It’s time to get out and enjoy the best entertainment of the season.

Summer is chalk full of festivals in our fair city so here’s a sampler to help you plan.

Here’s the video version from CTV Morning Live 

 

Canada Day                    

July 1                    

River Landing                                    

Take a stroll around River Landing for cultural and music performances, activities for the kids, food truck alley along the traffic bridge, and an artisan market. It all wraps with the fireworks at 10:30pm being launched from the Broadway bridge. The event is free but bring some cash for food and maybe a glow stick or two for the kids.

Here’s the link to the full schedule.

 

 

Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan            

July 2 – Aug. 25             

SOTS Site (next  to Wonderhub)   

This season is  a mix of old and new down on the riverbank. The mainstage kicks off with Shakespeare’s Hamlet (July 2 – Aug. 25) but with a roaring 20s twist. Something is rotten in the state of Denmark as the gin flows and Hamlet has to unravel his father’s death and his uncle’s rise to power. The season is also filled with productions that were inspired by the Bard like Done/Undone (July 11 – Aug. 24), a story that takes on the problematic aspects of his work like racism, sexism and classism. It’s an analysis on what all the fuss is about when it comes to Shakespeare. Rounding out the season is Juliet: A Revenge Comedy (Aug. 6 – 18). This story pursues an alternate story, one where Juliet refuses to die and instead recruits a team of Shakespeare’s famous ladies to find out why they were forced into their own demise. Tickets are $30 – $50 for Hamlet and Done/Undone, Pay-what-you-can for Juliet: A Revenge Comedy.

Click here for the full details.

 

SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival          

July 4 – 13         

Various Venues           

The festival kicks off with it’s free program first six days with artists like Sons of Django, The North Sound, and FunkJoint. These acts will be playing all over the city from community parks to restaurants and, of course, in Victoria Park warming up that main stage.… And when it comes to the main stage, the ticketed days are July 10 – 13 with headliners like country rocker Shakey Graves, country gentleman Johnny Reid, jazz legend Arturo Sandoval and a pop double bill of Melissa Ethridge and Jewel. Ticketed events, you buy a full-day pass for $70 – $85.Jazz fans will be pleased to see the festival back at the Bassment with acts like Benny Green, Avataar and Lorraine Klaasen. The Strictly Jazz series is July 5 – 9. Those tickets are $45 a piece.

For the full schedule and to get your tickets, here’s the link.

 

Festival Fransaskois                                  

July 5 – 7            

Pike Lake        

It’s the 50^th anniversary for the Conseil culturel Fransaskois and to celebrate they are gathering francophone artists like Alexis Normand, The Campaign Family, and Anique Granger. There will be dancing, visual art and activities for the whole family. Day passes are $30 or you can get in for the full weekend at $80.

Celebrate our Fransaskois community by following this link.

 

Saskatoon Fringe Festival  

Aug. 1 – 10       

Broadway Area              

Cutting edge theatre is back in Saskatoon with 21 theatre companies from around the world and right here at home. The theatre happens indoors at The Broadway Theatre, The Refinery and The Cosmo with tickets $13 – $16 for a single show or $140 for a 10-day pass. Access to the festival site in W.E. Graham Park is free. There’s buskers on the outdoor stages, a street market and activities for the kids happening all over the area.

Fun at the Fringe starts here.

 

Saskatoon Ex                                   

Aug. 6 – 11       

Prairieland Park          

Your chance to eat, ride and rock out at the Ex. This year’s grandstand acts include acts like The Beaches and Amanda Marshall and the Kicking Horse Saloon will feature The Trans-Canada Highway Men and Sloan along with many more. Tickets at the gate will run you $12 – $20 and those get you into the concerts. The midway features a full complement of rides to spin and flip you, an all-you-can-ride Superpass is $53. If that’s not your thing, there’s always the food. New this year is the Kool-Aid chicken burger, turtle donuts and deep fried banana balls.

All the Ex details can be found here.

 

Folk Fest           

August 15 – 17               

Various Venues            

Saskatoon’s cultural party is celebrating 45 years this year. While attendees will see some changes this year with the Ukrainian and Scottish pavilions taking a break, there’s still plenty of fun to be had. New to the festival is the Latino and Nigerian pavilions. There will be dancing, music and other cultural displays and don’t forget the food. Your ticket is an e-passport you can purchase online for $17.

For more, follow this link.

 

YXE Urban Games    

Aug. 16 – 18                      

Victoria Park     

New festival that celebrates urban sport, culture, music and food. The big draw for this event will be the FIBA 3×3 Women’s series. The tournament will feature 12 international teams including team Canada and Saskatoon’s own Paige Crozon. Fingers crossed she’ll have some new Olympic hardware around her neck when she visits. Other sports include dodgeball, spikeball, and wakeboard nationals on the river. Most of the events happen in and around Victoria Park and downtown Saskatoon. Day passes are $5 – $10 and a weekend pass is $10 – $20.

For all the details click here.