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This article was published 17/08/2017 (3270 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

 

Transformational experiences abound at I AM Festival

The I AM Festival will kick off its second edition this weekend at Ignite Retreats private acreage, just outside of Teulon, Man., (around 40 minutes north of Winnipeg).

Running Aug. 18 to 20, the festival brings together the province’s top practitioners and speakers to offer workshops and presentations on topics surrounding mind, body and soul.

“The Festival experience is intimate and purposely structured to allow attendees to get up close and personal with each trek of wellness offered. The main mandate of The I AM Festival is to create transformational experiences for all who attend,” states a news release about the festival.

Numerous activities are offered throughout the weekend, including wilderness treks, a variety of yoga classes (including paddle board yoga) taught by local instructors, live lectures and presentations from psychologist Dr. Doug Tataryn and popular psychic medium, Lisa Scriven, as well as music performances from some local favourites including Don Amero and the Dirty Catfish Brass Band.

“The I AM Festival is the first of its kind in Manitoba as it brings together the community to celebrate mind, body and soul connection. With a collection of live music performances, yoga classes, motivational talks, nature walks and camping, this Festival truly is a personal retreat experience for those that are on a search for more meaning and happiness in their lives,” festival co-founder Keith Macpherson said in an email to the Free Press.

Day passes are $110 and full weekend passes are $179; camping and RV spots are available for $25 and $50 respectively. Visit iamfestival.net to find out more information about the festival and to purchase tickets.

— Erin Lebar

 

Manitoba Underground Opera Festival

The mandate of the Manitoba Underground Opera is to engage younger audiences with cutting-edge presentations of classic operas in unique locations, both large and intimate, with a focus on local performers.

From Aug. 18 to 26, the company will be living up to that mission with four performances, ranging from a new adapatation of Mozart’s much-performed Italian opera Idomeneo at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (Aug. 20, 22, 24 and 25 at 7:30 p.m.) to John Davies’ The Billy Goats Gruff — a short opera for children featuring the music of Donzinetti, Rossini and, yes, Mozart — at Platform Gallery (Aug. 26, 1 and 3 p.m.)  and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School (Aug. 19, 2 p.m.).

Idomeneo, the Greek story (in Italian with English dialogue) of the King of Crete, will be staged in the Garden of Contemplation with more than 20 singers and a chamber orchestra. The adaptation comments on colonialism and the treatment of refugees. Tickets are $20; there is a $50 wine-and-cheese show on Aug. 25.

Also on the festival slate are a Puccini double bill of Suor Angelica & Gianni Schicchi at Holy Trinity Anglican Church (Aug. 18, 23, 26 at 7:30 p.m.; Aug. 20 at 2 p.m.) and Opera 360 at the Winnipeg Art Gallery (Aug. 19 at 7:30 p.m.; $20), at which the audience will surround the singers — performing concert-style selections from Rigoletto, Eugene Onegin, and Roméo et Juliette — in a circle.

Tickets are available at ManitobaUndergroundOpera.com or 204-981-6514. 

— Jill Wilson

 

 

Poutine Cup organizers host hoppy sequel

Two years ago, a beer event made up solely of local breweries would have been modest at best, looking more like a small meeting of hop-heads than a full-blown festival. Fast forward to 2017 and oh how things have changed.

If you don’t already have your tickets for the inaugural Winnipeg Beer Festival, you’re out of luck; all 500 of them for the event, which takes place from 6 to 10 p.m. this Saturday, Aug. 19 at Fort Gibraltar (866 Rue Saint Joseph), were snatched up in short order.

Poutine Cup co-creators and organizers Shawn Brandson (of Fort Gibraltar) and Kevin Burgin (of CJOB 680’s The Main Ingredient) wanted to work together again based on the success of the celebration of all things fries, cheese and gravy and decided beer was the way to go.

The speed at which tickets for the event sold out didn’t totally surprise Brandson.

“Poutine Cup sold out in 26 minutes last year. It took a couple of weeks [for the Winnipeg Beer Festival], but I knew it would sold out because of the atmosphere of Fort Gibraltar, the fact that you’re able to taste all the local beers in one place… I knew it was going to be busy,” says Brandson.

The festival will feature beers from all eight Winnipeg breweries and brew pubs that are up and running — Half Pints, Fort Garry, Torque, Barn Hammer, Little Brown Jug, One Great City, Peg Beer Co. and Brazen Hall — as well as local distillery Capital K. Guests will be able to sample beer and vote for their favourite brewery.

“We’re giving out beer caps to attendees to give to their top brewery. Whoever gets the most beer caps gets the gold medal,” says Brandson.

There’ll be plenty of food vendors on hand to go with the bevvy of beers, including Lord of the Pies, Hot Rod’s Filipino Grill, Frescolio and Aschenti Cocoa.

The festival is a fundraiser in support of Kenya Initiative for Development and Sustainability (KIDS Initiative), a non-profit organization that helps develop sustainable infrastructure in Kenyan communities. Among prizes for on-site draws that will benefit KIDS Initiative is a fridge that comes with a keg of beer from Torque.

Based on the response to this year’s event, Brandson is certain the Winnipeg Beer Festival will become an annual event and could expand beyond its 500-guest attendance.

“Inside the fort walls is the perfect atmosphere to have an event like this. It’s self-contained, it’s got the rustic atmosphere,” he says.

For more information visit winnipegbeerfestival.com.

— Ben MacPhee-Sigurdson