Top 5 things to do in Winnipeg this weekend (Sept. 26-28)
Art installations on Portage, an all-nighter at the WAG and a bike tour of Nuit Blanche on tap
If you haven’t already heard – this weekend is going to be absolutely bonkers.
Between Culture Days and Nuit Blanche, art galleries, studios, bars and even some streets will be packed with people all weekend.
But, with more than 350 events planned for all of Manitoba and more than 200 of those in Winnipeg, it’s not easy to figure out where to go, what to do or if you’ll even get in at some events.
Hopefully this list will make deciding what to do and where to go a little bit easier.
Have fun, friends! Choose carefully!
WHAT: ART – Wall to Wall on Sherbrook Street
When: Friday, Sept. 26 and Saturday, Sept. 27
Where: Thom Bargen and a parking lot behind Stella's on Sherbrook Street
Cost: FREE to $5
If you’re wondering where all the cool kids will be this weekend, it’s Thom Bargen and the parking lot behind Stella's on Sherbrook Street.
Wall to Wall is basically a five-day mural festival with some DJ parties.
The last two days, Friday and Saturday, there are parties at Thom Bargen, and the big parking lot behind Stella’s on Sherbrook.
Basically some indoor and outdoor murals are going up and then there are little DJ parties to celebrate.
Thom Bargen is showing off its brand new mural Friday during the day and there’s a community art block party and mural project going on in the parking lot behind Stella’s on Sherbrook (the Food Fare lot!) on Saturday night!
The bike jam will also be taking off from this spot, so it’s not a bad place to be Saturday evening.
WHAT: MUSIC – Ain’t Nothing But a She Thing dance party
When: Saturday, Sept. 27 at 10 p.m.
Where: Union Sound Hall at 110 Market Ave.
Cost: $10
OK, sure. You can technically see Mama Cutsworth on a lot of weekends during the year.
But anyone who has ever been to one of her diva dance parties (I just want to dance with somebody, is the brilliant name of them) knows they really only come once a year.
Anyway, the trailblazing DJ is hosting a show full of tracks from Beyoncé, TLC, Madonna, Janet Jackson and M.I.A.
And true fans of the diva dance parties will be thrilled to hear she’ll be joined by DJ J. Jackson.
Together, these two can make anyone dance anywhere.
They play the kind of music you play for living room dance parties or the stuff you hear during scenes of female empowerment during rom-coms. It’s basically the best thing in the world.
Oh, and if all of this wasn’t enough, there’s a special drag performance with Tyra Boinks, Breyanna Burlesque, Vida Lamour DeCosmo and Satina Loren.
They’re doing an “all-diva number,” and I don’t know what that means, but I’m really just so excited.
WHAT: PARTY – Nuit Blanche at the WAG
When: Saturday, Sept. 27 from 7 p.m. to 4 a.m.
Where: Winnipeg Art Gallery at 300 Memorial Blvd.
Cost: FREE
This year, there are two exhibitions opening featuring none other than Salvador Dali (the melting clocks guy whose stuff has decorated dorm rooms for more than 30 years).
There’s some sort of word-image assembly game called Exquisite Corpse going on all night, surrealist films, contemporary dance performances, DJ sets and a dance party with projected visuals and electronic-swing music.
Oh and one more thing: fire dancers.
But be warned: this party is so monumentally awesome, it also comes with a monumental line.
If you don’t go early, you don’t get in. Or you could spend literal hours waiting in lines that stretch far away.
Don’t spend your night waiting in line when hundreds of cool events are waiting for you!
My best advice? Go early or don’t bother.
WHAT: FESTIVAL – ArtsFest at the U of W
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Where: University of Winnipeg campus
Cost: FREE
Got a friend who’s good at bringing the weird? Bring them to the University of Winnipeg this weekend.
The U of W is hosting ArtsFest to coincide with Culture Days – and there’s a ton to do from art exhibits to live music to free tours, but its magnum opus is the Brainery Bash on Saturday night.
First of all, 10 points to whoever came up with that name. It’s great.
Second, 20 points to whoever came up with the idea.
Basically the quad at the University of Winnipeg (the grassy area that faces Portage Avenue) is being converted into a space for pop-up performances, art-making, games and movies.
Bands will play, silent movies from the university’s film department will be projected onto the basketball court and there’ll be chalk-drawing and hop-scotch for adults.
There will also be a big projection onto Wesley Hall.
WHAT: CYCLING PARTY – Rainbow Trout Bike Jam Gallery Tour
When: Saturday, Sept. 27 at 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Where: Starts at the Food Fare at 115 Maryland St.
Cost: FREE
There will be hundreds of other cyclists ready to ride for a cycling tour of the galleries of Nuit Blanche.
It’s a chance to see a lot of stuff and get to know the super-friendly cycling crowd in our city.
They do advise you dress up – so you might want to spend some time thinking of a cycling-friendly, fancy outfit.
And if you show up a few hours early, there will be bike decorating offered by Art City, bike maintenance folks and some bands playing.
These events happen every month with about 300 riders, but this ride is the special one – and last year it brought in 600 riders. This year, they’re expecting even more.
Everyone’s welcome, so don’t be shy!
Honourable mentions
If none of these really tickle your fancy, here’s my shortlist of rad things that I wish could’ve made my top five!
Saturday, Sept. 27 from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Dress in 50s attire and drink cosmos while you learn about the “Space Race” that everyone was really excited about during that decade. There’ll be a DJ and cash bar.
A Dark and Scary Night at the museum
Saturday, Sept. 27 from 7 p.m. to midnight
Take a 30-minute tour of the museum focused on ghost stories and other fun scary stuff!
WSO, RWB and opera open house
Saturday, Sept. 27 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and the Manitoba Opera are having an open house at the Centennial Concert Hall with backstage tours, costume displays, kids’ activities and prizes!
Death and debauchery tour in the Exchange
Saturday, Sept. 27 from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
A 45-minute walking tour on some of the Exchange District’s gnarly past. You can take pictures and learn stuff!
Oh, and…
Parlour Coffee, Café Postal and Little Sister are all hosting late night events on Saturday including DJs, button making and art.
Go get some java and spend some time with some of the city’s prettiest locally-owned coffee shops.