Prepare yourself for a shock. Don’t let the lack of snow fool you, but Christmas is only three weeks away! Right? I warned you! Where has the time gone?
If you weren’t able to attend the Santa Claus Parade and you’re in need of a little boost to help jumpstart your festive holiday spirit, here are just a few of the fun events and activities happening in and around the province. Note that this is not a complete list, and there are plenty more holiday events to take in before the year is over!
CPKC Holiday Train
All aboard for the arrival of the CPKC Holiday Train at various stops across Manitoba, not to mention the rest of Canada and the U.S.! Adorned with holiday lights and decorations, the spectacular Canadian Pacific Christmas train is set to bring festive joy with live events at every stop, hosting complimentary half-hour concerts by Anyway Gang. To really get your gift-giving spirit going, you’re encouraged to donate non-perishable food items or cash donations for local food banks. Here’s the Manitoba CP Holiday Train schedule in Manitoba for this year.
December 2:
• Whitemouth 6:50 pm - Railway Avenue across from the Whitemouth Hotel
• Winnipeg 9:00 pm - Grade crossing on Panet Road and Molson Street
December 4:
• Portage la Prairie 11:15 am - Opposite Centennial Arena
• Neepawa 2:35 pm - CPKC Railway Station between Mountain Avenue and Currie Avenue
• Minnedosa 4:00 pm - Minnedosa west of CPKC Railway Station, north side of rail yard
• Shoal Lake 7:15 pm - In the gravel lot adjacent to the grain elevator on North Railway Avenue
St. Boniface Museum Holiday Event & Market
This annual holiday event and market at the St. Boniface Museum is back again on December 2 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Just in time for your holiday gift ideas! Step inside Winnipeg’s oldest building to find local vendors that will help you check off every person on your “nice” list. Warm up by the outdoor fire while sipping a hot chocolate, take a photo with Santa, create some holiday crafts and gorge on dainties. You also get free admission to the museum for the day!
Once the market is over, you can still visit the La Belle Boutique Blanche for local creations, French-Canadian and Métis specialty items, old-fashioned children’s toys and much more.
CanadInns Winter Wonderland
An annual Christmas tradition cherished by Manitobans, the Canad Inns Winter Wonderland is back for another year, adorned with over a million lights spread across various themed areas. Experience the brilliance of these light displays from the warmth of your car as you navigate the 2.5 km route through the scenic Red River Exhibition grounds, with over 30 new light displays. This year’s Winter Wonderland runs from December 1 to January 6, 2024 (Closed on December 25).
Visit Santa in the Forest at FortWhyte Alive
Kick your Christmas photos up a notch with an amazing Santa photo op against the backdrop of a snow- covered forest. Register your spot in one of the Santa in the Forest dates at FortWhyte Alive before December 3 and have your family or child’s photo taken by a professional photographer in the perfect setting. Your child is also welcome to chat with Santa and share their wishlist! This event sells out fast, but there are other ways to have festive fun at FortWhyte Alive. Check out the Marshmallow Roast, After Hours Holiday Shopping Event, Nature Shop Holiday Weekend and the Christmas Bird Count, to name just a few.
Assiniboine Park Zoo Lights Festival
The Assiniboine Park is one of the best spots in Winnipeg to feel some holiday cheer. First, plan to visit the Zoo Lights Festival, featuring thousands of light installations to dazzle you. The festival includes entertainers and activities, with some new additions this year like pictures with Santa and other winter characters, a light maze, LED games like corn hole and ladder toss, and a unique visual and musical experience known as Domino Effect. Zoo Lights runs until January 7, 2024, Sunday to Thursday: 5:00 pm-10:00 pm (final entry 8:00 pm) and Friday to Saturday: 5:00 pm-11:00 pm (final entry 9:00 pm). Note that the event will be closed on the following dates: December 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 24, 25.
Celebration at The Leaf
Enhance the holiday season by visiting the festive new display in the Babs Asper Display House at The Leaf until January 7, 2024. Celebration is a vibrant showcase of our diversity that emphasizes the importance of unity and togetherness during this joyous time of year. You start by wandering through a pristine winter forest and fresh cut spruce trees adorned with iridescent shimmering ornaments. Next, the Holidays at the Park zone displays themed trees paying homage to a range of holidays including Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year’s, Kwanzaa and the Winter Solstice. In the Whimsical Woods display, you’ll be enchanted by celestial-themed topiaries and a miniature village. In the Hartley and Heather Richardson Tropical Biome, bromeliads and ferns are arranged to form a spectacular holiday tree, and in the Mediterranean Biome, a unique holiday tree made entirely of succulents is on display! Make this a new holiday tradition!
Walk in a Winter Wonderland
Every holiday season, the Manitoba Agricultural Museum in Austin transforms into an enchanting Winter Wonderland. Head to the museum on the weekends of December 8-10 and December 15-17 to experience the magic with sleigh rides, games, crafts, hot chocolate, bonfires and much more. In the Homesteader’s Village, 20 structures dating back to 1879 and decorated for the holidays will whisk you away to a bygone era. New this year are holiday movies from the National Film Board of Canada! Refreshments will be available to purchase in the Pioneer Kitchen. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online.