It’s all about the journey this week in Manitoba. Journey to the past on train or plane, along a hiking trail, down a canoe route or into worlds unknown in a theatre production. And what’s more, we guarantee the destination will be just as spectacular. Start planning your weekly adventure with our list of what’s hot in Manitoba…
Meet with friends at the MacGregor Fair
June 27
MacGregor
Start your day with a pancake breakfast at the MacGregor Summer Fair. At this family-friendly event, you will see a light and heavy horse show, join into a baseball tournament, pet friendly farm animals and get to know the friendly community of MacGregor.
Swing your partner ’round at Dauphin Country Fest
June 25-28
Dauphin
With Miranda Lambert, Brantley Gilbert and Jake Owen leading up this year’s headlining acts, Dauphin Country Fest is sure to hit the mark for country music lovers once again. As Canada’s longest running country music festival, Dauphin draws in the crowds from all over the province and beyond. Our only tip is to bring both rubber boats AND cowboy boots – you’ll need them!
Reach new heights with Manitoba’s aerial past
June 23, 25, 28 | 2:00 pm
Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada
Travel back to a time when Canada’s rivers served as highways for travelers and how the Vickers Vidette changed the northern transport industry in 1924. Known as the “Flying Canoe”, the Vickers Vidette was the first airplane designed and manufactured by Canadians. Don’t miss your chance to see the world’s only complete example of the Flying Canoe on display at the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada.
Be enchanted by the eclectic Cirque du Soleil: Varekai
June 24 to 28
MTS Centre
Go deep into the forest and up the summit of a volcano to discover the extraordinary world of Varekai. See the weird and the wonderful as Cirque to Soleil paints the stage of the MTS Centre with a magical tale of fantastical creatures and a solitary adventurer.
Have a night to remember in Winnipeg
The Treble
June 24 | 6:30 to 9:30 pm
The Forks
Rock out at the Forks for One Night in Winnipeg, a United Way initiative that aims to bring community together and celebrate everything that makes Winnipeg an amazing place to live, work and play. The Festival Stage will play host to local acts such as The Treble, Sweet Alibi and the Lyrics.
Admire murals in the west end
Monday to Saturday
West End BIZ
Discover the West End’s rich cultural diversity through spectacular murals. Wander from mural to mural and learn about the history, people, businesses and restaurants of this diverse area of Winnipeg. Expect to gain insight into the West End’s heritage, community, commerce and cuisine, all while taking in gorgeous works of art.
Paddle your worries away on National Canoe Day
Photo by Raymond Klassen
Celebrate National Canoe Day in serenity as you dip your paddle into gentle waters on a quiet lake, or go for broke on rushing river rapids as you follow in the wake of the voyageurs. Head to Grass River Provincial Park or launch your canoe west of the park at Cranberry Portage and take a 176-kilometre run to Wekusko Falls on northern Manitoba’s legendary Grass River route. Admire the pictographs at Tramping Lake along the way – it’s believed the images painted in red ochre on rock faces just above the waterline were created by aboriginal artists who were seated in canoes.
Take a trip back in time on the train
June 27 | 11:00 am – 2:45 pm
Inkster Junction Station
Emerge yourself in stories and tales of yesteryear on the Prairie Dog Central. All aboard the 1911 Passenger Agent where you can take in the sights, sounds and the smell of the steam locomotive. Journey to a time when steam engines and wooden coaches rumbled across every landscape.
Select garden greens for pizza night on the farm
Fridays and Saturdays | 5:00 – 9:00 pm
Integrity Foods
Pizza night is in full swing at Integrity Foods. Embrace the farm life in this serene setting as your garden-fresh pizza bakes in an outdoor brick oven. Farm animals, pets, gardens, forest trails and children’s activities are just a few of the delights waiting for you on this family abode. Plus, who wouldn’t want to have a pizza picnic? Sandwiches are so overrated!
Dig your toes into the sand at the beach
Photo by Jennifer Opsahl.
Hot sand, cool water and bare feet are an unbeatable combination. Every Manitoban has a favourite beach, and 100 years ago, Lake Winnipeg’s most famous retreats were so popular they were serviced by up to 13 trains a day from Winnipeg. On the lake’s eastern shore, Grand Beach is regarded as one of the best in North America. Trip across its soft white sand, fish off the causeway and go bird watching in the marsh. On the western shore, the rolling lawns and boardwalk of Winnipeg Beach separate the surf and sand from the resort town’s small shops and restaurants.
Hike at your own pace
Photo by Kyle Schappert
There is certainly no shortage of exciting hiking trails in Manitoba. Tromp through one of the Whiteshell’s beautiful gems, McGillivray Falls on a self-guided hiking trail or take on one of the province’s most challenging treks along the rugged Canadian Shield of the Mantario Trail. Wind through grasslands and a magnificent stand of eastern white cedar on the Cedar Bog Trail in Birds Hill Park or bird watch along the Rossburn Subdivision Trail.
Release songbirds at Oak Hammock Marsh
June 27 | 8:00 – 10:00 am
Oak Hammock Marsh
Feel a bird’s feathers flutter gently in your hand before releasing them at Oak Hammock Marsh. At this important stop on the migration path of songbirds, you will have the opportunity to participate in a banding session. The morning ends with a relaxing canoe excursion or guided birding walk on the trails.
Observe bison on a prairie safari
Various dates and times, weekly
Fort Whyte Alive
You’ve never been on a safari like this before. Hop aboard the Fort Whyte Alive tour bus and go into the bison prairie for an up-close encounter with North America’s largest land animal. You’ll definitely want to bring your camera on this tour – photo opps galore!
Follow the Pan Am Games Torch
June 22
Various locations, Winnipeg
Welcome the Pan Am Games Torch to Winnipeg at this historic event. Head to the Forks to watch the flame’s arrival and to join into all the festivities, including cauldron lighting, sports demonstrations and much more. The torch will continue through Winnipeg, stopping into the Canadian Forces Base and City Hall.
Rejuvenate and relax at the spa
- Solstice Spa at Elkhorn Resort
Wouldn’t a day spent at a luxurious spa be just the ticket? Experience relaxation in a whole new way at the outdoor Scandinavian style oasis, Thermëa by Nordik Spa-Nature or escape to Ten Spa at Hotel Fort Garry for a self-detox Hamam. The Riverstone Spa is an ideal (and very serene) option after a day of exploring The Forks. If you’d like to relax outside of the city limits, head north to Elkhorn Resort on the edge of Riding Mountain National Park.
Get away from the hustle and bustle at a unique stay
Planning a staycation in Manitoba? Take the path less traveled and learn about what it takes to run a family farm, or simply kick back at a resort or in your own personal yurt. The oTENTiks in Riding Mountain National Park are an excellent compromise between tent and cabin and are especially convenient for those who prefer glamping to camping. Check in, check out and escape from it all.
Journey along the Parkland Flavour Trail
Foxtail Cafe
You likely have visited the Parklands to camp or to see its many heritage sites, but have you sampled the Parklands’ delicious regional cuisine? Take the self guided tour through the many restaurants and eateries of the area and mark down your favourite spots along the way. How many can you conquer in a day on the Flavour Trail?
