Your Visit
Make the most of your visit to the Freewill Shakespeare Festival! Learn more about how to get to the festival, the show, tips & tricks, and more! Check it out below!
Getting Here
We are excited to be performing at Louise McKinney Riverfront Park this year. There is limited paid parking beside our site. If you are able to walk approximately 10-15 minutes with some incline/decline, we recommend you find alternative parking or use transit to get to site.
The location of Freewill is in a large grassy field between the Shumka Stage and the Chinese Garden. The Shumka Stage is where the entrance to our site is, which can be found beside the gravel parking lot. It is the only parking lot in Louise McKinney Riverfront Park.
General Tips
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We are in the middle of the park, at the highest flat surface before Grierson Hill Road.
Walking or Biking
Bus Directions
LRT Directions
Driving/Parking
Feeling Lost?
LRT Map for Walking to Freewill
Valley Line LRT
If you are travelling on the Valley Line, the Davies Stop has 1,300 free parking stalls available.
For more details on Park & Ride locations, visit the City of Edmonton website. Our newest LRT line, the Valley Line has two stops in close proximity to Louise McKinney Riverfront Park.
The closest stop is Quarters, located just up the hill. Take the exit toward 96 Street and walk along 96 Street until you reach 101 Ave. Continue left, walking parallel along Grierson Hill, until you reach the pedestrian crosswalk at 95A Street. Cross the street at Grierson Hill. Take the stairs down to Louise McKinney Riverfront Park. If you would like a more casual stroll, there is a paved path headed down the hill and into the Chinese Garden, beside our site. Walk along the fence line, covered in Freewill Shakespeare Festival banners, to reach the entrance.
If you’d like to take the scenic route, the Muttart stop, on the south side of the river, is a slightly longer route toward the park but features beautiful art and poetry. After exiting the Muttart stop, either walk through the EHS Gardens at the Muttart or along the pedestrian walkway along 98 Ave. Take the overpass walkway toward Henrietta Murr Edwards along the paved shared pathway and across the Tawatinâ Bridge. After crossing the bridge, following the paved pathways up and left, toward the Chinese Garden, beside our site. Walk along the fence line, covered in Freewill Shakespeare Festival banners, to reach the entrance.
Capital/Metro Line LRT
If you are travelling on the Capital Line, the Clareview LRT Station has over one thousand free and paid parking stalls available and the Stadium LRT Station has free and paid parking stalls. For more details on Park & Ride locations, visit the City of Edmonton website.
The closest stop on the line is the Churchill Square stop. There are several ways to walk to Freewill.
The first is walking down and then along Jasper Avenue. Cross the road at the pedestrian crosswalk along Grierson Hill. From there you can take the stairs down to Louise McKinney Riverfront Park, or if you would like a more casual stroll, a paved path headed down the hill and into the Chinese Garden, beside our site. Walk along the fence line, covered in Freewill Shakespeare Festival banners, to reach the entrance.
An alternative is to follow along the Valley LRT line along 102 Ave. Turn right and walk down 96 St until you reach 101 Ave. Continue left, walking parallel along Grierson Hill, until you reach the pedestrian crosswalk at 95A Street. Cross the street at Grierson Hill. Take the stairs down to Louise McKinney Riverfront Park. If you would like a more casual stroll, there is a paved path headed down the hill and into the Chinese Garden, beside our site. Walk along the fence line, covered in Freewill Shakespeare Festival banners, to reach the entrance.
Travel by Bus
Route 8
Get off the McDougall Hill/Grierson Hill stop (headed downtown) or the 100 Street/Rossdale Rd stop (headed south) and walk up along Grierson Hill, turning right into the parking lot and toward the Shumka Stage in Louise McKinney Riverfront Park.
Route 2 or 5
Get off the 96 Street/Jasper Ave stop (headed east or west) and walk down 96 Street. Walk toward 95A Street and cross Grierson Hill at the pedestrian crosswalk at 95A Street. Take the stairs down to Louise McKinney Riverfront Park. If you would like a more casual stroll, there is a paved path headed down the hill and into the Chinese Garden, beside our site. Walk along the fence line, covered in Freewill Shakespeare Festival banners, to reach the entrance.
Route 1
Get off the 95 Street/Jasper Ave stop (headed east) or the 95 Street/101a Ave stop (headed west) and walk along 101A Ave toward 95A Street. Turn left on 95A Street, heading toward the river, and cross Grierson Hill at the pedestrian crosswalk. Take the stairs down to Louise McKinney Riverfront Park. If you would like a more casual stroll, there is a paved path headed down the hill and into the Chinese Garden, beside our site. Walk along the fence line, covered in Freewill Shakespeare Festival banners, to reach the entrance.
Several other buses run along Jasper Avenue and follow similar routes to Louise McKinney Riverfront Park. There are signs along major intersections providing general wayfinding to the park.
Travel by Car
There is limited paid parking beside our site and it is highly monitored. We recommend that if you are able to walk approximately 10-15 minutes with some incline/decline, that you find alternative parking or use transit to get to site.
If you are driving to site, there are several paid parking options just off of Jasper Avenue. We recommend using the City of Edmonton website for details on payment and parking areas.
The closest City of Edmonton parkades are in Canada Place and the Library Parkade. Upon exiting the parkades, if you make your way to Jasper Ave, and cross the street at the pedestrian crosswalk at 95A Street and Grierson Hill, you will have the option of taking the stairs down to the park or using a gradual paved pathway down to the Chinese Garden. Walk along the fence line, covered in Freewill Shakespeare Festival banners, to reach the entrance.
There are residential areas, up the hill and mostly east of our location, nearby Cameron Avenue and along, with some free street parking, with a gentle walk underneath the LRT bridge and through Louise McKinney Park to reach our site or down from the main path at Grierson Hill and 95A Street.
