FAQs

The Festival is running June 17 - July 12, 2026 at the Heritage Amphitheatre in Hawrelak Park! We are presenting two productions. Much Ado About Nothing, featuring Freewill faves and first-timers, will be on from June 17 - 28.  The hit musical, Something Rotten!, full of newer faces to the arts scene, will be running from July 1 - 12. Something Rotten! is produced in partnership with Edmonton Pops and Shelley’s Dance Company.

After several years away, due to renovations, we will be returning to the Heritage Amphitheatre in Hawrelak Park (9330 Groat Rd NW, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2A8).

Much Ado About Nothing Evening performances run Tuesdays, Wednesday, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30pm.  Matinee performances run Wednesday, Saturdays, and Sundays at 1:30pm.  Something Rotten! Evening performances run Tuesdays, Wednesday, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30pm.  Matinee performances run Saturdays and Sundays at 1:30pm.  There are no performances on Mondays or Sunday evenings.  There will be a brief gap in performances as we change shows. There are no performances June 29th and 30th.

We will be performing two shows this year, but unlike previous years, they will not be performed at the same time. The first show, Much Ado About Nothing, will feel a lot like the Freewill you know and love, and runs June 17 - June 28, 2026. The second show is Something Rotten!, a change to the Freewill structure but still Shakespeare inspired and featuring amazing emerging performers in collaboration with Edmonton Pops and Shelley’s Dance Company.  If you’d like to help us return to our usual format, we invite you to donate to Freewill, come to the festival, and share the word!

Yes! We will be outdoors, with our favourite ambiance director, Mother Nature.  While waiting in line, grabbing food from our various vendors, or even under the cover of the tent, we still recommend dressing for the weather and any inclement weather that may occur.  There are chairs available closer to the stage but we also invite you to bring your own chairs, blankets, and picnic baskets to enjoy the shows from afar.

Sign up today by using this form or learn more on our Volunteer page! Applications close before the end of May, so please sign up soon to avoid disappointment! If you have any questions that aren’t answered on our website, please reach out at volunteer@freewillshakespeare.com.

We are excited to be the first festival returning to the newly renovated Heritage Amphitheatre in Hawrelak Park, but that does mean we are still awaiting access to the site to collect measurements and details for accessing the site, wheelchair seating, washrooms, and more. We will be updating this question and our Accessibility page as soon as we are able to help you plan for your trip to Freewill.

Parking Parking is available in the main parking lot at Hawrelak Park. It can be limited during performances with larger crowds, so plan to arrive early or take transit, walk, roll, or cycle to the festival. Placard accessibility spots are available in the parking lot and you are able to drive closer to the Amphitheatre to drop off someone who cannot walk as far.  It is still a walk to get to the Heritage Amphitheatre so please arrive early enough to avoid missing the start of the performance.  Public Transit The Heritage Amphitheatre is located inside William Hawrelak Park so every transit option requires some walking to reach the festival. There are walking paths located from the University of Alberta Campus, where you can access a major bus terminal and the Metro and Capital Line LRT. It is up on the hill, so returning home will require walking up the hill. There is one bus stop located just outside the park at Groat Road/Emily Murphy Park Road. Please visit the ETS website for further information and schedules. Walking There are many lovely walking paths in and around the area to also experience the beautiful views of the newly reopened Hawrelak Park, and parking up the hill near the University of Alberta.  Biking There are shared pathways around Hawrelak Park. Bike lock up is available on the park grounds but is not located within the gates of the festival so we recommend a secure lock to protect your bike. Please note that the Heritage Amphitheatre is located inside William Hawrelak Park and surrounded by hills, so elevation changes are common for travel.  If you need help planning your trip, visit the Discover YEG map that includes walking and biking paths, transit locations, and more to help you plan your visit to Freewill.

The Freewill box office will open 60 minutes before each show (at 12:30 for matinees and 6:30 for evening performances). If you are buying tickets onsite, we recommend arriving at the box office at least 30 minutes before the performance begins to avoid longer lines.  You can purchase tickets online any time here.  If you have questions about booking online, send us an email at info@freewillshakespeare.com with your questions. Due to a small team, email ticketing assistance will only be available during these hours:  Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 1-8pm Wednesdays and Saturdays from 11am-8pm  Sundays from 11am-2pm

We recommend arriving between an hour to a half-hour before the show. Arriving earlier also allows you an easier pick of available seats in the Amphitheatre when the gate opens. If you are buying tickets onsite, we recommend arriving at the box office at least 30 minutes before the performance begins.

Limited snacks and drinks will be available for purchase, as well as a selection of wine and draft beer. We’re also selling merchandise, offering a Saturday artisan market, and scheduling artists to perform before the show and during intermission.

We will provide a more accurate length of the shows closer to the start of the festival. Generally, including a 15-minute intermission, the performances run a little over 2 hours.