Tips for A Screen-Free Summer in Manitoba

• No matter what kids are into, there’s something in Manitoba to keep them busy. From beginner hikes to creative crafts and lively festivals to outdoor museums, Manitoba is bursting with screen-free activities for kids in the summer months.
• Many ticketed festivals and summer camps fill up quickly. Don’t wait to snag your ticket or reserve a spot!
• There are many screen-free activities in Manitoba that are free or low-cost, such as Ballet in the Park, the Back 40 Music Festival in Morden, spray pads and wading pools, geocaching, photography walks and park picnics.

Kid-Friendly Events

1. The 44th Annual Kidsfest Festival will be held June 11 to 14, 2026. Featuring live performances, exciting workshops, family-friendly activities and much more, it’s a weekend you won’t want to miss.

2. The Winnipeg Folk Festival is back for its 51st year from July 9 to 12, 2026! This family-friendly event is an annual tradition for many, and for good reason: it’s fun for all ages. Enjoy the numerous live music performances and spend time under the Chickadee Big Top, where you’ll find children’s performers, arts and crafts, face painting, a reading tent and more.

3. Many music festivals around Manitoba are family-friendly. Check out the Fire and Water Music Festival in Lac du Bonnet, the Blueberry Jam Festival in Flin Flon or the Back 40 Music Festival in Morden.

4. It’s fair and midway season! There are dozens of local fairs and midways to choose from across Manitoba, many of which feature activities such as rides, games, petting zoos, food vendors, live entertainment and more. Check out the Winkler Harvest Festival, Boardwalk Days at Winnipeg Beach, Stonewall Quarry Days, the Carman County Fair, the Flin Flon Trout Festival or Winnipeg’s Red River Ex.

5. Forget TV… attend a live performance! For older kids and teens, Rainbow Stage is presenting Jesus Christ Superstar and Legally Blonde The Musical this summer. Dance enthusiasts will also love Ballet in the Park, held in Assiniboine Park from July 28 to 30, 2026.

6. The Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival runs from July 15 to 26, 2026, with Kids Fringe taking place throughout downtown Winnipeg. Enjoy family-friendly performances, crafts, games, food trucks and more.

Getting Back to Nature

7. Plan a kid-friendly hike to get out in the fresh air. There are plenty of beginner and family-friendly hikes around the province to choose from, including the Whiteshell River Bridge Trail in Whiteshell Provincial Park, the Chickadee Trail in Birds Hill Provincial Park and the Blueberry Rock Trail in Lac du Bonnet.

8. Plan a day at FortWhyte Alive to really connect kids to nature. Spend some time birding, rent some fishing gear or bikes, explore the hiking trails and visit the world’s largest urban bison herd.

9. Set out on a bike adventure for some outdoor quality time. It could be as simple as a bike ride to the local park, or more advanced riders may enjoy mountain biking trails such as the HyLife Back Forty Multi-Use Trail Park in Neepawa or the Northgate Trails in Dauphin.

10. Oak Hammock Marsh is an amazing place with kids, no matter their age. Enjoy a variety of events and programs, including birding walks, canoe excursions and Tiny Tot Walks for preschool-aged children. You can also rent bicycles and canoes by the hour to explore the marsh from a new angle (booking ahead is highly recommended in the summer months).

11. Who’s thinking about screens when there’s an adorable baby farm animal in front of them? Head to one of the province’s many petting farms for a memorable day out. Check out Deer Meadow Farms, A Maze in Corn, Morning Sound Farm or The 10 Acre Woods.

12. U-pick farms are sure to be a blast for the whole group. For strawberries, options include u-pick berry farms such as Berry Time Farm in St. Andrews, Boonstra Farms in Stonewall or Gibson Farm in Beausejour. Visit the Prairie Fruit Growers Association for more fruit farms, including Saskatoon berries and sour cherries!

13. While geocaching does require a bit of screen time (you’ll need a device with GPS), it’s a fantastic activity to get kids outside, work on navigation skills and get excited about the treasures they may find. There are several geocaches hidden around Manitoba, many in provincial parks, so get out there with the kiddos and start searching!

14. Spend time surrounded by trees and fresh air on your next camping trip in Manitoba. Fill your time with nature walks, beach visits and campfire chats instead of screens.

15. Check out one of Manitoba’s many boardwalk trails for an accessible and stroller-friendly activity. Kids will love discovering all of the interesting flora and fauna along the way. Try the Ominnik Marsh Trail in Riding Mountain National Park, the Brokenhead Wetland Interpretive Trail in Beaconia or the Grace Lake Boardwalk in The Pas/OCN.

