You deserve a break this week...

Last week in this space I confessed to spring soccer fever, and Canada's men's national soccer team helped stoke that fire on Sunday, beating Jamaica 4-0 at BMO Field in Toronto to secure qualification for the FIFA World Cup for just the second time, and the first since 1986. Like millions of others, I spent the afternoon shouting and cheering and I certainly hope that the men's unprecedented success – coupled with the women's team's inspirational gold medal win at last summer's Olympic Games in Tokyo – will spur young players across the country to dedicate themselves to the sport.

Here in Winnipeg, Canadian Premier League soccer team Valour FC likely hopes that heightened interest in the game will help spark interest in its season, which kicks off on April 10 in Edmonton.

To that end, the club will host a series of skills clinics at local shopping centres this spring break, featuring several of its players. They'll be at Garden City Shopping Centre on March 30, Polo Park on March 31 and at St. Vital Centre on April 1. For full details, click here.

Ah yes, it's spring break... the week in March that gives kids a break from school and which often leaves parents clutching at straws to keep their progeny engaged and away from screens and televisions.

Plenty of families use this week to travel to sunny locations to give themselves a taste of warm weather, while others do their best to keep their children busy with camps and activities offered by a variety of arts, cultural, educational and sports organizations.

When my sons were growing up, we enrolled them in programs offered by Manitoba Museum, the Manitoba Children's Museum, Assinboine Park Zoo and the Winnipeg Art Gallery, and they seemed to enjoy just about all the activities. To give you a sense of what those organizations are doing this year, I've included some basic information in the listings section of this newsletter, below. Take advantage of what they have to offer – you won't be disappointed!

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One of the purposes of this newsletter is to offer a select list of upcoming events and to encourage people to use our event submission page. If you want to learn more about what's going on in and around the city, please visit our Events listings page.

Finally, if someone has forwarded this newsletter to you and you'd like to receive it, you can sign up here to have it delivered to your inbox.

Enjoy the week!

John Kendle, Managing editor, Canstar Community News

EVENTS

Concerts

Winterruption

TOPS • March 30, 8 p.m., West End Cultural Centre (586 Ellice Ave.). With Chastity, Veneer. Tickets $25-$20.

The Lytics • March 30, 8 p.m., Good Will Social Club (625 Portage Ave). With Alan Ward. Tickets $25.

Diaphanie • March 30, 9 p.m., X-Cues Cafe & Lounge (551 Sargent Ave.) With Two Crows for Comfort, Bobby Dove. Tickets $25-$20.

Bobby Dove, Rob Knaggs • March 30 11:30 a.m., Feast Cafe (587 Ellice Ave.) Free.

JP Hoe • March 31, 8 p.m., West End Cultural Centre. With New Wales. Tickets $35-$25

Johnny Moonbeam • March 31, 8 p.m., X-Cues Cafe & Lounge. With riel., Fontine. Tickets $25-$20.

3Peat & DJ Shub • March 31, 9 p.m., Handsome Daughter (61 Sherbrook St.) With Caid Jones. Tickets $15.

DJ Shub & Boogey the Beat • March 31, 5 p.m., True North Square (242 Hargarve St.). Free.

Paige Drobot, Johnny Moonbeam • March 31, 11:30 a.m., Feast Cafe. Free

Morgan McMichaels • April 1, 8 p.m., West End Cultural Centre. With The Bannock Babes. Tickets $45-$35

Andino Suns • April 1, 9 p.m., X-Cues Cafe & Lounge. With Dr. Henry, El Leon & the Strangers. Tickets $25-$20

Andino Suns, El Leon & the Strangers • April 1, 5 p.m., True North Square. Free.

Rob Knaggs, Twohip, Papa Mambo • April 1, 11:30 a.m., Feast Cafe. Free.

Vagina Witchcraft • April 2, 8 p.m., West End Cultural Centre. With Kilusan, The Rules. Tickets $20-$15

DijahSB • April 2, 10 p.m., Good Will Social Club. With DJ Lucky Sharms, Amos the Kid, birdsacrosswater. Tickets $15

The Noble Thiefs • April 2, 9 p.m., X-Cues Cafe & Lounge. With The Prairie Joggers, Joe Curtis. Tickets $25-$20

Kilusan, Trish Khay • April 2, 5 p.m., True North Square. Free.

