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Summer in Portage La Prairie: Explore the “Island on the Prairies” Where Lakes, Giant Attractions, Indigenous and Pioneer History Come Together

Known as the Island on the Prairies, Portage La Prairie is nestled between Crescent Lake to the south and Lake Manitoba to the north and an hour west of Winnipeg. While these lakes are drastically different in terms of size, both provide visitors to and residents of Portage with recreation and sport, varying types of scenery, and a bustling bird and wildlife population. Aside from the draw of the lake life, however, the southern Manitoba town of Portage La Prairie has something to offer all types of summer vacationers.

Credit: Visual Soul Studios-Courtesy of Travel Manitoba

Portage La Prairie has a rich, vibrant, and deep history as a Canadian town, which goes much further back through the Indigenous history of Manitoba. For the history buff, Portage La Prairie offers several ways to dive into different parts of the town’s past. Plus, the arts and cultural scenes in Portage have just as much to offer through summer events and festivals, local markets, food, and farms, through the natural world around the town, and all the adventures that come with it.

Here are the top activities and ways to make the best of your trip to Portage la Prairie.

Beach Fun & More Water Adventures

The southern shores of the incredibly large and expansive Lake Manitoba are only about 25km north of Portage La Prairie, provide a long list of recreational activities on or off the water.

Credit: Travel Manitoba

Plus, the town sits on the shores of Crescent Lake and near the Assiniboine River to provide even more water adventures, shoreline trails, and much, much more for a summer getaway. Lake Manitoba is one of Canada’s thirteen largest lakes and among the top 40 largest freshwater lakes in the world.

 

  • Splash Island at Island Park in the heart of Portage La Prairie is an outdoor waterpark with features like slides, a splash pad, pools, sprinklers, and places to lounge in the sun and heat of the summer.  Island Park is home to many other fun features like the Arboretum, scenic walking trails,
  • Delta Beach on Lake Manitoba includes a large stretch of soft sandy beach for public use and swimming, picnics, sunbathing, beach volleyball, or any one of your favourite beach day activities. There is also a marina where the public can launch boats of all kinds onto Lake Manitoba.
  • Right in town, you can enjoy a peaceful paddle on a smaller body of water with four public launch areas on Crescent Lake. And between June and October, kayak rentals are available lakeside with Stride Place and Crescent Lake Kayak Rentals.

  • There are also peaceful fishing opportunities near town (as well as on Lake Manitoba), with the Spillway and Wayside Park as popular spots for both boating and fishing.

Historical Attractions around Town

History will come to life around most corners of Portage La Prairie, which has dozens of historical buildings, sites, and houses. Plus, the region is home to three separate museums, each with full displays of exhibits on trains and the CPR, town history, and a variety of Indigenous stories.

Credit: Travel Manitoba

  • Fort la Reine Museum is an open-air museum and historical village with buildings and homes built anywhere from the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s. The museum also has a large military display and exhibit, and vehicles of all kids on display across the property.
  • The National Indigenous Residential School Museum is located in a former Portage Residential Schoolhouse, and is filled with exhibits which promote healing, understanding, and education around the residential school system.
  • There are dozens of sites and buildings around Portage La Prairie to see on these self-guided historical tours.
  • Don’t forget to stop by some of Portage’s coolest roadside attractions and art pieces, too, like the world’s largest Coca-Cola can, the Dutch Windmill, Canada’s Largest Great Grey Owl, or the 12-foot Golden Eagle.

Arts & Culture in Portage La Prairie

On top of the annual market, fair, and music festival, and local museum exhibits, Portage La Prairie has even more to offer when it comes to exploring local arts and local culture.

  • Prairie Fusion Arts & Entertainment will soon announce the concerts to take place for the 2026/27 season. The centre is also open as an art gallery, workshop and classroom space, and gift shop.
  • Save the Prairie City Cinema, the indoor movie theatre, for your rainy day plans in Portage.
  • Save a local mural and outdoor art tour for the clearer, calmer days in Portage. There are many pieces around town to see while on a walk, the Historical Tours, or while looking for those other roadside attractions.

 

Trails, Birds, & Wildlife around Town

Portage La Prairie and its surrounding natural areas will have all sorts of trails for hikers, cyclists, joggers, or dog walkers. This includes the nature trails around the marsh, around Crescent Lake, the Junkyard Dogs mountain biking trails, riverside pathways, and more through the changing scenery to the south of Portage.

  • The Delta Marsh, adjacent to the Delta Beach, is one of the best nearby spots for an easy walk and birding; the marsh is home to numerous types of migrating waterfowl and songbirds. Use the short Taking Flight Trail to access a boardwalk over the marsh, then a three-storey viewing tower for the best views of the birds and wildlife.
  • Take the 5.2 km Crescent Lake Trail on foot or by bike as it winds around the scenic north shore of the lake while connecting you to several areas around town. Crescent Lake is also busy during the spring and fall migration seasons with waterfowl or songbirds.
  • Get more excellent birding, hiking, and picnic opportunities to the south of town at the Portage Wildlife Management Area, where there are unique plants, trees, and scenery overall.

 

Summer Events in Portage La Prairie

The annual events that take place over the warmer months and weekends in Portage La Prairie span the entire summer

  • Portage Farmers’ Market is a year-round market but begin special events and outdoor operations during the summers. Get a chance to browse and shop local foods, arts and crafts, home décor, bath and body products, and more.
  • The annual Portage Ex Fair has offered a weekend of local fun and entertainment in Portage La Prairie for over 150 years! The festival returns to the exhibition grounds with a midway, concerts, fair foods, and sporting or rodeo events.
  • The  Annual Whoop & Hollar Folk Festival, as with every year’s festival before it, will be a celebration of music, art, nature, and community, over two days of concerts and many other family-friendly activities.

The Best of the Portage Summer Dining

Almost all of the restaurants, cafes, and eateries in Portage La Prairie are off the main Saskatchewan Avenue/Highway 1A. Among these are a huge variety of dining options. These are also all of the closest restaurants and takeout options for a day at Delta Beach.

  • Among the only two restaurants not on 1A are Om Indian Cuisine in the south and Great Wall Chinese Restaurant in the north; both restaurants are highly rated online!
  • One of the most bountiful summer crops across southern Manitoba is strawberries. There are many farms around Portage La Prairie, and even more across southern Manitoba, that offer u-pick experiences. Pick your own strawberries with Roycan Country Haven, the Jeffries Berry Patch, Coulee Ridge Farms, Blessings at the Creek (also offers an Airbnb rental), or Riverbend Orchards (other types besides strawberries).

Places to Stay in Portage La Prairie

From the southern shores of Lake Manitoba and Delta Beach to the south, the rural sides of Crescent Lake, Portage La Prairie and its rural municipality have a ton of accommodation options. There are places which offer all sorts of camping options, from tenting and trailer stays to cabin and glamping rentals. Luckily, there are still many options around Portage for those who prefer not to camp.

 

Small Towns & Cities

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