In the Splash Zone

16. Core memories are created in summer and trips to the waterpark are sure to be talked about long after summer has passed. Spend the day at Splash Island Water Park in Portage la Prairie, Transcona Aquatic Park in Winnipeg and Hoopla Island in Pinawa. There are also Splish Splash Water Park locations in Minnedosa and Morden.

17. When in doubt, go to the beach! Spend the day swimming, building sandcastles and relaxing on the shore with the kids. Popular kid-friendly beaches in Manitoba include Birds Hill Beach, Colert Beach, St. Malo Beach, Delta Beach, Winnipeg Beach and Grand Beach.

18. It’s never too early to get kids interested in fishing. Head to your favourite local fishing spot to spend some quality time on the water together. Stocked ponds are especially great for kids as they provide quick bites; make your way to Lyons Lake in Whiteshell Provincial Park or FortWhyte Alive, the latter of which only allows barbless-hook fishing (perfect for smaller hands). Lockport is also ideal for casting from shore.

19. Enjoy the dozens of free spray pads and wading pools around the province. Perfect for a hot day, these areas give kids a chance to cool down while socializing and having a blast. Check out the spray pads and wading pools in Winnipeg.

Entertaining and Educational

20. Folklorama is the largest and longest-running multicultural festival in the world. Held this year from August 2 to 15, 2026, travel around the globe without ever leaving Manitoba through the festival’s 45 unique cultural Pavilions. Kids will love the immersive experiences and cultural displays!

21. The Manitoba Children’s Museum is an ideal place to spend an afternoon with kids. Enjoy numerous interactive activities and experiences, including this summer’s Motion Mania, a thrilling 2,000 sq. ft. interactive journey into motion and energy (on until September 7, 2026).

22. Summer camps and programming are an excellent way to get kids socializing off-screen while they learn a new skill or two. Popular summer camps in Manitoba include Mini U at the University of Manitoba, programming at the YMCA Brandon, summer programs through the City of Winkler, camps at Assiniboine Park, the Leaf, and the Zoo, themed camps at the Manitoba Theatre for Young People and many more.

23. The Assiniboine Park Zoo is always an enjoyable and educational place for kids. This summer, enjoy Zoo Chats and Dinosaurs UnCovered, both on until September 7, 2026.

24. Spend some time in one of the province’s outdoor museums to learn more about Manitoba’s history. Kids will love the open spaces and interactive displays. Recommendations include the Mennonite Heritage Village in Steinbach, the Swan Valley Historical Museum in Swan River, the Marine Museum of Manitoba in Selkirk and Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site of Canada in St. Andrews.

25. Explore Manitoba's Indigenous history and culture with kids this summer. Visit the Bannock Point Petroforms (tours are available), dine on Indigenous cuisine, follow
in the footsteps of Louis Riel or make your way to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights or WAG-Qaumajuq to learn about Indigenous history, culture and art.

26. Crafting is an excellent way to get offline and get creative. If you’ve run out of craft ideas at home, visit one of the province’s art studios, including Fun Time Pottery in Brandon, Clay Owl Studio in Winkler or Cartizan Studio in Winnipeg.

27. Kids could spend hours at the Manitoba Museum (and don’t be surprised if they want to stay even longer!). Explore the Museum Galleries, Planetarium and the
much-loved Science Gallery.

28. Pack a few notebooks and pencil crayons and make your way to the nearest art gallery so kids can try to recreate some of the art on display. Popular galleries include the WAG-Qaumajuq, the Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba in Brandon or Prairie Fusion Arts and Entertainment in Portage la Prairie.

29. For kids that love airplanes - they are pretty cool, after all - check out some of the aviation museums around Manitoba. Head to the Gimli Glider Exhibit, the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum in Brandon or the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada in Winnipeg (which also offers some summer programming for kids).

30. Learn about Icelandic culture at Íslendingadagurinn, 137th Icelandic Festival of Manitoba, held from July 31 to August 3, 2026. Kids will love the costumes, live entertainment, family scavenger hunt, parade, sandcastle contest and Viking competitions.

Energy-Burning Activities

31. Want the kids to burn off some energy… and have a lot of fun doing it? Head to one of two Activate locations in Winnipeg, where you’ll have to jump, climb, problem-solve and - of course - laugh your way through the experience.

