9 Marvellous Things For This Long Weekend

It's the halfway mark in summer, and {so far} the weather looks to be cooperating for this upcoming long weekend. If you are looking to make the most of your three days of freedom, we've compiled for you 9 things to make a memorable long weekend.

1. Frozen goodness
   
   
   (Photo by:@j__chung_) 
   In a cone, on a stick, with a spoon- it doesn't really matter what you pick, but if you are looking for a way to keep cool and treat yo self we've got a great selection from Neon Cone, Fro-gurts, and special guest Pop Cart at The Forks Farmers' Market.... speaking of which-
2. Farmers' Market
   
   If you need your fill of veggies, jams, preserves, handcrafted wonders, The Forks Farmers' Market is where you need to be. It's open on Sundays from 11 am- 4 pm in The Forks Market parking lot. For a list of vendors, click here.
3. Keepin' Chill with Cool Gardens
   
   Thousands of faces on blue flags, cottage docks in the middle of Broadway, Beachscape in The Port - there are eight Cool Gardens to tour in and around The Forks area.
4. Boat Tour
   
   Winnipeg was built around the Red and Assiniboine rivers, and it is possibly the best way to tour and learn about our fair city. Set sail on the Splash Dash Tour Boat and travel down the waters to the Manitoba Legislative, the Exchange District and St. Boniface.
5. Patio much?!
   
   
   (Photo by @cherrylynnc)
   

   There is nothing like appetizers and bevvies out on a patio. And we have a handful to choose from like Muddy Waters, The Beachcomber, Smith, Era Bistro. Each has a unique view of The Forks site and a great menu to pick from.
   
   
6. Trolley Around
   
   If you aren't up for touring by water, what about by old-school trolley? Venture into the Exchange District Historic Site of Canada, where you’ll find the largest collection of turn-of-the-century architecture in North America. See the MTS Centre, and the community club where music legends The Guess Who and Neil Young got their start. Pass through Osborne Village, view the stately mansions on Wellington Crescent, and enjoy the grandeur of the Manitoba Legislature.
7. Splish Splash
   
   
   (Photo by @jennldavis)
   

   If you need a splash of water, grab the kids and swimsuits and come down to Variety Heritage Adventure Playground. A great space to cool off, the park now has an Adventure Store where you can pick up water bottles and sunscreen.
   
   
8. Pow Wow Together
   
   
   (Photo by @jennldavis)
   See the colour, beauty and style of dances from the aboriginal communities in Manitoba. On Monday from 1-10 pm, join Founding Nations in Oodena for a pow wow.
9. Duck, Duck, Goose
   
   Take a walk on the river walk along the Red and Assiniboine rivers and say hello to these fine feather friends.

Whatever you do this weekend, be sure to get outside and enjoy the summer around you.

Sounds of Summer

It's less than a month 'til Interstellar Rodeo lands in Winnipeg, and our ears are bracing themselves for the sounds of great music to come. Fresh sounds of artists like July Talk, The Lone Bellow, Tanya Tagaq, and Vance Joy. Staples like Scott Nolan, Dwight Yoakam and Blue Rodeo.

With three days of great music coming your way, it's time to prime the senses and get a taste of what to expect. Six Shooter Records, organizers of Interstellar Rodeo, has put together a mix that has a bit of everything. It will get you acquainted with some of the newer artists and it's sprinkled with the classic favs to keep you humming along.

If you still haven't purchased your tickets, GOOD NEWS- there are still some left. A few things to note on the ticket front: you can buy tickets that are transferable (aka- you can split tickets with someone if you can only make one day and they can make another). AND if you are going with friends, there is a 4 for 3 deal on right now- buy 4 tickets for the price of 3!!!

Interstellar also released their wine pairing list, which gives you the lowdown on the best wines to sip while listening to your favourite band. 

Happy listening!

Oral History Walking Tour

The Forks has been a meeting place for over 6,000 years. Throughout that history, there have been stories of how this site has been used from river transportation, to a train yard, to a tourist destination. Many of these stories, both historic and more recent, have only been shared through the tradition of oral story telling. That's why we've started the Oral History Walking Tour at The Forks, to continue to share and pass along these amazing stories.

Every Wednesday in July, join us at 10 a.m. for a FREE 90 minute walking tour. Led by two Aboriginal elders, this tour begins at the entrance of St. Boniface Cathedral and takes you across the Esplanade Riel to The Forks site. As you walk, you will discover the rich history of Manitoba’s Aboriginal people through stories, legends and Forks monuments.


There is no registration for the tour and it is suitable for all ages.

FREE Eco Tours

Every Sunday and Tuesday in July, join us for a 60 minute Eco Tour around The Forks. Based off of the popular Eco-Kids Tour, this FREE interactive experience, led by two actors, invites you to explore what The Forks has done to reduce their waste while encouraging visitors to think 'green' and minimize their own carbon footprint. 

Meet at 11 a.m. in front of The Forks Market main entrance by the Grey Owl. The tour is suitable for all ages and no registration is required. Maximum number of participants is 25 per tour.

*(Here's a sneak peak of what our Eco-Kids Tours looked like this June.)

Time to Salsa!

Guest Post by : Leo Lopez

Salsa Sundays is a highly anticipated upbeat multicultural music and dance event series in July that appeals to a broad audience, attracting over 500 people of all ages per night since its inception in 2006.

Salsa Sunday evenings begin with a 30 minute dance lesson – free to the public in attendance, where professional instructors from local dance company Salsa Explosion teach the basic steps of various Latin dances each Sunday. These short introductory dance classes are followed by two sets of live music by Latino bands. Between the sets, various dance companies provide live dance performances for the enjoyment of the crowd.  DJs then keep the dance floor hopping with the very best selection of popular Latin music available.

The Salsa Sundays event series runs from 6:00 to 10:30 PM on Sundays.This year the dates are July 5, 12, 19 and closing night 26,  under the Forks canopy, and is free to the public.