Lindork’s Lists #262 – Downtown Defrost Music Festival, Mango Festival, BeerFest & more!
Newsletter for April 16-22, 2025
Note: this is the public version of my weekly email newsletter that gets sent to subscriber inboxes first each Wednesday. If you’re looking at this public version, there’s a chance you miss out on events earlier in the week! Get the full newsletter first by becoming a free subscriber.
Things to Do This Week
Experience the 10-year anniversary of the Downtown Defrost
The Downtown Defrost family-friendly winter dance, music and culture festival is celebrating 10-years at Sir Winston Churchill Square in downtown Edmonton this weekend April 18 & 19. Get tickets for the dance party featuring lights, installations, and some of the city’s favourite DJs alongside international talent.
Check out these concerts at the Winspear Centre
Get tickets to experience three of Edmonton’s most electrifying bands performing at the Winspear Centre as part of Sounds of YEG on Thursday, April 17 at 7:30 p.m.: Derina Harvey Band, The Brasstactics, and Melafrique!
On Friday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m., experience Live at the Winspear Presents: Martin Kerr, a show featuring Edmonton singer-songwriter Martin Kerr—known for his raw, heartfelt music and unique storytelling including catchy, original recent songs commentating on the current state of things.
Experience the Honky Tonk Market (Cook County Saloon, 8010 Gateway Blvd.)
SADDLE UP! The Honky Tonk Market taking place at Cook County Saloon on April 19 from 1-6 p.m. is described as a “wildly good time of Local Shopping, Boot Scootin’, Tattoos and Live Performances.” Come down to sip, shop and jam to the music at the biggest western vintage market in the city.
You might be interested in these photography events from McBain Camera
McBain Camera presents a Wildlife Photo Walk with wildlife photographer Jonathan Gillingham on April 20 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Capture the Dark: An Introduction to Night Sky Photography with McBain Camera and Carmen Therriault, is taking place April 22 from 7-9 p.m.
Here’s a few Easter events you may be interested in…
100,000+ chocolate Easter Eggs is included in the annual Strathcona County Egg Hunt on April 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m at Emerald Hills Sports Pavilion. It’s FREE to attend (and there are other family-friendly activities too).
Kiwi Nurseries’ Easter Scavenger Walk is April 19 & 20 (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
There’s Easter LEGO event at Chapters Indigos across the city on April 19 at either 11 a.m. or 1 p.m. depending on the location.
Check out a bunch of other Community League Egg Hunts in Edmonton compiled by Family Fun Edmonton.
Here are a few other events you may be interested in this week…
The Art Gallery of Alberta presents Save the Earth! Make Art! an adult Open Studio social art workshop on April 17 from 7 -9 p.m. where you’ll divert “garbage” from the landfill to create your own artistic masterpiece.
Participate in the Saturday Morning All-You-Can-Eat-Cereal Cartoon Party at Metro Cinema on April 19 starting at 10 a.m.
Beeps n’ Bops, a concert of video game music performed by live bands, in on April 19 starting at 7 p.m. at Rec Room South Edmonton Common.
Dawn Till Dusk, Edmonton’s first ‘EDM mini-massive’ two stage experience is April 19 starting at 8 p.m.
I don’t get Labubu but you / someone in your life might, lol and be interested in a Labubu Rave on April 19 at Temple Ballroom (doors 9 p.m.)
Activities are ongoing throughout April for the 20th anniversary of the Edmonton Poetry Festival.
Got an Edmonton area event, virtual event, or something coming up you think my readers would be interested in knowing about? Let me know!
Food to Try This Week!
Get tickets to Edmonton’s International BeerFest (Edmonton Convention Centre)
Celebrate beer from around the world this weekend at the 19th Edmonton Beerfest taking place April 18-19 at Edmonton Convention Centre. The event features hundreds of beers, eight bands, roving entertainment, two stages with live entertainment, a Beer School, and more!
Check out Mango Festival at T&T Supermarket (various locations)
Mango Festival is back at T&T Supermarket where you can find all sorts of fresh and creative mango desserts to celebrate mango season! From Mango Purple Rice to Mango Coconut Pudding, Mango Parfaits and Mango Bar Cafe, Mango Mochi Puffs, even a “Mango Pomelo Cute Hug Roll” and more (omg it looks so good!), pop in to try the mangos this April!
Enjoy tacos and tostadas from Calle Mexico (7704 104 St.)
Popped into one of my favourite Mexican restaurants Calle Mexico for lunch last week and really enjoyed (as usual) their famous chicken tostadas and tacos (barbacoa). I am also partial to their salsa and pickled jalapeños and radish bar (so many pickled jalapeños and radishes for me! hehe)
Share Korean eats at Nara Katsu (8115 104 St.)
This week my friend Diane is recommending you share food at Nara Katsu in Old Strathcona, the new-ish sister restaurant to Nara Chicken & Tonkatsu (west Edmonton). I have been to Nara Chicken & Tonkatsu and it’s excellent. I am going to go to Nara this week too!! Can’t wait. Diane writes:
“Love the bulgogi fries and the katsu is very nice and crispy. Great to share with friends. Tteokbokki sauce was nice and spicy – very good with the rice that comes with the Katsu!”
Try “THE BIG SECRET” at Pizza 73 (all locations)
I partnered with Pizza 73 to share about “THE BIG SECRET”—their super secret, limited time, off-menu item that you can only order if use the secret code online (THEBIGSECRET), call or go in-store and mention “THE BIG SECRET.” It’s a really delicious wrap with a filling that’s a combo of a chicken shawarma and “chopped cheese” (lots of melted cheese), plus onions, lettuce, tomato, and pickles. I loved it! Try it before May 18.
