News Release
Heart of the City Festival 2025: THE MUSIC WILL BRING THE PEOPLE
May 31 & June 1, 2025 – Giovanni Caboto Park, Edmonton
HeartCityFest.com | #HeartCityFest
EDMONTON, AB — Heart of the City Festival returns to Giovanni Caboto Park for two vibrant days of live music, local art, spoken word, and family-friendly fun — all free to attend!
We’re proud to open Edmonton’s festival season with this year’s powerful theme:
“THE MUSIC WILL BRING THE PEOPLE”
It’s more than a slogan — it’s a mission. Through the power of grassroots art and storytelling, we gather to celebrate the heart and soul of central Edmonton.
This year’s festival is organized by a passionate team of four women — Jacqueline Duttenhoffer, Rachael Roberts, Corine Demas, and Lea-Ann Whiting — two of them proudly Indigenous and all deeply committed to community-led cultural work.
Following the retirement of our longtime producer Mike Siek, the team turned challenge into opportunity. We’ve welcomed Isaac Friesenn, a gifted young artist and longtime FreeArts Youth Stage volunteer, into a new production assistant role. He’s learning the ropes with hands-on mentorship from the board — a true example of our commitment to nurturing the next generation of arts leaders.
Festival Highlights – 2025 Edition:
Over 30 musical acts on the Main Stage, all from Edmonton, including Indigenous artists from Treaty 6.
Creating our central art this year is young queer Metis artist, Coda Girvan. You can find his work on instagram @cj.girv.
The BEAT, a high-energy spoken word and open mic stage curated by Dani Zyp, featuring guest workshops, emerging voices, and the 7th Annual Story Slam with a $300 prize.
Performances by the rising stars of FreeArts, an initiative focused on empowering youth through the arts.
Local vendors, artist booths, family activities, and community celebration in the heart of Boyle Street and McCauley.
Come hungry and curious! We’re proud to host Island Spice: Franco Caribbean Food, a budding social enterprise that supports at-risk youth through culinary job training — while serving up unforgettable flavour.
Our 2025 festival is made possible by the support of these community champions:
Edmonton Arts Council
Métis Nation of Alberta – District 9
Boyle McCauley News
McCauley Community League
Paper Birch Books
Island Spice: Franco Caribbean Food
The City of Edmonton
More to come!
Full lineup drops soon at HeartCityFest.com
Follow @heartcityfest on Instagram and Facebook for teasers, behind-the-scenes peeks, and festival-day fun.
Pinoy Edmonton News 