Summers in Edmonton are dreamy. There’s always a patio to visit, a festival to attend, good food to eat, a sun that doesn’t set until late into the evening, the list goes on and on!
For pretty much as long as I have memories (really lol), Edmonton’s annual carnival—K-Days—has been a part of my summer. From when I used to go with my parents, to teenage summers on the midway, and hang-outs with my husband, there’s a lot to love about K-Days (especially the Spiral Spud chips!!)
This year (2019), I was invited to K-Days to find its most Instagrammable spots and share them with you!!
There’s lots of Instagrammable areas both in and outdoors on the K-Days grounds.
If you’re headed to K-Days July 19-28, be sure to snap some photos at these spots on the fairgrounds!
Pro Tip: Go right when the midway opens so there are less crowds in your shots!!
Guide to Instagrammable Spots of K-Days (2019)
1. Colourful K-Days Banners
These can be found all over the midway grounds but the best / widest stretch of banner can be found near the North Stage and North Entrance. They are tall enough that people who are up to 5’2 in height (me! lol) can stand and it can fully be your background, or you can crouch to add some fun dimension to your photo.
2. Vintage White Entranceway at Mardis Gras Ride
The delicate floral design around this ride entranceway in the children’s section of rides (close to the Expo Centre main entrance) offers a really vintage look!
3. RIDE Ticket Booths
Get your RAD pass (Ride All Day), then mosey on by for a photo with these Instagrammable ticket booths.
4. Toon Town Theatre
For a classic midway look, get a shot in front of the Toon Town Theatre located in the childrens’ rides area!
5. Unicorn ‘Wall’
Next to the Super Slide (also in the childrens’ ride area), you’ll find a colourful array of unicorns that make a pretty nice Instagrammable ‘wall.’ Get it at an angle so you can see other toys, or go straight up so your entire background is made of unicorns! Or if you’re not into the unicorns, you can really find any stretch of colourful toys on the midway to replicate this type of shot!
5. Pink and Blue Super Slide
The best photo of the Super Slide would be you coming down it, but since my visit was *just* before opening, the ride wasn’t technically available yet so I opted to get in front. Still, you can imagine the Instagrammable opportunity at this slide. If you wanted the yellow Kiwanis slide, that would work as well however you might get slightly better angles and less crowds (maybe) at the Super Slide in the childrens’ ride area.
6. Monkey Mural (Vignettes YEG – Hall F)
Moving inside, new to K-Days this 2019 are some pop-up Instagrammable spaces in the Expo Centre Hall F!
Vignettes YEG is an art and design agency that “aims to design for experience.” They work with different organizations to produce large scale, immersive art pieces through memorable and engaging interactions.
They have put together some really amazing, interactive and Instagrammable pieces all over the city over the years and I was really excited to see them have a presence at the 2019 K-Days.
My hope is that Vignettes will have an even bigger space to create / attendees will have a bigger space to play in future years of K-Days!
7. Colourful Humans (Vignettes YEG – Hall F)
Have some fun and interact with the Vignettes YEG spaces. Losing the floor definitely creates some lovely, colourful Instagrammable Walls too!
8. Cloud & Lightning Swing (Vignettes YEG – Hall F)
How cool is this swing?! I LOVE how tall it is, but that also presents a logistical photo challenge—taking your photo and videos from an angle is probably your best bet. Either way, it’s a show stopper.
9. Sparkle Room (Vignettes YEG – Hall F)
Hit the button to get the wind going for some fun in this sparkly Instagrammable area by Vignettes YEG! A video looks cooler with wind on but I think wind-less is better for your static image.
10. Funky Neon Lights (Vignettes YEG – Hall F)
I love the cool perspective you can get with these funky neon lights at the Vignettes YEG display! Standing furthest back will get you the nicest image (I think), if you’re in the first opening then the light comes up a a bit harsh. I also liked standing in front of the display and getting a photo looking at it too!
11. Klondike Days Poster Wall
Step back in time at the Northlands Story historical display in Room 102-103 of the Expo Centre (across from Hall F). You’ll find a. lot of tidbits about Northlands impact in the community over the years and there’s a great wall full of vintage K-Days posters (back when it was called Klondike Days!)
12. Carnival Concession Stand
Any of the carnival concession stands with colourful flags at K-Days will make excellent, Instagrammable photo ops, especially the ones that light up.
I was partial to. this Cotton Candy & Popcorn stand near the North Entrance but there’s obviously lots to choose from on the K-Days grounds!
13. ANY CARNIVAL FOOD
Really—from mini donuts, cotton candy, ice cream and lemonade, to the turkey legs, roasted corn, chicken skin or pizza perogies, posing with or holding carnival food on the midway grounds is almost guaranteed Instagrammable. Get a ride mid-air-action shot in the background or try a portrait mode blurry sparkly concession stand lights for eye-catching effect.
The three best New Foods to the midway this year are: Butterscotch ‘Butterbeer’ ice cream, ‘Dragon’s Breath’ liquid nitrogen fruit loop-esque puffs with ice cream, and pizza perogies so be sure to try those!
So there’s just a few of the Instagrammable opportunities at the 2019 K-Days summer festival in Edmonton!
There’s also the Pride colour walkways at all entrances. Don’t miss the giant playable piano and the world’s largest Etch-a-Sketch inside Kids Town Toytopia Hall B. There’s a ton of cute farm animals in Hall A. More food in Hall E. A local makers market in Hall G and SUPER DOGS shows three times a day in Hall D presented by TELUS (woo, #TELUS_Partner!) Not to mention all the outdoor North and South Stage concerts!
All of this included with your gate admission!
There is so much to do indoors and out at K-Days. I love celebrating summer in Edmonton here each year (I’ll be returning to try more food, including my annual Spiral Spuds chips, cheese, and bacon treat!)
K-Days runs July 19-28, 2019 (and depending on when you read this, mid to end July every summer in. Edmonton!) I hope you enjoy and capture some lovely, Instagrammable moments on the midway!
Linda
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Disclaimer: I partnered with Northlands to help highlight the 2019 K-Days in my own way (in this case, related to Instagrammable spots!!) This does not impact opinions stated in this post. As readers will know, I’m all about finding Instagrammable photo ops wherever I go and there are quite a few fun ones at K-Days!
