Nestled along the North Saskatchewan River, Edmonton comes alive during the warmer months, with a vibrant personality and ample space to celebrate. If you have a summer party of any sort on the horizon, you’re going to want to start here.
Looking for outdoor wedding venues with panoramic views? What about a converted industrial space with an outdoor patio? We’ve got them all. Even better, we offer a choose-your-own-adventure approach to party planning with locations that come fully decorated and ready to go, as well as a blank slate you can dress up as you please.
Your events matter to us, and so does your wallet! That’s why the Giggster app promises to always be fair with exceptional outdoor spaces your guests will love at a reasonable price.
Edmonton’s best venues are suitable for all kinds of outdoor activities including a creative hive for your corporate retreat and de-stressing yoga sessions to family reunion picnic sites. No matter what you plan to use your venue for, partnering with us is the secret to crafting an unforgettable experience.
Not sure what the perfect setting for your special occasion looks like yet? From beautiful scenery to the historical authenticity of downtown Edmonton architecture, a unique venue that’s totally yours is only a few clicks away on the Giggster app.
Take your outdoor event up a level—literally! Hidden from the public eye, these sky-high balconies offer superb views and sophisticated vibes. They will suit any decor, any theme, and any event type, too, which is a huge plus. If you want to hold a pop-up fitness class among the clouds or an exclusive artisan market, no one is stopping you.
Hosting a summer event for your coworkers or pals? A bar patio might be exactly what you need. With an uber-casual vibe and live music capabilities, you can sit down to a basket of fries, chicken wings, burgers, and good beer on tap for some socialization.
To find those underrated, service-industry hidden gems, check out our expert wedding venues with terraces. Remember, not every outdoor venue is marketed as one! Many have lawns and sprawling properties you can use, even if it looks like a primarily indoor event space. Consider a partial buyout and keep your event exclusively outdoors or rent the whole place, separating an open-air cocktail hour from dinner after dark in the comfort of a heated reception space.
Exceptional Variety & Quality: Don’t fret about not having enough to choose from. We have 32 phenomenal properties that will please even the pickiest party planner. Intimate gatherings at the best restaurants in town? A bridal shower amidst the lush gardens of a local event industry giant? It’s all possible.
Hassle-Free Booking: Memorable experiences start with an idyllic venue through a vendor you can count on. From transparent listings to honest and affordable pricing ($50/hour and up), that’s the Giggster guarantee.
24-Hour Free Cancellation Policy: Unfortunately, successfully finding an excellent venue for your next event doesn’t preclude you from life's trials and tribulations. We believe part of offering unparalleled service is the ability to give grace, so we allow up to 24 hours to cancel for free, as long as your event is more than 48 hours away at the time of booking.
Platform Protections: Want to know the secret to a seamless event? Pass off your damage and liability concerns to our dedicated team when you opt into a premium protection plan. Then you can enjoy everything a beautiful event space like Upscale Italian Restaurant in Edmonton offers, without the fear of financial and legal repercussions.
A wide array of factors can impact the way your party plays out. Once you’ve found the perfect venue, here are a few positive and negative aspects of life in Edmonton that effective event organizers should keep in mind:
Advantages
Edmonton is home to (perhaps surprisingly) vibrant arts, culture, and culinary scenes. If you’re looking for things to see, do, and eat, you’ll find plenty of ‘em here.
City locals are known for being particularly friendly and neighborly, which often translates to good service. A smile and courteous manner from your vendors should be a given.
There are tons of natural areas and attractions in Edmonton’s backyard. Not only does this make for a pretty party backdrop, but it also provides opportunities for guests to keep exploring on their own when your event wraps up.
Disadvantages
The winter season feels never-ending. While this might seem like a nationwide issue, it’s worth bearing in mind that November–March all but guarantees snow, and that’s not counting the spring and fall months which will also be too cold for an outdoor event, regardless of the precipitation situation.
The city sprawls pretty far and wide, making a vehicle fairly necessary to get around. The bad news? The road conditions are subpar and the traffic congestion is heavy.
Crime rates are above the national average, so you may want to take a few extra measures to ensure guest safety.
