Oh Holy Night! There’s a lot going on in Winnipeg this holiday season, especially for you parents looking to keep those kids occupied over the school break.
We have enough magic to maintain three Frostys (along with the weather to sustain him to boot), along with almost as much good will as King Wenceslaus, that Bohemian beauty.
So parents, make your list (using the suggestions below) and check it twice because the holiday season in The Peg is only knotty when it comes to the Christmas tree, and above all, it is always nice.
While some holiday events can be kitschy, very few can boldly claim to be ketch-y, like what’s currently happening at the Manitoba Museum. For those of you not in the nautical know, that was a real admiral pun regarding the Nonsuch – a replica 17th-century vessel that is one the flagship attractions at the Manitoba Museum.
Should the weather be a little frightful, the inside of the Centennial Concert Hall will always be delightful!
From December 22 to 30 at the classic is back as Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet (RWB) presents Nutcracker. We went last year and it seriously the most charming dance performance for the whole family. The movements are magical, while Filbert, the RWB’s saucy mascot, gets up to some wintry mischief along with the most adorable cast of little characters.
Another live performance that has become a family classic for the holidays is Prairie Theatre Exchange's presentation of classic works by children’s author Robert Munsch. This year it's called MunchBusters and from December 22 to January 8 you can see Munsch stories like The Boy in the Drawer, Alligator Baby and Mud Puddle brought to life by some fantastic performers sporting proton packs. #whoyougonnacall
Of course, Manitoba Theatre for Young People is a staple when it comes to children’s entertainment, and this season it's gone with a visually stunning adaptation of The Jungle Book, which is playing until December 30.
Canad Inns Winter Wonderland
You like Christmas lights? How about over one million of them, enough to make Clark Griswold greener with envy than that Grinch. Canad Inns Winter Wonderland has just that, all along Manitoba’s longest drive-through light show where each display (there are 25 themed areas in total) causes more excitement than week’s worth of Baileys and coffee that is on the immediate horizon. They are open daily, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., while every weekend there are free horse-drawn sleigh rides from which to enjoy the light shows.
Following up on the great successes of its summer series, Movies on Memorial – the outdoor films on Broadway, Downtown Winnipeg BIZ is bringing this delightful family event indoors to the RBC Convention Centre on December 20. Winter Movie Night starts with pre-film activities at 6 p.m., followed by the movie at 7 p.m. Popcorn, mini donuts and more are available for purchase, while the film and entry itself is FREE! So get your blanket (or chairs ready) because this is going to be one delightful cinematic experience.
If there is one thing that (upper crust) Victorians had down to a science, it was making Christmas décor extra magical. On that note, take your kids to the late 1800s this holiday season amid the warmth and splendour of the Dalnavert Museum, where every Thursday and Friday evening (15-17, 21-23), A Dickens Christmas Carol will be presented, while Victorian Christmas stories will be shared tree-side in the parlour every Sunday afternoon (up to Dec 18).
Last, but certainly not least, are The Forks and FortWhyte Alive, where the term winter extravaganza is an understatement. The canopy rink just opened at The Forks, so now is the time to take the family for a skate (rentals available onsite), while events are happening daily in The Forks Market (you can find the list here). At FortWhyte they have some fantastic programming on the weekends including Naturescape: Christmas Bird Count for Kids and Sod House Pioneers (where your little ones what it was like living as an early pioneer). From Boxing Day to NYE they have special events, including guided snowshoeing, ice fishing and snowman building.
And check back here next week for our full list of great things happening in The Peg for New Year's Eve!