the rides and and do it all over again.

SPEAKER_01 9:25

Yeah, absolutely. Bust your belly, hurt your rib, you're bust a gut, laughing.

SPEAKER_02 9:29

There you go. You know, the whole deal. The whole deal. And that's just to say how quintessential Edmonton. We have three festivals happening at the same time. We're not competing, we're collaborating. Yeah, I love it.

SPEAKER_01 9:40

Yeah, absolutely. But there's no point in fighting, we're friends.

SPEAKER_02 9:43

I love that.

SPEAKER_01 9:43

I love to eat, I love to laugh, I love to play.

SPEAKER_02 9:46

And all such great festivals as well. K-Days bring so much. I mean, we don't have to talk about K-Days. Everyone here is familiar with it. And from what I'm understanding is this pass will get you access to K-Des for all 10 days.

SPEAKER_00 9:57

Yeah, uh, so the the whole package together, it's uh the afternoon uh performance at Great Outdoors, uh, 10-day pass for K-Days and uh tickets for Taste of Edmonton, all wrapped in that$59 bundle. Like it I don't know anywhere else that you can go. Um, yes, Emmonton is festival city. Yes, majority of our festivals are free to attend, but to have that up-close and personal experience with all three of our festivals, that's what we're all about. It is about collaboration. It is there's enough Emmontonians and people in this city that there is room for everybody. And and as Park Ranger alluded to, we are not competition, we are collaborators trying to put the best show on for the city of Edmonton and all the people that are are touring into our city for you know the month of July or August or whatever the case may be. And you know, why not save some money and get to enjoy three major festivals from one crazy, crazy low price?

SPEAKER_02 11:01

In my head, I'm thinking about how I can do all three in one day. I'm thinking, right? I'm like Saturday, we go to the comedy show, we go to a taste of Edmonton, we have some good food, and then we go to Katie's for the evening.

SPEAKER_01 11:12

You start at Kinsman Park and you just traveled. Travel across the place all the way until you get to Cromwell Stadium, station.

SPEAKER_02 11:20

You're perfect. That's amazing. Now, with these passes, are we putting a cap on it? Is there a limit? How fast do Edmontonians have to act to get this?

SPEAKER_00 11:27

Yeah, you're absolutely that's a great question. There's so four available. This is weird. One, two, and three.

SPEAKER_02 11:34

So one listener can get that fourth one. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 11:37

Absolutely. Yeah, no, it is limited to 2,500 packages. Um, so the kickoff started today on eplaylaugh.ca and it goes for the next two weeks. So that would be May 26th is when the uh, or if we've sold out before May 26th. Um, but yeah, 2500 packages is what is available at this moment.

SPEAKER_01 11:59

And I think they're gonna go quick. That's a great deal. It's awesome. It's amazing. I mean, I've talked to people on my way to this, um, and they're like, what? 60 bucks? What uh how when? How many? Where do I so I think they're gonna go quick?

Lineups Food And How To Plan

SPEAKER_02 12:14

I think they're gonna go super quick. And like I said, the all three festivals are definitely one to check out. K Days is happening July 17 to 26th, Taste of Edmonton July 16 to 26, and the great outdoor comedy, uh, the great outdoor comedy festival July 17 to 19th. Yeah, all in a span of a couple of days. A lot to look forward to, a lot to explore. And I'm encouraging Edmonton, and I'm always a huge advocate for festival season. I personally make sure I'm never traveling in June and July, and I'm always in Edmonton because there's so much exciting stuff happening in our city.

SPEAKER_01 12:44

Absolutely. And it's uh a beautiful city to explore and enjoy.

SPEAKER_02 12:48

And now for our audience, I know there's a few details it'll really, really resonate with. We have Aziz Anzari and Hassan Minaj at the comedy. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 12:58

So Friday night the 17th, um, Aziz Anzari is gonna be there with Pete Davidson. That's gonna be awesome. I just saw Pete Davidson on the uh Kevin Hart roast, it was fantastic. And then Sunday the 19th, uh Hassan Minaj is gonna be there. Um, and it's he's so brilliant and hilarious and funny. Uh yeah, uh Ronnie Chang is gonna be that night, too. Uh it's gonna be a huge show.

SPEAKER_02 13:21

Absolutely. And now with Taste of Edmonton, we've seen some Bollywood-inspired performances in the past. Can we expect anything this year, Donovan?

