Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/81685
Festival du Voyageur: (festivalvoyageur.mb.ca) Feb. 15-24, 2013. The biggest winter carnival in Western Canada, Festival du Voyageur is a 10-day celebration of Manitoba's rich Métis and French-Canadian heritage. Dubbed the "World's Largest Kitchen Party, " the February event finds historic Fort Gibraltar transformed to Voyageur Park, home to an international snow sculpting contest, snow bars and maple syrup shacks, hearty Francophone cuisine, and live music steeped in joie de vivre. Hudson Bay Quest Sled Dog Race: (www.hudsonbayquest.com) Mar. 15, 2013. The Hudson Bay Quest celebrates trapper culture in Northern Manitoba, building on the history of the fur trade, the Hudson's Bay Company, and the early days of Churchill. The fortitude-testing trek through boreal forest and barren tundra once ran from Churchill to Arviat, Nunavut, but now spans the edge of Wapusk Park from Gillam to Churchill. (Not surprisingly, one of the event's co-founders is owner/operator of Bluesky Expeditions, which provides dog sled tours and getaway packages at the Bluesky Bed and Sled.) 29 NORTHERN MANITOBA TRAPPER'S FESTIVAL Royal Manitoba Winter Fair: (www.brandonfairs.com) Mar. 25-30, 2013. One of only two fairs in Canada to receive royal patronage from Queen Elizabeth, Brandon's Royal Manitoba Winter Fair is also one of the country's largest agricultural exhibits. The Royal boasts world-class show jumping and heavy horse competitions, livestock sales and displays, agricultural awareness campaigns, and over 300 commercial and farm exhibits. Harvest Moon Festival: (www.harvestmoonfestival.ca) Sept. 14-16, 2012. Now in its 11th year, the Harvest Moon Festival in Clearwater continues to prove a popular autumn draw for music fans and eco-enthusiasts alike. Celebrating the efforts of local producers, the event provides an important link between urban and rural communities, while promoting sustainable food practices, the talents of local artists and the beauty of the Pembina Valley. Manito Ahbee Festival: (www.manitoahbee.com) Running Oct. 31-Nov. 4, this year's Manito Ahbee Festival celebrates the talents and gifts of Aboriginal artists from all nations, while promoting a deeper understanding of their culture and its ability to unify, educate and inspire. Festival events showcase everything from hoop dancing to hip hop, and include a youth education conference, indigenous marketplace and trade show, international competition pow wow and the Aboriginal People's Choice Music Awards. For a complete list of Manitoba Festivals and Events, see pages 56 to 87 in this guide or visit Travel Manitoba's listing on the Winnipeg Free Press website in the Travel section. A C TIVITIES