Two Crows for Comfort, Paper Machetes • April 2, 11:30 a.m., Feast Cafe. Free.

For full details and tickets, visit www.winterruptionwpg.ca

Nightspots

Centre culturel franco-manitobain (340 Provencher Blvd.) • March 29 – Mardi Jazz, 8 p.m., Feat. Suzanne Kennely

Belgian Club (407 Provencher) • April 1 – Karaoke Night, 9:30 p.m. Free admission.

Pyramid Cabaret (176 Fort St.) • April 2 – Robert Andreas, 6:30 p.m. With Tim Butler. Tickets $13.94 at www.showpass.com

Times Change(d) High and Lonesome Club (234 Main St.) • March 31 – The Solutions; April 1 – NOLA Night feat. Dirty Catfish Brass Band, 7 & 10 p.m. (Funky Miracles will open the late show) Tix $17.45; April 2 - Kacy and Clayton, Tix $24.91; Apri 3 - Big Dave McLean's Sunday Night Jam. Tickets at www.eventbrite.ca

Spring break activities

Assiniboine Park Zoo

Spring Break at the Zoo: Until April 3. Daily Zoo Chats with our animal care professionals. Appearances by Winston the polar bear mascot on Saturdays and Sundays at 1:00 p.m. in Gateway to the Arctic. Heavy Horse wagon rides ($3/person): March 29 and 30, April 2 and 3, 1 to 3 p.m. Interpretive learning station at Gateway to the Arctic: Mon- Fri., 1 to 3 p.m. Full info and details at www.assiniboinepark.ca

Canadian Museum for Human Rights

Spring Break Program 2022 • March 29 - April 2, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Admission is free for kids 12 and under Family-friendly programming is offered daily from Wednesday to Saturday. Space is limited; register online at https://humanrights.ca/spring-break-2022. Stop by the Bistro between 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to try the Macaroni Bar, sweet and savoury crepes, menu and snack items, or grab'n'go options. Be sure to visit the Boutique for unique finds., Free gallery admission for kids 12 and under. Full info and details at humanrights.ca

Manitoba Children's Museum

March 29, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. – We all love a good Superhero movie – let’s make our own! Freeze Frame will be on hand with two animation stations to explore stop motion videos using their specialized equipment. They will also provide an optical toys workshop to learn how our brain and eyes work together.

March 30, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Every Superhero needs to have a heightened sense of hearing. We’ll explore the power of sound in a drumming Workshop with Barb Nepinak and learn about vibrations as we create a rhythmic craft to take home.

March 31, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Agility and flexibility are two traits that come in handy for a Superhero. Laura Kolisnyk will be onsite to stretch us into shape with kids’ Superhero yoga in Great Hall. We’ll also create some fun elastic Superheroes to take home.

April 1, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Superpowers don’t only come in human form – animals have their own superpowers that help them navigate the world. Join Wildlife Haven and their animal ambassadors to learn more about animals’ superpowers, including super speed. A speedy running person is our daily craft.

April 2, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. – No Superhero is complete without the ability to disguise themselves. Manitoba Theatre for Young People will help us transform our appearance through body movements and some newly acquired acting skills. We’ll also create a sneaky mask that will really help us play the part!

April 3, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Our final day of spring break closes out with an adventure – in Lego. Brick Adventures is joining us with their Superhero-themed Lego and Duplo blocks, and we’ll build some creative contraptions. We’ll also create a landscape craft complete with mini flying Superheroes.

Full info and details at childrensmuseum.com

Manitoba Museum

3… 2…1… ROCKETS! science demonstrations • Daily – 11:45 a.m., 2:15 p.m., 3:45 p.m. Join us for 20-minute science demonstrations three times a day in the Concourse Auditorium. Demonstrations are free with venue admission or free with membership. Seating is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis

Planetarium shows • Daily – 11:30 a.m.: Legends of the Northern Sky; 12:45 p.m.: Magic Globe; 2 p.m.: Legends of the Northern Sky; 3:15 p.m.: Magic Globe; 4:15 p.m.: Legends of the Northern Sky

Experimental Dance Lab • Red Hot Tears contemporary dance collective invites you to join us in Alloway Hall for open rehearsals or for one of four performances where we’ll be welcoming visitors to watch and participate:

• Performance for Kids: March 29, 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

• Performances: April 2, 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; April 3, 3:30 pm

Full info and details at manitobamuseum.ca

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