K-Days announces Indigenous Experience, concert lineup, and new rides
With K-Days set to return in 2022 after a two-year COVID-19 hiatus, organizers have formed a partnership that will see Indigenous culture represented at the festival.
On Wednesday, Explore Edmonton announced that a three-year Memorandum of Understanding had been signed with the Indigenous Edmonton Entertainment Group.
The IEEGA was launched last November to create a platform for Indigenous events and entertainment.
“Our newly formalized partnership with IEEGA is an important step forward as we begin to reimagine what K-Days can offer to our community,” said Arlindo Gomes, Vice President, Business Development and Venues at Explore Edmonton. “Our goal is to see the Indigenous Experience at K-Days play a role in reconciliation, education, and celebration of Indigenous cultures and history in Edmonton, Alberta, and Canada.”
The Indigenous Experience will be located in Hall C of the Edmonton EXPO Centre, and will feature Indigenous food and performance. There will be an Indigenous art walk, and a display called From Seed to Heart - medicines from long ago.
“We believe in creating a strengths-based model, to lift our people up and contribute in a positive way, changing the negative dichotomies that were created through systematic racism,” said Melanie Omeniho, Vice President of IEEGA.
CONCERT LINEUP RELEASED
In addition to announcing the new partnership with IEEGA, the free concert lineup for the North Stage was also unveiled on Wednesday. There are events on the stage each day of the 10-day festival, and the majority of the lineup consists of Canadian performers.
- Grammy nominated artist Steven Lee Olsen, July 22.
- Canadian rapper Classified, July 23.
- Country music star Jade Eagleson, July 24.
- Indigenous rap duo Snotty Nose Rez Kids, July 25.
- Longstanding rock band, Streetheart, July 26.
- Canadian electronic pop star, Kiesza, July 27.
- Elvis impersonator, Steve Michaels and Johnny Cash impersonator David James and Big River, July 28.
- Celebrating Pride Day, American artist Crystal Waters, July 29.
- Vancouver rock band, Marianas Trench, July 30.
- TBD, July 31.
OLD FAVOURITES AND NEW ADDITIONS
Thrill seekers will have the chance to ride two new rides on the midway, including a double decker merry-go-round, and The Dizzy Dragon. Other new offerings include Baconfest, a vintage and outdoor market, and a celebration of French culture. There will also be lots of familiar offerings, like the Kids Zone and Super Dogs.
The Edmonton EXPO Centre will also play host to a number of other events during K-Days, including the Imagine Monet exhibition and the Edmonton Stingers basketball team will wrap up their home season with games on July 23 and 27.
WELCOMING THE COMMUNITY
Admission prices will be cheaper than in recent years in order to make the festival accessible to more Albertans.
“The cost of everything from food to fuel has been increasing,” said Gomes.
“That’s why we have significantly reduced our admission price for adults, youth, and seniors for this year's K-Days.”
A 10-day admission pass will also be offered for $29.99 for those who want to experience the festival on multiple days.
This will be the first K-Days to be organized by Explore Edmonton after Northlands ceased operations last year.
“K-Days is an iconic Edmonton event, bringing with it an annual economic impact of $70 million to the city,” said Traci Bednard, President and CEO of Explore Edmonton. “We know that K-Days evokes so many memories for Edmontonians; it is something our community can rally around and look forward to. We are thrilled to be able to bring that back.”
The group is currently developing a strategic plan to reimagine the festival over the next decade.
The 2022 edition of the festival runs July 22-31.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Joe Scarpelli.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
RCMP not investigating possible foreign interference cases related to Chiu, Dong: Duheme
Canada's federal police force is not investigating any possible instances of foreign interference in the cases of former Conservative MP Kenny Chiu and Liberal-turned-Independent MP Han Dong, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme says.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Air France flight from Paris to Seattle lands in Iqaluit after heat smell in cabin
A plane travelling from Paris to Seattle was forced to make an emergency landing in Iqaluit after there was a heat smell in the cabin during the flight.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca