What could be more Winnipeg?!

Guest Post by: Linda Nelson

United Way Winnipeg

What could be more Winnipeg than enjoying a free, outdoor concert, listening to some of the city’s finest musicians? 

We can’t wait for Wednesday, June 24, when United Way of Winnipeg hosts a family-friendly concert featuring some of our hottest acts, to celebrate everything that makes Winnipeg such an amazing place to live, work and play!

JP Hoe

The “One Night For Winnipeg” concert will remind us of the great things that happen when we come together – as we bring together poetry and music, children and professionals, and drummers from many nationalities.  And as Mitch Dorge (formerly of the Crash Test Dummies) brings us all together to set a world record for the most people drumming at one time! 

 

Mitch Dorge

Emceed by Ace Burpee and Rosanna Deerchild, we’ll hear music by JD Edwards Band, JP Hoe, Daniel Roy, Sweet Alibi, The Lytics, The Noble Thiefs, and The Treble.  There’s something for everyone!  

Sweet Alibi

The concert will run from 6:30-9:00 p.m. at Festival Stage.  We hope you can join us! 

For more information on One Night for Winnipeg, visit winnipegwednesday.ca 

The Noble Thiefs

Celebrating National Aboriginal Day and the Summer Solstice at The Forks

Guest Post By: Sheldon McRae, APTN

Lift your spirits, stir your soul! Join us at APTN’s 9th annual Aboriginal Day Live & Celebration on Saturday, June 20th. What will Canada’s largest celebration of its kind in recognition of National Aboriginal Day look and sound like?




To welcome the longest day of the year, the Celebration Village opens at 11:00 a.m. and it’s free, just bring yourself, your family and your pals. It will be a day-long program of free family-friendly activities.

New additions are the APTN Kids Zone and the Qannik Bouncer for all families! The little ones will be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed when they discover their own dedicated play space. It’s an animated and fun filled area where there will also be face painting, colouring, games and prizes, cultural crafts and much more.

At the hub of the Celebration Village is the Cultural Stage (formally known as the First Nations, Inuit and Métis Stage) and this is a place where people will gather for the amazing array of song and dance. Michael Hutchinson, Host of APTN National News, is a lively addition to the stage, and he’ll be emceeing!  

For youth who are into sports, or want to pick up tips on skate boarding, the Skateboard Park & Competition hosted by Rhythm 104.7 FM is back. Or if prefer to be a spectator of the beating of drums, fascinating dance and eye-popping regalia, the Aboriginal Day Competition Pow Wow – brought to you by APTN and Manito Ahbee Festival returns to win you over. You’re also invited to participate!

For full details of the celebration, see aboriginaldaylive.com.

The Aboriginal Day Live evening concert then welcomes the setting sun and burst with the sounds of a solid lineup of Indigenous superstars at 7:30 p.m.!

The Bikes are Coming, the Bikes are Coming!

Guest post by: Shawna CulletonBike Week Winnipeg

When my son first learned to ride his bike a few summers ago, he looked back at me during one of our first rides together and said, “Mom, this is freedom! My heart feels so big!” and I was instantly transported to my first youthful moments bonding with my first bike. Remember how amazing that felt?

This is my first year on the Bike Week organizing committee and it is such a privilege to witness the energy and dedication of our volunteers, committee members and partners. Just look at these smiling faces riding to City Hall, led by Al Simmons on Ol’Spoke: 

Bike Week Winnipeg proves you don’t have to dress down to ride, with Al Simmons. (photo credit: Richard Bracken)

Bike Week Winnipeg’s weeklong celebration of bicycles and the people who love to ride them is a wonderful opportunity for all Winnipeggers to get out on their bikes and experience the joys of pedaling around our great city.  Bike week is for everyone! Whether you ride for recreation, fitness, transportation, sport of for fun, if you enjoy riding a bike, then Bike Week is for you!

