Hurray!!! Summer is here! Time for fun and frolic! Here is a list of 50+ things you can enjoy this summer in and around Winnipeg. And the best of all, they are FREE!!!
- Set against the backdrop of a National Historic Site, Alleyways in the Exchange features a market, a gallery, audio performances, and an art lounge. June 23, July 28 & August 25, 2023.
- Join us at Assiniboine Park on Saturday, June 24 for a day filled with music, entertainment, and fun in recognition of Indigenous Peoples Day!
- Discover the diverse forms of art and culture at Le Patio 340. Most events are free at this bilingual pop-up summer bar.
- Enjoy a variety of music at the Leaf for free on Saturdays in July and August. Garden Concerts at The Leaf
- CaRaVaN at the Cube is back for the summer with their open mic and open stage night, running Mondays at 7 pm from May 15th-September 18th.
- Enjoy the first days of Summer at the “Saint-Boniface célèbre” festival. June 22 – 25, 2023.
- Enjoy free admission (with a donation to the Red River Exhibition Foundation) from 11:00 am to Noon ONLY to Red River Ex on Sunday, June 18, 2023. Kids under 10 years old can purchase a wristband at the Park to ride all they want on Sunday, June 25 (ONLY) for only $20 including GST. Good for Kiddieland rides ONLY.
- Year after year, new murals are added at many places in Winnipeg. Check out these artistic creations!
- Walk The Loop. It is an 8 km long walk with 49 stops connecting the city’s central neighbourhoods.
- Enjoy artisans, food vendors, a Métis fiddle competition and more at the Indigenous Day Live. Enjoy the day as The Forks bursts with cultural stage performances from a variety of Indigenous artists on Saturday, June 17, 2023.
- Every Tuesday in June, July and August, enjoy a free concert from a local artist from Noon – 1:00 PM during the Downtown Sounds Concert Series.
- When it gets scorching hot outside, you know its time to take a dip in the pool.
- Put on your hiking shoes and explore Winnipeg.
- Have you taken the kids to this mystic magical place that are the home of the elves? The rock gardens at the Viking Park, built around the famous Viking statue, in Gimli are home to the mysterious Huldufólk. According to Icelandic folklore these hidden people, live outdoors in rocky caves and nooks. Take a walk through the park and see if you can catch a sight.
- Come to True North Square on Sundays in July from 5 pm to 10 pm to enjoy free Salsa. DJ Chilango & DJ Salsero will be spinning the best Latin tunes that will keep you dancing all night long.
- Spend the day exploring Winnipeg. Don’t know where to start? Check out our list of self-guided tours you can do!
- Free outdoor screenings of French-language films with English subtitles can be enjoyed throughout summer at the Saint-Boniface Cathedral. Movies under the Stars
- The Canadian Immigrant Fair is returning to Winnipeg on July 6, 2023. The Fair is a free, one-stop event connecting newcomers with information and inspiration on the three pillars of immigrant success: Careers, Education and Settlement.
- Head down to Gimli during the Gimli Film Festival. Though the festival is ticketed, beachside screenings are free to enjoy.
- See some of the world’s best contemporary artworks at the Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art.
- Enjoy a free walking tour back into the earliest days of Winnipeg’s Exchange District. The Tour takes place on Sundays in July & August at 10:00 am.
- The 2023 World Police and Fire Games sheduled from Jul;y 28 to August 6 will be the largest sporting event ever hosted in the Province of Manitoba. This Olympic-style competition will have more than 8,500 athletes representing law enforcement, firefighters, and police officers from more than 50 countries across the world.
- Shop from handmade vendors at the Transcona BIZ Community Markets. Thursdays, June 29 – August 24, 2023.
- Sing Happy Birthday, Canada! There are lots of activities to enjoy this year.
- Attend the Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival held from July 19 to 30. The Old Market Square brims with entertainment and activity from noon to midnight every day as it comes alive with incredible music, talented street performers, a variety of food options, beverage pavilions and merchant vendors. You can also enjoy free family fun at the Kids Fringe.
- Love cars? Head down to Mennonite Heritage Village in Steinbach on July 22nd to enjoy their annual Heritage Classic Car Show.
- Early August, celebrate Icelandic culture, heritage, and the joy of Islendingadagurinn. Walk around the Viking Village, and enjoy Icelandic food and everything Viking from August 4 to August 7, 2023.
- Enjoy a community BBQ, live music, community organization displays, an artisan market, and a variety of fun activities for kids and families. Ellice Street Festival happens June 23 – 24, 2023.
- It’s time for Winnipeg Beach’s Boardwalk Days (July 28 – 30, 2023). You and your kids will have a wonderful time enjoying the live band, the parade and of course, the amazing fireworks display. Fireworks on July 29th at dusk. The midway rides are ticketed.
- Grab your headphones, download the audio tour file, and head outside to the Canopy to begin an immersive journey at The Forks. This is a 60-minute self-guided walking tour. Pause the audio during your walk to explore further and engage with points of interest. The Forks: A self-guided audio tour
- Get outside and explore our city through public art.
