Late Summer Serenity: Community Minded Events Around the River Valley
Here are a few upcoming events that highlight the beauty of our surroundings and help support our fellow friends and river valley appreciators:
Kaleido Family Arts Festival / September 5–7, 2025 various times
The Kaleido Family Arts Festival, presented by Arts on the Ave, will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a vibrant showcase of music, theatre, and art throughout Edmonton's Alberta Avenue Arts District. Kaleido is a wildly joyful, wonderfully wacky, radically open celebration of the arts in the heart of the Alberta Avenue Arts District. The streets will be lit up with music, theatre, dance, zany street performances, mouthwatering eats, vibrant artisans, pop-up galleries, and magical moments.
Strathearn Art Walk & Music Festival / September 5–7, 2025 various times
Strathearn Art Walk is a free, family-friendly art market and music festival in Edmonton. This celebration of the arts strives to bring the community together and celebrate emerging and professional artists and musicians. Join them this September as they feature local creativity along the beautiful river valley and scenic city skyline, bringing together a breathtaking view of all our city has to offer.
Alberta Bike Swap Edmonton / September 7th various times
Would you be interested in buying a quality used bike in Edmonton, without the guesswork or marketplace stress? Alberta Bike Swap Edmonton returns on Sunday, September 7, 2025, at the Alberta Aviation Museum, providing a safe and streamlined way to buy, sell, or donate bikes in your community. For full details visit https://albertabikeswap.ca/events/edmonton/
Beaverhill Bird Observatory Casino Fundraiser / September 8th - 9th various times
The Beaverhills Bird Observatory, established in 1984, is the second oldest migration monitoring observatory in Canada. Their extensive long-term datasets enable the BBO to track changes in bird populations, migratory routes, breeding success, and survivorship. The BBO will also be holding a Casino event, which is a crucial source of funding for the organization. So if you'd like to help support their fantastic work, this is a great way to do so! As with other AGLC Casinos, training is provided. Sign up for shifts at https://volunteersignup.org/DEEYB
Lady Flower Gardens Music Festival / September 14 from 1-7 pm
Lady Flower Gardens is a non-profit organization that empowers disadvantaged citizens struggling with mental health and addictions by providing hands-on agricultural training and fresh produce for both participants and Edmonton's Food Bank. Every year they host a Fall Festival where all festival proceeds go directly back to LFG operations. The festival features live performances from talented local artists, a silent auction, food and drink freshly prepared with ingredients from our garden, bouquets for purchase, a wide variety of kids activities with Edmonton Forest School, guided forest tours, and more!
Kids Learn to Protect Watershed Health with Education Kits
The NSWA Youth Water Council created the Watershed Keepers Education kits to help introduce young people to the importance of protecting watershed health. It is a hands-on watershed kit for young explorers (Grades 4-6) that shows different factors that can impact the well-being of our watershed and what they can do to help.
These kits are a great way to explore the rivers and lakes in your community and become a steward of your local environment. They also offer a hands-on approach to watershed science, allowing you to observe and record real environmental data. Each kit includes tools like a rain gauge and water quality testing kit so you can learn about pollution and understand how everyday actions impact your watershed. You can also explore the local flora by identifying plant species and bringing them to life with an origami kit.
By taking the Watershed Keeper pledge, you commit to protecting the health of your local watershed for future generations. It's a fun and engaging way to learn about the environment and make a real difference. Contact youthwatercouncil@nswa.ab.ca if you are an educator interested in getting a kit for your students.
A Tale of Two Caterpillars
The fall webworm and Forest tent caterpillar are often confused with one another because both create prominent webs on fruit, shade, and woodland trees. Forest tent caterpillars occur in spring and early summer whereas the fall webworm appears in mid-August. Forest tent caterpillars are also much larger in size compared to the fall webworm, and seem to prefer trembling aspen and poplar trees whereas fall webworms prefer apple, poplar, ash, choke cherry, pin cherry, elm, maple, willow and white birch trees. However both the fall webworm and the forest tent caterpillar can be found on a variety of deciduous trees.
The fall webworm is native to North America. Infestations were more prevalent in eastern Canada in the past but with warmer temperatures, infestations on the Prairies have become more common. Initial signs of fall webworm include numerous webs on the outer branches of a tree. As the larvae develop, more and more webs will be spun to protect and hide the larvae. As the larvae grow, they feed on the leaves of the tree: first skeletonizing the leaf and then consuming the entire leaf.
The larvae appear in August-September and are approximately 25mm and have pale yellowish-brown bodies with broad, dark bands down their backs. Long whitish hairs protrude from black and orange impressions along their body. In September, the larvae drop to the ground and burrow into the tree litter and soil, where they form cocoons in which they pupate. Fall webworms will not kill a healthy tree however, their damage can be unsightly. Reduce damage by removing the nests and webbing, or the entire infected branch can be pruned off and burned if the infestation is large enough.
For a useful website to aid in the identification of tree damaging insects, animals, and other diseases head to Tree Damage Identification | Wetaskiwin County, AB - Official Website
A Simple DIY Solution for Better Air
With the return of air quality advisors and thick wildfire smoke, building your own air purifier is a great way to take control of your indoor air quality and get a breath of fresh air during smoky days. The Corsi-Rosenthal Cube is an affordable, do-it-yourself air purifier that can significantly improve indoor air quality. Constructed from just a box fan and four MERV-13 furnace filters, this simple device provides whole-room air cleaning comparable to much more expensive commercial HEPA filters. It's a highly effective way to protect your health by clearing the air of airborne virus particles, pollen, dust, and especially the hazardous microscopic particles found in wildfire smoke.
Wildfire smoke is composed of tiny particulate matter, a dangerous mix of acids, chemicals, and metals that are small enough to be inhaled deep into the lungs and bloodstream. Research shows this type of pollution is significantly more hazardous than other forms of air pollution. By using a Corsi-Rosenthal Cube, you can help mitigate these risks, reducing the immediate health effects of smoke such as coughing, shortness of breath, and an increased heart rate.
Building a Corsi-Rosenthal Cube is a straightforward project that requires just a few items: a 20-inch box fan, four 20-inch MERV-13 filters, duct tape, and a piece of cardboard. First, tape the four filters together to form an incomplete cube, making sure the airflow arrows on each filter point inward. Next, seal the bottom of the cube with the cardboard and duct tape. Finally, place the box fan on the top of the cube, ensuring it is positioned to blow air out of the cube. This simple setup creates a powerful and efficient air filter.
For complete instructions, including pictures and diagrams, visit DIY box fan filters – Corsi-Rosenthal box - Clean Air Crew
WISH 24’ x 56’ Vignettes Flower Mural by Leigh Wright and Vinny Le
Location: Triovest ATB Place, downtown Edmonton
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