If you’re looking for something fun and different to do this weekend, check out Culture Days or Nuit Blanche.
It’s happening on September 28th, 29th and 30th. Culture Days will be celebrated in 26 communities, towns and cities in Manitoba and will feature 470 free activities!!!
Nuit Blanche happens on the Saturday night, and many activities run all night long! It’s a lot of fun, and neat to get to wander around at odd times, there’s so many people out that it feels like daytime!
Here are some of the highlighted activities of the weekend –
Culture Days Manitoba – Top 10 #OnBeat Events
● Storytelling Day featuring the Buffalo Gals Drum Group at The Forks in Winnipeg, MB
Buffalo Gals will lead 400 students to sing, dance, share and drum together. Lessons will cover discussions about the importance of drumming in Indigenous communities.
● Dancing Down Main Street in Flin Flon, MB – Dancing Down Main Street is exactly what it sounds like. Absolutely no experience necessary and pet friendly (if your pets like to dance.) This year, we are dancing to on original song “Summertime ” by local Flin Flon musician, Evan Zach.
● Culture On The Crescent in Portage La Prairie, MB – Follow the beat of your heart and down the pathway of Portage La Prairie’s Crescent Lake for hands-on workshops, live performances and more.
● Piñatas on the Beat by MexYcan Association at Théâtre Cercle Molière in Winnipeg, MB Piñatas have been part of the Mexican tradition for hundreds of years, bringing celebration and joy to the people involved. Learn what they represent and their history through workshops and a piñata breaking celebration. (They’re also part of Nuit Blanche!)
● MB DANCE DAY at the RWB in Winnipeg, MB – A collaboration between Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Dance Manitoba Inc., and Rainbow Stage invites all ages and levels to come together and to learn an original piece of Hip Hop choreography by three local Hip Hop choreographers culminating in a informal performance.
● Pictures at an Exhibit in Flin Flon, MB – Accomplished and acclaimed local artists, musician and improvisational expert, Mark Kolt, will musically interpret the visual art and current exhibition at the NorVA Centre. You’ve never heard art sound so sweet.
● Poetry Slam at the PHAC in Morden, MB – Get you “word” on at The Pembina Hills Arts Council! Friday night, the PHAC will open its door and invite community members for a spirited Poetry Slam.
● MASS Appeal – Percussion by Winnipeg Arts Council in WInnipeg, MB – Mass Appeal is public concert series. Anyone who wants to participate, can! Led by professional percussion Scott Senior (The Duhks, Trio Bembe), participants will learn how to play a series of songs on the spot. Bring your own instrument or use one of the drums provided.
● Dauphin’s Yardfringe in Dauphin, MB – Petal to the beat with a bicycle tour and be part of part of a collaborative art project, watch a short play, listen to a musical performance or sing-along, or try your hand at reader’s theatre.
● Drumming to the Beat with Val Vint and WHEAT Institute at the Forks in Winnipeg – Join us in an Indigenous drumming circle with Metis cultural teacher Val Vint, who has been offering drumming and singing circles around Manitoba for 30+ years.
Nuit Blanche Winnipeg – Top 10 #NBWPG Events
● The Forks Parkade: A collaborative collection of art, design and film!
[RE]ROOF by Winnipeg Design Festival – Winnipeg Design Festival finale event will highlight local designers through Architectural In[stall]ations, furniture, fashion, music & more.
Gimli Film Festival Encore Screening – Check out two encore screenings from the 2018 Gimli Film Festival including GFF’s BEST OF FEST pick, Minding the Gap and Terror Nullius.
Wall-to-Wall Mural and Culture Festival Finale #2 – Don’t take the stairs, take the ramp! Walk along the rampway to see #walltowallwpg’s newest murals painted by Toronto artists Ness Lee, BirdO and local artist-mentees Rene “Twio” Marriott and Bria Fernandez.
● TELUS Network of Art at The Forks – Come explore Canada’s largest and fastest mobile network through an immersive art installation. Spanning 85 x 70 feet, hundreds of colourful spheres at varying heights will be strategically placed to resemble the vast landscape of Canada.
● Pop Up Pow Wow by Urban Shaman – BYOR (Bring your own regalia) & get #OnBeat with Sons of the Drum at our two, pop-up, outdoor, family-friendly locations in the heart of Winnipeg. The body of Indigenous regalia and dance encompasses a rich tradition of kinship and spirituality.
Location #1. Wall-to-Wall Finale at Main St. and Sutherland Ave. Location #2. Under The Canopy at The Forks
● Now That’s What I Call a 90s Sing Along – Frost your tips, rip your jeans, dunk your roos, pop your 90s dancemix in your discman and relive one of the weirdest decades by singing along to some of the best (and worst) hits of the neon 90s! Prizes for most 90s hair and outfit!
● Illuminate Your Creativity – Join Studio Central (a project of Artbeat Studio) at Central Park to get involved in a collaborative art project. Get painting with our glow in the dark face and fabric paints to fill in a stencil image created by one of our alumni artists. Plus take in an improv set and get cozy by the fire pit.
● Flow In The Dark – A black light yoga party, hosted by CBC Manitoba’s Marjorie Dowhos. You wear your brightest brights + whites. We provide glow sticks, neon paint + yoga mats. A DJ spins deep beats. And Yogi Marisa Cline guides a stimulating flow class. Together, we create an awesome night of yoga, music + art. Register for your spot!
● Nuit Noire AfroPeg at artspaceinc. – As Winnipeg grows, it’s home to a large population of Winnipeg’s Black community, Black Space Winnipeg hopes to create an evening that celebrates history, heritage and culture during Nuit Blanche. Nuit Noire will bring together a community to foster meaningful engagement and community development.
● Mini Nuit Blanche at the Children’s Museum – Come spark your creative learning after dark by enjoying free admission to the museum galleries! It’s going to be a magical night filled with bubbles! Who said bubbles were just for the bathtub?
● Nuit Blanche @ The WAG – Dig out your ripped tights, leather jacket, or a scrunchie and join us for a radical 80s celebration at the WAG. Take in art from the exhibition, The 80’s Image, dance with local DJs, watch retro music videos, and play a round of Pacman or Frogger in the classic game arcade. Don’t have any 80s attire? No problem! Create your own bedazzled accessories! The WAG is the official after-hours spot of #nbwpg and is open until 4 a.m.
The Winnipeg Trolley Company sponsored by Exchange District BIZ – Two Trolleys will be looping between the Exchange District, Downtown, The Forks, St. Boniface and the newly added zone the West End from 6 p.m. to 2 am