25+ Best Things to Do in Winnipeg in Winter (Festivals, Activities, Food)

From epic winter festivals to skating along frozen rivers and navigating the world’s largest snow maze, winter in Winnipeg is not to be missed. This prairie city transforms into a snowy playground packed with culture, cuisine, cozy cafés, and unforgettable winter adventures. Here’s a guide of all the best things to do in Winnipeg in Winter.

Why I Loved Visiting Winnipeg in Winter

If you’re building your Canadian winter bucket list, Winnipeg deserves a spot on it. I loved how much Winnipeg embraced winter and that it’s a city that leans into the season instead of hiding from it. Some of the experience you can enjoy include:

• Home to one of the longest naturally frozen skating trails in the world
• Host of Western Canada’s largest winter festival
• Unique snow dining experiences you won’t find anywhere else
• Incredible museums and galleries are perfect for warming up
• A thriving food scene that rivals bigger cities

How to Get to Winnipeg

Winnipeg is easily accessible via direct flights into Winnipeg Richardson International Airport (YWG). My flight from Ottawa was less than 3 hours. The airport is just 15 minutes from downtown, making it quick and convenient to start exploring.

Best Time to Visit Winnipeg in Winter

Winter in Winnipeg typically runs from late November through March.

• January–February: Peak winter magic, festivals, snow activities
• February: Ideal for catching Festival du Voyageur. I visited in February and it was the perfect time to enjoy all the winter fun.
• December: Festive lights and holiday charm
• March: Still snowy, slightly milder temperatures

Winter Weather in Winnipeg and What to Wear

When we visited, the weather was perfect. Cold enough, the winter fun could continue, but we weren’t freezing. You do need to be prepared for colder temperatures, but coming from Ottawa, I am no stranger to the cold. Here are some tips for packing and dressing for the Canadian winter. When I visited, the temperatures ranged between -1 and -13, an enjoyable winter temperature.

Things to do in Winnipeg in Winter

Winter at The Forks

The Forks is a 6,000-year-old meeting place at the junction of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers. The Forks is the heart of winter in Winnipeg. You can enjoy a multitude of activities at The Forks in winter.

On weekends, you’ll find:

• Skating and snowshoeing lessons
• DJs on ice
• Indigenous storytelling and drumming

Skate at the Forks

Bundle up and glide along the frozen river on one of the longest skating trails in the world. Bring your own skates or rent them on site. I opted for something I’ve never tried before, ice bikes! This might be my new favourite way to navigate ice. It was a blast gliding along the ice and covering so much ground on the bike. We got our bike rentals right at the entrance to the ice at The Forks.

Along the trail, you’ll spot the iconic Warming Huts, imaginative architectural art installations that are completely redesigned each year. Launched in 2009, the Warming Huts program began as an international design competition and has since attracted submissions from architects and artists around the world. Each January, the winning teams travel to Winnipeg to build their creations right on the frozen river, turning the skating trail into an open-air gallery of functional winter art.

Dine at The Forks

Step inside to warm up at The Forks Market, where you’ll find local shops and standout food vendors. It’s the perfect place to refuel between skating sessions. I checked out the famous wontons at Aroma Bistro, their chilli oil wontons were packed with flavour, and this is definitely a booth you should check out.

Festival du Voyageur in Winnipeg

If you want to experience Winnipeg’s winter spirit at full volume, this is it. The festival takes place in mid-February and definitely deserves a spot on your winter Winnipeg itinerary.

Festival du Voyageur is Western Canada’s largest winter festival, a vibrant celebration of French-Canadian, Métis, and fur trade history. The festival has a strong community feel, as locals enjoy the festivities. Here’s what you can’t miss at Festival du Voyageur:

International Snow Sculptures

One of the most impressive sights at Festival du Voyageur is the International Snow Sculpture Symposium. Massive blocks of snow are transformed into jaw-dropping works of art right before your eyes. Artists from around the world carve intricate characters, wildlife, cultural symbols, and imaginative scenes, all in snow. Watching the sculptures take shape over the course of the festival is part of the magic, and wandering through the finished pieces feels like stepping into an outdoor winter gallery.

Live Music & Tent Hopping

Live music is the heartbeat of Festival du Voyageur. With more than 100 performances throughout the festival, there’s always something happening inside the iconic heated tents. One minute you’re listening to lively French-Canadian fiddle music, the next you’re catching an indie rock band, a cultural dance performance, or a DJ spinning Latin beats.

What I loved most was the ability to tent hop to experience completely different genres and energy levels in a single evening. It keeps the night exciting and unpredictable, and there’s a real sense of community as locals and visitors dance, sing, and celebrate winter together. Do as the locals do and participate in the “HE HO” chant you’ll hear throughout the festival. 

Traditional Food & Drink

You can’t visit Festival du Voyageur without indulging in the traditional food and drinks. Head to Cabane à Sucre (the sugar shack) to roll your own maple taffy on fresh snow — a classic Canadian winter treat that’s as fun to make as it is to eat.

