Celebrate Winter in Manitoba! Here is a list of great events & festivals in Manitoba to fill your winter weekends. From splendid lights that light up the cold winter night to a pop-up bar on a frozen lake to sled dog race, there is plenty to do in Manitoba to warm-up your winter nights and days!
Manitoba Hydro Power Smart Waterfall of Lights
Skating through the dazzling display of holiday lighting! Details
When:
On now; Usually December through until the end of February, weather permitting | 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Where:
west of the City of Brandon’s Community Services Complex on McGregor Avenue, Brandon
How much:
Free
Canad Inns Winter Wonderland
Canad Inns Winter Wonderland is Manitoba’s largest drive-thru light show and provides a brilliant presentation of over one million lights in 26 different theme areas. Details
When:
December 1, 2023 to January 6, 2024 | 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Where:
3977 Portage Avenue at the Red River Exhibition Park, Winnipeg
How much:
General: $20/vehicle
KidFish Ice Derby
Bundle up, grab your fishing lines, and head out on to the ice for the annual Kids KidFish Ice Derby and raise money for CHFM and CancerCare MB! Details
When:
February 18, 2024 | 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Where:
Float Plane Base, 1007-1009 Breezy Point Rd, Selkirk, MB
Selkirk Float Base is located just north of the City of Selkirk.
How much:
$20 – $30
Christmas Glow in the Country
Come take a leisurely drive through the 2-kilometer route in the comfort of your vehicle, tune your radio to our Christmas Glow station and enjoy the festive displays and goodies. Details
When:
December 4 – 7, 8 – 17, 2023
Where:
Winkler Bible Camp, 16037 Pth 3, Winkler
How much:
Pay by donation / $20 per vehicle
Snowdance Festival of Winter and Music
Find those mittens your grandma made for you. Borrow your roommate’s boots. Put on all your long johns at once. Wear that really cool scarf that brings out the blue in your eyes. And head out to the woods for Snowdance, the wintery music festival at the Falcon Ridge Ski Slopes. DetailsWhen:
Saturday January 20, 2024 | 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Where:
Various venues
How much:
Tickets are $50, under 12 is free!
Winnipeg New Music Festival
Winnipeg New Music Fesitval is all about celebrating ‘contemporary classical music’. Details
When:
January 25 – Febraury 2, 2024
Where:
Centennial Concert Hall, 555 Main Street, Winnipeg
Knox United Church, 400 Edmonton St, Winnipeg
How much:
WNMF Child Pass: $49, Early bird WNMF Pass: $79
Ironman Outdoor Curling Bonspiel
Curling outdoors on the river is a unique experience, participants from all over North America have come to our FUN-raiser event to experience outdoor curling. Canada’s Largest Outdoor Curling Bonspiel. Details
When:
February 2-4, 2024
Where:
Winnipeg Rowing Club, 20 Lyndale Drive, Winnipeg
How much:
Registration required to participate
Northern Manitoba Trappers Festival
Held annually in The Pas, the Northern Manitoba Trappers’ Festival celebrates the diverse cultural heritage of the northern pioneer. The major events are the World Championship Dog Race and the King, Queen and youth Trapper events with contests based on the lifestyle, livelihood and survival of the trapper. Details
When:
Usually in the third weekend of February
February 14-18, 2024
Where:
Northern Manitoba Trappers Festival, 324 Ross Avenue, The Pas, Manitoba
How much:
Some events are free, while others have a small admission fee
Festival du Voyageur
Western Canada’s largest winter festival for the whole family with lots of entertainment including music, dancing, jigging, French-Canadian food, meeting historical characters, sculptures and much more. Details
When:
February 16 – 25, 2024
Where:
Whittier Park, 836 Rue St Joseph Winnipeg
How much:
Free and ticketed events
Skate the Lake
Skate the Lake is a two-day pond hockey tournament where teams of 5 compete in a 4-on-4 pond hockey format with two 15-minute halves. There are no goalies, no refs and no limit to the fun! Details
When:
February 17 + 18, 2024
Where:
Minnedosa Lake, Minnedosa
How much:
Spectators: Free
Dan’s Diner Remote Culinary Experience
