Kaleido 2026 Performers & Features

Main Stage

93 Street & 118 Avenue (Parking Lot)

In the Hall

9210 - 118 Ave

Nightbird Alley

(Alley) 9321 – 118 Ave (southside of 118)

The Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts

9225 118 Ave

The Carrot Community Arts Coffeehouse

9351 – 118 Ave

Takwakin Village

91 St & 118 Ave (In the Grassy Space)

Discovery Stage

94 St & 118 Ave

Curated by Rhea March

Features

Aurora Lantern Parade

Lantern Workshop • 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
The Nina (9225 – 118 Ave)

Parade: Friday • 8:30 pm – 8:45 pm

When the sun goes down, the lanterns light up! To kick off our Kaleido Family Arts Festival weekend, join our Lantern Parade, where performers and festivalgoers dance, sing, drum, and laugh together. Follow the light to the main stage for more performances!

FRIDAY NIGHT HEADLINER

Locarno

Friday • 9:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Main Stage (93 Street & 118 Avenue in the Parking Lot)

Locarno, the Latin project of JUNO-award-winning musician Tom Landa, is a unique blend of Mexican and Canadian musical influences. Landa's passion for Latin music led him to immerse himself in the genre in 2005. A Canada Council grant enabled him to study traditional Mexican music in Veracruz, Mexico where he mastered the 8-string guitar jarana with the Son Jarocho repertoire. Upon returning to Canada, he founded Locarno.

Scapes and Shapes:
Music & Live Painting

Friday • 10:00 pm - 11:00 pm

Nightbird Alley (9321 – 118 Ave)

Presented by Collins Studio Gallery, three painters and three experimental musicians take on the challenge to create multi-media works of art.

Free Bluegrass Pancake Breakfast

Saturday • 10:00 am - 11:45 pm

Main Stage (93 Street & 118 Avenue in the Parking Lot)

Enjoy bluegrass magic with The Pluckin’ Holler Boys, followed by cultural dance as the festival grounds come alive. Show your support at our Donation Tubes!

Resonant Ground Presents

Saturday • 7:00 pm – 8:45 pm 

Grassy Space (92nd St & 118 Ave)

Featuring Raylene Campbell and Parker Thiessen, with DJ selections by Jacob Audrey Taves. Resonant Ground is a local curatorial collective presenting sound and media art for curious and adventurous minds.

SATURDAY NIGHT HEADLINER

Cirque Kalabanté Productions

Saturday • 9:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Main Stage (93 Street & 118 Avenue in the Parking Lot)

Cirque Kalabanté Productions (Guinea/Québec) brings explosive drumming, dance routines, and bold acrobatics that display a range of African arts. With a non-stop, dizzying pace, the group delivers mind-blowing acrobatic sequences with extraordinary precision, made all the more dramatic by hypnotic percussion.

- Sharonne Cohen, Montreal’s Festival International Nuits d’Afrique.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON FEATURE

Rumba Caliente

Sunday • 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Main Stage (93 Street & 118 Avenue in the Parking Lot)

Rumba Caliente (also known as Rumba Caliente E.L.B. or Rumba Caliente Orquesta) is one of Canada's premier multicultural Latin music bands. Based primarily in Edmonton, Alberta, the ensemble delivers a high-energy "Sabor Latino" blend of sweet vocal harmonies and brassy horn lines. Recognized as the best Latin Orchestra in Alberta in 2023, the group brings together a multi-ethnic lineup of professional musicians.

Takwakin (“Autumn” in Cree) Village

Saturday & Sunday • 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm

91 St & 118 Ave in the Grassy Space

Autumn is a welcoming time for communities to share the richness of their heritage and traditions. Join a cultural celebration that includes the artisans, music, and dance of Indigenous, Inuit, and Métis peoples. Join us on Saturday at 1:00 pm for an Elder Blessing. Learn more

Unity Project

All Weekend!

Takwakin Village (91 St & 118 Ave in the Grassy Space)

UNITY is a circular arrangement of 32 poles. Each pole is labeled with an Indigenous focused identifier. With yarn, participants tie to each pole with which they identify. A canopy of interconnectedness forms as more people participate. In the end, we see that we are all connected by something. #UNITY

Art Battle Royale

Friday • 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm

On the Street

5 Artists 1 Love hosts their iconic Art Battle Royale, where five talented artists from our community go head to head for two exciting rounds. Who will shine and glow the brightest?

Show N’ Shine

Sunday • 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm

On the Ave (between 94-95 St)

Experience a stunning lineup of classic, vintage, and custom rides at the Kaleido Family Arts Festival! In partnership with The Saxon Car Club, this show turns Alberta Avenue into a car lover’s dream.

Junk in Your Trunk

Sunday • 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm

92 St & 118 Ave (North side)

It’s not your average garage sale! Stroll Alberta Avenue during Kaleido and explore trunks full of treasures. From vintage décor to fun curiosities, you never know what you will find.

Italian Opera al Fresco

Saturday • 2:45 pm – 3:00 pm

Paraiso Balcony (9136 – 118 Ave)

Catch Andrea Pinna's captivating Italian opera performance outside Paraiso Tropical, blending tradition and passion in a fleeting, unforgettable experience.