- Drop-in tours, pop-up concerts, hands-on activities, and more will be offered at The Manitoba Museum as part of First Fridays. General admission is free to all three of the Museum’s core attractions – the Museum Galleries, the Science Gallery, and the Planetarium. Every First Friday of the month from 5 pm to 9 pm. No tickets are required for First Friday’s programming unless otherwise specified.
- Get a trail’s eye view of Winnipeg. Select from over 30 detailed trails created by Winnipeg Trails Association and the Prairie Pathfinders.
- A petting zoo, giant parade, and face painting are just a few things for kids to enjoy at Altona’s Manitoba Sunflower Festival on July 28 – 30, 2023.
- Enjoy various family fun activities at the Winkler Harvest Festival. Headliners: Crash Test Dummies, Hunter Brothers, We are Messengers.
- Cheer for your favourite team during the Spetember Dragon Boat Challenge. Saturday, September 9, 2023
- Winnipeg’s celebration of Soca Reggae, Calypso and revelry take place July 7 – 9, 2023. Soca Reggae Festival
- Attend a free fitness class. These classes are offered on select Tuesdays in July and August at the Transcona Centennial Square. Fitness in the Square dates for 2023 are TBA.
- Get books from the Winnipeg Public Library and read them all summer. There are programs for everyone.
- Enjoy free family fun and be entertained at the Summer Entertainment Series at Assiniboine Park. From movies to live concerts, there is something for every member of the family. June 24 – September 1, 2023
- Check out WAG-Qaumajuq for free during Canada life Free Sundays@WAG!
- Fridays from August 11 to September 1 are movie nights. Movies in the Park screens two free movies every night at the Lyric Theatre.
- Discover Manitoba’s Ukrainian heritage. Oseredok Museum is currently under renovation. The gallery will reopen with a brand-new exhibition on July 5th.
- Celebrate the Annual Monarch Butterfly Festival. Enjoy presentations by local scientists, crafts, guided hikes, face painting, exhibits, live butterflies, and more!
- Explore the magnificently landscaped grounds of the Manitoba Legislative Building. Try to decipher the hidden meaning behind the various displays and statues.
- Have a fun day with your family in a park in Winnipeg.
- Put on your dancing shoes and join us every Friday and Saturday evening on Corydon Avenue and dance under the stars! Fridays & Saturdays, June 17 – September 2, 2023
- Come explore Winnipeg by bike!
- Spend a day at Assiniboine Park. Admire stunning works of art, relax as your child enjoys the playgrounds or take a stroll through the various gardens.
- Spend the first Fridays at the Exchange. It’s full-on creativity where Galleries, artists, shops & restaurants welcome your visit on the 1st Friday of each month.
- Splash at one of the Wading Pools. They are free for kids 12 and under.
- Free admission to Provincial Parks from July 10 to 16, 2023. Also enjoy free entry during September long weekend September 1 – 4, 2023. Please note that camping fees still apply. Check out the free Interpretive Events & Guided Experiences offered at various parks.
- Enjoy a day at The Forks.
- Explore Manitoba’s largest open-air market – St. Norbert Farmers’ Market.
- Kids can have a fun time crafting at the Transcona Museum. Craft with Us runs in July and August.
- Explore and celebrate Winnipeg’s gastronomic diversity at the Foodtrip Festival.
- Have fun throughout the day at the Portage Potato Festival. The event takes place every year on the second weekend in August. Don’t miss one of the most popular features of the event – FREE French Fries! August 11 & 12, 2023.
- Enjoy artistry in motion with family, friends, and nature at Assiniboine Park during Ballet in the Park. July 26-28, 2023
- Visit the Winnipeg Police Museum.
- Explore the Transcona BIZ Night Markets.
- If hot, buttered, Corn-on-the-Cob and the sweetest apple juice makes your mouth water, then it’s time to take a 90-minute drive to the Morden Corn and Apple Festival held during August 25 – 27, 2023. There are also tons of free entertainment, activities, buskers, and parade to enjoy.
- Canadian Museum for Human Rights offers free admission after 5 pm on Fridays all summer long and all day long on Canada Day (July 1).
- There are many activities to celebrate at downtown Winnipeg’s biggest street Festival, ManyFest.
- Have you been to the Public Orchard at The Forks? The orchard contains 61 fruit trees including apple, apricot, cherry, pear and plum, and as many as 75 fruit-bearing shrubs.
- Every year the Winnipeg Arts Council offers a diverse slate of Public Art Tours. The summer will be packed with walking and cycling tours all over Winnipeg. Public art tours are for people of all ages and abilities.
- Mondays in July and August are Family Fun Nights at Assiniboia Downs. Enjoy free kids activitie, bouncy castles, face painting and live entertainment!
- Learn about some of the most endangered habitats in the world at the Living Prairie Museum. The trails are open to exploring from dawn until dusk.
- The 11th year of the Manitoba Fibre Festival is here. The Festival is a unique gathering of all things fibre related.