There’s no better way to enjoy sweater weather than with festivals to fall for

Now that the daytime temperatures have fallen into the teens, we can no longer deny that summer is waning and autumn is hot — or rather, chill — on its heels.

But cheer up! For those of you who are not yet ready for sweater weather, there are still plenty of fun things to do in Manitoba. What better way to rid ourselves of any lingering sadness about the end of summer than to eat and drink our blues away by attending some of these annual events that were put on hold for the past two years (thanks, pandemic!), making them even more significant and exciting.

Brandon Food Truck Warz

Keystone Centre — Sept. 15-18

11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sun.: 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Admission: $5 per person, children 12 and under free. Free parking. Note: Cash only accepted at the gate for admission. Some trucks offer debit/Visa/MasterCard machines, but bring plenty of cash for this event. ATMs on site.

If you missed the ManyFest food truck wars that took place last weekend, don’t fret. You can still take part in Brandon’s version of these yummy wars this coming weekend. A beer garden will also be on site. Bonus, this event includes a midway! Maybe don’t sample too many of the 26 trucks to be featured before taking a spin on one of the rides. Just sayin’.

Visit bdnmb.ca for details.

MB Food Fest

Fort Gibraltar — Sunday, Sept. 18

Two time slots to avoid overcrowding — 12:30-3 p.m. and 3:30-6:30 p.m.

Tickets: $32.48 to $44.80.

Closer to home you can enjoy the second annual MB Food Fest which promises to be another fantastic showcase for our local food and drink scene. More than 45 vendors will showcase their products varying from spirits of all kinds to every type of food. You can meet the makers, buy their wares and sample it all. A competition will also take place featuring students from Red River’s Culinary Arts Program that you can help judge since your ticket gets you four canapés that are competing for the title. And don’t miss the poutine bar that’s included with admission!

Visit mbfoodfest.ca for details.

Winnipeg Wine Festival

Various venues — Sept. 17-24

Tickets: Vary by event

The Winnipeg Wine Festival takes place at various venues across the city. The main public tasting event at the Convention Centre takes place Friday and Saturday (September 23-24) in three sessions. Your $69.95 ticket will allow you to sample grapes from around the globe. On top of that, there’s all the individual WineDown events like Brunch and Bubbles at the Delta on Sept. 18, World of Wine at the St. Charles Country Club on Sept. 18, Crusin’ California at the Qualico Centre on Sept. 19, Italian Kitchen Party at Centro Caboto Centre on Sept 20 and Vive le Vin at Resto Gare on Sept 21. The WAG is also hosting a celebration of New Zealand and Australian wines on their rooftop on Thursday, Sept. 22. Plus, there’s the Inspire Gala at the RBC Convention Centre on the Saturday night featuring wine, prizes and a live auction.

Visit winnipegwinefestival.com for info.

St-Pierre-Jolys Frog Follies

St-Pierre-Jolys — Sept. 15-18

10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Admission: Varies by event

The St-Pierre-Jolys Frog Follies community event is back! Enjoy Saturday’s parade, bingo, fireworks, a pancake breakfast, a chamber supper, Voyageur games, a watermelon eating contest, tadpole story hour, crafts and more! Of special note, particularly in light of the Queen’s recent passing, did you know that St-Pierre-Jolys welcomed HRH Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles for a 20 minute visit to launch the first ever St-Pierre-Jolys Frog Follies on July 14, 1970? Of note this year, the 2022 Canadian National Frog Follies Championships will showcase past winners. These professional frog jumping champions from the festival’s past 53 years will compete for the elite crown of the 2022 National Champion. Come hear about our competitors’ history with the Frog Follies including record jumps, frog names and revealing secrets of the trade. Everything frog awaits you!

Visit frogfollies.com for more details.

Teulon Pumpkinfest

Rockwood Centennial Centre (Teulon Hall) — Sept. 17

Admission: $5/person, $20/family (max 6), children under 2 years free.

Ready for some fall family fun? This iconic autumn celebration kicks off with their ever-popular pancake breakfast followed by a jam-packed day of children’s activities, entertainment, a vendor market, food, live music, petting zoo, a dog show and much more! Pumpkinfest is the pride of this quaint little town whose agricultural fair is home to one of the most competitive largest pumpkin competitions in the Interlake. Best-carved and most-perfect pumpkins compete alongside root vegetable creations, pies, canning, arrangements and photography. Grab your pumpkin-spice latté and a sweater, and enjoy this Halloween-prepping event.

Visit teulonpumpkinfest.com for details (and tips on how to grow your own giant pumpkin!).