Alberta has become a true hub for riders – from Medicine Hat’s coulees to Canmore’s single track and Calgary’s expo halls. Festivals here are more than races. They mix trail rides with live music, food trucks, camping, and the kind of community moments that keep riders coming back year after year.
Some events focus on grassroots fun, others on pro-level competition, and a few mix in family activities or full-blown expos. Here are the Alberta bike festivals worth knowing about in 2025 and 2026.
Alberta’s Top Bike Festivals
Festival | Location | Dates |
Edmonton Mountain Bike Festival (EMBFest) | Edmonton, AB | Aug 23–24, 2025 |
Plaid Goat Mountain Bike Festival | Canmore, AB | Last held 2019 (no updates since) |
Canmore MTB Classic | Canmore Nordic Centre, AB | June 11–14, 2025 |
Angry Hawk Mountain Bike Festival | Cochrane, AB | June 7, 2025 |
Badlands Bash Mountain Bike Festival | Medicine Hat, AB | May 31, 2025 |
Edmonton Mountain Bike Festival (EMBFest)
Where & When: Edmonton, AB – Kinsmen Park & River Valley, Aug 23–24, 2025.
Edmonton doesn’t always get enough credit for its river valley trails, but EMBFest has been changing that. The event is free to attend and blends group rides with a beer hub, skills clinics, and a full-tilt stunt show known as the “Full Send.”
Local shop Mud Sweat and Gears shows up in the sponsor lineup, and they’re known for supporting trail days and the EMBFest community.
One rider describes the fest: “It’s the only event where I can ride, drop my kids at a mini clinic, and still catch a band – all in the middle of the city.”
Plaid Goat Mountain Bike Festival
Where & When: Canmore, AB – last held in 2019 (no recent updates).
For a while, Plaid Goat felt like the crown jewel of Canadian MTB. Riders came for some of Canada’s best single track during the festival, demoed bikes at the Evil Bikes Demo Tour, and let kids play in the hub while others enjoyed the beer tent run by Banff Ave Brewing Company.
The event was grassroots in tone but ambitious in vision – guided Canmore trail rides, a strong mountain bike craft culture on display, and quirky touches like the Shred Shuttle and Last Call Canmore parties. Riders often booked rooms at the Best Western Pocaterra Inn, while some shared Silver Creek Lodge promo codes – the kind of small hack locals pass along to save on festival weekends.
Since the pandemic, though, the festival has gone quiet. No tickets have been on sale, and no new schedule has been posted. But if you talk to local riders, they’ll tell you the Plaid Goat vibe is still alive – just scattered across other Alberta MTB events.
“Plaid Goat was about bumping into the same faces every summer. Even now, you hear riders say they miss that mix of racing, music, and just hanging out in Canmore.”
Canmore MTB Classic
Where & When: Canmore Nordic Centre, AB – June 11–14, 2025.
If Plaid Goat was the party, the Canmore MTB Classic is the competition. This is where the Canada Cup and UCI Continental Series bring elite racers, juniors, U17s, and even a Legacy (50+) category. Chip timing, live streaming, and detailed schedules give it a pro-level feel.
Spectators aren’t left out – food trucks, the beer garden, and expo tents keep the vibe alive. Cochrane Toyota has backed the Canmore MTB Classic for years, helping keep youth categories and community racing well-supported.
The Canmore MTB Classic also ties into the broader race calendar – think Rundles Revenge or Stoke Festival energy – but with the polish of a sanctioned national event.
Angry Hawk Mountain Bike Festival
Where & When: Cochrane, AB – Buffalo Bean Trails, June 7, 2025.
If you’ve ever stood on the sideline of a kids’ Enduro, you know the mix of nerves and pride. Angry Hawk is built on that feeling. Sponsored by Big Hill Cycle, the youth Enduro (ages 5–17) is the core of the festival, but the addition of an all-ages Dual Slalom race makes it a true community showdown.
Families camp out, food trucks like La Casita Coffee roll in, and the tracks – Peanut Butter and Jelly – see head-to-head action. One mom told us, “My kid got eliminated in the second round, but he went back out and cheered every heat. That’s what it’s about.”
Badlands Bash Mountain Bike Festival
Where & When: Medicine Hat, AB – Echo Dale Regional Park, May 31, 2025.
Badlands Bash is the definition of grassroots – no entry fee, no frills, just racing and community. Riders tackle five downhill lines, then gather for live music, bonfires, and camping.
Organized by Gravity Sports and Hidden Gem Cycling, the event caps at 125 riders, but the field camping has no limit. Bikes in the day, guitars at night, and laughter through the coulees – that’s the Badlands Bash.
Festival Tips from the Road
- Safety first: If you’re heading to Canmore, bear spray rentals are easy to find in town – and worth carrying.
- Shuttle timing: Whether it’s the Shred Shuttle or Peak Shuttles, always budget extra time.
- Accommodation deals: Hotels often hold festival blocks, but sometimes late bookings beat the early promo codes.
- Beer and bikes: The craft MTB and craft beer worlds overlap completely. Pace yourself so you’re ready for the evening rides.
“What we’ve learned riding these festivals is simple: the races bring you in, but it’s the campfires, small hacks, and community moments that keep you coming back.”
FAQ
The Angry Hawk Mountain Bike Festival in Cochrane is designed for kids and families.
The Canmore MTB Classic, part of the UCI Continental Series, brings elite competition.
The Alberta Bike Show in Calgary is perfect – demos, tech, kids’ activities, and deals without the racing.
As of 2025, no new schedule has been announced. The last confirmed event was in 2019.
We are independent reviewers and are not affiliated with, nor do we organize or manage, any of the events mentioned in this article. All event names, schedules, and details are provided for informational purposes only and remain the property of their respective organizers. Dates and features may change – please confirm directly with the official festival websites before making plans.