50 things to do in Manitoba this fall

Posted September 22, 2023 | Author Shel Zolkewich

From picturesque hikes and cozy stays to soul-inspiring events and belly-warming brews, autumn just might be our favourite season

Falcon Beach Ranch

Sam Waller Museum

1. Fall feels and Halloween frights are in no short supply at Six Pines Farm. It’s also home to the Ghostbusters Car and a fabulous petting zoo!

2. After a horseback ride through the magical boreal forest, park your trusty steed and light a fire inside a cozy log cabin at Falcon Beach Ranch.

3. Pop into a gallery, try your hand at pottery, take in a live show—it’s all part of First Fridays in the Exchange. Celebrate the arts as you kick off the weekend!

4. Indulge in a three-course meal before witnessing the phenomenon that is fall waterfowl migration at Oak Hammock Marsh’s Migration Dinners.

5. Sam’s Gallery at the Sam Waller Museum in The Pas is a quirky collector’s dream. Spot the two headed calf and fleas in clothes!

A Maze in Corn

Nuit Blanche

6. Find a pumpkin, get the heebie jeebies in a haunted forest and meander through A Maze in Corn to get all the autumn vibes.

7. Fly high at Hywire Zipline Adventures where riders get a bird’s eye view of the fall foliage of the Pembina Valley along with a plentiful jolt of adrenaline.

8. Cross the causeway into a world of migrating waterfowl and climb the tower at the North Point for a sky high view of neighbouring islands on Hecla Island.

9. For one special night, Nuit Blanche Winnipeg celebrates culture and creativity from dancing in the dark to light shows to live performance. It all happens Sept. 23, 2023.

10. Fun for the whole family is waiting at Teulon Pumpkinfest! Vendors, petting zoo, a dog show and of course, friendly competition for the biggest pumpkin.

Whiteshell Petroforms Authentic Indigenous Tours

11. Always expertly curated Third & Bird Markets offer the some of the newest and best in jewelry, art, bath and body and home décor. Get a jump on holiday shopping!

12. Head to Whiteshell Provincial Park for an in depth tour of the mysterious petroforms with Knowledge Keeper Diane Maytwayashing as she shares Indigenous stories and teachings.

13. Jump on the Manitoba Culture Days bandwagon to experience art, culture, crafts and more with backstage tours, installations and workshops throughout the province.

14. Pop into Assiniboine Forest to experience this gem inside city limits. The aspen-oak forest puts on its finery in fall, creating a beautiful backdrop for resident mammals and birds.

15. Manitoba AG EX in Brandon celebrates the province’s robust cattle industry with a show that’s family-friendly and free! Learn about the life of a cow with MooMania, a hands-on experience that includes a mock cattle auction.

Churchill

Culture Days

16. Head to Rennie for a visit to the Alfred Hole Goose Sanctuary where visitors get to do a deep dive into the biology of Canada geese and get plenty of opportunities to view wildlife up-close.

17. Don your stretchy pants and head to a small town for roast turkey, freshly baked pie and an extra helping of hospitality. It’s fall supper season in Manitoba!

18. The Polar Bear Capital of the World welcomes visitors from far and wide to see these iconic predators in their natural habitats. Polar bear season is ON in Churchill!

19. Shop, dine and spend some time exploring the forests around Pineridge Hollow. There’s a fall festival, petting zoo, fresh baking and expertly curated antiques too.

20. Birds Hill Provincial Park is your destination for a fall stroll and the Cedar Bog Trail is just the right length, flanked by trees dressed in autumn leaves.

21. The human hamster ball and bale pyramid slide are bonus activities at the King Korn Maze, where you can also play golf or swing away at the golf range.

22. The newly renovated Hotel at Falcon Lake boasts two on-site restaurants and the swanky 1960s-inspired Sinatra's Lounge to refuel after your Whiteshell Provincial Park hikes.

23. Add a few fall staples to your fall wardrobe with Manitoba’s own Anne Mulaire. A wrap vest, Metis Blooms t-shirt and leggings are a must!

24. Make it a duo day trip! Thrift at Riverton’s MCC Shop and Arborg’s HL Ministries, stop for lunch at Riverton’s Kahleigh’s Brew Barn and pick up cinnamon buns at Arborg Bakery.

