by Gene Kosowan
Let’s face it: Whether you’re single, attached or raising a family, everyone has a need to stretch those dollars just a little further. That usually means cutting entertainment out of your household budget. Fortunately, in Edmonton, you can find some options for going out that that won’t gouge your pocketbook. We found 10 activities to keep you amused – and in the black. [Image credit: iStock.com/AJ_Watt]
If you’re a fan of visual art, the biggest gallery in town is the Art Gallery of Alberta, home to some 6,000 collections with three floors of exhibition space. If you want to catch the trendiest exhibit of abstracts or works by some of the best artists in the world and admission is out of your price range, take heart. The AGA lets in patrons for free on the last Thursday of the month between 6 to 9 pm. It’s proof that culture doesn’t have to cost you a lot of coin.
It’s no secret that catching the NHL Edmonton Oilers will not only cost you an arm and a leg, but will have you searching high and low for a ticket. Here’s the next best thing: Checking out the Western Hockey League’s Edmonton Oil Kings, featuring the next generation of ice-shinny hopefuls in the palatial Rogers Place at prices ranging from $20 to $35 a seat. That’s a bargain when you realize that an Oilers ducat can go as high as $350. And the best part? You can root for a home team with a much better winning record!
It’s almost mandatory to dine at Chianti, housed in the historic post office building, to get into the boho vibe of Old Strathcona. And, for families, the motive becomes more irresistible on Mondays and Tuesdays, when the eatery drops its prices on more than 30 pasta dishes to $9.99 a plate. The results are huge savings, whether you select standard fare like spaghetti Napoletana or pricier offerings like fusilli al Pacifico.
Can’t hang with the see-and-be-seen crowd on opening night of a much-talked-about theatrical production? Big deal! You get to see the same show on Tuesday, when most mid-size theatre companies, such as Theatre Network, Northern Light Theatre and Teatro La Quindicina, offer pay-what-you-can incentives. It’s also a neat way to avoid the crowds and see a production after the cast has got over its first-night jitters.
Get in on some gridiron action when the city’s favourite CFL team takes to the field at Commonwealth Stadium and save some green in the meantime. The Esks make it more affordable than ever for families to enjoy pro football by offering the Family Huddle package, with single tickets at $27.50 (playoff seats are $29.50).
Fans of Cajun-style cuisine frequent this Whyte Avenue retro-style eatery and swear by this $12 sandwich deal offered Mondays and Tuesdays, which saves you at least 20 per cent on each order. Choose from blackened chicken, Philly cheese steak or all-veggie from more than a dozen options available. Your dish arrives on a French loaf with coleslaw, plus your choice of sweep potato fries, jambalaya rice or potato hash.
Going to a movieplex these days isn’t cheap and there’s always a chance that what you pay to see may turn out to be a box office dud. Thankfully, there’s a way to ensure you catch a classic flick with the family at a cheaper rate. The Metro Cinema (formerly Garneau Theatre) brings back the old Saturday matinee with classic family films ranging from Annie to Toy Story so that the brood can experience high-calibre cinema on the big screen in a historic movie theatre.
Why let an empty wallet disqualify you from taking in the action of what Festival City has to offer? Fortunately, some festivals won’t cost you a cent to attend, such as the Kaleido Family Arts Festival in the fall and the Deep Freeze Festival in January, both located on the Avenue of the Arts, with the Carrot Coffee House acting as a hub. Summer fare includes The Works Art & Design Festival, with scores of free art venues and live entertainment on Sir Winston Churchill Square. That’s also where the Edmonton International Street Performers Festival and Edmonton International Jazz Festival trots out its free attractions during its June run. And in August, you can’t go wrong with the free outdoor entertainment at the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival.
Sure, you can probably get a greasy pie for less at some of the chains out there, but why not take advantage of a more delectable creation at a bargain? Branches Fresh Food Experience in Sherwood Park uses only ingredients that reflect its moniker and on Tuesdays, offers patrons their choice of two pizzas for only $25. Forno wood-fired creations include pomodori secchi, beet pesto and goat cheese, mushroom and ricotta, Italiana and short rib and blue cheese.
Last but not least, take advantage of the fresh air and natural scenery of Edmonton’s River Valley, Canada’s largest urban park, where at some point’s you don’t even realize you’re in the city. At your disposal are 160 kilometres of hiking and bike trails and 20 parks for picnics, barbecues and get-togethers, as well as facilities for golf, skating and skiing. Roughly 7,400 hectares of land border the North Saskatchewan River, stretching nearly 50 kilometres, making it possible for anyone to turn this venture into a day trip.
In a city of nearly a million people, there are scores of other entertainment options out there designed to take it easy on your bank account. Whether you follow these suggestions or find more on your own, take heart in that the fact that, chances are, you’ll get your money’s worth.
