As music lovers prepare to swarm Gallagher Park on Thursday evening, the city wants to ensure everyone can get in and out smoothly to enjoy the melodic sounds of the Edmonton Folk Music Festival. Private vehicles will not be permitted to enter the Cloverdale community for pick-up and drop-off and the city is encouraging attendees to take public transit.
ETS service
Shuttle buses will be running to and from the park every 30 minutes from two locations throughout the four-day festival:
- southeast corner of the University of Alberta Butterdome at 87 Avenue and 114 Street westbound
- corner of Cloverdale Hill Road, 92 Street and 97 Avenue northbound
Regular transit service will also continue with several routes travelling by the park in all directions. For safety reasons, buses will not stop at the top of Cloverdale Hill Road. Regular transit rates will apply.
During the last hour of shuttle service each day, the buses will be parked on Cloverdale Hill Road beside the festival site for departures.
Shuttle bus service schedule:
- Aug. 9, 3:30-11:30 p.m.
- Aug. 10, 3:30 p.m.-1 a.m.
- Aug. 11, 8:30 a.m.-1 a.m.
- Aug. 12, 8:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m.
Parking in adjacent neighbourhoods
There will be a number of parking restrictions in place in Cloverdale as well as temporary one-way roads implemented to manage traffic congestion and allow safe access for emergency vehicles throughout the festival.
Additional parking restrictions will be in effect in Strathearn and Bonnie Doon with strict bylaw enforcement. Illegally parked vehicles will be ticketed and towed.
Passengers being dropped off are encouraged to use the allocated lanes along 98 Avenue.
The city is also cautioning possible travel delays along 98 Avenue through Cloverdale and on Connors Road. An increase in pedestrian traffic as well as construction projects in the area will impact travel times.
Regular parking rates will apply at the University of Alberta and Jubilee parking lots throughout the festival.
Other travel options
For those who wish to travel by bike, there will be a bike lock-up area behind the Muttart Conservatory, west from 96A Street and 96 Avenue. The city is reminding cyclists not to lock bikes on private property.
The funicular will be in operation for extended hours for those who wish to take a scenic route down to the river valley. It will operate 90 minutes after the festival ends each day. It will run until 12:30 a.m. on Thursday and Sunday and until 1:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
The festival runs Thursday until Sunday.