Vegreville is a town of 5,700 people (2016) on the Yellowhead Highway in eastern Alberta, approximately 100 km east of Edmonton. It is home to the world's largest pysanka (Ukrainian Easter egg).
Incorporated in 1906, Vegreville is primarily an agricultural community and has strong historical ties to the Ukrainian immigrant community.
Grand Trunk Pacific's rail line (now Canadian National Railway's Vegreville Subdivision) from Lloydminster reached west through Vegreville to Edmonton by 1909. The GTPR was completed to Prince Rupert in 1914 and financially ruined by 1919. CN79458, a red caboose retired in 1993, is on display in Elks Park off 48th Street.
- Our Lady of the Highway, just east of town on Highway 16A. Ask the blessings of Our Lady to protect and direct travellers in their journeys. Seven-foot high shrine sculpted in Italy from Carrara Marble (Italian White Marble) and erected by the Vegreville Knights of Columbus.
- Vegreville Pysanka, Elks / Kinsmen Park. Painstakingly constructed from thousands of individual aluminium pieces, this oversize Ukrainian Easter egg (batik pysanka) stands three and a half stories high and is 9 m (31 ft) long. (By comparison, the "Big Bird" muppet would be tiny at a mere 8ft 2in.)
- Vegreville Regional Museum, 5029 45B Ave, +1 780-632-7650. Former Agriculture Canada research station (1956-1995), the museum and Vegreville & District Sports Hall of Fame highlight community development with local history exhibits, classic farm machinery, community history books. By donation..
Our Lady of the Highway, just east of town on Highway 16A. Ask the blessings of Our Lady to protect and direct travellers in their journeys. Seven-foot high shrine sculpted in Italy from Carrara Marble (Italian White Marble) and erected by the Vegreville Knights of Columbus.
Vegreville Pysanka, Elks / Kinsmen Park. Painstakingly constructed from thousands of individual aluminium pieces, this oversize Ukrainian Easter egg (batik pysanka) stands three and a half stories high and is 9 m (31 ft) long. (By comparison, the "Big Bird" muppet would be tiny at a mere 8ft 2in.)
Vegreville Regional Museum, 5029 45B Ave, +1 780-632-7650. Former Agriculture Canada research station (1956-1995), the museum and Vegreville & District Sports Hall of Fame highlight community development with local history exhibits, classic farm machinery, community history books. By donation..
- Elks / Kinsmen Park, off Highway 16A, +1 780-632-6800. A fully restored CN caboose is open every day of the year. Tourist info, souvenirs, snacks, 93-site RV park and camp site with shower and rest rooms, picnic facilities, playground, tobogganing hill and outdoor fitness area.
- Country Fair. Three days, early August.
- Pysanka Festival. Three days, early July. Celebration of Ukrainian culture.
Country Fair. Three days, early August.
Pysanka Festival. Three days, early July. Celebration of Ukrainian culture.
Elks / Kinsmen Park, off Highway 16A, +1 780-632-6800. A fully restored CN caboose is open every day of the year. Tourist info, souvenirs, snacks, 93-site RV park and camp site with shower and rest rooms, picnic facilities, playground, tobogganing hill and outdoor fitness area.
- Old School Diner, 5341 50 Ave, +1 780-632-3638. M-Th 11AM-9PM, F Sa 11AM-1AM. A family-owned diner modelled after 1950s styled diners.
- The Pure Cafe, 4930 50 Avenue, +1 587-280-4050. M-Sa 8AM-4PM. Wraps, soups, sandwiches, stromboli. Stromboli and wraps $10-12.
- Leonel's Place, 5245 50 Ave, +1 780-632-6551. M-Th 11AM-2PM & 4:30PM-8PM, F 11AM-2PM & 4:30PM-9PM, Sa 9AM-2PM & 4:30PM-9PM,. Ukrainian, Italian, Canadian.
Old School Diner, 5341 50 Ave, +1 780-632-3638. M-Th 11AM-9PM, F Sa 11AM-1AM. A family-owned diner modelled after 1950s styled diners.
The Pure Cafe, 4930 50 Avenue, +1 587-280-4050. M-Sa 8AM-4PM. Wraps, soups, sandwiches, stromboli. Stromboli and wraps $10-12.
Leonel's Place, 5245 50 Ave, +1 780-632-6551. M-Th 11AM-2PM & 4:30PM-8PM, F 11AM-2PM & 4:30PM-9PM, Sa 9AM-2PM & 4:30PM-9PM,. Ukrainian, Italian, Canadian.
- Vito's Lounge, 4925 50th Ave, +1 780-632-3337. Daily 11AM-10PM. Also serves steaks and pizza.
Vito's Lounge, 4925 50th Ave, +1 780-632-3337. Daily 11AM-10PM. Also serves steaks and pizza.
- Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, a pioneer village living museum at the eastern edge of Elk Island National Park on Yellowhead Highway 16.