Last call long weekend: the garden, the dinos & the downtown market

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Happy Thanksgiving weekend. This is the long weekend of last calls: the U of A Botanic Garden closes Sunday, Jurassic Forest closes Monday, and Edmonton's Downtown Farmers Market holds its last Saturday of the year. If any of those have been on your list, this is the weekend.

Closer to home, Beaumont puts its unbeaten football record on the line tonight, the Chiefs and Riggers are both in action, and Ram Leela fills the Beaumont Community Centre on Sunday afternoon.

One correction from Monday: Quiltfest is Friday and Saturday, Oct 16 and 17, not Oct 14 to 17. Details below.

This Long Weekend at a Glance

Friday, Oct 9

Football: Ardrossan at Beaumont and Leduc at Fort Saskatchewan, both 6:00 p.m.
Beaumont Chiefs host the Edmonton Mustangs, 8:00 p.m., Ken Nichol Arena
Riggers at Spruce Grove, 7:45 p.m.
CSSHL U17 Prep Showcase begins at the LRC (runs to Sunday)
Botanic Garden open 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Seniors' Day)

Saturday, Oct 10

Last Downtown Farmers Market of 2026, Edmonton, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Canadian Finals Rodeo wraps up at Rogers Place
Corn maze 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; Prairie Gardens 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Sunday, Oct 11

Last day of the season at the U of A Botanic Garden, 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Ram Leela, 3:00 to 7:00 p.m., Beaumont Community Centre, free
Riggers host St. Albert, 6:45 p.m., LRC

Monday, Oct 12: Thanksgiving

Last day of the season at Jurassic Forest, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Corn maze open 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Holiday hours for all three towns are below

Thanksgiving Monday: What's Open

Leduc. The Civic Centre, Protective Services Building, Operations Building and Eco Station are closed. The Leduc Recreation Centre is open 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Curbside carts are collected on your usual day. Transit Route 1 and On-Demand don't run, and Route 10 runs 10:06 a.m. to 7:17 p.m. Holiday hours

Beaumont. The BSRC runs on its posted holiday hours, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The City collects waste on all statutory holidays except Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year's Day, so put your bins out as usual. BSRC hours

Devon. The Town Office and the Recycle Depot are closed Monday.

In Leduc

CSSHL U17 Prep Showcase

Friday to Sunday at the Leduc Recreation Centre, with prep-school hockey from across Western Canada. It's a good way to spend an hour if the in-laws need a break from the house. Details

Next weekend: Quiltfest

Friday Oct 16, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Saturday Oct 17, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Leduc Recreation Centre. The Black Gold Quilt Patch Guild shows more than 160 handmade quilts, with a vendor market, product demos, door prizes, raffle quilts and bed-turning demos. This year the show was open to all quilters, not just guild members. The guild has been in Leduc since 1995 and donates quilts to groups like the Zebra Child Protection Centre, Ronald McDonald House and the Stollery's NICU. Quiltfest

In Beaumont

Ram Leela, Sunday

Sunday, 3:00 to 7:00 p.m., Beaumont Community Centre, 5204 50 Avenue. Free. The Hindu Society of Beaumont presents scenes from the Ramayana, the story of Lord Rama and the victory of good over evil, with English descriptions on screen so everyone can follow along. Dinner follows. Details

Next week

Council meets Tuesday, Oct 13 at 6:00 p.m., and the St. Jacques Heritage House Museum (3116 49 Street) holds a Family Research Night Thursday, Oct 15, 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. if you've been meaning to dig into your family tree. Details

In Devon

The Botanic Garden's final weekend. Five minutes north on Highway 60, the University of Alberta Botanic Garden is open Friday to Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and closes for the season Sunday. Adults $19.75, children 3 to 12 $5.25, family $44.75. Friday is Seniors' Day, with free coffee for guests 65+. A walk there before Thanksgiving dinner is about as good as fall gets around here. Plan your visit

Coming up: Devon's Fall Treasure Hunt is next weekend, Oct 17 and 18. Put out usable items you no longer want, and neighbours are free to take them, ahead of Large Item Pick-Up on Oct 20 and 21. Also on Saturday Oct 17, the Devon Bird Team and Devon Nature Club host a backyard bird feeding session for the fall migration, 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. Treasure Hunt details

Last Calls Around Edmonton

Jurassic Forest: final day is Thanksgiving Monday

Gibbons, about 30 minutes north of Edmonton. The outdoor dinosaur park is open daily 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (last entry 5:00) through Monday, then closes for the season. Adults $18, youth 13 to 17 and seniors $15, children 3 to 12 $12, family of four $60, and 2 and under free. Plan your visit

Downtown Farmers Market: last one Saturday

104 Street, downtown Edmonton, Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., with 35+ vendors. It's the final market of the season and a good place to pick up anything you forgot for Thanksgiving dinner. Details