32. Manitoba is home to many swinging and suspension bridges, and summer is a great time to “swing by” with adventurous kids. Try the Pinawa Heritage Suspension Bridge, Wekusko Falls Provincial Park Bridge or the Souris Swinging Bridge, which holds the record for Canada’s longest swinging pedestrian bridge.

33. If your kids are into a little friendly competition, spend some time at one of the many rec rooms or entertainment centres in the province. Suggestions include The Game Room in Thompson, VB’s Entertainment in Winkler or Uptown Alley in Winnipeg for activities such as bowling, laser tag, arcade games and more.

34. If you know a kid who loves to climb furniture, why not try indoor rock climbing to test out their skills?! Vertical Adventures in Winnipeg or the Central Plains RecPlex just outside Portage la Prairie offer indoor rock climbing for all ages.

35. Go on a photography walk! Let the kids take the reins - the camera reins, that is - and venture out in search of some photogenic spots. Suggestions include Bois-des-Esprits Park in Winnipeg, the murals of Brandon or Gimli Boardwalk, the Thompson Millennium Trail or in and around The Forks.

36. While it’s tempting to return to the same local playground (especially if it’s within easy walking or biking distance), make it a summer goal to visit a few in an area you don’t know as well. The new experience will be exciting for everyone, especially the kids!

37. Scavenger hunts are the perfect way to get out of the house and start exploring. Many local parks have online scavenger hunts that you can print out to take on your adventure, while the Manitoba Museum hosts several themed scavenger hunts in summer (inquire at the Welcome Gallery for your free copy). There’s also the popular scavenger hunt at The Leaf to try.

38. If it’s a rainy day or you’re in the mood for a bit of A/C, try one of the province’s indoor play facilities with the little ones. Try Wishlandia Playhouse and Café in Winnipeg, Sharptooth Adventures in Morden or Playskape Family Entertainment Centre in Brandon.

Fun, Fun for Everyone!

39. A visit to Tinkertown is a tradition for many and for good reason. Enjoy numerous midway rides (many geared toward small children), games, mini-golf and food vendors. A fantastic way to spend a sunny summer’s day with kids!

40. Do your kids have the need for speed… but they aren’t quite driving age? Head to Thunder Rapids in Headingley or Grand Prix Amusements in Springfield for go-karts, bumper boats and tons of adrenaline-packed activities.

41. Create an ice cream bingo card of all the local ice cream spots! How many can you try this summer? Bonus points if the ice cream shop includes a day trip that lets you explore the area, too.

42. For those who love puzzles and solving problems, check out an escape room. While many escape rooms have mature themes, a few around the province are suitable for older kids or teens, including Escape Social and Replay Adventures in Winnipeg.

43. Sometimes getting offline just requires mixing it up. Pack your lunch or dinner to go and venture to your local park for a picnic and some quality time together (no phones or tablets allowed).

44. For a unique and memorable experience, take kids horseback riding. Giddy-up to Miracle Ranch near Winnipeg, Trailhead Ranch near Riding Mountain National Park or Falcon Beach Ranch.

45. Have an adventurous eater on your hands? Summer is the perfect time to sample food trucks and street food. Attend StrEAT Feast Festival in Winnipeg from August 13 to 16, 2026.

46. Summer just screams “road trip!” Pack up everyone’s favourite snacks and head out on the highway in search of your next adventure. Prepare a list of road trip games - such as road trip scavenger hunts, I Spy, 20 Questions or sing-alongs - to keep kids off screens while in the backseat. Popular Manitoba road trips include journeys along Lake Winnipeg, the Winnipeg River or around Northern Manitoba.

47. For an unforgettable adventure, board the Prairie Dog Central Railway for one of its kid-friendly rides this summer, including themes such as Toy Story, Harry Potter or Paw Patrol.

48. Everyone loves a good diner or drive-in! Visit your local favourite for a meal or hit the road to discover a new-to-you spot. From Treherne to Lockport to The Pas/OCN, there are dozens of Manitoba diners and drive-ins that are sure to be part of a delightful (and delicious) adventure for all.

49. Book a trip to a family-friendly resort, where kids will be so busy they won’t even think about screens. Lilac Resort in Ste. Anne and Rubber Ducky Resort in Warren are great places to consider!

50. How many Manitoba roadside attractions can you spot this summer? Make it a summer goal to see as many attractions as you can with the kids. Check out roadside attractions near Winnipeg or quirky roadside attractions in the Parkland.

Plan Your Summer

Need even more inspiration on things to do this summer with kids? Check out the blog posts below!