Give the gift of experience Trinkets collect dust, clothes will wear out… but memories last a lifetime By: Eva Wasney Posted: 5:54 PM CST Monday, Dec. 16, 2024 Last Modified: 8:35 AM CST Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024 Updates

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/12/2024 (642 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Struggling to find the perfect present at the mall? Weary of Christmastime consumerism? Looking for a meaningful last-minute gift?

Experiential gifts can be a balm for givers and recipients alike — offering memories instead of material goods, as well as the opportunity to shop from the comfort of your personal computer.

Here are some ideas for local classes, memberships, subscriptions and experiences for five different kinds of giftee.

For the foodie

Restaurant gift cards are a solid choice, but why not give the food or drink lover in your life a new set of skills? They might even thank you with a home-cooked meal.

● The Food Studio on Roblin Boulevard has a long list of evening and weekend classes focused on basic cooking techniques and different cuisines. January’s lineup includes sessions on knife skills, sourdough bread baking, sushi rolling and cake decorating. Registration starts at $75.

● Shake things up with a cocktail class. Local distilleries Patent 5 and Capital K both offer monthly cocktail-making courses led by in-house bartenders. Attendees learn recipes for classic cocktails and how to use different bar tools while sipping and snacking.

● If your loved one prefers eating and drinking at home rather than making and mixing in public, an edible subscription could be the ticket. Most private wine stores in Winnipeg run regular wine clubs and Nonsuch Brewing Co. sends out monthly beer boxes. Or, you could indulge in the Cheese of the Month Club from The Cheesemongers Fromagerie, featuring three curated wedges. Most subscriptions include free citywide delivery.

For the culture vulture

Whether highbrow or low, Winnipeg has an abundance of cultural venues and nearly every art gallery, theatre and dancefeat company offers some form of membership.

● The West End Cultural Centre launched a new season pass program this year that provides access to most concerts on the calendar. The pass is pro-rated and available for $240 for the remaining 15 shows; or, you can purchase a punch card for three, five or 10 concerts starting at $69.

● The Centennial Concert Hall also offers multi-denominational gift cards, which can be redeemed for tickets to touring acts coming through the Main Street auditorium.

● For $125, you can give the cinephile in your life access to a year’s worth of movie screenings with an unlimited annual pass to Dave Barber Cinematheque. The Exchange District theatre also has a 10-film pass package and memberships starting at $20.

● Rumor’s Comedy Club has a flexible $80 season pass option that includes two tickets to one Friday night show per month from January to October. Passholders can also trade in their tickets for four admissions to applicable weeknight shows.

For the outdoor adventurer

Send your loved ones into the wilds of Manitoba with some basic survival skills and pre-planned excursions.

● Wild Loon Adventure Company runs guided canoe and rock-climbing trips throughout the province, as well as backcountry skill-building courses. The current roster includes whitewater paddling classes and indoor kayak rolling clinics at Pan Am Pool — email info@wildloonadventureco.ca for more info on the latter (gift cards available).

● Plan a winter day trip with Pinawa Unplugged, which offers snowshoe tours through the wooded forests and rocky shores north east of Winnipeg. You can also embark on your own adventure with rented snowshoes, cross-country skis and fat tire bikes.

● Enjoy the outdoors closer to home with an annual membership to FortWhyte Alive. The nature preserve on McCreary Road has individual, couple and family membership tiers, which provide free entry, gear rentals and facility discounts.

For the cosy hobbyist

Shopping for someone who’d rather avoid the outdoors completely? Consider supporting a new indoor hobby.

● Forum Art Centre has reasonably priced art classes for every age group, skill level and nearly every imaginable medium. Upcoming courses at the St. Boniface-area art school include lessons in painting, clay, screen printing, drawing and stop-motion animation.

● Keen on wearable crafting? Wolseley Wool has skeins upon skeins of how-to classes, from beginner to advanced knitting and crocheting courses, as well as project-based workshops on scarves, tuques and socks. Registration starts at $70.

● McNally Robinson’s community classroom is stocked with online and in-person learning opportunities — literary and otherwise. Sign your giftee up for an art class, lecture or writing workshop. In February, the Grant Park bookstore is launching a book club focused on five classic novels, from Wuthering Heights to The Return of the Soldier. The club meets monthly through June; registration is $100.

For kids and the kids at heart

A membership card might not elicit the same excitement as tearing into a gift-wrapped toy, but the delayed gratification can be just as satisfying.

● Frequent museum-goers may enjoy an annual pass to their favourite historical venue. Or, you can offer a weekend of local fun with the Winnipeg Attractions Pass from Tourism Winnipeg, which provides single or multi-day flat-rate entry into five notable destinations, including the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and Royal Canadian Mint. Travel Manitoba has a similar program called the Manitoba Kid’s Choice Pass, which includes admission to museums in and around Winnipeg.

● Double the fun with a joint membership to The Leaf and Assiniboine Park Zoo. Members get unlimited general admission to both spots and pre-sale access to special events — including family and adults-only festivities, such as Brew at the Zoo.

● And finally, help stave off the winter stir-craziness with an Activate gift card. The locally founded active gaming facility has two locations in Winnipeg with interactive challenges suitable for players six years old and up.

eva.wasney@winnipegfreepress.com