Experience a remote dining adventure at 58° North latitude, surrounded by wilderness beneath the northern lights. The exquisitely curated, multi-course menu will feature regional and local fare. This is Dan’s Diner, a remote culinary adventure like no other. Details
When:
Select dates in February and March
Where:
Churchill River
Lac du Bonnet Ice Fishing Derby
Join the Annual Lac du Bonnet Ice Fishing Derby where size doesn’t matter! With our hidden length and time derby, all you have to do is catch a fish for your chance to walk away with $10,000 cash. In fact, you don’t even have to catch a fish at all to be able to win one of the amazing randomly drawn prizes. Master Anglers, professional fishers, fishing enthusiasts, and families alike all have a great time out on the ice. Details
When:
February 24, 2024
Where:
Lac du Bonnet Town Dock, Lac du Bonnet
How much:
$27.96 – $65.23
Canadian Power Toboggan Championship
The Canadian Power Toboggan Championships is the longest-running snowmobile race in the world. Racers of all ages and skill levels compete in Stock, Modified, Vintage and Motorcycle classes, from Kitty Kat right through to Pro levels. The Canadian Power Toboggan Championships has the world’s fastest and safest 1/2 mile ice oval track. Snowmobiles race at speeds in excess of 170 km/h and up to 18 racers compete at the same time! Details
When:
December 9 – 10, 2023 & March 2 – 3, 2024
Where:
Beausejour, Manitoba
40-minute drive north-east of Winnipeg via 4-lane Highways 59 and 44
How much:
Admission $20/day
Kids 12 & under – Free
Gimli Ice Festival
Held every year in March, this festival is all about ice, with lots of fun events, entertainments and competitions. See snow sculptures, enjoy bannocks, pancake breakfast, meet Cooley the Mascot at Cooley’s Ice Park and more. Visitors can take part in various competitions like the Fire on Ice Care Racing, min-sled racing, rotary chili contest, cross country skiing. Details
When:
Usually in the month of March
March 1-3, 2024
Where:
Gimli Harbour, Manitoba
How much:
TBA
Freeze Frame International Film Festival
There are lots to see and do at Freeze Frame’s International Film Festival for Kids of All Ages from Festival Films, workshops, contests, reel jobs, interactive digital playground and more. Details
When:
March 10 – 16, 2024
Where:
Winnipeg
How much:
Free and ticketed events
Hudson Bay Quest
A self-sufficient sled dog race to celebrate northern Manitoba trapper culture, running from Gillam, Manitoba to Churchill, Manitoba. It is a trek through boreal forest and barren tundra that will prove a test for any racer. It harkens back to a time when ‘There ain’t no law of God nor man goes north of 53°’ was a common saying. Details
When:
2024 TBA
Where:
From Churchill to Gillam
How much:
2024 TBA
Previous – Entry fee $600
Falcon Lake Winter Fish-Off
Held annually, Falcon Lake Winter Fish-Off attracts anglers from all over central Canada, the midwestern United States, as well as Canada’s North country to compete for the 1st place and win $10000. Kids are also encouraged to take part in competitions. In 2017, there will also be a tagged fish contest on Falcon Lake where anglers will try to catch 6 tagged fishes. Details
When:
March 16, 2024
Where:
Falcon Lake, Manitoba
Tournament held on West Side of Falcon Lake. Signs posted off #1 highway to derby site
How much:
Early Bird Tickets $60 (until March 4th)
Regular tickets $80
Second Hole ticket $40
Children’s Ticket: $40 (Ages 15 and under)
Visitor Pass: $10
Winnipeg Scottish Festival
The Winnipeg Scottish Festival is the largest indoor pipe band and solo competition from the Alberta border to the Ontario border. The festival presents highland dancing, piping, drumming and Celtic Vendors all under one roof. Details
When:
2024 TBA
Saturday April 1, 2023
Where:
University of Winnipeg
How much:
Free
Royal Manitoba Winter Fair
Celebrate the best in agriculture, entertainment, and equestrian competitions. The Winter Fair is the largest combined indoor agricultural fair and equestrian competition in Manitoba. Details
When:
March 25 – 30, 2024
Usually takes place in the last week of March
Where:
Brandon, MB
How much:
2024 rates TBA
2023 rates: $0 – $21