25. Warm up your fall with a visit to Winkler’s Flavours of Mexico. Start with colourful tortilla soup then move on to a crispy chimichanga packed with refried beans, rice and your choice of filling.

Thompson

Pinawa

26. Gear up and head for Hunt Lake Trail near West Hawk Lake. You’ll be treated to sweeping views of the lake and landscape on this five-hour fall hike

27. See Thompson’s famous wolf mural while it’s surrounded by fall colours. Check out the wolf statues along the Spirit Way too.

28. What could be more elegant than Sunday Afternoon Tea at The Velvet Glove Restaurant in The Fairmont? Tiers of tiny sandwiches and divine desserts await.

29. FortWhyte Alive hosts Sunset Goose Flights where diners watch the sky come to life as geese land after sunset. A three course dinner is included!

30. The Pinawa Heritage Suspension Bridge is only one metre wide but 54 metres long, offering colourful scenery in this splendid season.

Wekusko Falls

Riding Mountain National Park

31. Visit Wekusko Falls, a 12-metre plunge inside Wekusko Falls Provincial Park, once an important fur trade route in the heart of the boreal forest at Snow Lake.

32. Black spruce, jackpines and tamaracks welcome hikers to Riding Mountain National Park where nearly 400 kilometre of trails are waiting.

33. Get your harvest pie fix at Tall Grass Bakery where their hefty pumpkin and fruit pies come in sturdy plates that are returnable.

34. Visit Gimli and see commercial fishers unloading their catches of buttery walleye during the fall season. Take a selfie with The Viking Statue!

35. The Brokenhead Wetland Interpretive Trail near Scanterbury has a fully wheelchair accessible boardwalk and makes for a nature-packed fall.

Poor Michael's Emporium

Borealis Beading

36. Book a cozy stay at a cabin in Winnipeg Beach, Belair or Lake of the Prairies with Bowerbird Stays where fun and adventure are always encouraged

37. Get your autumn reading list in order with a visit to a local bookstore including Poor Michael’s, McNally Robinson Bookseller or Prairie Sky Books.

38. Food Truck Warz welcomes culinary delights from across the province to Brandon. Cast your vote for your favourite plate!

39. Visit Pollock’s Hardware Co-op in Winnipeg’s North End for old timey vibes during their fall market on Sept. 23. There’s music, food and fall veggies for sale too.

40. Learn all about The Flower Beadwork People at a beginning beading season with Borealis Beading, hosted by the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada.

Clear Lake Golf Course

Parlour Coffee

41. The heart of Schwabe Pumpkins is a big barn that holds 37 variety of squash—along with sweet corn, potatoes, gourds, baked goods, floral arrangements and an irresistible pumpkin spice syrup.

42. Hear the haunting stories of famous places in Winnipeg’s Broadway neighbourhood. Chilling tours end at the Fort Garry Hotel.

43. A visit to Heebie Jeebies promises to be so very, very frightening that no one under 13 is allowed inside the four indoor mazes where costumed characters lurk.

44. Soak in the outdoor hot tubs at Elkhorn Resort after the last round of golf of the season at the Stanley Thompson-designed Clear Lake Golf Course.

45. Warm up with Winnipeg’s coolest coffee shops including Parlour Coffee, Harrison’s, Modern Coffee and Little Sister Coffee Maker.

Flin Flon

46. Warm up with Manitoba’s coolest coffee shops including Good Times Coffeehouse in Snow Lake, MJ’s Coffeebar in Virden and Sawmill Tea & Coffee in Boissevain.

47. Keep your feet toasty with a visit to Manitobah Mukluk’s flagship store at The Forks.

48. Have some fall fun in Flin Flon by getting a selfie with town namesake Fintabetty Flonatin then head to Bakers Narrow’s Lodge for dinner and a cozy log cabin stay.

49. Get in on some pre-season action as the Winnipeg Jets take to the ice. The first home game is Sept. 25!

50. Northgate Trails will get your blood pumping, no matter what activity you choose. There are 26 kilometres of trails for mountain bikers, fat tire bikers, hikers and trail runners in the fall season.

About The Author

A journalist by trade and an adventurer at heart, my career has included stints as a reporter, magazine writer, editor, food stylist, television cook and digital marketer. I am always collecting stories about Manitoba, whether I’m on assignment or not.

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