Incredible Things to Do This Summer BY BRENNA HOLEMAN Lively festivals and town fairs. U-pick farms, rodeos and water parks. Hiking and biking and swimming, oh my! It’s impossible to list all of the fun things happening this summer. Here are a few ideas to get you started on your best Manitoba summer yet.
SUMMER FESTIVALS AND MAJOR EVENTS IN MANITOBA There are dozens of summer fairs and midways around Manitoba, including Boardwak Days in Winnipeg Beach (July 25-27), the St-Pierre-Jolys Frog Follies & Ag Fair (August 6-9), Winkler Harvest Festival (August 7-9) and Stonewall Quarry Days (August 14-16). Most have midway rides, live music, food stalls and plenty to keep the whole family busy. Love film? Don’t miss the Gimli International Film Festival from July 22 to 26. The sunset beach screenings are especially magical. Bring on the summer music festivals! There are numerous music festivals that take place around Manitoba every summer, including the Whoop and Hollar Folk Festival (Portage la Prairie, August 29-30), Harvest Sun Music Fest (Kelwood, August 21-23), Fire and Water Music
Festival (Lac du Bonnet, July 24-26), Elemental Music & Arts Festival (St. Laurent, July 31-August 3) and Rockin’ the Fields of Minnedosa (July 31-August 2). July means the Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival is back! Check out the dynamic indoor and outdoor performances at “the Fringe” showcasing the best of local and international performers, July 15 to 26. Make your way to Gimli from July 31 to August 3 for Íslendingadagurinn – the 137th Icelandic Festival of Manitoba . With live music, craft and food vendors, midway rides, games, contests, fireworks and even a Viking battle, these jam-packed days
Exhibition in Swan River (July 23-26), the Roblin Rodeo and Fair (July 30-August 3) or the Virden Indoor Rodeo and Wild West Daze (August 13-16). Winnipeg’s Folklorama is held from August 2 to 15. The world’s largest and longest-running multicultural festival is an excellent way to learn more about the diversity that makes us all proud to call Manitoba home. OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AND NATURE EXPERIENCES Pack your sunscreen and towels and travel to one of Manitoba’s finest beaches. The only problem? Trying to fit them all into one summer! Popular spots for swimming and relaxing include Grand Beach, Falcon Lake Main Beach, Birds Hill Beach, Stonewall Quarry Park, Rainbow Beach and Clearwater Lake. Winnipeg’s Assiniboine Park is brimming with activity every summer. Explore the Assiniboine Park Zoo, The Leaf, the Leo Mol Sculpture Garden and events such as the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival or the Summer Entertainment Series , which features free music, movies, ballet, wellness and more in the park. Don’t forget to cool down with a drink from Cargo Bar, or grab lunch or a snack at Gather Restaurant or the Park Café !
celebrate all things Iceland. It’s rodeo season! There’s the
Manitoba Stampede & Exhibition in Morris (July 17-19), the Triple S Fair & Rodeo in Selkirk (July 11- 13), the Northwest Round Up and
THE LEAF, ASSINIBOINE PARK
10 | SUMMER 2026 | SAVOUR MANITOBA
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