Natural beauty, New York industrial-style design, ample lawn space—Edmonton venues have a lot going for them. Not sure where to start? The right outdoor event space for you and your crew could fall into one of the following categories:
Restaurant Patios – Good Food Above All Else. Skip the caterer for your birthday parties, anniversaries, and family gatherings, and head to a local restaurant. Guests can order exactly what they like, or you can work with the events team to curate a prix fixe selection. Worried about the weather? Most restaurants have heaters to keep everyone comfortable during those “fringe seasons” that the Canadian climate is known for, helping you stretch the outdoor party season from spring through to late autumn, as well as later into the night when the sun brings some of the day’s heat with it.
Mixed-Use Green Spaces – Endless Possibilities. Unlike some of the other fully curated venues where you can virtually show up and start celebrating, these blank canvases offer the opportunity to make your event space completely your own. Even unassuming courtyards tucked between high rises have so much potential. Full of bright colors and urban curb appeal, you could host yoga classes, a pop-up bar, a food truck festival, or a family picnic full of lawn games.
Hotel Buyout – A Large Gathering Life Hack. This one’s for the big, big budgets (and events). For your corporate retreats and big fat Greek weddings, consider a full venue buyout of a local hotel. They offer a mix of indoor and outdoor spaces where everyone can comfortably move through a series of settings and activities—workshops, cocktail receptions, dances, you name it. Guests can walk around and get a breath of fresh air at their leisure, or you can host the entirety of your event outdoors and simply provide rooms for everyone to retire to at the end of the night.
Cultural celebrations, corporate gatherings, and wedding planning may all have their own unique trials and tribulations, but there are a few things that are true across the board. No matter what kind of special event you have up your sleeve, we think using these tips will give you a huge hands-up.
Help Everyone Stay Comfortable – Especially with changing weather (not just day to day, but over the course of a multi-hour affair), keeping an eye on the forecast and having some comfort items on hand will help keep everyone at the right temperature. Fans, spray bottles, sunscreen, bug spray, heaters, umbrellas, blankets, and shawls…sometimes a thoughtful gesture like this is all it takes to take an experience from good to great.
Factor Easy Set-up and Tear-down into Your Plans – It’s not as easy to set up the night before or even several hours in advance when you have wind, weather, and longevity to consider. Not to mention, you may not want to be sweating up a storm getting everything ready for hours before guests' arrival. Keep things simple and easy to install, with as much pre-assembled as possible. If you can limit the day of tasks to delivery and finessing, you’ll be in great shape.
Curate a Chill Spotify Playlist and Bust Out the Bluetooth Speaker – No need to get overly fussy with your entertainment but you shouldn’t leave all the pressure on the conversation. Fill the airwaves with good tunes, whether it’s your personal most listened-to hits or a top-rated playlist from the explore page.
Lean into the Whole “Summer Fun” Thing – Bring in a mobile popsicle stand, ice cream sandwich maker, or street food cart…we promise your guests will still be talking about it by year’s end.
Don’t let spending anxiety get in the way of achieving your vision for your special day. When paired with an affordable outdoor venue, these tips can save a boatload and keep you on (or under) budget:
Embrace a casual dress code.
Not only will you save your guests some cash by allowing them to head to their closets instead of the nearest mall, but you can avoid some of the financial pressure of dressing to the nines yourself, including hair and makeup services you might be tempted to indulge in as host. (And hello, practical shoes for everyone!)
Encourage snacking.
Something about the sun makes people more likely to graze than pig out all at once on a stick-to-your-ribs meal. Sometimes a handful of nibbly bits is just right. Veggies and fruit trays, charcuterie spreads and sweet treats can help fill up guests for less, which can be supplemented with classic party food like hot dogs and hamburgers, salads, and accouterments.
Paper or plastic?
Especially if you’re embracing the picnic/ backyard vibes, no one will bat an eye at some pretty patterned paper cups and napkins, or some plastic utensils from the dollar store. In fact, they’ll probably expect it.
Feeling overwhelmed by everything on your to-do list? Whether you are hosting a corporate event with back-to-back business meetings or wedding ceremonies, and traditional venues just aren't piquing your interest, we promise we've got the perfect backdrop to get your party planning back on track.