Warm up with a glass of caribou, the festival’s signature drink traditionally made with red wine and spirits, often served in a carved ice glass for the full winter experience. Or try bière brûlée, where a hot poker is plunged into beer to create a warm, caramelized flavour that’s perfect on a chilly Manitoba evening. It’s comfort food and drink — prairie style.

Explore Fort Gibraltar

Step inside Fort Gibraltar and you’ll feel like you’ve travelled back to the 1800s fur trade era. Costumed interpreters bring Manitoba’s history to life through storytelling, demonstrations, and interactive stations. Wander through historic buildings, learn about voyageurs and Métis culture, and gain a deeper appreciation for the roots of the festival and the province.

It’s immersive, educational, and a meaningful way to connect with Winnipeg’s heritage while still enjoying the festive atmosphere.

Fun for All Ages

Festival du Voyageur is a true all-ages winter celebration. Race down snow slides, tube down hills, climb sculpted snow structures, and take part in interactive games and workshops.

Get Lost in the World’s Largest Snow Maze

Just 30 minutes from Winnipeg, you’ll find a Guinness World Records™ title holder: the largest snow maze in the world. Each year, A Maze in Corn builds a new snow maze, inviting locals and travellers to discover the new design. It’s one of the most unique winter attractions in Canada.

Wander through towering snow walls, discover hidden carvings, illuminated rooms, and even a snow castle at the center. Visit during the day for serene snowy views or go at night when the maze glows with colourful lights. This is somewhere you can’t miss for winter in Winnipeg.

Beyond the maze, there’s plenty of fun at A Maze In Corn, including

• Snow tubing
• Giant luge run – this run goes FAST!
• Bonfires with hot chocolate
• Cozy dining inside The Den

Dine in a Snow Restaurant

This is one of the coolest dining experiences in Canada! Step into a magical restaurant carved into snow. Everything about this experience was incredible, from the restaurant’s design and service to its food. It truly is a one-of-a-kind dining experience that I can’t stop thinking about. Everything was 10/10 from the setting, the service, and the food.

The Den was envisioned and built by snow architect Clint Masse and features world-class cuisine from award-winning chef Luc Jean. As you’re indulging in a 5-course meal, you can admire the intricate details in the restaurant carved by the ice sculptors. 

Attractions in Winnipeg

Thermea Spa Village

Add some restoration and relaxation to your itinerary with a visit to Thermea Spa Village in Winnipeg. This serene escape draws on Scandinavian traditions, including thermal cycles with saunas, steam rooms, and cold plunges. Enjoy their hot pools while admiring the wintery scenery.

When we visited, the surrounding trees were covered in hoar frost, and it was the perfect winter morning in Winnipeg. They also have an on-site restaurant, and if you visit in the morning, don’t skip their breakfast sandwich or s’mores hot chocolate.

Journey to Churchill Exhibit at the Assiniboine Park Zoo

Journey to Churchill is an award-winning exhibit that’s home to arctic creatures like polar bears, muskovex and more. The polar bears were brought to the zoo as orphans and rescues. You can admire them from multiple viewing windows, including a tunnel where we were lucky to see two polar bears swimming above us. They look adorable, but they are among nature’s most intense predators. The Zoo also does important polar bear conservation work.

Journey to Churchill is the most comprehensive Arctic exhibit in the world. The polar bears stole the show for me, but you can also see seals, muskoxen and more.

They exhibit a mini Churchill to transport you to this unique location. There are signs you would see in Churchill, the polar bear prison and more. Churchill is where the polar bear expeditions begin, and the locals leave their doors unlocked in case someone needs to get cover from these hunting predators quickly. If you’re hungry, you can grab a bite at the restaurant, and it has a large viewing window for the polar bears, so that you won’t miss any of the action.

Visiting this exhibit only made my love for polar bears grow even bigger, and it’s a great opportunity to admire these powerful creatures.

The Leaf

Head to the tropics at The Leaf, home to Canada’s tallest indoor waterfall. This attraction spans four biomes where you can admire lush tropical plants, explore a Mediterranean-inspired exhibit, and walk through a butterfly exhibit. This exhibit feels like you’re in Singapore, and I loved that you could experience something like this right in Winnipeg in the middle of winter. Walk through the gardens and admiring all the flora. There’s also a restaurant on site, Gather, that incorporates fresh ingredients that have been grown in The Leaf.

Manitoba Museum

If you’re looking for one of the best indoor things to do in Winnipeg in winter, the Manitoba Museum is an easy yes.

The museum walks you through Manitoba’s past, from prehistoric times to present day, in a way that feels immersive rather than overwhelming. One of the most memorable exhibits is the full-size replica of the 17th-century ship Nonsuch, docked indoors in a recreated trading post. Stepping aboard genuinely feels like travelling back to the fur trade era.

You’ll also explore galleries dedicated to Manitoba’s Indigenous cultures, Arctic ecosystems, prairie wildlife, and the evolution of Winnipeg itself. It’s a fantastic way to understand the province before diving into the rest of your trip.

My favourite exhibit was learning about the Arctic and the animals that live there, like the mighty polar bear.

