The fun in Manitoba doesn’t stop just because of the cold. Hardy Manitobans embrace winter with song, dance, arts, and sports.

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. Manitoba Hydro Santa Parade (Downtown Winnipeg, Nov. 16, 2024) – The Santa Parade has been a Winnipeg tradition for over a century. Watch various spectacular Christmas-themed floats make their way through the streets downtown. It’s a wonderful way to welcome the holiday season with your family. Check out the parade route from the website. The parade starts at 5:00 pm.
2. Canad Inns Winter Wonderland (Red River Exhibition Park West Gate, Nov. 29, 2024 – Jan. 24, 2025) – This is Manitoba’s longest drive-thru light show. Enjoy over one million twinkling lights (with 30 new light displays) and listen to holiday music for over 2.5 km while staying warm in your car. Check their website for other outdoor activities you can enjoy with your family. Tickets at $20.
3. Northern Manitoba Trapper’s Festival (The Pas – February 12-16, 2025) – 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.
4. Festival du Voyageur (St. Boniface, Winnipeg – February 14-23, 2025) – 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.
5. Gimli Ice Festival (Gimli, March 7-9, 2025) – Enjoy many family-friendly winter games and activities like ice car races, borcht and chili contests, a frozen t-shirt contest, and many more. Learn more about Viking culture and art while you’re having fun.


The Gimli Ice Festival, Interlake Drone Services
 

6. Freeze Frame Festival (Winnipeg, March 9-15, 2025) – This is an international film festival for kids of all ages. It features quality films from all over the world to entertain and challenge us to think about issues not normally explored in mainstream media. Participants also have the opportunity to mingle with world-class filmmakers in the various workshops during the eight-day festival.
7. Festival of Fools (Winnipeg, Usually in March) – 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.
8. Royal Manitoba Winter Fair (Mar. 31 to April 5, 2025) – 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).
9. Winnipeg Scottish Festival – (Canadian Mennonite University, Shaftesbury Campus, Usually in April) – For 20 years now, the event has been bringing together the best bagpipers and drummers all over the Prairies and from BC, Ontario, Minnesota, and North Dakota to compete for prizes. Aside from the contests, you will also enjoy the vendors and cultural displays at the venue. Admission is free.
10. Winnipeg Comedy Festival (Burton Cummings Theatre, Winnipeg, April 29 – May 4, 2025) – 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.

 
There are no dates yet for some of the festivals in the list. We will keep updating as information becomes available.
 
Article updated November 12, 2024.
 
Sources: Travel Manitoba; 7 Manitoba winter festivals that will make you fall in love with the season, Travel Manitoba; and Manitoba Business Facts.