Our summers here are short but jam-packed full of fun things to do, to the point that it can almost get a bit overwhelming. Sometimes we only hear about some cool new event after it’s happened, and that’s a crying shame. That’s also why we’re here. 

This year, we’ve added a pull-out centrefold listing over 50 festivals in Winnipeg and surrounding areas. No festival is too big or too small to be included, and we’ve worked hard to make this as comprehensive of a list as possible for you. And if we missed anyone, be sure to let us know (and feel free to add your own listing at uniter.ca/listings). 

For those wondering what to do this summer, or what you could possibly check out during your time off, we’ve got you covered. 

If you want to learn a bit more about these festivals, we’ve also got a bunch of previews for you. We weren’t able to cover every festival, but we tried to bring you some highlights from a wide selection of fests. 

Hopefully there are some new-to-you gems in there, or helpful teasers for your favourite yearly events. 

To round out our festival coverage, we’ve also got some pieces that fall more under the culture or comments umbrella. Wondering how to pack for a festival, how to make the most of time in the city, or how to keep yourself from melting (or suffering heatstroke)? We’ve got that too. 

Although our summers may be shorter here, why not take a chance, try something new, and make the most of it? If you’re holding this paper, you’ve already got a guide. So grab your favourite writing utensil, find a nice comfy spot and start dreaming. 

Published in Volume 70, Number 27 of The Uniter (June 2, 2016)