#Canada150: Where to celebrate Canada Day in Manitoba
July 1 marks 150 years of Confederation
Manitobans have their choice of where to mark Canada Day and 150 years of Confederation in the province.
From fireworks to barbecues and live music there are a range of options on offer July 1.
Events in Winnipeg:
The Forks will of course have Canada Day events all day, from the early afternoon until midnight. Activities include live music featuring the band Whitehorse and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, a pow wow, Indigenous storytelling and stunning fireworks at 11 p.m.
CBC Manitoba and Radio One host Ismaila Alfa joins Downtown Winnipeg BIZ for a giant human maple leaf at the corner of Portage and Main Saturday morning. Festivities run from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Organizers ask participants to wear red, Canada Day shirts will be given out to the first 2,500 guests.
To accommodate the living maple leaf, the following streets will be closed:
- Portage Avenue East between Main Street and Westbrook Street, from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Portage Avenue between Fort Street to Main Street, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Main Street between McDermot Avenue and Pioneer Avenue, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
The annual street festival in Osborne Village runs from Friday night through late Saturday night. In years gone by, the fest has crammed upwards of 70,000 visitors into the one-kilometre stretch of closed road. The festival will shut down Osborne Street from River Avenue to McMillan Avenue at Confusion Corner, starting at 6 p.m. Friday and ending at midnight on July 2. Stradbrook, Wardlaw and Gertrude Avenues will also be closed between Nassau Street and Scott Street.
Assiniboine Park will have a range of programming especially for kids and families including a free Canada Day cake served at 3:30 p.m. and fireworks at 10:40 p.m.
While you're at the park, cricket fans are invited to check out a fun Canada Day game starting at 11 a.m. at Assiniboine Park's south ground. A potluck lunch will be served.
For residents in Transcona and nearby neighbourhoods, the Transcona Business Improvement Zone is hosting a Canada Day festival from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Event includes cake, Ukrainian dancing, Indigenous drumming and children's entertainment.
Regent Avenue West will be closed from Bond Street to Day Street for the event from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Saturday.
For art lovers, the Winnipeg Art Gallery is running a special mobile show just for Canada 150. ART EXPRESS'D is an exhibit that features three, six-metre shipping containers turned into art studios.
Over at St. Norbert Market, Canada Day celebrations start at 8 a.m. and feature farm animals from Fenez Follies, face painting, a bouncy castle and fireworks at dusk.
Events outside Winnipeg:
In Brandon, Canada Day means a double birthday. It marks both 150 years of Canadian Confederation and 135 years of incorporation for the City of Brandon. Celebrations will take place at the Riverbank and include a duck race and a free performance by Doc Walker.
Rural Municipality of North Cypress-Langford is throwing a free Canada Day barbeque at the Carberry Community Centre which will feature a bouncy castle and other kid-oriented activities.
Celebrations kick off in Gimli at 8 a.m. with a pancake breakfast first thing Saturday morning. At Harbour stage there will be live music, family friendly events and fireworks at 10 p.m.
The City of Thompson is hosting a pancake breakfast, performances organized by Folklorama and fireworks.
At the Altona Centennial Park, the town will offer free swimming, live music, and the classic Mennonite summer treat: watermelon and rollkuchen.
The Beausejour Brokenhead Development Corporation is hosting a family fun day from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Train Whistle Park.
In Selkirk, the waterfront area in town is hosting events all day including a performance by Harlequin and fireworks after sunset.
Are there other Canada Day events CBC should know about? Email [email protected].