Question 1

When is the Freewill Shakespeare Festival?

Accepted Answer

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. Much Ado About Nothing is produced by the Freewill Shakespeare Festival

The hit musical, SOMETHING ROTTEN!, full of newer faces to the arts scene, will be running from July 1 - 12. SOMETHING ROTTEN! is produced by Edmonton Pops and Shelley’s Dance Company.

Question 2

Where are you performing?

Accepted Answer

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).

Question 3

When are the shows?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 4

Are you performing two shows?

Accepted Answer

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, produced by the Freewill Shakespeare Festival, will feel a lot like the Freewill you know and love, and runs June 17 - June 28, 2026.

The second show is Something Rotten!, produced by Edmonton Pops Orchestra and Shelley's Dance Company, is a change to the typical Festival structure, but still Shakespeare inspired and featuring amazing emerging performers.

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!

Question 5

Is the show outdoors?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 6

What is accessibility like?

Accepted Answer

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  learning about the venue as we spend time there.

More details can be found on our Accessibility page, as well as some commonly asked questions under the Accessibility tab on this FAQ page.

Question 7

How do I get to the Festival?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 8

When should I plan to arrive?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 9

What else will be available on site?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 10

How long is the performance?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 11

Can I bring my pet?

Accepted Answer

Though we are located in a park, and service animals, are always welcome, we discourage bringing your pets onto site. We are a very large and busy site with lots of noises and people. We also need to keep all aisles in the theatre clear due to entrances by our performers during the show. It can be a rather overwhelming experience, so we advice caution.

Question 12

Are children allowed?

Accepted Answer

Children are allowed at the Freewill Shakespeare Festival! Tickets for kids 12 and Under are free. We leave it up to parents to decide if their children can handle the productions.

Much Ado About Nothing contains complex and poetic language and discusses themes of love, pretending to be others, marriage, and redemption; suitable for those prepared to handle these elements.

SOMETHING ROTTEN! contains frequent sexual innuendos, suggestive humour, and light mature themes so parental guidance is recommended for those under 13.

If you'd like more information about what the festival is like, we recommend our Accessibility page  and Your Visit page for more details.

Question 13

When do the gates open?

Accepted Answer

The outer gates to the lobby open approximately 45 minutes before the show. You’ll be able to access the washrooms, concession, and merchandise tents at that time as well as lounge on chairs while you wait.

Closer to the show you will be invited to enter the theatre space and choose your seats. There are no reserved seats but the Amphitheatre hosts over 1000 seats, so you should have a wide choice of seats.

Our on-site box office opens 1 hour before the performance if you haven't already purchased tickets.

Question 14

What should I bring with me?

Accepted Answer

We always recommend dressing for the weather, including bug spray, blankets, sunglasses, and jackets. The weather can be variable and it can get quite cold near the end of the show. The Amphitheatre has chairs and it is covered by a tent, but if you want to sit on the grass we’d recommend bringing a blanket or chairs.

Question 15

It looks like it's forecasted to rain. Are you still going to perform?

Accepted Answer

Generally, we run rain or shine, so unless we have made an announcement on social media and the website, we will be performing.

We recommend dressing for the weather and coming prepared. The seats are located under the large Amphitheatre tent but the to walk to the venue and when moving around the site is uncovered.

Weather is incredibly variable, so we rarely cancel more than a few hours in advance. If you have already purchased tickets and we do have to cancel, you will receive an email from our team about rescheduling or processing a refund.

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