If you are entering from the west end of the park along Cameron Avenue, there are two general paths to the site.
If you'd like to go uphill, turn left onto 101 Ave NW, which turns into Grierson Hill. If needed, cross the street and head down the stairs to Louise McKinney Riverfront Park. Or, if you would like a more casual stroll, there is a paved path headed down the hill and into the Chinese Garden, beside our site. Walk along the fence line, covered in Freewill Shakespeare Festival banners, to reach the entrance.
If you head downhill along Cameron Avenue, enter Louise McKinney Riverfront Park at the trail end and head right. At the fork in the road, swing left and head underneath the Tawatinâ LRT Bridge. Continue straight and then swing right, up the hill toward the Chinese Garden and the Shumka Stage. When you are higher up, you’ll see the Freewill Shakespeare Festival fence line. Turn left and walk along the banners, toward the gravel parking lot, to reach our entrance.
If you are travelling my taxi, Uber, or other ride-hailing service, enter “Louise McKinney Riverfront Park” as your destination. There is only one parking lot for the park, with an entrance/exit along Grierson Hill Road. The entrance to our festival is located along the far east side of the parking lot.
Feeling Lost?
If maps aren't your speed or you're struggling with the directions, here's some general way-finding information to help you if you're feeling a bit lost in the River Valley. Below is a general map with most of the locations highlighted on it to help see where our site is in comparison to other landmarks.
The location of Freewill is in a large grassy field between the Shumka Stage and the Chinese Garden. The Shumka Stage is where the entrance to our site is, which can be found beside the gravel parking lot. It is the only parking lot in Louise McKinney Riverfront Park.
General Tips
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We are in the middle of the park, at the highest flat surface before Grierson Hill Road.
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If you are close to the water or walking downhill, you are walking further from us. Walking uphill and away from the water is the way to go.
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If you are struggling with finding helpful walking directions, type in the "Shumka Stage" or "Chinese Garden" into your preferred map app to get closer to our location. The Shumka Stage is located at the entrance to our site.
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If you are nearby Canada Place or the Convention Centre, walk uphill and closer to the direction of the Park, Chinese Garden, and LRT bridge.
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If you are close to the LRT bridge, head uphill toward the Chinese Garden and Shumka Stage.
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If you are near the Climbing Wall, walk uphill, generally closer toward the LRT Bridge or Chinese Garden.
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If you are in the parking lot, you are close! Walk toward the Shumka Stage (it is a tall covered structure with a glass and metal roof).
Which landmark is closest to you?
River Valley Adventure Co. & Public Washrooms: If you are here, you are just down the hill from us but not too far. Take the stairs nearby or paved pathway uphill, away from the water and climbing wall.
Climbing Wall: If you are here, you are downhill and farther from site. Head toward the concrete building nearby which has the public washrooms and River Valley Adventure Co. (away from the Convention Centre) and up to the path or stairs to site. Or, head uphill to Grierson Hill and walk along it until you reach the parking lot.
Convention Centre: If you are here, head uphill along Grierson Hill Road, generally in the direction of the Shumka Stage (the glass and metal roof structure) or toward the Chinese Garden.
Chinese Garden: You are close! Find our fencing, labelled with Freewill Shakespeare Festival, and walk along the paved path beside it, heading toward the Shumka Stage (the tall glass and metal roof structure) to reach our entrance.
LRT Bridge: Keep heading uphill and toward the Chinese Garden and Shumka Stage. We are located in between these two locations. If you can't see these landmarks, head generally toward Canada Place or the Convention Centre, but primarily travel uphill, as we are in the middle of the park.
In general, we are located at the highest part of the park before the stairs up to Grierson Hill, so if you're heading down toward the water or down the hill, you are going in the opposite direction.
As You Like It Content Notes
Exiled from court and dressed in disguise, fair Rosalind flees to the Forest of Arden—where trees whisper secrets, and love grows wild. With her cousin Celia and the jester Touchstone by her side, she trades silks for shepherd’s garb and freedom.
In the forest, the brave, and love sick Orlando scrawls sonnets on the trees, not knowing his love walks nearby, masked as a boy. The disguised Rosalind playfully tests Orlando as the forest becomes a stage for tangled romances, mistaken identities, and hilarious encounters. Touchstone woos the country girl Audrey, a lovesick shepherd sighs for an indifferent Phoebe, and a reformed villain discovers true love.
Among rustics and royalty, fools and philosophers, the forest weaves its magic. A villain is redeemed, lovers are matched, and joy takes root beneath the forest canopy. Love triumphs, identities are unmasked, and harmony is restored—as you like it.
There are moments of loud noises like a leaf-blower, actors shouting, and singing. Performers also have entrances through the audience that may be startling. As You Like It contains complex and poetic language and discusses themes of love, disguises, nature, music, and banishment; suitable for those prepared to handle these elements.
Freewill Tips & Tricks
Here are some helpful tips and tricks to make the most of your 2025 festival experience!
1
Bring Your Own Chair
We recommend bringing a cozy chair or blanket from home. A limited number of bleacher seats will also be available.
2
Snacks & Drinks Galore
In addition to our concession tent, Bent Stick Brewing offers a variety of beer as well as canned cocktails and wine in our Bar tent!
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New Show Times
4
Travel Among Friends
If you are able, use local transit, carpool with friends, walk, roll, or bike to site, to help keep the parking lot open for those with accessibility needs.
5
Dress for the Weather
We’re in the beautiful outdoors, and with mosquitoes, sun, wind, and possibly rain, you’ll want to be ready.
Our matinees start at 2 pm and evening shows at 7:30 pm. There are no shows on Monday and Sunday evenings.
Need more help? Worried about the 'thee's and 'thou's? Check out our Shakespeare 101 page to learn more!