Old Man winter has been particularly crotchety this year. Not that that really bothers us here, we love winter and celebrate that season hard – but we’re also cool with looking to warmer times, as parents reading this should be too, because spring break is coming up fast.
On that note, forget about booking flights south, and instead look centre, where Winnipeg is waiting with some pretty sweet times for the whole family.
To get you started we have some mighty fine deals on right now for spring, including up to 20% off Marriott properties – which include the Delta, Courtyard, Fairfield, and Four Points – along with packages to Assiniboine Park Zoo; Stay & Play deals with Canad Inns and the Casinos of Winnipeg; and a package that combines a stay at Holiday Inn Winnipeg South with a trip to Thermëa – Winnipeg’s tranquil outdoor Nordic spa – that is ideal for couples.
As well, here’s just a few of the fabulous, family friendly things that are on in The Peg this spring.
Winnipeg Art Gallery
The WAG always rocks – along with provokes thought and stops you in your tracks with beautiful works. To kick off spring break they will be hosting an '80s Family Night for just $20 per family (March 22, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.) where you can break out your best retro digs and get ready to hit the dance floor in the ' 80s Image gallery. On top of that, they are hosting a Spring Break Art Camp for Kids (March 25-29), while they currently have so many great exhibits, including Behind Closed Doors, Reimagining the Collection: Salon Style, and Norval Morrisseau’s imposing work Androgyny, which greets visitors as they enter the gallery.
The Canadian Museum for Human Rights
While we always thought the city’s architectural marvel is on the money, it’s now official, as the Canadian Museum for Human Rights now graces the $10 bill. On the opposite side of the bill you’ll find Viola Desmond, the human rights defender who stood up to racial segregation, while within the Museum you can find a new exhibit titled One Woman’s Resistance, which details the life Desmond and Canada’s civil rights legacy.
Along with its permanent galleries that climb – both metaphorically and physically – from darkness to light, the Museum’s special Level 1 exhibition Mandela: Struggle for Freedom, is a must-see for families.
The museum will be offering numerous Spring Break events, including hands-on workshops, in-gallery activities and family focused tours. Plus, during the break kids 12 and under get in for free!
The Forks
With a bustling market brimming with locally made goods, top-notch food and drink, and excellent outdoor activities, The Forks is always a great time to visit, no matter the month.
For kids, you can’t beat the Manitoba Children’s Museum – an edutainment centre where youngsters can explore interactive galleries that showcase the fun side of science and history. During Spring Break (March 23-31), they will be building a gigantic duct tape obstacle course, while thematic day programs range from collaborative art projects, to coding.
Speaking of coding, The Forks will also be hosting The Code Mobile in The Market for a whole week, where your little ones can learn about coding, robots and other tech-savvy things that will foster their creativity.
As well, for your budding little Balzacs, Bergmans, and Brontës, Manitoba Theatre for Young People will be staging an adaptation of the beloved children’s book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar (March 15-24), utilizing black lights and puppeteering.
Manitoba Museum
This incredible edutainment centre has so many exceptional galleries, collections and interactive displays, including the recently remodelled Nonsuch Gallery, where you and your young ones can hop aboard a replica 17th century ship which is anchored in a port that represents Deptford, England during the Stuart period.
Along with some awe-inspiring dioramas, mighty fine fossils (including a Pliosaur – as seen in Jurassic World – that lived right here in ancient Lake Agassiz), a Planetarium, an interactive science gallery, the Museum also will be hosting some really cool (and insightful) Spring Break events that they will be posting soon.
Of course, this is just a snap shot of all the fun, family friendly activities that Winnipeg has in store this March. Our Top 10 attractions (which includes some of the above), are always a sure bet, while we have all these deals right here for you on our official Spring Break Packages and Deals website.