Assiniboine Park is home to spectacular botanical attractions, captivating creatures, top shelf (and free!) entertainment, inventive and delicious food and plenty of opportunities to add first-time experiences to your list. Here are four fun ways to make the most of your visit.

This summer, discover why a visit to Assiniboine Park is a day to remember.

Tips for Exploring Assiniboine Park

• What it is: A 400+ acre park in Winnipeg home to The Leaf, Assiniboine Park Zoo, beautiful outdoor gardens, great restaurants and patios and the Summer Entertainment Series.
• Best for: Families, couples, first-time visitors, wildlife and plant lovers.
• Signature experiences: Polar bears at Journey to Churchill in the Zoo, four indoor biomes at The Leaf, free live entertainment all summer, casual and creative culinary experiences at the Park Café and Gather Craft Kitchen & Bar.
• Outdoor activities: Free nature playground open daily from 8 am to 9 pm, the Terry Fox Fitness Trail features offers free outdoor fitness equipment, and Bee-2-Gether bike rentals are available daily from 11 am to 9 pm.
• Good to know: Bring a yoga mat for Wellness Wednesdays in August; Cargo Bar is pup-friendly and there are plenty of food options (Park Café, Gather, Tundra Grill).

1. Beautiful Biomes at The Leaf

There’s a stunning showcase of diversity inside the now iconic horticultural attraction called The Leaf. Four distinct spaces reveal the beauty of plant life from forest floor ferns to fragrant rosemary and showy tropical blooms.

• Hartley and Heather Richardson Tropical Biome
• Mediterranean Biome
• Babs Asper Display House - home to rotating seasonal displays and floral exhibits such as Fleurs de Villes
• Shirley Richardson Butterfly Garden

Butterflies and Waterfalls

Take the elevator up to the Shirley Richardson Butterfly Garden, a space where exotic species flutter high above a sea of green. It’s here you’ll also get an up-close view of Canada’s tallest indoor waterfall—at six storeys high—that helps create a wonderfully humid environment.

Gifts to Go

The Leaf Gift Shop offers a curated selection of handmade items that connect people to nature. There’s local and Canadian-made products, including Indigenous artwork, jewelry, skincare products, housewares like candles and drinkware. And for something special, consider the gift of a membership to The Leaf. Members enjoy unlimited admission year-round, discounts, pre-sale opportunities for special events and more exclusive benefits. Or enjoy the best of both worlds with an Inspire membership at The Leaf and Assiniboine Park Zoo!

2. Animal Attraction at Assiniboine Park Zoo

Assiniboine Park Zoo is one of the best family-friendly attractions in the province, offering up-close experiences with critters along with endless lasting memories of one fun summer.

Polar Bears are Here

The Journey to Churchill exhibit will transport you to the landscapes of the Wapusk Lowlands and the frontier town of Churchill. It's also where you'll find Gateway to the Arctic. Walk through the mesmerizing underwater tunnel and take time to watch the polar bears and seals swim overhead. You will laugh, smile and say 'awww' as polar bears play, jump into the water and stand on the glass above with their large paws.

Bonus: Did you know that Journey to Churchill has one of the most comprehensive northern species exhibits of its kind in the world? This includes polar bears of course, muskoxen, moresnowy owls, reindeer and seals, providing a rare glimpse of wildlife of the North.

Monsters of the Abyss

Step into a world of prehistoric predators and their modern-day relatives, where fossils tell stories of extinction-level events and living animals prove some of nature's fiercest hunters never left the water. Expect jaw-dropping fossils, live animals up close and daily programming that dives into the science behind the scales. On now until September 7, 2026.

Featured species include: Caiman Lizard (Dracaena guianensis), Pixie Frog (Pyxicephalus adspersus), False Water Cobra (Hydrodynastes gigas), Asian Water Dragon (Physignathus cocincinus), Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) and Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin).

Meet Them Up Close
There are daily Zoo Chats at 10:00 am, 11:30 am, 1:00 pm, and 2:30 pm where you'll get to know these charismatic creatures from the people who care for them best. Animal interactions happen at the discretion of the Zoo's wildlife caretakers, with animal welfare always the top priority.

Dinosaurs UnCovered

Wander a forested trail and come face to face with 14 life-sized prehistoric creatures spanning the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. Meet icons like the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex alongside more recent discoveries like the feathered Dakotaraptor. On now until September 7, 2026.

Featured species include: Dakotaraptor, Yangchuanosaurus, Qianzhousaurus, Giganotosaurus, Regaliceratops, Parasaurolophus, Quetzalcoatlus, Toujiangosaurus, Dilophosaurus, Plateosaurus, Protoceratops, Angustinaripterus, Juvenile Tyrannosaurus Rex and Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Interpretive displays along the trail dig into the science behind these creatures — from major fossil discoveries to the technology paleontologists use to piece together their world, and the surprising evolutionary threads connecting distant dinosaur species to animals alive today. The exhibit is located near the Animals of Asia section of the Zoo and is included with regular admission.

