Performance groups and pretty settings in The Peg
The easiest way to avoid the pandemic blues in Winnipeg are to head outdoors where spring weather provides a breath of fresh air and a pinch of whimsy. On top of that, some of our best performance groups are still digitally opening the curtains, ensuring that no matter where you are you can still catch a production by Winnipeg’s world-renowned companies.
Forest trails and fairy tales
When the snows melt, rivers open and migratory birds return, two perfect spots to perch at are Oak Hammock Marsh and FortWhyte Alive.
Oak Hammock Marsh is an integral wetland in the region and a birder’s paradise, providing a home for countless species throughout the year. Its Interpretive Centre overlooks over 36 km2 of wetlands, with 30 km trails that stretch out around the marsh. You can also canoe these wetlands, where you’ll be dwarfed by the tall grasses and bulrushes as you spy creatures close up.
Not to be outdone, FortWhyte Alive offers gorgeous trails through aspen forests located right in the city, with a lake ripe for canoeing and sailing too. Plus, it’s home to the North America’s largest urban bison herd.
Feeling woodsy? Pay a visit to Bois-des-Esprit (“Woods where the Spirits Dwell”) where massive whimsical tree carvings greet you around every bend. The 117-acre setting is home to numerous deer and runs around the charming Seine River, which you paddle after renting from outfitters like Wilderness Supply and Winnipeg Canoe Rentals.
Even more enchanting settings can be found in Assiniboine Park and Kildonan Park.
Assiniboine Parks’ Leo Mol Sculpture Garden contains multitudes of large bronze statues from the master Ukrainian/Canadian artist, depicting everything from Greek mythology to local luminaries and playful bear cubs.
Equally enchaining is Kildonan Park. Its Witch’s Hut (a la Hansel and Gretel) is a favourite with the kids, while charming little bridges connect paths through its oak, ash and elm-covered grounds.
The show must go on
Both Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet (RWB) and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (WSO) have transitioned their seasons into an online and often live-streamed format to dazzling effect.
This spring, you can watch the RWB’s 81st season continue from the comfort of your home with Swan Lake (March 5-14) and The Magic Flute (April 30-May 2), both of which are filmed by FRANK digital with the WSO providing the live score.
The Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre is also bringing its next production to the screen. The company will be present The Mountaintop by Matori Hall (on now until March 14), a play that reimagines Martin Luther King Jr.’s last night. Winnipeg’s FRANK digital will be providing the video production here too, with tickets now available for $20 which allows you to watch the performance anytime you wish.