Winnipeg
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!
1. Power Smart Waterfall of Lights
Photo Credit: Tourism Brandon
Skating through the dazzling display of holiday lighting! Details
When:
December through until the end of February, weather permitting | 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Where:
West end of McGregor Avenue, Brandon
How much:
Free
2. 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 2, 2016 – January 7, 2017
Where:
3977 Portage Avenue at the Red River Exhibition Park, Winnipeg
How much:
Advance: Family vehicle: $10
Gate: Family vehicle: $15
3. Kidfish Ice Derby
Bundle up, grab your fishing lines, and head out on to the ice for the annual Kids Fishing For A Cure Ice Fishing Derby! Details
When:
January 8, 2017 | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
In the event of unsafe ice conditions or bad weather the derby will be postponed to January 22, 2017.
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:
$25.00
4. Raw Almond
Raw Almond is an annual pop-up restaurant and Canadian Tourism Award winner, with multi-course meals prepared by some of North America’s (and Winnipeg’s) finest chefs served on long communal tables in an elaborate tent on the frozen Assiniboine River. Details
When:
January 19 – February 13, 2017
There will be three seatings per night, 5.30, 7.30, and 9.30 PM.
Where:
Red River @ Assiniboine River, Winnipeg
How much:
Tickets are $125 plus 17% service and 13% PST/GST (total $162.50). (sold out for 2017)
5. 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 3 – 5, 2017
Where:
Red River (beside the St. Boniface Hospital), Winnipeg
How much:
$160 Per Team
6. Northern Manitoba Trappers Festival
Photo Credit: 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 15 – 19, 2017
Where:
Northern Manitoba Trappers Festival, 324 Ross Avenue, The Pas, Manitoba
How much:
Some events are free, while others have a small admission fee
7. 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 17 – 26, 2017
Where:
Voyageur Park, 233 Provencher Boulevard, Winnipeg
How much:
Park Day Pass: $9 – $18
10-day Pass: $11 – $32
8. Wonderful Winter Weekend
A winter weekend filled with curling, fishing, skating, fireworks and more family activities at teh Winnipeg Beach. Participate in chili contest, baking contest, cookie contest, poster contest, snowmobile radar runs, ice fishing derby or just go there to soak up the festive atmosphere. Details
When:
February 17 – 20, 2017
Where:
Various venues, Winnipeg Beach
How much:
Some events are free, while others have a small admission fee
9. Skate the Lake
Skate the Lake is a two day pond hockey tournament where teams of 5 copete in a 4-on-4 phond hockey format with two 15 miute halves. There are no goalies, no refs and no limit to the fun! Details
When:
February 18 – 19, 2017 | 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Where:
Minnedosa Lake, Minnedosa
How much:
Spectators: Free
10. Eriksdale’s Winter Carnival
The carnival features an Ice Show, Carnival Dance, curling bonspiel, crowning of the Carnival Queen, kids curling, hockey, Casino Night, pancake breakfast, pickerel dinner. Details
When:
Held annually in mid-February
February 19 – 22, 2017
Where:
Eriksdale, MB
Eriksdale Recreation Centre
How much:
Free and ticketed events
11. Wild Winter Canoe Race
Test your voyageur grit and sense of humor on the Red River Trail at The Forks! This is an inclusive, wildly unusual and high-energy outdoor steeplechase. This high-octane contest is held on a snow-packed 200-meter course, using tripping canoes. The only “paddling” required comes from the team’s legs – one leg in the canoe, one leg out – a synchronized crew that works foot power to glide to the finish line. Details
When:
February 20, 2017 | 12:00 PM – 04:00 PM
Where:
Red River Trail, Winnipeg
How much:
Team Registration: $60.00/person (5 persons per team).
Free for spectators
12. Lake of the Prairies Ice Fishing Derby
Photo Credit: Asessippi Parkland Tourism
Annual ice fishing competition held at the Asessippi Provincial Park! Details
When:
February 25, 2017 | 11:00 AM – 03:00 PM
Where:
Asessippi Provincial Park
How much:
Early Bird $60 ( February 1st)
Regular $80
Second Hole $40
13. Winter Safari
A grand celebration of the season at Birds Hill Provincial Park with snowshoeing, scavenger hunt, theatrical performances, quinzhee building, bonfire & bannock roasting and more! Details
When:
February 26, 2017 | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Where:
Interpretive Workshop at the end of Nimowin Road, Birds Hill Provincial Park
How much:
Free entry
14. 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:
March 4, 2017 | 08:00 AM – 04:00 PM
Where:
Lac du Bonnet Town Dock, Lac du Bonnet
How much:
Adult $50.00 (single hole pass); Adult (2 holes pass) $75.00; Child (15 and Under) (single hole pass) $25.00; Child (15 and Under) (2 holes pass) $50.00; Family Pack (2 Adults & 3 Kids) $150.00
15. 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 5 – 6, 2017
Where:
Gimli Harbour, Manitoba
How much:
Special All-events Weekend Pass: $5
16. 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:
March 17, 2017
Where:
Gilliam to Churchill
The Quest will then follow a route along the Hudson Bay rail line and Wapusk National Park, 220 miles to Churchill. Total 341 km 211 miles
How much:
Entry fee $600
17. 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 18, 2017 | 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Tagged fish contest: Starts on March 18th and goes year-round until all tagged fish are caught
Where:
Falcon Lake, Manitoba
Tournament held on West Side of Falcon Lake. Signs posted off #1 highway to derby site
How much:
Early Bird ticket $50.00 (purchased until March 8th)
Regular tickets $70.00 (purchased after March 8th)
Tagged fish contest: $20
Anglers must have a valid Manitoba fishing license or Treaty status ID card.
18. Ashern Carnival Weekend
Ashern Carnival weekend is an event held annually where visitors can see figure ice skating competitions, Ice Show, a hockey tournament, broomball, a social, and the crowning of the carnival King and Queen. Details
When:
March, 2017
Where:
Ashern, MB
How much:
Free and ticketed events