Winnipeg Entertainment

This city offers more than even the hardiest entertainment buff can possibly take in. Winnipeg is a very arts-oriented city, and it hosts some of the grandest festivals in Canada. The arts are heavily supported here, both by the public and private sectors. There's a whole host of bars, clubs, theatres, museums and galleries as well as a full-service Convention Centre that hosts everything from concerts to car shows. Finding amusement in Winnipeg can be as easy as strolling around the Forks, or as tricky as deciding on which play to see.

Nightlife

The nightclub scene in Winnipeg has become famous, not only in Canada, but worldwide. Manitoba’s bars and clubs are bustling and the music scenes shaped in the late-night establishments have kicked off many musical trends across Canada. Well-known for its shops, cafés and pubs, the vintage charms of Winnipeg have something for everyone.

Winnipeg has a great bar scene, and the city’s young demographic is a major factor contributing to the vibrant entertainment scene. The fact that it is the main population centre for hundreds of kilometres around and that it has two major universities also plays its part. The city has over 300 bars, nightclubs and pubs. Most of the bars, restaurants, cafés and places to hang out after the sun goes down can be found along Cordyon Avenue and at Osborne Village.

Theatre and music

Winnipeg is home to several theatres and it has a thriving performing arts scene. The Manitoba Theatre Centre is Canada's largest regional theatre. It stages drama, comedy and musicals to audiences from all over Manitoba. Canada's largest and oldest continuously operating outdoor theatre, the Rainbow Stage, puts on musical classics in the summer at Kildonan and in mid-winter at the Pantages Playhouse Theatre. Located on the banks of the Red River, the outdoor Rainbow Stage is easily accessible by bus or car.

Meanwhile, the MTC Warehouse presents more cutting-edge, controversial plays at its intimate 300-seat theatre. Its four-play season normally runs from mid-October to mid-May.

The cold weather has helped to create a hot Winnipeg music scene. Inside the Royal Albert Arm’s Hotel, a Winnipeg institution since 1913, local and touring performers showcase live music. Many hard rock, punk and new music acts take to the stage here, making it a great place to see up-and-coming local acts. At the Pyramid Cabaret, the meagre decor makes way for hardcore top local and national bands and DJs who perform in a wide variety of styles including funk, house and ska.
Many other kinds of music can be found in bars and venues throughout the city.

Festivals

There are a number of annual festivals that are unique to the city, with highlights including:

• The Festival of the Traveller is a 10-day festival in the St Bonniface area of Winnipeg, celebrating the journeys of early French travellers. It features a massive street party, many concerts, outdoor activities and a costumed Governor's Ball (February).
• At the Festival of Fools, circus-type acts, magicians and entertainers perform at the Forks Market, watched by huge crowds of onlookers (March to April).
• The Winnipeg Wine Festival is an annual wine-tasting charity event, held at the Winnipeg Convention Centre, with plenty of food stalls and more than 500 wines available for sampling (April to May).
• The Red River Exhibition is held at the Red River Exhibition Park along Winnipeg's Portage Avenue. It’s a seven-day celebration, featuring a huge amusement park, fast rides and expositions (June).
• The Folklorama is a major event celebrating the ethnic diversity of Winnipeg’s many local communities. It is held over two weeks, featuring concerts, food stalls and dance performances (August).