The Festival of Fools presented by Scotiabank

If you have young munchkins and are eager to get out of the house and into some free fun activities this Spring Break, why not head down to the Forks Market for the 13^th Annual Festival of Fools?

Dozens of clowns, jugglers, acrobats, fire-eaters, stilt-walkers, face painters and other Canadian performers have converged at The Forks Market to showcase their talents from March 23 to 31, 2013.

It’s a wonderful way for parents, grandparents, pre-schools and daycares to entertain the kids for a few hours – at no cost - between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Let them get their faces painted, make some paper bag puppets, fancy hats, capes and other crafts, and enjoy all The Forks has to offer! It’s a fabulous nine days of fun. Of course, this event could not happen without the generosity of dozens of volunteers, plus some great local agencies. Presented by Scotiabank, Festival of Fools is a yearly event held by the Winnipeg International Children’s Festival, in partnership with The Forks Market, the Winnipeg Arts Council, and Canadian Heritage.

Many of the Festival of Fools performers will return to Winnipeg later this year for Kidsfest June 6-9 at The Forks. Schools and daycares have until April 1 to get their Discount Tickets orders in for that event. Contact Vanessa at kidsfest@kidsfest.ca for an order form.

  -Lisa Saunders, publicist, Winnipeg International Children’s Festival

Distant Caravans

If you thought that The Forks Market was a typical, run of the mill shopping experience, then you obviously haven’t visited Distant Caravans. Distant Caravans is an open market style store front  appropriately located at The Forks Market, a venue that is constantly expanding with a variety of unique businesses.


For the past 23 years, Tanya Parks and her family have provided Winnipeggers with a truly unique, eccentric and exotic store. The eclectic atmosphere and colourful wares transport customers to a foreign land. Visitors to the market often sit outside of Distant Caravans, basking in the mysterious and glamorous environment.

Distant Caravans is located in the loft of The Forks Market and specializes in the sale of imports from North Africa, the Middle East and the Far East. The business started with Tanya and her family embracing their Gypsy roots and providing Winnipeggers with tarot card, palmistry and crystal ball readings.

As the business grew, so did the store’s inventory. Their inventory features art, antiques, antiquities, jewelry, books, clothing, belly dancing attire/accessories, furniture and other items you would find in a traditional eastern bazaar. If you’re looking for a one of a kind item or gift, this is the place to find it.

It is Tanya’s prerogative to provide Winnipeg with amazing items from around the world, expose Canadians to other cultures, and provide new Canadians with a remedy for homesickness. Due to the unique and high-end fashion of the items procured by Distant Caravans, museums and art dealers routinely buy and order pieces for their collections.

Distant Caravans is an innovative Forks Market destination, where a trendsetter like Tanya can provide her customers with quality products and an unforgettable cultural experience.