What’s open, what’s closed in Winnipeg over Christmas

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/12/2021 (1476 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

While it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, the holiday is set to be an especially unusual one as COVID-19 cases in the province soar and people are encouraged to scale down family gatherings.

New restrictions put in place Dec. 21 reduce private indoor gatherings to the household plus five guests if anyone is unvaccinated and 10 guests if everyone is vaccinated.

Many businesses and government services change their hours over Christmas and Boxing Day.

Here’s a selection:

COVID-19 TEST SITES

Some testing sites are open Christmas and Boxing Day. The drive-thru site at 1284 Main St. and at 604 St. Mary’s Road are open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The drive-thru site at 1066 Nairn Ave. and at 125 King Edward St. are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The walk-in site at the Garrick Centre is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days.

The Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre testing site at 445 King St. is closed Dec. 25 to 27.

SHOPPING

All malls are closed Christmas Day. On Boxing Day, Polo Park is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., St. Vital Centre and Kildonan Place are open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Grant Park Shopping Centre is open 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The Forks Market is open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Christmas Day, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Boxing Day.

Most grocery stores are closed Christmas Day and will have regular hours on Boxing Day.

Manitoba Liquor Mart stores in Winnipeg are closed Christmas Day and open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Boxing Day . For details on exceptions and rural Liquor Mart hours, visit www.LiquorMarts.ca/hours.

Beer vendors and private wine stores set their own hours for the holiday, so Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries suggests the best way to find out if the one near you will be open is to call.

ENTERTAINMENT

The Assiniboine Park Zoo is closed Christmas Day and open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Boxing Day.

The Manitoba Museum is closed Christmas Day and open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Boxing Day.

The Children’s Museum is closed Christmas Day and open 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Boxing Day.

The Winnipeg Art Gallery is closed Christmas Day and open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Boxing Day.

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights is closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Movie theatres are open both days.

RECYCLING AND TRASH

Recycling and garbage will not be collected on Christmas Day.

The Brady Road landfill is closed Christmas Day and open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Boxing Day.

LEISURE ACTIVITIES

All leisure centres are closed Dec. 25-28.

The Crescent Drive, Harbour View, John Blumberg, Kildonan Park and Windsor Park golf courses are closed for the season.

City of Winnipeg swimming pools are closed both Christmas and Boxing Day.

WINNIPEG TRANSIT

On Christmas Day, buses will operate on a Sunday schedule.

For route and schedule details, visit Winnipeg Transit or contact 311.

LIBRARIES

All Winnipeg Public Library branches are closed Dec. 25 to 29.

For detailed information on library hours, call 311 or visit the Winnipeg Public Library website.

CEMETERIES

Brookside, St. Vital and Transcona cemetery grounds are open Christmas Day from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Boxing Day. Cemetery offices will be closed on the holiday.

For more information on city cemeteries, visit the municipal cemeteries branch online or contact 311.

GOVERNMENT SERVICES

Civic, provincial and federal offices are closed Christmas Day. Civic offices will also be closed Dec. 24 at noon, Dec. 27 and Dec. 28.

The Winnipeg Parking Authority is closed.

The Winnipeg Animal Services Agency is open Christmas Day from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. by appointment only and closed Boxing Day.

There is no mail delivery on Christmas Day or Boxing Day. Canada Post offices are closed, but post offices operated by the private sector will be open according to the hours of service of the host business.