As you all know by now, the health orders prohibiting us from socializing with people outside our household has been extended. Are you running out of new ideas to stay entertained? Stay safe and stay home while participating in a variety of events from online musical performances and festivals to virtual lectures and theatre performances. Here are 10 fun virtual things to do this week in Manitoba:
1. FortWhyte Farms plant sale
FortWhyte Centre — May 30, 10 am to 2 pm
Visit FortWhyte Farms to stock up on plants — they’ll have vegetables, herbs and flowers to help you create a pollinator-friendly garden this summer. As always, your purchases support FortWhyte Alive’s essential environmental education. This year’s plant sale will take place outside FortWhyte Farms’ greenhouse to ensure physical distancing, and please try to avoid using cash for your purchases.
2. Participate in a festival of labour and the arts
Online — Various events throughout May
This is your last chance to catch this event. MayWorks Festival of Labour and the Arts has been celebrated throughout May since 1994, the 75th anniversary of the Winnipeg General Strike. This year, the month-long festival has had a wide range of online events including musical performances, workshops, poetry readings and documentary screenings. Visit the MayWorks website for this weekend’s events.
3. Learn about Ethiopian coffee ceremonies
Online — May 28, 7-8:0 pm
See an Ethiopian Coffee ceremony step-by-step, from raw bean roasting to serving, with workshop leader Winta Lakew in partnership with Folklorama. In this online walk-through, participants will see the equipment, techniques and traditional serving style of an Ethiopian coffee ceremony. This is part of an ongoing virtual series. Visit Folklorama’s website for more information and to join the workshop.
4. Eat local
Pick-up from various locations — To May 29
Support local and find your new favourite restaurant during AfriFest Restaurant Week. Eat, sip and spread the word while getting pick-up or delivery from Black-owned restaurants and culinary businesses in your community. Keep an eye on the Grace and Nelly Project Facebook page for restaurant recommendations.
5. Learn the basics of responsible camping without leaving the house
Online — May 28, 12 pm
Join the Lunch & Learn speaker series hosted by the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society this week for Camping 101: From Car Camping to the Backcountry. Learn tips, etiquette and basic rules for camping so you can camp responsibly and respectfully when the time is right. Register for this free online lecture through Eventbrite to receive an access link to the event.
6. Get to know Manitoban artists
Online
The new music and integrated arts festival Cluster has released fifteen videos that highlight artists residing in Manitoba. The videos feature visual, performance, musical and virtual artists and show how some of these creatives have adapted and changed their style of format through the pandemic. Hear stories and experience art by watching the short “Introspections” videos.
7. Attend a virtual book launch
Online — May 28, 7 pm
Register to attend the McNally Robinson celebratory book launch for Warming Huts: a decade of art and architecture on ice. The book celebrates the design competition that has found its home on the ice trail and around The Forks every winter for the last ten years. It discusses the origins of the competition’s winning designs while talking about the poetics and politics of public space.
8. Learn to play a musical instrument with the West End Cultural Centre
Online
The West End Cultural Centre hosts yearly music lessons for kids as part of the Tune-In Youth Music Program. This year the lessons are all online and accessible to anyone for free. Each video lesson in the 27-lesson series is between 15 and 45 minutes and covers techniques for guitar, bass and drums. Find the lessons on the WECC’s YouTube or Vimeo.
9. Learn Minecraft tricks with Lasertopia
Online — Saturdays and Sundays through the summer
Lasertopia Minecraft Camps are ideal for young gamers. The online classes offer a safe environment for kids to learn new skills and make new friends. Watch your kids create a whole new land in the world of Minecraft alongside Lasertopia’s experienced instructors. There are three levels of classes, so kids of any skill level can learn something new!
10. Listen to our local musicians perform
Online
The Manitoba Chamber Orchestra and Artists in Healthcare have launched an online musical series Manitoba Medley. Three virtual performances have been released so far featuring talented Manitoba musicians that can be viewed on the MCO’s YouTube. More concerts are set to be released over the weeks.
11. Re-live Gorge Fest
Online
Re-watch the wonderful virtual events and performances that were the heart of this year’s first ever GORGE Queer Arts and Drag Fest. If you missed the festival’s live shows you can still re-watch many of them including local duet performances, an instructional video on how to vogue and a DIY craft video fit for a queen. Visit the GORGE Facebook page to see all the videos from the festival.
Wherever you travel in Manitoba, please remember to stay safe by keeping six feet of physical distance from others, gathering in group sizes in accordance to public health guidelines, avoiding crowds, and staying home if you’re sick.
— For more Manitoba travel ideas please visit www.travelmanitoba.com