Still running all month

Pumpkins After Dark, Borden Park: nightly to Oct 31, 6:30 to 11:00 p.m., last entry 10:00. Timed tickets $23.08 to $33.38. Tickets
Edmonton Corn Maze, Spruce Grove: Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Sunday 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., Thanksgiving Monday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Weekend and holiday admission $16, ages 4 to 11 $14. Closes Oct 25. Hours
Prairie Gardens Haunted Pumpkin Festival, Bon Accord: weekends in October, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. No corn or sunflower maze this year after the rain. Buy timed tickets online to save $8. Details
DARK at Fort Edmonton Park (14+ recommended): to Oct 31, haunts 7:00 to 11:00 p.m., $50. Details

Sports & Entertainment

Canadian Finals Rodeo wraps up Saturday, Oct 10 → Tickets
Utah Mammoth at Edmonton Oilers, Rogers Place, Thursday Oct 15 at 7:00 p.m. → Tickets
Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Edmonton Elks, Commonwealth Stadium, Friday Oct 16 at 7:30 p.m. → Tickets
UFC Fight Night: Buckley vs Malott, Rogers Place, Saturday Oct 17 at 5:00 p.m. → Tickets

ALL EDMONTON EVENTS

The Week's News

Leduc: changes to fire and medical response on Oct 31

Leduc is ending its integrated Fire-EMS model on Oct 31. Starting Nov 1, the City begins a 12-month trial of an Advanced Life Support medical first response, with at least one paramedic on every fire apparatus. With 85% of full-time staff licensed as advanced care paramedics, the department expects an ACP on each apparatus 95% of the time. Fire Chief Bryan Singleton says ALS provides a higher level of care when ambulance response is delayed. Councillor Bill Hamilton called it "a great option to me at $18,000." Read more (93.1 The One, Oct 6)

Leduc RCMP: crimes against people up 30%

The Leduc RCMP detachment's latest numbers show crimes against people rose 30% in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period last year, driven by assaults, uttering threats and fraud. The 33 assaults in the second quarter were a five-year high. Detachment Commander Insp. Kiel Samotej says most fraud is committed from outside the country, so the detachment is running information sessions for seniors. Overall Criminal Code violations actually fell 3%, thanks to fewer break-ins and vehicle thefts. On the roads, police wrote 545 traffic tickets and issued 19 immediate roadside sanctions from April to June. Samotej called it "a horrific year on the highways." Please drive carefully this long weekend. Read more (93.1 The One, Oct 8)

Kids Corner

Jurassic Forest's last day is Monday. If you have a dinosaur kid, this is your last chance until spring.
Pumpkin Carving PD Day, Tuesday Oct 13, 12:00 to 3:00 p.m., New Sarepta Agriplex. The County has now confirmed the noon start. Details
Kitchen confidence for youth, Wednesday Oct 14, 3:30 to 5:00 p.m., Golden Pioneers Seniors Centre in the New Sarepta Agriplex. Kids make simple no-oven recipes like wraps and fruit salad. Details
BSRC school swim lessons start Tuesday Oct 13.

Local Business Spotlight: AquaHolics

Humans & Hounds is a private canine hydrotherapy and wellness studio where dogs can recover, exercise, and relax in a safe, warm-water environment.

Whether your dog is recovering from surgery, living with arthritis, building strength or simply enjoys swimming, every session is tailored to their individual needs.

Our goal is simple: Helping dogs move better, feel better and live happier lives through the healing power of water.

All classes, sessions, and events are posted on the AquaHolics- Humans & Hounds Facebook page as well as the website.

aquaholicsalberta.com | 825-975-AQUA (2782) | 9 Atlantic Crescent, Unit #2 Devon, AB, T9G2B1

[email protected]

Mark Your Calendars

Date	What
Tue Oct 13	Pumpkin Carving PD Day, New Sarepta. Beaumont Council, 6:00 p.m. Chiefs host Strathcona, 7:30 p.m.
Wed Oct 14	Kitchen confidence for youth, New Sarepta, 3:30 p.m.
Thu Oct 15	Family Research Night, St. Jacques Heritage House, Beaumont, 6:00 p.m.
Fri Oct 16	Football: Leduc at Beaumont, 6:00 p.m. Quiltfest opens at the LRC. Chiefs host St. Albert, 8:00 p.m. Riggers host Sherwood Park, 8:00 p.m.
Sat Oct 17	Quiltfest day two. Devon backyard bird feeding, 1:30 p.m.
Oct 17 and 18	Devon Fall Treasure Hunt
Oct 20 and 21	Devon Large Item Pick-Up
Sun Oct 25	Edmonton Corn Maze closes for the season
Sat Oct 31	Halloween. Last night for Pumpkins After Dark and DARK. Leduc's integrated Fire-EMS model ends

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Happy Thanksgiving!🦃🦃