Half Pints Bike & BBQ at The Forks, 2014 (Photo Credit: Bike Week Winnipeg)

This year we have nearly 50 events, including

• Free Kick- Off Pancake Breakfast on Monday June 15^th, 7-9:00 a.m. at the University of Winnipeg.
• The 8^th annual Bike to Work Day on June 19th, and we’ve hit every corner of the city with 60 pit stops that’ll be stocked with smiles and swag for cycling commuters.
• The Half Pints Bikes & BBQ Party at The Forks on June 19th. Where there will be live music, bike performances, Half Pints pedal pushers ale, as well as free burgers for the first 500 

Bike week has something for everyone: group rides, theme rides, and workshops, rides for soccer fans, beer enthusiast, athletes and foodies! For more information and a full list of events, visit www.bikeweekwinnipeg.com

Do you hear what we hear? Canada Day musical lineup at The Forks

Photo by: Photo by J. Senft Photography

 Manitoba Music and The Forks are turning up the volume on Canada Day this year with a stellar lineup of local talent on three stages, presented by Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries. Performing for an audience of thousands who gather at The Forks to celebrate our nation’s birthday, Manitoba Live will feature performances from over a dozen acts spanning just about every genre, culminating in a remarkable onstage collaboration between fun-soaked rock outfit Attica Riots and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.

The main event at the Festival Stage kicks off with up-and-coming pop/rock outfit Sc Mira at 6 p.m. followed by sets from roots troubadour Slow Leaves and country pop act Leanne Pearson. Attica Riots will plug in for a blistering set and the WSO brings out its crowd-pleasers before the two join forces in the lead-up to a spectacular fireworks display.

FESTIVAL STAGE

6:00 PM Sc Mira

7:00 PM Slow Leaves

8:00 PM Leanne Pearson

9:00 PM Attica Riots

10:00 PM Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra

10:45 PM WSO and Attica Riots

11:00 PM Fireworks 

The bustling hub at Under the Canopy will feature yet more exciting and diverse local acts including some big band sounds from the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, root trio Sweet Alibi, bilingual folk/soul act Justin Lacroix Band, the bombastic horns of the Dirty Catfish Brass Band, electro rockers The Revival, and R&B/rock crew The Noble Thiefs.

UNDER THE CANOPY
Hosted by Joanne Rodriguez

5:30 PM Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra

6:30 PM Sweet Alibi

7:30 PM Justin Lacroix Band 

8:30 PM Dirty Catfish Brass Band

9:30 PM The Revival

10:30 PM The Noble Thiefs

Visitors can also enjoy the music while checking out the sites and wares in The Forks Market, which will host intimate performances from acclaimed children’s act Seanster and the Monsters, country crooner Quinton Blair, Americana duo Leaf Rapids, singer/songwriters Adam Hanney and Kevin Roy, and pop act French Press. 

MARKET STAGE

12:00 PM Seanster and the Monsters

1:00 PM Quinton Blair

2:00 PM Leaf Rapids

3:00 PM Adam Hanney

4:00 PM Kevin Roy

5:00 PM French Press

The Forks hosts the city's biggest birthday party on Canada Day. Aside from the three incredible musical stages, the free family-friend event also includes food trucks, kids art activities with the Winnipeg Art Gallery, the Founding Nations Tribal Village, Parks Canada's free activities, special themed activities at the Children’s Museum, and a Public Market.

Season Opening of The Forks Farmers' Market

If you've been dreaming about locally made preserves, fresh baked goods and lusciously green plants and produce, then you're in luck! On Sunday, June 7 The Forks Farmers' Market is having its grand opening with over 30 vendors, entertainment and giveaways. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Forks Farmers' Market will be up and running for you to enjoy from June until September.

Check out local crafters, get some starter plants from pop-up greenhouses or find some unique preserves and treats from bakers. Every Sunday is a little different with an ever-changing list of great vendors to see. For a full listing of who is on site, click here.

At the grand opening, we've got some of our fantastic Buskers stopping by to entertain you, including  Drum Café, Double Trouble, and the Teakle Circus Performance. There is also free face painting and cookies for kiddos at the customer service booth.

If you come early enough, we are also giving away free starter plants and flowers to the first 50 customers!

And if at the end of the day you find yourself with too many purchases to carry to your car, don't worry because we've got you covered. A pedicab will pick you up from the customer service booth and take you to your car, free of charge.

So keep calm and market on!