While our frigid winters were once a deterrent for visitors, they have recently been celebrated by the likes of the NY Times, LA Times and countless architecture and design publications. The common thread is the creativity on display, as Winnipeggers do not retreat from a bit of frostbite and instead allow the ice and snow to serve as an artistic medium. Here’s just a few standouts.
The Forks is home to the world’s coolest skating trail running for kilometers along the Red and Assiniboine Rivers featuring warming huts made by famous architects and designers from across the globe. The Forks also have on-land skating trails that are brilliantly illuminated and a hockey rink under the iconic WINNIPEG sign. Skate rentals are available in The Market, as is the opportunity to après skate with the locals (e.g., grab a beer or glass of wine from The Common bar and a bite form the surrounding food kiosks).
Festival du Voyageur (Feb. 14-23, 2020) is Western Canada's largest winter festival. "Canada's biggest kitchen party" features live music, costumed interpreters living within Fort Gibraltar like it’s the early 1800s, giant snow sculptures made by artists from around the world, delicious French food (including maple taffy on snow), and so much more! Hé Ho!
The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra’s New Music Festival (Jan. 25-31, 2020) continues to push musical boundaries, synthesizing symphonic tradition with groundbreaking new sounds in settings as diverse and grand as the Centennial Concert Hall, and as intimate as a basement setting in a heritage building. Past performances include Philip Glass, Vince Ho, and Evelyn Glennie.