SPEAKER_00 13:29

Yeah, absolutely. It's almost like a residency with our our South Asian community, and and it means a lot to us as an organization. So um, without spilling too much of the beans, because our performance announcement goes live June 1st, I can confirm that Baldy Wheels will be returning for their second year, and Southeast or so sorry, South Asian Dance Experience will be returning for year five. So the culture, the atmosphere, all free to attend and free to watch. All of our performances starting from five o'clock and tell close every day. And uh on the K-Day's side, I know that they have just launched their um 2026 performance lineup. I don't know specifically uh who the artists are, but I do encourage anybody that is looking to go to the uh K-Day's website and find who their musical performances are for July 17th through 26.

SPEAKER_02 14:27

Absolutely. I mean go to Taste of Edmonton, grab some mangolassie, some fish pagodas, check out the performances. That's always a good time. Oh, yes, I have my go-to spots at Taste of Edmonton. It's like as soon as I get there, I know the couple of places I'm hitting up first, and then I go and explore the rest. No, it's always it's such a fun time. I appreciate both of your time, both Donovan's. I have to say, this was a very special day for me, a rare occurrence having two Donovan's.

SPEAKER_01 14:53

It'll never happen.

Why Collaboration Keeps Festivals Thriving

SPEAKER_02 14:55

Well, yes, him and yeah. Never say never. Never say never. I agree. And beyond that, what else are you guys hoping for to see in our city soon? Like I know.

SPEAKER_01 15:07

Well, I know um I'm also part of the Riverhawks, so we'll be down in the beautiful river valley. I'm gonna just spend my summer in the river valley.

SPEAKER_02 15:16

You're gonna have the best 10. I am. Yeah.

unknown 15:18

And it'll be good.

SPEAKER_02 15:20

Yeah, speaking of the Riverhawks, baseball goes Bollywood June 12th. A lot of exciting performances, activations, and so much to look forward to. More details about that soon. Oh, and the dancing so much fun. Well, we'll have to come find you. I'm gonna be sending my social media girl after you that day. That'll be some fun content. And how about Donovan? How about you? I know you've been working with Taste of Edmonton for years. I know you're such a big cheerleader for Edmonton. In the upcoming years, what would you like to see more of in our city?

SPEAKER_00 15:55

Uh, honestly, I want to see more like what we're doing with uh Greater Girls and with Explore M Ton by the KDAs. I I really believe in collaboration. I I do believe that, you know, the economy's tight, and the more that we can reach out to our fellow festivals or community partners and help, that's what my ultimate goal is, is to help as many as we possibly can. And, you know, I'm I'm very selfish in that regard. That the service groups and the and the partners that we've got, we've given back just in the last five years over$520,000 to community groups that need it more than us. And so what I'm actively seeking and and always wanting to do is work with as many as we possibly can. Like, yes, today is all about deep play laugh, but we also have some pretty special relationships with food bike tours as an example. So we do a festival food bike tour between K-Day's and Taste of Emmonton, and K-Days is not the enemy, Taste of Emmitton's not the enemy. We are wonderful partners in various different ways. And you know, our our plate, as full as it is, there's always room for dessert. Dessert. I I love that. New improvements, new partnerships, new collaborations just to make things more affordable for uh everybody that is a festival goer, whether it's the three of ours or any of the great festivals that happen throughout the duration of the summer and into the winter months. And we are a festival city for a reason, right? And you know, to all the executive directors and festival producers out there that are working their backsides off, and we are free events, and it takes a village to bring all of these people in, and you know, it it just warms my heart every single year when case of anything goes up and I see returning smiling faces. You know, it you want to bottle up that joy and be able to spread that amongst every other event and festival. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 17:54

Yeah, Epiton is so full of people, and we work so hard, being the type of city we are. Um, and a lot of people they're tired, uh, you know, they want to sit in a garage and drink a beer, um, and it's difficult. You need to give them a little incentive to come out. So that's why these festivals are now affordable. We want to get the parking as cheap as possible. We want to get you down to these parks um so you can enjoy the the beauty that is Edmonton. And then I think if we all appreciate it and see how awesome the festivals are and affordability and stuff like that, then uh it just makes Edmonton a better place.

SPEAKER_02 18:27

Absolutely. I appreciate both your times and let's go, Edmonton. Let's go, let's go, let's go. Uh, I'm excited for festival season. Always a great time, looking forward to it, and I love seeing how they're growing every year. And I have to say, Edmonton keeps showing up, keep supporting, and keep spreading love. Yeah, amazing. Thank you.