Winnipeg Art Gallery – Qaumajuq

The Winnipeg Art Gallery is home to more than 27,000 works spanning centuries across Canada and the world. My favourite was seeing the Indigenous art. The piece below is carved from beluga bone, and I couldn’t help but notice the intricate details. I loved learning that the ceiling is made to look like breathing holes for seals in the ice.

It’s also home to the world’s largest public collection of contemporary Inuit art. The three-story glass vault displays thousands of carvings and sculptures.

Canadian Human Rights Museum

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights is a striking landmark in Winnipeg and the world’s first national museum dedicated solely to the evolution, celebration, and future of human rights. Located just north of The Forks at the meeting of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers, the building itself is an architectural masterpiece of glass, stone, and alabaster.

Inside, visitors move through immersive, multimedia galleries that explore human rights stories from ancient Babylon to present-day Canada and beyond. The architecture is deeply intentional. One of the first examples is the winding ramps, which symbolize how we’re all at different stages of our human rights journey. The lighting also gradually shifts from darkness to light. The Tower of Hope, designed to appear unfinished, reminds visitors that the work of human rights is ongoing and evolving.

One of the most powerful moments is an interactive “bubble” installation: when you stand alone in the circle, a single bubble forms around your feet; when others join you, the bubbles connect into one larger form. It’s a moving visual metaphor for stepping outside our individual perspectives to listen, learn, and work together.

During our visit, we had the opportunity to speak with Marilyn, a Cree Knowledge Keeper, who shared teachings about the medicine wheel and balance — how, when one group takes more than its share, equilibrium is lost. She explained that the bear represents courage, the wolf represents humility, and that the building’s central form resembles a wolf paw — a meaningful detail woven into the design.

The museum does not shy away from difficult history, including exhibits on Canada’s LGBT Purge and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. While the content can feel heavy, it is presented in a way that leaves you feeling reflective and hopeful. The final gallery invites visitors to leave a personal note and join the ongoing conversation.

Engraved on the walls is the reminder: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”

You could easily spend a full day here, and it’s a museum I believe every Canadian should visit.

Neighbourhood Exploring / Exchange District

The Exchange District is an iconic and vibrant neighbourhood in Winnipeg. The Exchange District is a National Historic Site and features heritage buildings built between 1880 and 1920. It’s nicknamed “Chicago of the North.” I’ve never been to Chicago, but all the brick warehouse-style buildings and beautiful storefronts reminded me of NYC.

Beyond the beauty of the neighbourhood, there’s also plenty of cool things to explore.

• VA Cafe: a friendly cafe with a cozy warehouse feel. When I visited, there was a photobooth pop-up too
• Vintage Shopping: Opale, Vantage, Archival
• Unique shops: Two Macaws, tara davis studio boutique
• More Cafes + Restaurants: James Avenue Pumphouse, More Cafes: Parlour, Saintuary Bar & Cafe

Restaurants in Winnipeg You Need To Try

Crumb Queen/Andy’s Lunch

One part donut shop, one part sandwich shop, this hot spot is a must. Crumb Queen offers delicious donuts and sweet treats, from their sour cherry crumble to their blueberry cream cheese crumble danish. Andy’s Lunch offers a small but mighty menu full of salads, pastas and sandwiches. I went with their hot soppressata sandwich with hot honey on focaccia, and it was delicious!

Clementine

Clementine is considered one of the best brunches in Winnipeg, and I can see why. Their menu is full of mouth-watering dishes from Turkish eggs to chilaquiles. I love that you can order side plates to share at the table. I recommend the fried potato and spicy cucumber dishes. This spot fills up quickly, so I recommend going early. You’ll find Clementing in the Exchange District, so it’s the perfect spot to fuel up before exploring this awesome neighbourhood.

BabyBaby

BabyBaby is a wonderful Winnipeg restaurant that offers eclectic dishes in a chic retro feel. Their menu is full of delicious small plates meant for sharing. From the pickerel beignets to fried broccoli to scallop XO noodles, our group was obsessed with every dish. Note that they don’t take reservations.

Bar Accanto

Bar Accanto is a restaurant in Winnipeg that you need to visit. It’s full of cozy vibes and delicious small plates. Executive Chef Emily Butcher brings a culinary style rooted in her Canadian-Chinese upbringing and influenced by European and Mediterranean techniques. Dishes you can’t miss include the tuna crudo, beef tartare, braided milk bread, and chocolate tart.

Where to Stay in Winnipeg

We stayed at the Fort Garry Hotel, a stunning hotel. It’s in an amazing location, close to all the attractions, and is within quick walking distance of The Forks. The rooms are spacious and modern, and the hotel itself is full of luxurious touches.

Enjoy a meal in their Oval Room Brasserie, restored to its original 1913 look. I had breakfast here the last day, and it’s a gorgeous setting for a delicious meal. The omelette was cooked to perfection.

A huge thank you to Winnipeg Economic Development & Tourism and Travel Manitoba for sponsoring this post. I had the best time exploring Winnipeg in Winter and I can’t wait for you to experience all the winter fun for yourself. As always, all opinions and thoughts are my own. 

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