Manitoba’s winter festivals

Festival du Voyageur  by Robert Linsdell.  CC BY

The fun in Manitoba doesn’t stop just because of the cold. Hardy Manitobans embrace winter with song, dance, arts, and sports. Many activities were put on hold (or held virtually) due to COVID these last few years, but they’re gearing to make a comeback this year!

Here’s a list of winter festivals around MB (please check their websites before you go to make sure of the festival dates and other particulars) :

1. Canad Inns Winter Wonderland (Red River Exhibition Park West Gate, Dec.1 to Jan. 6, 2024) – This is Manitoba’s longest drive-thru light show. Enjoy over one million twinkling lights and listen to holiday music over 2.5 km while staying warm in your car. Each Wednesday, the first 100 cars through the gate receive free 3D glasses. Tickets at $20.
2. World Snow Day Weekend (Riding Mountain National Park – January 20 & 21, 2024) – Features so many winter activities enjoyed by young and old alike. There’s tubing, tobogganing, scavenger hunts, even s’mores and hot chocolate by the campfire. All activities are free.
3. Winter Adventure Weekend (Riding Mountain National Park – Feb. 2-4, 2024) – This is an annual event that runs for the entire weekend. It features many free activities like winter olympic games, winter scavenger hunts, a snow sculpting competition, hockey or skiing basic tutorials, and of course, free s’mores and hot chocolate.
4. Northern Manitoba Trapper’s Festival (The Pas – February 14-18, 2024) – This event has been held for more than 70 years! Enjoy the sights, traditional food, and many exciting events such as the King & Queen Trapper events, arts and crafts show, snow sculpting, logger events, and many other family-oriented activities. The Trapper’s Festival is home to the World Championship Dog Races where dog mushers from around the world compete.
5. Festival du Voyageur (St. Boniface, Winnipeg – February 16-25, 2024) – This is the largest winter festival in Canada held at Winnipeg’s French Quarter. It is a wonderful way to learn and experience French Canadian, Metis and First Nations histories through the many attractions at the park. Many look forward to the festival’s traditional cuisine, snow sculptures and musical performances. You can enjoy these in February with a mixture of in-person and virtual activites. The festival will have concerts, contests, educational vignettes and even meal kits you can have at home as you enjoy the virtual show.
6. Gimli Ice Festival (Gimli, March 1 to 3, 2024) – Enjoy many family-friendly winter games and activities like ice car races, borcht and chili contests, frozen t-shirt contest and many more. Learn more about Viking culture and art while you’re having fun.


Gimli Ice Festival 9.5 More memories
 

7. Freeze Frame Festival (Winnipeg, March 10-16, 2024) – This is an international film festival for kids of all ages. It features quality films from all over the world to entertain and challenge children to think about issues not normally explored in mainstream media. Kids also have the opportunity to mingle with world-class filmmakers in the various workshops during the eight-day festival.
8. Winnipeg Scottish Festival – (Canadian Mennonite University, Shaftesbury Campus, April 6, 2024) – For 20 years now, the event has brought together the best bagpipers and drummers all over the Prairies and from BC, Ontario, Minnesota and North Dakota to compete for prizes. There are also vendors and cultural displays aside from the contests. Admission is free.
9. Festival of Fools (Mar. 23-29, 2024, Winnipeg) – This is a free family event held at the Forks in time for spring break. It features jugglers, clowns, acrobats, swinging trapeze and circus workshops and other fun shows. Kids will love the activities and shows as well as the free balloons and face painting. The new venue is the second floor of The Forks Market.
10. Royal Manitoba Winter Fair (Mar. 25 to 30, 2024) – It is one of Western Canada’s largest agricultural events and the largest event held in Brandon. Featured in the festival are show jumping and heavy horse competitions, livestock sales and displays, hands-on agricultural awareness programs (including Thru the Farm Gate), live entertainment, and around 300 commercial and agricultural exhibits. The Fair has the distinction of being one in only two fairs in Canada to receive Royal patronage from Queen Elizabeth II (the other one being The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto).
11. Winnipeg Comedy Festival (April 30 – May 5, 2024, Burton Cummings Theatre, Winnipeg) – The festival features gala shows (stand-up comedy acts) from some of Canada’s top comedians. It also features an improv showcase, panel discussions, and even a karaoke night. Over the years, the festival has grown to include year-round outreach programs, rural tours and workshops. Its television broadcasts attract over two million viewers annually.

 
Article updated February 8, 2024. We’ll continually update this list as information becomes available.
 
Sources: Travel Manitoba; 7 Manitoba winter festivals that will make you fall in love with the season, Travel Manitoba; and Manitoba Business Facts.