The days are getting longer, which can only mean one thing: Spring/March break is just around the corner.
That’s right parents! Pretty soon you are going to have the kids on your hands for a full nine days in a row, so you’d best make the most of it by taking advantage of these super sweet packages and deals on hotels and attractions and get yourselves to Winnipeg.
Whether you are coming from Saskatchewan (March 24 to April 4), Ontario (March 10 to 18), North Dakota (March 10 to 18), or from right here in Manitoba (March 24 to April 4), you’ll find excellent options for some family friendly entertainment. (And yes, we’ve included the dates for you parents out there just in case you’ve forgotten).
For starters, there’s our Top 10 Must-Sees, which remain jaunty no matter what time of year (while also offering special spring break day camps for kids; more on that below), along with a slew of indoor attractions that always bring their A-game.
So without further ado, get reading, then get booking!
Special Events from some of our star attractions
Manitoba Museum – On top of already having awesome exhibits, from March 24 to April 1 the Manitoba Museum is holding special programs tailored toward tikes titled the Science of the Small (now say that five times fast). Activity wise, this will include a, “It’s the Little Things” scavenger hunt around the galleries, hands-on activities that will show how spring seeds will help butterflies, and movies featuring pint-sized heroes. The Planetarium will also have a new show called Planet Hunters, while inside the Science Gallery there will be a focus on microscopes (showing kids the worlds that are hidden from the human eye); an area where kids can build and test their own little race car; an area where kids can learn about science and engineering using LEGO; and a simulator that will show how small changes may help save Lake Winnipeg.
Canadian Museum for Human Rights – For Spring Break the CMHR is offering free admission for children 12 and under, while special activities will be happening all over this awe-inspiring museum that focus on language rights in Canada. Interactive activities will include learning about Métis beadwork, decorating pieces for an expression wall and live performances from children’s entertainers.
Winnipeg Art Gallery – The WAG will be hosting a Spring Break Art Camp (March 26-29) with new themes and interactive activities everyday (book now, as spaces are filling up fast!). There’s also quite a bit on exhibition-wise throughout March and April, including the groundbreaking INSURGENCE/RESURGENCE – which is the WAG’s largest-ever exhibition of contemporary Indigenous art; A Personal Journey – a collection of prints by legendary Cape Dorset artist Pitaloosie Saila; and David Altmejd’s mesmerizing The Vessel – which is a world all into itself.
Assiniboine Park and Zoo – Spring Break Camp runs at the zoo from March 26-29, with options to enroll your child in one day, or the full week. During camp, kids will embark on thematic (supervised) adventures around the zoo and park, doing hands on activities that examine plants, animals, art and recreation.
Aside from that, as Winnipeg parents already know, the easiest way to keep kids in awe is to bring them to the zoo’s Journey to Churchill exhibit, where polar bears and seals literally swim right over your head. On top of that, the zoo also has no shortage of amazing animals, from snow leopards, to red pandas, to squirrel monkeys – including a baby that was just born a few months ago – and countless others.
The Forks – There’s always at least 7,336 things to do at The Forks during any given time, and in particular over spring break you should be checking out the Children’s Museum – with its 12 permanent, interactive galleries that make learning fun, and Manitoba Theatre for Young People – who will be presenting Tetris (March 23-31), an incredible show by a dance quartet that melds breakdancing, parkour and contemporary dance.
FortWhyte Alive – Winnipeg’s loveliest and largest nature reserve provides an outstanding way for your kids to discover their inner Walt Whitman during March Break (26 to 29) while learning about sustainability. Nature Day Camps (ages six to 12) and Farm Camp (ages nine to 12; both $50 for the day for non-members) will see your little ones doing all sorts of fun stuff – all while being guided by enthusiastic camp counsellors – like learning about chickens and seeing their chicks hatch, caring for critters on the farm, playing nature detective, learning survival skills, and so much more! There’s something new on each day, so click here for the full lowdown.
The Great Indoors
Every neighbourhood in Winnipeg also has some sort of fun park or adventurous indoor attraction that is ripe for the picking in spring (especially on those days when it gets slushy outside).
If you want to jump around, Sky Zone Trampoline Park and The Flying Squirrel have you covered. Both these places are absolutely massive and feature numerous areas for sports like basketball, dodgeball and volleyball (all on trampolines), along with foam pits, ropes courses, and so much more.
Looking for a mighty fine team building activity? Check out one of our many escape rooms, including Enigma Escapes (two locations), Code Breakers, and Time Lapse, all of which have thematic rooms that range from somewhat easy (so the kids can get involved), to so hard that your group will feel like a Hercule Poirot should you finish (we mention this dignified, miniscule Belgian because we like to wear grandiose fake moustaches when taking on an escape room – and you should too).
There’s also LaserTopia, a 10,000 sq. ft. entertainment centre featuring laser tag and arcade games; Speedworld indoor kart track; The Golf Dome – where you can play virtual and mini golf; Great Big Adventure – which is a mammoth indoor playground, Vertical Adventures – a mountainous climbing gym, and so much more.
Check out our full list of family friendly attractions here, and see you this spring!
