This week in Manitoba takes you on a wild ride with gods, goddesses, brides, bridesmaids, ballerinas, ballerinos and well, you get the idea. Head indoors for romance and love with Feast with Gods and Goddesses or the Wonderful Wedding Show. Then, take to the outdoors in an epic road trip to Hecla Island or for a skate on the Assiniboine Park pond. Here’s what’s hot…
Feast with Gods and Goddesses
January 21
Winnipeg Art Gallery
Romance and an ample supply of gods and goddesses are on the menu at this dinner-and-tour program at the Winnipeg Art Gallery. Expert guide and Project Curator Angeliki Bogiatji will bring you through 160 Greek and Roman treasures in a rare night of history and delectable fare. And with the date so close to Valentine’s Day, the tour will focus on Celebrating Love in the Ancient World.
Feel alive at the New Music Festival
January 23 to 29
Various locations
The 25th year will be a huge milestone for the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra’s New Music Festival, the leading voice of of new music in North America. The festival is marked with 3 world premieres from past composers-in-residence as well as new American voices and a commission from Stephen O’Malley.
Spend a day at the Assiniboine Park and Zoo
Open daily
Assiniboine Park, Winnipeg
There’s a snow flurry of fun to be had at Assiniboine Park in winter! Visit Hudson and all his furry friends at The Zoo, skate like graceful swans on the duck pond, fly down the Toboggan Hill, or enjoy the beauty of the park while skiing the groomed trails.
Put on your dancing shoes at Billy Elliot: The Musical
January 12 to February 6
John Hirsch Mainstage
Be inspired by the story of a boy who defies the odds and realizes his dreams in Billy Elliot the Musical. You will be dazzled by Billy, a young boy in UK destined to follow his father and brother to work in the coal mines until he discovers the exciting world in ballet. Featuring music by Elton John and incredible dance sequences, Billy Elliot The Musical is set to be the Royal MTC’s largest production of the year.
Start planning at the Wonderful Wedding Show
January 23 and 24
RBC Convention Centre
Soon-to-be brides, bridesmaids and everyone in between are headed to the RBC Convention Centre for the annual Wonderful Wedding Show. The show is the go-to for finding information on local wedding services, featuring over 300 displays, a fashion show, prizes and more.
Get loud at Monster Jam
January 30 and 31
MTS Centre
Get your motor runnin’ cause Maple Leaf Monster Jam is returning to Winnipeg for three BIG shows! Watch in awe as twelve-feet-tall, ten-thousand-pound machines tear through the MTS Centre. Monster Jam is the most exciting form of family motorsports entertainment on the planet. The larger-than-life machines will bring you to your feet as they race and rip through a custom-designed track full of obstacles. This year’s exhilarating lineup includes Bounty Hunter, Monster Mutt and Midnight Rider.
Roadtrip to Hecla Island
Photo by Shel Zolkewich
Don’t wait until summer to see the beautiful Hecla Island. Hit the road and head to the Hecla Lakeview Resort for a winter weekend getaway. Once there, take to the trails with snowshoes or cross country skis, then head to the Salka Spa for some much-needed you time. For more information on this Manitoba staycation, check out Shel Zolkewich’s Hecla Island adventure!
Be enveloped in human stories at CMHR
Open Tuesday to Sunday
Canadian Museum for Human Rights, The Forks
Contemplate inspiring stories of struggle and triumph at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. This national museum strives to create inspiring encounters with human rights, by engaging you in an immersive, interactive experience that offers both the inspiration and tools to make a difference in the lives of others.
While there, check out the Witness Blanket exhibit, a large-scale art installation that honours the children who were forced into Indian residential schools in Canada between 1870 and 1996, and symbolizes ongoing reconciliation.
Spin your way to the Prairie Theatre Exchange
January 14 to January 31
Prairie Theatre Exchange
In this theatrical journey, the Bicycle serves as a muse, musical instrument and an agent of social change. Inspired by the tale of Annie Londonderry, the first woman to ride around the world on a bicycle in 1894, Spin features stories of liberation and songs of consumer culture. Poetry, music and theatre mix together as one in this unforgettable production.
Capture the perfect starry shot
January 21
Oak Hammock Marsh
Oak Hammock Marsh has the best skies. When it isn’t full of migrating birds, it’s littered with the brightest stars. Attend the Astronomy Night – Astrophotography and get to know some of the brightest constellations in the dark winter sky. Astrophotographer Sheila Wiwchar will be on hand to give tricks and tips on how to capture the beauty of the night sky from the outdoor observatory.
Dive into the world of Canadian air pioneers
On until January 31
Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada
In the 1920’s and 30’s, cold weather was an enormous obstacle for aerial access to the North. Now until the end of the month, head to the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada and dive into the lives of Canada’s air pioneers and the cold-weather transport airplanes that formed the foundation of today’s northern air industry.
Brush up on your cross-country skiing
January 23
Spruce Woods Provincial Park
Want to get out and active this winter? Learn how to properly cross-country ski or brush up on your already existing skills at the Cross Country Ski Clinic! Come equipped with your skis and join the Park Interpreter and Canadian Association of Nordic Ski Instructors and get ready to hit the trails.
Rev it up for those feisty Jets
January 18, 21, 23
MTS Centre
The good old hockey game brings the roar to the crowd when the Winnipeg Jets take on the Colorado Avalanche on January 18, the Nashville Predators on January 21 and the New Jersey Devils on January 23. As always, tickets are limited, so grab what you can before they’re all gobbled up. And there’s plenty of pre- and post-game action at surrounding pubs, clubs and eateries like The Pint, Shark Club,The Met, and Tavern United.
Be enthralled by an epic dance production
January 18
Burton Cummings Theatre, Winnipeg
See an amazing blend of dance styles at the So You Think You Can Dance Season 12 Tour. The top 10 finalists stop into the Burton Cummings Theatre for an unforgettable night of foxtrot, ballroom and everything in between.
Explore Manitoba’s amazing art galleries
Exhibition shot from Janet Shaw Russell’s This Fragile Dwelling Place
For the curious and the creative, Manitoba is teeming with art galleries that reflect our unique regions, cultures and histories. These galleries are found in every corner of the province, delivering thought-provoking and compelling works from international talent and artists found right here in Manitoba. Here are 10 amazing art galleries you can’t miss!
Skate, slide and snowboard at The Forks
Open Daily
The Forks, Winnipeg
Head down to The Forks for the official celebration of winter at Arctic Glacier Winter Park! Skate on the many trails, slide down the toboggan run, or try your tricks in the professionally designed Snowboard Fun Park.
