About the esplanade

The Esplanade is where arts and heritage come to life in Medicine Hat, where the stories of our great collective culture are told through music and dance, theatre, painting and sculpture, exhibitions, artefacts, archives and more.

A marvel of contemporary Canadian architecture on traditional Blackfoot territory just steps from the South Saskatchewan River, the Esplanade occupies an eminent position on downtown’s elegant First Street South. From its rooftop terrace, you can see the shoreline escarpment which is the setting for the story of how Medicine Hat got its name.

Inside, visitors are delighted to discover a vibrant art gallery, a prized museum, an intimate studio theatre, a dynamic education suite, expansive public archives and many volunteers and staff who are eager to tell their versions of our city’s tale. The Esplanade also features a 700-seat main stage theatre which boasts superior theatre technology, acoustic perfection and striking interior design. In the northeast corner of the Esplanade grounds stands another inviting building with stories of its own to tell. With its white picket fence, gingerbread trim and quaint heritage gardens, the restored Ewart-Duggan House, the oldest brick home in Alberta, is open year-round for select events.

The Esplanade opened its doors in celebration of Alberta’s centennial in 2005 and ever since, Medicine Hat has been proudly hosting a lively procession of artists and audiences, storytellers and story-lovers, from around the region and around the globe.

The celebration continues today and you are expressly invited to attend.

Explore, Experience, Enjoy!


PARKING
There are a few parking options available to you when you visit our facility. There is free 2-hour on street parking throughout the downtown area. Our street level parking lot at the rear of our facility is for permit holders only Monday - Friday until 6pm, after 6pm and on weekends it is free. Additionally we have paid underground parking with both permit parking and public parking space. The current rate for the parkade is $1/hr or $6/daily.
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‍HotSpot parking service is the only payment method for our underground parkade. The Hotspot zone number is 6200.
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‍HotSpot offers a user-friendly digital platform, accessible via your mobile app or directly through your device’s camera with a QR code. The HotSpot website also provides desktop access for managing and paying for parking online. For more information visit, medicinehat.ca/esplanade-parking