Manitoba festivals – more to love!

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 04/05/2022 (1339 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A few weeks ago I wrote about the return of Manitoba festivals. A few readers reached out to me after the story was published to let me know about their favourites. So here’s a second round-up of festivals coming our way this summer:

Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival is returning July 29-31 to Selo Ukraina — the Ukrainian heritage and cultural site located 12 kilometres south of Dauphin on the edge of Riding Mountain National Park. The roots of this festival go back to 1965, when the founding group of organizers was established and charged with the task of creating an event intended to reflect Ukrainian culture in Canada. Today the festival offers activities such as pysanky (Easter egg) decorating, face painting, a parade, art workshops, choirs, dancers, and more.

Did you know the inaugural Icelandic Festival of Manitoba was held in Winnipeg in 1890? It took place in the city annually before moving to Gimli in 1932. Also known as Islendingadagurinn — which translates into ‘day of the Icelanders’ — it is one of the oldest ethnic festivals in North America. It takes place this year from July 29 to Aug. 1, and normally boasts the largest parade in rural Manitoba. However, during the pandemic it shifted to a ‘virtual lawn-parade’ contest, inviting entrants from around the world to decorate their yards in Icelandic fashion and showcase their Viking spirit for all to see. Other highlights include a family scavenger hunt, fashion show, beach volleyball tournament, Viking battles, road races, and live music.

There’s a new kid on the festival block, and its aim is to be second-to-none at making a first impression. Current wants people who love Winnipeg to come together at The Forks from Aug. 12-14 for a ‘weekend of summer luxury’ through quality ‘sips, sounds, arts and eats’. All these are great things, especially when they happen at the same time. It sounds like an ideal way to experience festival season without having to leave home, in celebration of everything local — from the creative chefs serving up fine restaurant fare in a tastefully designed food hall, to the beer, spirits and wines you can enjoy while sitting on soft furnishings, enjoying sweet music from Manitoba artists.

If you like apples and corn, you’ll find them both at the Morden Corn & Apple Festival from Aug. 26-28. What began as a community celebration for Canada’s Centennial in 1967 has become the largest street festival in Manitoba. It features an expansive farmer’s market with offerings from all over the province, historical bus tours, an artwalk, street busking, a youth stage, and midway. You can also enjoy ice-cold and delicious apple juice for free — that’s right, for free — freshly squeezed onsite from apples specially grown right there in Morden.

It doesn’t get much sweeter, and much more local, than that.