Top 5 things to do in Winnipeg this weekend (Sept. 19-21)
Hey guys! I missed you! My weekly column about all the fun stuff to do in our River City is back and just in time for the weekend of a LOT of festivals in Winnipeg.
There's a ton going on in the city and most of it is free, which is maybe the most exciting part.
The Canadian Museum for Human Rights has an impressive lineup for Rights Fest — two days of celebrations as the museum opens to the public for the first time.
Winnipeg Design Festival also has a whole bunch of really cool things happening, including an alley party, which is exactly what it sounds like.
If you want to hang out inside, Thin Air and a Mama Cutsworth show at the Pyramid should keep you busy.
Have a good one, Winnipeg, and enjoy the last of our amazing weather!
WHAT: DESIGN - Winnipeg Design Festival
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Where: Various locations
Cost: FREE (except where regular admission fees apply, like Cinematheque!)
This is one of my favourites – the Winnipeg Design Festival is doing a whole bunch of fun stuff this weekend and most of it is free!
They’ve got some super smart panel discussions, design films at Cinematheque, a chalk-art mural project and maybe the best part is an alley party – which is exactly what it sounds like.
Saturday night, lights, a bar and a DJ are going up in the alley between Albert Street and Arthur Street in the Exchange.
It’s free, except for whatever you drink. And there’s a good chance it’ll be full of some really lovely creative people!
The whole thing starts at 8 p.m. and runs until midnight.
WHAT: CELEBRATION – Rights Fest at The Forks
When: Saturday, Sept. 20 and Sunday, Sept. 21
Where: The Forks at 123 Main St.
Cost: FREE
There isn’t much I need to say about this except that Shad is playing for FREE Saturday evening at The Forks.
The events are part of Rights Fest, to mark the opening of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.
There is an amazing lineup from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the main stage.
But if you go early, you can hear some of my favourite locals play first!
Both Royal Canoe and the Brothers Landreth are playing sets between 3 and 5 p.m.
If you can’t make it Saturday, try heading out Sunday afternoon.
Free performances from the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet will be on as well.
Oh, and if you haven’t tried it: hearing the symphony and watching ballet outside is maybe the best thing in the world.
WHAT: WORDS – Thin Air, the Winnipeg International Writers' Festival
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Where: Various locations across Winnipeg
Cost: FREE to $40 depending on event
Hey smart people! There’s a thing you might want to do this weekend.
The annual international writers’ fest kicks off on Friday, and there’s everything from guest readings and meditations to free outdoor events at The Forks.
If you’re looking for some more accessible events, there’s a poetry slam event Saturday night at the Centre culturel franco-manitobain.
It costs $5 and the audience gets to vote for their favourite performer at the end.
And from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Oodena Circle at The Forks, there’s a free event with readings and music. Bring a jacket!
WHAT: MUSIC – Mama Cutsworth at The Pyramid
When: Saturday, Sept. 20 at night
Where: The Pyramid Cabaret at 176 Fort St.
Cost: $20
One of my favourite DJs is playing a show at The Pyramid Wednesday night, but it’s not your usual drink-and-dance party the Fort Street venue is famous for — this one is for a good cause.
It’s a fundraiser for the Rainbow Resource Centre, an organization that does a lot of important work serving our GLBTT communities.
There are a whole bunch of other acts on that night, so it’ll be easy to make a night of it. Drinks aren’t too cheap at the Pyramid though, so go easy!
Put on your dancing shoes, feel sort of awesome about contributing to a great organization and then dance your butt off.
Hasn’t it been too long since you’ve been to a Pyramid party anyway?
WHAT: NATURE – Sunset goose flights at Fort Whyte
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday around 6 p.m.
Where: Fort Whyte Alive at 1961 McCreary Rd.
Cost: $5 adults, $3 kids or $12 for a carload
Dig out your coziest sweater, call up the nature-nerd in your life and go see thousands of geese fly south this weekend.
Fort Whyte Alive is hosting this thing called “sunset goose flights” this weekend, and by hosting I mean they’re letting you into their super awesome wildlife preserve to check out how awe-inspiring nature can be.
For $5 you can go to the preserve just before sunset and sit in front of a bonfire while watching geese land on the pond there.
It really seems sort of romantic and awesome. So bring a date or like, any of your loved ones, I guess, because it will be pretty family-friendly too.
Apparently there’s a bonfire and treats. I can’t really imagine anything nicer.