The Giants

All Weekend!

Make way; the Giants are coming... Keep a lookout for the Maraca Man, Calypso – the Cha Cha Gal, the Aurora Dragon, Dr Au, and the Huge Hug Monster. They will wander the site all weekend, taking in the wonders and adding a few of their own.

Kaleido Balloon Backpacks!

Purchase at the Info Booths (while supplies last!)

Balloon backpacks are a must-have this year! Grab your Kaleido backpack ($10) and fill the Ave with colour!

Snap Your Joy

Saturday & Sunday

On the Street

Make your smile contagious this weekend as you and your loved ones smile in front of this unusual photo booth. Special thanks to ATB Financial

Le Grande Marché Kaleido

All Weekend!

118 Ave between 92 & 93 St

Shop for made-in-Edmonton gifts and wares. Find local craftspeople selling their one-of-a-kind items for every budget and occasion. Tap options available. ATM machines are located by the Info Booth for your convenience. Learn More

Compliment Booth

Saturday & Sunday

On the Street

Give and receive a compliment to a new or old friend. Call it a compliment confessional! Set your heart free and let it all out.

Sketch Living Art

Saturday & Sunday

On the Street

Experience a classic life drawing session designed just for Kaleido! All drawing materials are provided.

Trace a Face

All Weekend!

On the Street

Trace a Face is a playful, interactive art activity where visitors are invited to trace the outlines of a friend’s face onto a clear panel, creating layered, overlapping portraits that celebrate community connection and creativity.

Soul Doodle

Unleash your inner artist with Soul Doodle! Finger paint your own creation directly onto clear plexiglass panels using washable, mess-free tempera paints—protective gloves provided!

Conversation Couch

Take a seat at the Conversation Couch! Spin the wheel to pick a random topic and jump into a fun, spontaneous chat with our friendly resident host. You never know where the conversation will lead.

Wall of Us

Wall of Us is an interactive art installation where you become part of the exhibit. Pick a blank face on the wall and draw your self-portrait. Add your unique voice, and see how you fit into the bigger picture!

Project Love: Glow Up Edition

Leave your mark on Project Love: Glow Up Edition! Find the giant letters spelling out K-A-L-E-I-D-O and fill them with words, doodles, or phrases sharing what you love about the festival. Help us light up Kaleido with your love!

Chalktastic

Watch professional chalk artists transform the pavement with stunning works of art, while kids unleash their creativity in a dedicated chalk zone, celebrating imagination, colour, and community.

Nightbird Alley

All Weekend!

The Alley | (Alley) 9321 – 118 Ave (Southside of 118)

The Alley showcases a vibrant mix of local talent, spanning blues, roots, jazz, and folk. Sit back, sip a drink, and soak in the vibe—you might even find yourself dancing!

Filipino Pavilion Sining Stage

All Weekend!

93 St & 118 Ave

Celebrate the richness of Filipino art in all its forms at the Sining Stage! “Sining” is a Filipino (Tagalog) word that means “art.”
A lively showcase of art, music, and dance. The Sining Stage is a place where artists and storytellers share their voices to inspire, connect, and reflect the heart of culture.

Elvira Falconer -
Open Air Gallery

All Weekend!

On the Street

спорідненість (Kinship) Entwining a relationship of the diaspora of belonging and kinship with the land through Ukrainian Folk Art. Elvira Falconer's wool felted works adorn the street. Look for them on your journey through the Kaleido site.

Носій Сонце (Sun Bearer) Олень (Deer) lifts the сонце (sun) with his antlers, symbolizing life’s cycles of renewal and return. Honouring land, water, and kin, this work reminds us to cherish our deep connection to the natural world.

The Vikings of Baldrsvolk

Saturday & Sunday • 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Behind Alberta Ave Community League (In the Garden)

Most people think of Vikings as raiders, and they absolutely were. But they were also traders. They were world Travellers who sought out connections and new sources of abundance. The Vikings of Baldrsvolk are here to join in the Kaleido Festivities and are happy to answer any questions you may have about this exciting part of history!

Colour Me Quack

All Weekend!

On the Street

Interactive and collaborative, festival-goers bring a blank canvas sculpture to life. People from diverse backgrounds unite to paint the duck with vibrant colors, symbolizing togetherness in a stunning display.

Rhythm Speaks Hip Hop Stage

Saturday • 1:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Sunday • 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm

118 Ave between 92 & 91 St

Dropping beats and speed speech, no one does Hip Hop like Edmonton’s MCs Don Welsh, Jon Jon Rivero, and many more!

Roaming Balloon Creatures

Parade, Saturday, & Sunday

On the Street

Spontaneously throughout the weekend, you will see curious balloon creatures — catch them if you can! Make sure to get a photo with our featured balloon friends!
Be sure to tag us @kaleidofestival

Little Street Art Gallery Swap

All Weekend!

In the Alberta Avenue District

Explore the neighbourhood and find treasure along the way. The Free Little Street Art Gallery is a series of custom-built wooden boxes designed and created by local artist Olena Ingerova. Make a Kaleido Craft and drop it off at one of the boxes on your way home! Open all-year round. Leave a little art, take a little art. Learn More