Churchill Square is Edmonton's main downtown public space and the heart of the city's cultural district. The square itself is a broad paved plaza that functions as the stage for much of Edmonton's festival life: the International Street Performers Festival, the Jazz Festival, Taste of Edmonton, and numerous other events use the square or its immediate surroundings throughout the summer.
The surrounding buildings give the square its character: the City Hall on the east side, the Art Gallery of Alberta to the southwest, the Winspear Centre to the southeast, and the library to the north. In summer the square has trees, benches, and a fountain; in winter a skating rink is installed. It is the place Edmonton comes to gather, which means it can be animated or deserted depending entirely on what's scheduled.
The Edmonton International Street Performers Festival in mid-July is one of the best times to catch the square at its most alive — ten days of outdoor performance on and around the plaza, drawing performers from across North America.