Summer Zoo Chats

Get to know your favourite animals from the people who know them best! Join a Zoo Chat and get insights into the Zoo's operations and animal care. Zoo Chats are on daily until September 7, 2026, with various animals like Amur tigers, harbour seals and the animals of tropical Toucan Ridge taking the spotlight.

3. Exciting Entertainment all Summer Long

Music, movies, fun and wellness take centre stage at Assiniboine Park's Summer Entertainment Series!

Get Your Yoga On

Join the wellness movement on Wednesdays in August for some time outside starting at 6:00 pm with a gentle, all-levels yoga practice. You will flow through simple sequences that build a little warmth before settling into restorative postures and a deep, grounding relaxation. Bring a mat or towel, some water and a friend. Everyone is welcome!

It’s Movie Time!

Always a bit hit, Movies in the Park happen every Friday in August with two showings each evening. And The Lyric Theatre concession will be serving popcorn, ice cream treats and other tasty snacks to complete your cinematic experience.

Concerts Galore

The Lyric Theatre comes alive every Thursday and Sunday night throughout the summer with an impressive line-up of acts. This year, there’s a 10 Year Anniversary of Tragically Hip's Last Performance by Killer Whale Tank, the Midnight Social Club featuring ABBA + 70s + 80s, and Don Amero & Catie St. Germain presented by sākihiwē festival for starters.

Here's the full list of free activities you can find throughout July and August:

Summer Concert Series
Lyric Theatre | Thursdays & Sundays, 7–9 pm

• Local favourites including Dirty Catfish Brass Band, Cassidy Mann and more.

Jazz at the Leo Mol Sculpture Garden
Sundays, noon–1 pm

• Featuring the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra ensemble, Erin Propp & Larry Roy, Danny Carroll and more.

Movies in the Park
Lyric Theatre | Fridays in August, 6:30 pm & 8:45 pm

• Family favourites: Zootopia 2, Hoppers, Trolls Band Together and Monsters Inc.
• Late features: Wicked: For Good, How to Train Your Dragon (2025), A Minecraft Movie, The Princess Bride

Wellness Wednesdays
Lyric Theatre | Wednesdays in August, 6–7 pm

• Yoga with Adrienne Shum

Garden Concert Series
Outdoor Gardens at The Leaf | Saturdays in July, 11 am–noon

• Featuring ÓFukami, Brazilian Vibe Duo, Wacky Doodle Dance Party and Slow Leaves.

Art in the Park
The Pavilion | Daily, 9 am–5 pm

• Ongoing art exhibitions and the year-round Winnie the Pooh exhibit.

Ballet at Lyric Theatre
July 28–30, 6:30–8:30 pm

• Family-friendly activities alongside a performance by the Royal Winnipeg Ballet.

Folklorama Kickoff Event
Lyric Theatre | July 25, 4–8 pm

• Folklorama will host their annual kick-off event at the Lyric Theatre!

4. Fill Up on Food and Drink

Breakfast on the Banks

Located on the banks of the Riley Family Duck Pond, the Park Café is the place for a smoked Manitoba steelhead trout eggs Benedict, a shakshuka skillet or a freshly-baked cinnamon bun. The menu also includes bowls, burgers, sandwiches, salads and a complete assortment of refreshing beverages.

Where We Gather

Temptations abound at Gather Craft Kitchen & Bar, located inside The Leaf. The restaurant explores food from across cultures—incorporating fresh, locally-sourced and seasonal ingredients from their gardens in season. They’re big on pickling, preserving and fermenting, plus highlighting Manitoban ingredients and growers.

Meet for a Cocktail

It’s a shipping container of the very best kind! The Cargo Bar has become the unofficial meeting place for park visitors thanks to an inventive selection of cocktails, mocktails, local craft beers and wine. Nestled in the heart of Assiniboine Park next to the duck pond, the pup-friendly space welcomes the entire family. This summer, food is provided by Taco Barrio, serving up all the tacos, nachos and favourite savoury bites.

Plan Your Assiniboine Park Conservancy Adventure

Here are a few more tips to help you enjoy the sights, sounds and taste sensations at Assiniboine Park this summer.

• Pick your day around the entertainment schedule. Concerts run Thursday and Sunday, Movies in the Park is Friday nights in August, yoga is Wednesday and jazz is Sunday midday.
• Arrive early for the Zoo's underwater tunnel. Journey to Churchill draws crowds at the busiest time of the day, especially when the bears decide to go for a swim.
• Budget more time than you think. Between The Leaf's four biomes, the Zoo, outdoor gardens and food stops, Assiniboine Park can be a full day experience!
• Check the Zoo Chats schedule if you want the inside scoop on the animals at the Zoo. These run daily through September 7, 2026 and feature a variety of species. Worth timing your visit around one if there's an animal you specifically want to see!