Fly across land as flat as the sea, filled with sprawling boreal forests and prairie fields, or turn west past Nordegg and towards the Rockies. No matter where you look, Alberta is perfect for small aircraft owners.

This weekend, attend the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association Western Convention and Trade Show in Innisfail from June 6-8th, then take off to the Rocky Mountain House Airport for a BBQ Fundraiser for the 2020 Rocky Mountain House Airshow. The BBQ will be on Sunday, June 9th, from 11:00am to 2:00pm at the Christenson Sports & Wellness Centre. Stick around until Monday, June 10th, and grab a drink in the City of Red Deer for a viewing party for the 5th game of the NBA finals between the Toronto Raptors and Golden State Warriors, held in the fondly nicknamed Servus Arena, #deerassicpark.

Fly-In Breakfasts

Fly-In/Drive-In Pancake Breakfasts are held annually for Mother’s Day at the Sundre Airport, in late May at the Camrose Airport, on the second Sunday of June at the Innisfail Big Bend Airport, and in early September at the Stettler Airport. The Olds-Didsbury Airport hosts an annual mid-June Show & Shine, complete with a cash draw and pancakes.

Festivals, Photography, & More

If you’re in the mood for festivals, check out Blackfalds Days from June 14-16th, including food, a parade, fireworks, and much more. After that, go for the 5K Foam Fest in Red Deer on June 22nd, an obstacle course-based fun run involving 2.5 million cubic feet of foam, the world’s largest inflatable waterslide, mud pits, food, and beer gardens, supporting the Make-A-Wish® Foundation.

Or, if you’re in search of something a bit more reserved, visit Abraham Lake for amazing year-round photography, hiking, and camping. You can either land right on the shores at the Cline River Helipad, or drive in from Rocky Mountain House. Speak French? La 30e fête franco-albertaine will be at the David Thompson Resort from July 5-7th, right next to the lake. Better yet, the helipad will be available during the festival. For another remote option, the Ram Falls landing strip is near one of the most scenic short day hikes in the province.

With so many things to do in Central Alberta, the hardest part is choosing where to fly first. No matter what you enjoy doing, the options are endless.

Feature Image: courtesy of the Red Deer Airport on Facebook