One hundred years after his escape, Ed the Elephant is returning to Cranbrook!

Mark your calendar for September 18 and 19, when Ed Fest returns at Rotary Park. This community celebration of arts and music will be one for the books.

With dozens of mainstage performances, art installations, workshops, plenty of family friendly fun, and beer gardens in the evenings, there is something for everyone!

In August of 1926, the Sells-Floto Circus appeared in Cranbrook, bringing with them dozens of performances, including elephants. Shortly after they arrived, the elephants stampeded.

Most were caught quickly, except one: Charlie Ed. Later renamed Cranbrook Ed, Charlie Ed spent nearly a month wandering through Cranbrook, Aq’am, and the surrounding areas before finally being caught.

Now entering its fourth year as a local festival, Ed Fest is an annual celebration of Charlie Ed’s wonder, spirit, and perseverance.

This year, our two days of celebration are packed performances, art installations, workshops, and more.

Ed Fest features Canadian artists, including the high energy sounds of My Son the Hurricane, Lemon Bucket Orkestra’s “Slavic brass punk” sound, local band Brass Roots with a repertoire of swing, Latin, and standard jazz, the one woman band, Heather Gemmel, the soulful bluesy tunes from Cara Luft with Clayton Parsons, and Side Hustle playing an eclectic mix of fan favourites, you’re guaranteed to find some music to love!

Beyond that, we have even more local performers taking the stage, including the Dean Smith Trio, Cranbrook Community Dance, the Kootenay Women’s Choir, and the Kimberley Pipe Band.

Not only will there be musical performances throughout the entire festival, but there will also be live painting tents, where visitors can watch local artists work on their pieces, and even buy a few!

Friday hosts a lantern making workshop and features a special crankie story time: An Elephantastical Tale by Rico and Sioux B, which leads the night straight into the beloved Lantern Parade.

Saturday don’t miss the iconic Elephant Stampede which features a 16-foot-tall Ed the elephant puppet, handmade by Marcel Dou Roig. Ed will be accompanied by a ragtag band of circus performers who will continue to entertain throughout the day.

This year’s Ed Fest will be overflowing with the same wonder and mystery that Charlie Ed’s original escape created in Cranbrook and the surrounding areas a century ago. With all kinds of opportunities for sharing art, more live performances than you could imagine, and our own Ed stampede, Ed Fest 2026 is sure to leave you with all the magic and wonder that an elephant in Cranbrook did 100 years ago.

Visit edfest.ca for more information and to see the detailed schedule of events.

Photos by Brian Clarkson

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