Freewill Shakespeare returns to Hawrelak Park this week
After a three-year closure for $134.5M in upgrades, the festival kicks off Wednesday with a newly renovated Heritage Amphitheatre.
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Freewill Shakespeare Festival returns to Edmonton's William Hawrelak Park this week, marking the reopening of the venue after a three-year closure for major renovations.
The $134.5-million renewal project has refurbished infrastructure throughout the park, including a new lakefront promenade, a new playground, a modernized pavilion, and renovated washrooms. The Heritage Amphitheatre received the most dramatic upgrade: 1,200 brand-new adjustable seats, accessibility aids including ramps and hearing loops, renovated green rooms, and winterized facilities.
Freewill's managing director Shannon Jones said the extended absence has transformed the company. "Being away from the park for the last three years has dynamically changed us as a company. It's been really fun and interesting to see how passionate and engaged all of our staff and crew are in coming back to the park and getting to be here."
During the closure, Freewill performed at alternative locations including community hockey rinks and Louise McKinney Riverfront Park — a significant financial burden. "We had a couple moments last year where we were like, 'We don't know if we're going to make it to the park," Jones said. Donations and city funding kept the festival operating.
The Edmonton Heritage Festival will also return to Hawrelak beginning August 1 after spending three years at Edmonton Exhibition Lands and Borden Park. The festival expects more than 60 pavilions representing over 60 cultures and is projected to attract 300,000 visitors.
Rob Rohatyn, executive director of the Edmonton Heritage Festival Association, called the reopening "a bit of a homecoming." He highlighted the value of the park's upgraded underground infrastructure, which provides reliable electricity and water — essential for the festival's operations.
The Silver Skate Festival is also set to return in February. Erin DiLoreto, the festival's executive producer, said the park feels like home after a two-decade tenure. "I've been doing this for over two decades, and I consider Hawrelak Park home. So it's like moving back home and showcasing and celebrating one of the jewels of the river valley."