Discover 50 ways to celebrate winter in Manitoba — from spa soaks and snowy trails to live music, art festivals and northern lights adventures. Whether you’re skating at The Forks or relaxing at a Nordic spa, these ideas will help you make the most of the season.

Soak, Sip and Savour the Season

1. Dip your toes in the warm waters at Klar So Nordic Spa at Elkhorn Resort in Riding Mountain National Park. The steam room feels like heaven after a dip in the cold plunge pool!

2. Do brunch on a lazy weekend! Check out Pauline for Florentine eggs benedict, Clementine for Chorizo verde tostada and Danny’s All Day Breakfast at The Forks.

3. Sample zero proof cocktails at swanky stops in the Exchange District including Rosé Coffee & Wine for an espresso martini and Patent 5 Distillery for the Razzle Dazzle.

4. Book it to the best bakeries for winter warm-ups like cinnamon buns at Tall Grass Prairie Bakery, applejacks from Goodies Bakery and homestyle donuts from Gunn’s Bakery.

5. Dine at The Den, a cavern made entirely out of snow, hosting a world-class dining experience in St. Adolphe catered by some of Manitoba’s finest chefs.

6. Shop Winnipeg’s Indigenous boutiques including the new Anishinaabe Girl and Teekca’s Boutique for handmade gifts and custom creations. Have a snack and cocktail at Sharecuterie.

7. Stroll Osborne Village for an afternoon of retail therapy and sweet treats at the iconic Baked Expectations.

Bright Lights and Winter Nights in Winnipeg

8. Lace up and cruise the Nestaweya River Trail at The Forks. Not a skater? You can walk, ice bike or cross-country ski instead.

9. Warm up inside the collection of Warming Huts and see what winners of the annual art and architecture competition have created along the Nestaweya River Trail at The Forks.

10. Gear up and climb the ice tower in St. Boniface with a little help from your friends at The Club d’escalade de Saint-Boniface.

11. Mugs, bowls and platters from the potter’s wheel await as you learn the art of hand-built pottery. Workshops happen at the Winnipeg Art Gallery.

12. Did you know that the first floor of WAG-Qaumajuq is always free to visit? Shop, eat and view nearly 5,000 stone carvings in Ilavut, the glass vault.

13. Update your wardrobe in The Exchange with warm winter wear from Canadian Footwear, vintage treasures from the Clothing Bakery and slow fashion from Simone Rose and Anne Mulaire.

14. Fly high and have some fun at Winnipeg’s indoor trampoline and adventure parks including The Flying Squirrel, Fun Park Canada and The Rec Room.

15. Explore Indigenous art and culture with visits to Urban Shaman Contemporary Aboriginal Art, the HBC Museum Collection at the Manitoba Museum and The Indigenous Perspectives Gallery at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

16. Rent a pair of snowshoes from Wilderness Supply then hit the trails in Winnipeg and beyond.

Festivals and Fairs, oh my!

17. It’s Canada’s largest festival dedicated to contemporary art music. Grab a ticket for Winnipeg New Music Festival this January 21-19, 2026.

18. Take in the exquisite Royal Winnipeg Ballet performance of T’əl: The Wild Man of the Woods on tour this January and February 2026.

19. Sample over 250 entries in the Winnipeg Whiskey Festival, March 6 and 7, 2026. Join a workshop to increase your knowledge of the spirit.

20. Dog sled races, sparkling ice castles and plenty of Northern hospitality abound at the Northern Manitoba Trappers’ Festival in The Pas in February.

21. Workshops and screenings entertain multimedia lovers at Freeze Frame’s International Film Festival for Kids in March.

22. See world-class show jumping, heavy horse competitions and top-notch live entertainers at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair in Brandon.

23. With shows across the city, Winterupption is your excuse to leave the house for hot music this January.

24. Make it Morden for the annual Multicultural Winterfest. Ice carving, skating and plenty of indoor performances along with delicious food await.

25. Get your fill of piping hot pea soup, savoury tourtiere and maple syrup rolled in snow at Festival du Voyageur.

Northern Lights and Winter Wonders

26. Look up under the auroral oval to see winter’s most colourful show in Churchill. The northern lights shine brightest in February and March. Book dinner at Dan’s Diner, a pop-up restaurant takes place during peak aurora season The cozy dining room features panoramic windows and skylights overhead for optimal views of the northern skies.

