Outdoor markets, open-air heritage sites are so back this May long weekend in Edmonton

The Edmonton Downtown Farmers' Market on 104 Street. (File/CTV News)

Here’s what’s happening in and around Edmonton this May long weekend.

Downtown Farmers’ Market

Yes, it’s a bit colder than you’d want in mid-May. But that isn’t stopping the return of the Downtown Farmers’ Market on 104 Street. The market will run each Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. starting this weekend.

The 104 Street Entertainment District is also open during every farmers’ market, meaning you can peruse the vendors, grab a bite to eat and drink your choice of alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage within the space.

Valley Line LRT construction has made getting there by car a tad tricky, as 102 Avenue is fully closed to 107 Street. Drivers can pass through 105 Street. Pedestrian detours are in place but the market can be accessed through the Bay/Enterprise Square LRT Station.

Streetcars

Streetcars will make their spring return on the High Level Bridge and at Fort Edmonton Park beginning Friday. The Edmonton Radial Railway Society has one of the largest fleets of its kind in North America, with 10 cars.

Schedules, ticket prices and more information can be found on the group’s website.

Heritage sites reopen for the season

Alberta Railway Museum

An outdoor heritage museum is chugging into Edmonton on Saturday. The Alberta Railway Museum offers attendees the chance to walk through real trains, explore historic railcars and experience the province’s railway history up close.

It’s one of the largest railway museums in Canada with more than 75 locomotives and railcars on site.

Ukrainian Village

The Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village opens for the season on Saturday, just over one year since a grass fire destroyed the site’s visitor centre and took several artifacts with it.

Thanks to digitization and storage efforts from the Royal Alberta Museum, many original research files were preserved, meaning the Alberta government was able to focus on site clean-up. A new visitor centre is expected to begin construction later this year.

The open-air village in Lamont County will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays to Sundays, as well as holiday Mondays until Labour Day. A temporary visitor centre with a gift shop is located in the Silska Domiwka (Red Barn).

St. Albert sites

The Arts and Heritage Foundation of St. Albert is reopening two heritage sites for the spring and summer on Saturday.

The St. Albert Historic River Lots and Grain Elevators explore the city’s Métis, Francophone and agricultural histories.

The Father Lacombe Chapel, a provincial historic site featuring costumed interpreters, also opens Saturday. Attendees can book a tour for the history of the chapel and Mission Hill with its historic bells, grotto and cemetery.

Both sites will be open Wednesdays through Sundays and holidays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Western debut of the Museum of Illusions

The West Edmonton Mall opens a new, mind-bending installation on Friday. The Museum of Illusions is adding Edmonton to its list of more than 60 locations around the world and will feature a number of rooms and pieces you’ll have to see to believe.

Arcade games

The Yegpin Pinball and Arcade Expo is back with a slate of new and old machine games in Sherwood Park. Free play is open to everyone of all ages. More information can be found online.