Teghan's top 5 things to do in (and near) Winnipeg this weekend (July 29-31)
It's not a bad long weekend to be stuck in the city limits — there's a ton going on indoors and outdoors, and all of it is pretty affordable.
There's a free Royal Winnipeg Ballet performance at Assiniboine Park, Lanikai and ATLAAS are playing The Good Will with tickets priced at only $10 and both Icelandic fest and the Prairie Comics Festival are free.
Last but not least, Folklorama has pavilions opening all over the city for $6 a pop.
WHAT: BALLET – RWB in the park
When: Friday, July 29 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Lyric Theatre, Assiniboine Park
Cost: FREE
The Royal Winnipeg Ballet is taking their performance outdoors this Friday, and you can check it out for free.
The weather should be wonderful to see about an hour of programming from the RWB.
This has long been one of my favourite ways to start the August long weekend and it's usually not too crowded.
My best advice is to pack a lawn chair and a thermos of coffee. Also, maybe don't invite anyone who will be grouchy about the kids running around.
It's a park and sitting still is really hard!
WHAT: MUSIC – Lanikai and ATLAAS play The Good Will
When: Friday, July 29 at 9 p.m.
Where: The Good Will at 625 Portage Ave.
Cost: $10
If you're staying in town this weekend, The Good Will has your can't-miss show with Lanikai, ATLAAS and Paisley.
Lanikai had a really good set at Real Love Summer Fest a few weeks ago, and ATLAAS never disappoints.
Oh, and The Good Will has AC now, so go early and enjoy.
WHAT: CULTURE – Prairie Comics Festival
When: Saturday, July 30 from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Millennium Library at 251 Donald St.
Cost:FREE
There's a free comic book festival Saturday at the Millennium Library with a ton of local artists, writers and colourists.
Guest artists will be hanging out from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., there will be a big gallery and Marketplace open all day and at night there's a comics mixer (cute!) at Elephant and Castle down the street.
This is the first one of these they've ever done, and I'm really impressed with the diversity of voices and speakers they've got.
The folks behind Cockroach Zine, Geek Girls Social Club and a bunch of others will be there.
And it's totally free so it's definitely worth wandering in for a bit this weekend.
WHAT: FEST – Folklorama
When: Starts Sunday, July 31
Where: Various locations
Cost: $6 per pavilion
Folklorama starts on Sunday, with about a dozen different pavilions opening all at once.
The Punjab, Belgian and Irish pavilions have been some of my favourites in the past, and there are a ton more to check out when you're done with those.
This one is best explored with a bike or a vehicle though — grabbing cabs can be tricky and the venues are spaced pretty far out.
Go hungry and bring fun people.
WHAT: FEST – Icelandic festival in Gimli
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Where: Gimli, Man.
Cost: FREE
Gimli has kind of been the adorable rural place to be this summer. That'll continue this weekend with their Icelandic festival.
There's a fris-nok tournament, a pancake breakfast, a sandcastle contest, a Viking battle (this sounds like a spectacle), fireworks and a bunch of bands.
On Sunday, Raine Hamilton, Sweet Alibi, the Joey Landreth Trio and a few others are playing, so it would be a good day to head down and check it out.
All of the stuff is free except for Music on the Rooftop, which is $20.
