What’s up: Street festival, standup comedy, and spinning in circles

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This article was published 22/06/2023 (1213 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Ellice Street Festival brings free fun for all ages

Friday, 7 p.m.; Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

West End Cultural Centre (586 Ellice Ave.) and adjacent portion of Ellice Avenue

Free admission

Since 2001, the Ellice Street Festival has brought folks together on and around one of the West End’s most vibrant and storied streets.

This year’s Ellice Street Festival kicks off on Friday night at the WECC with a free show starting at 7 p.m. and featuring Mitchell Makoons as well as the Prairie Joggers. Then on Saturday, the fun spills into the street starting at 11:30 a.m. with free outdoor mainstage entertainment, including acts such as Kwait, Ila Barker and Claire Thérèse and the Lockdown.

Beyond the onstage acts, there’s plenty to see and do, including crafts and games for all ages, cartoon portraits, 25-cent hotdogs, a bouncy castle and a youth bike giveaway courtesy of the Wrench. A number of community organizations will be on hand, meeting attendees and offering information about their services, including Bear Clan Patrol, CKUW 95.9 FM, the Spence Neighbourhood Association, Nine Circles Community Health Centre and plenty of others.

For a full list of events and entertainers, see WECC’s website.

— Ben Sigurdson

Ola Dada brings Mr. Funnyman to Winnipeg

Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m. (doors at 7 p.m.)

The Basement (3740 Portage Ave.)

Tickets $20 at basementwpg.com

Nigerian-born, Fort McMurray, Alta.-raised comedian Ola Dada was a financial planner before he decided to bank on himself and pursue standup comedy full time.

It’s proving a wise investment. Dada’s comedy — which draws on his own experiences, from growing up in Alberta in a Nigerian home to being mistaken for a certain Nigerian prince when he worked in finance — took him to the semifinals of Canada’s Got Talent in 2022. Now, it’s taking him across the country, with a two-night stand in Winnipeg this weekend.

Dada, who is now based in Vancouver, has also appeared on the Just For Laughs festival circuit. His debut comedy album, Dada Plan, was released last year.

— Jen Zoratti

Manitoba Highland Gathering

Saturday and Sunday

Legacy Park Recreation Centre, East Selkirk

Adult day pass ($15), Child/Senior ($10), Family ($35)

Hit the road and head to Selkirk for the 55th annual Manitoba Highland Gathering, replete with scotch pies, haggis, sheep shearing, caber toss, swordplay demonstrations, Gaelic instruction, pipe and drum competitions, and live historical re-enactments.

This year, competitors will go head-to-head in a pair of new contests: the longsword and broadsword championships. Of course, there will be plenty of highland dancing and live entertainment, plus tons of fun for the wee ones: sit in the throne and get your photo taken in medieval attire, and say how do you moo to an adorable Heilan Coo.

— Ben Waldman

Spinning in Circles

Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 7.30 p.m.

Prairie Circus Arts, 195 Collegiate St

Tickets are $15 at Eventbrite

This one-human circus show — featuring a cyr wheel, aerial silks, hoops, juggling and handstands, as well as standup comedy, spoken word and dance — aims to entertain and educate audiences.

Spinning in Circles, created by independent artist Lilian Borger and based on her personal experience with anxiety, is designed to discuss mental health and mental illness.

The family-friendly show features guest performances by Katja MacGregor on aerial straps (Friday) and Ashley Verstraete (contortion and balancing) on Saturday and Sunday.

A quarter of all profits will be donated to the Rainbow Resource Centre, which provides counselling and other services to the LGBTTQ+ community in Winnipeg.

—AV Kitching

Little Opera Company brings Mozart classic back to life

Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m.

Manitoba Theatre for Young People

Tickets: $40, $30 for students, $10 for 12 and under at littleopera.ca or call 204-242-8898

The group may be little, but its intentions are big.

The Little Opera Company of Winnipeg presents three performances this weekend of Mozart’s The Magic Flute, which has become one of the world’s most popular operas after the wunderkind conducted the performance for its 1791 debut in Vienna.

Rob Herriott directs the Winnipeg production, which is an adaptation by Canadian composer and University of Manitoba grad John Greer.

Sri Lankan tenor Asitha Tennekoon, who calls North Vancouver home, plays Prince Tamino, who aims to rescue Pamina, a princess, from evil Sarastro, with the aid of a magical flute and Papageno, a charming bird.

Calgary soprano Nicole Leung plays Pamina, while Winnipeg’s Stephen Haiko-Pena plays Sarastro. Branden Olsen, Paulina Gonzalez, Rebeca Oliveira, Geneva Halverson, Donnalynn Grills, Margot Harding, Don Larsen and Kyle Briscoe make up the rest of the vocal cast; Winnipeg contemporary dancer Rebecca Sawdon portrays the serpent.

— Alan Small

Brunch lovers unite

Saturday, 11:15 a.m.

Upper Fort Garry Park, 130 Main St.

Tickets $69.99 at letsbrunch.ca

Load up on eggs, bacon and breakfast beverages this weekend at the second annual Brunch Fest celebration presented by Manitoba Egg Farmers.

Ticketholders can eat and drink their way through the lineup of food and beverage vendors stationed in the greenspace of the historic Upper Fort Garry Park, while enjoying lawn games and music.

All-access passes include one sample from each participating eatery, including Brazen Hall, Kyu Grill, Buvette in the Village, Milksmith, Sugar Salt Bake Shoppe, Smokin Aces, JC’s Tacos, and Elm Pizzeria & Cafe.

The event will also feature bottomless cocktail and mocktail samples from Mas Coffee, Absolut Vodka, Block and Blade, OEB Breakfast Co., Devil May Care Brewing and more.

Brunch Fest is an 18-plus event.

— Eva Wasney