Application Process
To plan an event on City of Edmonton public parklands, roadways (including sidewalks and alleys), plazas and square:
- Visit the Civic Events Application process section.
- After you submit your application, your request will be assigned to the appropriate City Staff member to guide you through the process.
Please visit rentals & bookings to learn about indoor City facility venues available for events.
Filming on City of Edmonton public property may require a permit. Please visit the Filming, Drones & Photography section of the City of Edmonton website to learn more.
Please visit the Block Parties and Play Street section for more information, including the appropriate application form.
You will receive an automated email from Civic Events acknowledging that the event application has been received once you submit it. The City will review your submission and contact you directly to discuss your application. In high season (May - August) please allow two to four weeks to hear back about your application, and additional administrative time to work through the details with you. The larger the event or festival, the more administrative time will be required.
If your application is approved, the City will work with you to arrange for the applicable civic services that may be required (ie: road closures, permit applications, and/or special event policing) for the event.
Once the civic services are determined, a contract will be created for use of the City space based on your specific event requirements and selected location. Please check the Legal Requirements section for additional details.
If you are new to event planning on City property, visit the Special Event Planning section for details.
The Province of Alberta has also produced an event tool called "Setting the Stage - A Community-Based Festival & Event Planning Manual" for festival and event producers. The manual provides tools, templates and resources to help committees navigate through the event planning, production and evaluation processes. This is a great resource for all event organizers.
Events at private or City facilities are required to obtain all applicable permits for the event activities and adhere to all laws, bylaws, and regulations outlined by the facility you are using.
To plan a private event at an indoor City facility please see the list of venues available for rentals & bookings and follow the booking request process outlined.
If the event extends to an outdoor space that impacts City property (ie. roads, sidewalks or parks), a Civic Events Application will need to be submitted.
The docks on City property are available for spontaneous use. However, should your event require use of River Valley Parkland or any City land immediately adjacent to the North Saskatchewan River for access or egress, a Civic Events Application for use of the space is required.
Please see the following links for information about the North Saskatchewan River:
Annual festivals and events are given first priority for date and location based on event classification (size, scope, scale).
If you host a recurring event, you may submit a Civic Events Application at any time to request space for your next annual event.
Civic events applications for the current year will be responded to within two to four weeks of the application date. Civic events applications for the following year will be responded to early in the new year.
Note: When submitting your renewal application, historical dates, times, and location requests are prioritized. Additional and/or alternate dates will be considered as new requests, and will be reviewed as dates and locations allow.
The City of Edmonton Events Calendar was discontinued on December 29, 2023. Please check the partner events calendars listed on Festivals and Events, and connect with the partner groups directly to explore opportunities to advertise your event.