Things to do in Winnipeg-summer

Here are the 10 best Things to do in Winnipeg-summer edition:

1. Winnipeg Folk Festival

Winnipeg is Festival City in summer, and Winnipeg Folk Festival is the largest and best known, drawing thousands for 5 glorious days of concerts, workshops, jamming and camping in Birds Hill Provincial Park in July.

Discover Winnipeg’s musical soul at this fest!

2. More great Winnipeg Festivals

Festivals to enjoy this (and every) spring and summer – the Tulip Festival, Winnipeg Comedy Festival, TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival, Winnipeg Pride Festival, Fringe Festival (music and theatre), Kidfest, Folklarama (Canada’s premier multicultural festival), Red River Exhibition and lots more…

3. On hot days, head for the beach!

One of Canada’s top-rated beaches, Grand Beach, is just an hour from Winnipeg. And there are more nearby public beaches – in Gimli, Manitoba’s cottage country, Falcon Lake, Whiteshell Provincial Park and Kenora and Lake of the Woods in Ontario.

4. Traveling with kids or teens?

There’s plenty of fun things to do in Winnipeg-summer for children and older kids, teens and young adults.

5. Things to do in Winnipeg-summer -- Forts and Museums

More than 40 museums and three forts have some fascinating stories to tell. You can explore aboriginal and settler history, see dinosaur bones and ancient rocks, learn about the stars, or about Manitoba's haunted and tragic founder, Louis Riel, or see what people wore in the 1920s or 1940s, or sit in a fighter jet cockpit and a LOT more (amazing, what our ancestors kept, and also fascinating, and on display here).

Many of the smaller museums are only open in summer. All have events every July and August.

Winnipeg's newest museum is currently under construction. It is The Canadian Museum of Human Rights, slated to open in 2012 at The Forks.

6. The best way to see Winnipeg’s treasure trove of historic buildings and public art

is to go for a walk, in The Exchange District or along Broadway to Manitoba Legislative Building.

In summer, there are walking tours to show you the best public art and murals. Also, one weekend each summer, many of the buildings normally closed to the public, such as the old Vaughan Street jail, are open for free tours.

Don't miss seeing Winnipeg Art Gallery, the small public art gallery at Assiniboine Park’s Pavilion, and art galleries selling the works of Canadian and international artists. Many of them are in The Exchange District.

7. Things to do in Winnipeg-summer at the city's beautiful parks and gardens

The most extensive gardens are at Assiniboine Park, where you can also visit the newly re-designed tropical garden at Winnipeg Zoo.

Tennis courts, golf courses, children’s playgrounds, lakes with paddleboats, free outdoor concerts, picnic areas and walking trails are just some of the things to do in Winnipeg–summer fun at Winnipeg parks and gardens.

8. Get outdoors and enjoy summer!

Walking, hiking, birdwatching and other close encounters with wildlife, golf, fishing, boating and more outdoor sports (from mild to extreme) are available in and near Winnipeg, and many of the venues also offer competitions and special events all summer long.

Every weekend, there are family activities at The Forks, FortWhyte Alive and Oak Hammock Marsh.

9. Things to do in Winnipeg-summer -- Take in a game!

The Goldeyes play baseball at their downtown stadium.

Go just west of downtown to see the Blue Bombers play football (possibly, soon, in a new stadium!).

Pro sports in Winnipeg

10. Things to do in Winnipeg-summer -- Don't miss Strike! The musical

tells the story of The Winnipeg Strike of 1917. It started with workers' discontent over low wages, poor work conditions and rising inflation and ended with an event that has not only shaped Winnipeg’s (and Canada's) identity, it sparked workers’ rights reforms throughout the developed world.

Strike! the Musical will be presented again this summer at Canwest Performing Arts Centre (MTYP) at The Forks. I saw it last summer (and plan to go see it again) and found it simply unforgettable!

And there’s much more for theatre buffs to enjoy here every summer including Rainbow Stage (theatre under the stars), a Winnipeg summer tradition, Shakespeare in the Ruins and Winnipeg Fringe Festival.

Go from Things to do in Winnipeg-Summer to Winnipeg Events

Find more Winnipeg attractions (many with special summer events) here

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SBI!