27. Experience the raw beauty of the north by booking a night's stay on the ice in the Aurora Pod at Bakers Narrows Lodge. Enjoy activities like snowmobiling, ice fishing, cross-country skiing or snowshoeing (rentals available) by day, then stay up late and marvel at the spectacular northern lights.

28. Skate under twinkling lights at Wasagaming’s outdoor rink, tucked among the towering trees behind the visitor’s centre in Riding Mountain National Park.

29. Pull up a stump for storytelling and roasted marshmallows over the campfire at FortWhyte Alive on weekends. Learn to ice fish or rent cross-country skis or a fat bike and hit the trails.

30. Manitoba is home to The Guinness Book of World Record's Largest Snow Maze! Snow sculptures, a snow mountain for tobogganing, bonfires, a giant luge run, snow games and hot chocolate make for a great day in St. Adolphe.

31. Spend the day at Birds Hill Park where the resident deer population is in no short supply along the hiking, biking, snowshoe and cross country ski trails.

32. Be a birder! Take part in the Global Bird Count, February 13-16, 2026. Check in with Nature Manitoba for the details.

Winter Road Trips & Hidden Gems

33. Visit the town of Arborg for a skate on the Icelandic River, treats from the Arborg Bakery and a cozy stay at Our Tiny Hideaway.

34. Escape to eco-luxury glamping pods at Navigate Pinawa, located across from the historic Old Pinawa Dam.

35. Winter camping is a thing! Head to Riding Mountain National Park for your choice of oTENTiks. Or stay overnight at Turtle Village’s cute casas, conveniently located within the Wasagaming campground.

36. Book an overnight winter glamping and dog sledding adventure with Harness Adventures. You’ll slumber in a queen bed inside a winter-walled tent with a wood stove to keep you warm.

37. Get away to Falcon Lake with a beautiful boreal stay at Falcon Beach Ranch, The Hotel at Falcon Lake or Falcon Trails Resort.

38. Delightful Dauphin is waiting with a soak in the hot tub at the Best Western Plus Dauphin after your day of retail therapy with stops at Hippie Mama Gifts and The Prairie Corner.

39. Call a dome your home during a weekend at Wild Skies Resort, where the new wood-fired sauna is waiting to take away winter’s chill.

40. Dine inside the Spruce Hut on Lakehouse’s patio this winter in Wasagaming. Start with the Manitoba charcuterie board to kick off your culinary adventure.

41. It’s a waterpark wonderland! Hecla Lakeview Inn (Hecla Island), Days Inn (Steinbach), Canad Inns Destination Centre (Brandon), Best Western (Dauphin) and Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott (Winnipeg) all have wet and wild indoor fun.

42. Keep your swing in check with some virtual golf at The Golf Dome, Stonewall’s The 19th Hole or the new Happys in West St. Paul.

43. Brandon’s Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba is always free and open to the public with a gift shop stocked with irresistible treasures. While in Brandon, skate the Oval and explore downtown.

Heart-Pounding Winter Fun

44. Load up the sled and head for Buffalo Point Resort where the groomed and treed trails await avid snowmobilers. Stop for lunch at Fire & Water Bistro.

45. Burn off some energy at the Hylife Back Forty Multi-Use Trail Park in Neepawa. It’s open for fat biking, walking, tobogganing, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. In town, sample Filipino treats at Lola’s Bakery.

46. Do some Manitoba downhill skiing with visits to Mystery Mountain Winter Park in Thompson, Holiday Mountain in La Riviere or Asessippi near Russell.

47. Go for a cross country ski, snowshoe or fat bike ride along one of the nearly 130 kilometres of winter trails at Riding Mountain National Park.

48. Head to Beausejour to see the fastest racers on tracks and skis at the 64th Canadian Power Toboggan Championships in March.

49. Do The Floppet! Held at Falcon Ridge Ski Slopes, the Floppet ski race winds through the boreal forest of Falcon Lake, providing stunning views and plenty of fun.

50. Drop a line at an ice fishing derby. Hot chocolate and big prizes await at Riverton Ice fishing Derby, Gimli Ice Fishing Derby, Winter Fish Off at Falcon Lake or the Jimmy Jackfish Ice Fishing Derby in The Pas.

Plan Your Manitoba Winter Getaway

There’s a special kind of magic when it's winter in Manitoba. However you spend the season, let it be full of discovery, connection and warmth! Find your next Manitoba winter adventure and start planning your trip here.