Here are a few Easter food events you might want to check out:
IKEA is hosting an Easter Family Breakfast on April 20 from 10-11:30- a.m. with crafts, FREE breakfast for kids, and other sweet surprises and family-friendly activities.
Chateau Louis is hosting Easter Sunday Brunch and Dinner Buffet on April 20. Their Easter meal offering is different from others because their buffet dinner will be entirely gluten-free.
The Sawmill is offering Easter Turkey Dinner Take-out, dine-in Dinner Buffet and Easter Brunch Buffet on April 19.
Pop into Bon Ton Bakery for a variety of Easter-themed sweet treats (including cute over easy cookies, mini egg chocolate cookies, meringue egg nests, and more! Online orders are full but there should be some in-store.
And here are some upcoming food events you may be interested in!
Great Thursday on Happy Beer Street is April 17, featuring 10 breweries including for the first time Campio Ritchie!
Thursday Snackbar and Roam Cafe are teaming up for Game Night (including sangria, cocktails and a custom snack bar), on April 17.
Spilt Zero Proof Bar’s April classes are focused on planning your Mocktail Herb Garden (April 29) and then explore Street Drinks from Around the World in May and June (May 13, 27, June 10, 24).
Edmonton’s International BeerFest is April 18 & 19.
Your ticket to April 25’s In the Mood for Film, a live concert fundraiser supporting FascinAsian Film Festival – Edmonton, also includes access to a build-your-own Bubble Tea & Juice Bar from OCHA + BOBA!
Sorrentino’s Garlic Fest events take place throughout April with a Big Garlic Night on April 17 and a Garlic Stomp Fundraiser on April 26.
Albeta’s Premier Chocolate Tasting Festival, ChocoFest, is April 25 & 26.
Hot Chefs Cool bEATS food and music fundraiser for the Canadian Culinary Fund and High School Culinary Challenge is April 30.
Playwright and eighty eight brewing are doing a tasting event on April 30.
HOM (southeast Asian-inspired street food) is doing a pop-up at Shamrock Curling Club on May 9.
Spotlight Cabaret Romeo & Juliet’s Notebook dinner + show runs til May 15.
Ate something amazing recently? Want to show some love to a struggling restaurant? Have a take-out suggestion? Let me know to include in this newsletter.
Canadian Fertility Awareness Week
Canadian Fertility Awareness Week (CFAW) returns April 20-26, 2025.
I am back working with local clinics Alberta Reproductive Centre and Whole Family Health to raise awareness about infertility—a disease that affects 1 in 6 Canadians. You should hopefully hear/read/see stories in local news about folks struggling with infertility (like Mike and I did for nearly a decade), and about how Alberta is the only province or territory in the country without public funding to support fertility treatments (why????) including a CityTV News story that aired this week.
There are two FREE Edmonton events you may be interested in attending if you are struggling, or if you know someone who is, let them know!
Thursday April 24 – Light the Night – Wear a green shirt and join the community to see the High Level Bridge light up green alongside landmarks across Canada, showing solidarity to raise awareness, show support, and start important conversations about fertility, pregnancy, infant loss, and family-building.
Sunday April 27 – Fertility Unfiltered: From Reel to Real – An afternoon of fertility-focused film (a free screening of the movie Joy, which talks about the creation of IVF), plus expert insights, powerful storytelling, candid conversations, and meaningful action. Bring loonies, toonies and cash for purchasing refreshments and raffle tickets for some incredible door prizes. All sales and raffle proceeds will go directly to Fertility Alberta to support advocacy, education, and resources for those navigating (in)fertility in our province.
Save $$$ with my Discount Codes
I regularly partner with awesome companies to offer discounts that save you money!
Here’s a few promos you may be interested in…
Get 15% off your Deluxe Mobile Playscapes party package using code LINDORK! Book by April 30, 2025 for parties happening by Feb 28, 2026 to receive the discount! (not valid on deposits, delivery, or any other promotions
Get 20% off regular priced items at Bamboo Ballroom with my code LINDORK20.
Get 10% off cooking classes at Secret Ingredient YEG with my code LINDORK10.
Get 10% off massage, acupuncture, energetic healing and medical aesthetics services at Park Integrative Health when you mention LINDORK at payment.
See all current discount codes on my blog!
As a TELUS Ambassador, if you sign up for TELUS products or services using my referral link / code, I also get some revenue (unfortunately you don’t get a bonus lol).
Popular on my Blog Right Now
Here are the top four most popular posts on my blog this week:
Subscribe for More!
Free subscribers to my weekly newsletter Lindork’s Lists receive the full, hyperlocal newsletter first in their inbox every Wednesday—before anyone else! You can also become a paid subscribers to receive access to more musings and stories written by me—or simply subscribe to support my work, especially if you’ve been following me for awhile and are so inclined :)
The full Lindork’s Lists includes:
- Things to Do This Week
- Food to Try This Week
- Walls of the Week
- Interesting Thing on the Internet
- Social Media Did You Knows
- Exclusive Promo Codes / Discounts
- Exclusive Newsletter Subscriber-only Giveaways
- Newsletter Subscriber-only Access to Events
Paid subscribers also receive access to musings, stories, an exclusive Q&A every other Sunday, giveaways and more content (forthcoming lol). Becoming a paid subscriber also supports the content I share overall.
(You’ll get the option to subscribe for free or select a paid plan)
