Happy Friday, Winnipeg!

It’s the weekend before Halloween, which means the city’s about to be packed with haunted houses, spooky plays, and all kinds of fun you’ve probably been putting off.

And with the weather looking nice for the weekend, it’s the perfect time to get out and explore, whether you’re chasing scares or just soaking in the fall air.

In today’s edition, we’ve got plenty to catch you up on, from a brand new Manitoba parenting website to construction kicking off on a $1 billion redevelopment project that’s reshaping St. Boniface.

Now, in today’s edition:

• Manitoba Launches New Website for Local Parents

• Construction to Begin on Winnipeg’s New $1 Billion Dollar Water Tower District

• Winnipeg transit Replaces Glass Bus Shelters with Shatterproof Glass

• City Auctions Off Used Fitness & Sports Gear for Cheap

• 65+ Events this weekend & Live Music!

— Jas Singh

News

Manitoba Launches New Website for Local Parents

Some nights, parenting just feels like guessing. You’re doing your best, but with so much advice online, it’s hard to know what’s actually right for your baby.

To make life a bit easier, Manitoba has launched the new Parenting in Manitoba website, a trusted space with real, local information for new and expecting parents.

Here’s what it offers:

• Over 120 simple, evidence-based articles on pregnancy and early childhood

• Guidance from Manitoba’s own public health experts

• Tips on everything from immunization, swaddling, and solid foods to managing fevers

• Built to complement, not replace, advice from health professionals, giving parents help between appointments

It’s part of Manitoba’s ongoing effort to support families right from the start, helping parents feel more confident and connected.

Click the button below to explore the new Parenting in Manitoba website and share it with any new parents or soon-to-be parents you know.

Click Here: To see the new Parenting in Manitoba website

Together with Bon Aventure Travel

The Family Trip You’ll Still Talk About Next Year

It’s late October, the air’s getting colder, and everyone’s already talking about winter plans. So why not plan something your whole family can actually look forward to?

After weeks of scraping windshields and layering up, imagine this: you and your family, toes in the sand, watching the sun set over the Caribbean. No packing stress. No last-minute chaos. Just sunshine, laughter, and time together.

This January, you can do just that.

From January 6 to 13, 2026, you can enjoy a 7-night all-inclusive family vacation for four at the brand-new Ava Resort Cancun, starting at $8,160 CAD. That’s around $2,000 per person, with hotel, food, flights, and transfers all included.

Here’s what’s waiting for you:

• 7 nights of all-inclusive luxury with ocean views

• Round-trip flights and airport transfers from Winnipeg

• Family-friendly pools, kids club, and daily activities

• Gourmet dining, nightly entertainment and more!

And it’s all arranged by Bonaventure Travel, a trusted Winnipeg agency that handles every detail so you don’t have to.

Start the new year with the family trip you’ve been dreaming about.
Click below to see the full package and start planning today.

Advertise with us by emailing: [email protected]

Community Digest

Construction to Begin on St. Boniface’s New Water Tower District

For years, the old Union Stockyards site in St. Boniface has sat quietly, waiting for something new. And now, it’s finally happening.

Construction on the massive Water Tower District is set to begin this spring, a project that’ll reshape one of Winnipeg’s most historic areas.

Led by Shindico Realty and Olexa Developments, the plan will turn over 60 hectares of land into a lively new community built around the site’s 112-year-old water tower.

Here’s what’s happening:

• About 2,000 new homes, including condos and apartments

• Shops, restaurants, and grocery stores for residents and visitors

• 22 acres of parks, gardens, and recreation space

• $1 billion+ investment to bring new life to the area

Developers say it’s true infill, bringing people, jobs, and energy back to a long-vacant space in St. Boniface.

Click Here: To learn more about the Water Tower District plans and what’s coming next.

Winnipeg transit Replaces Glass Bus Shelters with Shatterproof Glass

If you’ve ever waited for a bus on a cold morning, you’ve probably seen it… a shelter with cracked glass, missing panels, or barely enough to block the wind. For riders across the city, that little space of warmth can make a huge difference in winter.

That’s why Winnipeg Transit is testing out new polycarbonate panels at 30 of the city’s busiest shelters. They’re stronger, safer, and built to handle our tough winters a whole lot better.

Here’s what’s happening:

• Polycarbonate is 250 times stronger than safety glass

• Costs about 15% more but should save money in the long run

• Over 100 shelters have been checked, with 70 already repaired

• Crews are completing up to six upgrades a day

The city’s spent over $1 million since 2020 fixing shattered glass, so this new approach could mean fewer repairs and warmer waits for everyone!

City Updates

City Auctions Off Used Fitness & Sports Gear for Cheap

If your home gym’s been collecting dust or you’ve been meaning to start one, this might be your sign. The City of Winnipeg is auctioning off a ton of used fitness and sports equipment to make room for new gear at local recreation centres.

And this isn’t just a few treadmills. There’s something for everyone:

• Hockey equipment like skates, sticks, and pads

• Lacrosse gear for players looking to save big

• Cardio machines, including treadmills and rowing machines

• Free weights and other gym essentials

Everything’s up for grabs online, with bidding open until October 28 at 1 p.m.

It’s a great chance to upgrade your home setup, grab some quality gear for cheap, or even stock up for the kids’ sports season.

Click Here: To check out the City’s online equipment auction before the bidding closes!

Fire at Boujee Restaurant on Main Street

It’s sad to see another fire happen in our city, especially at a place so many people know. Early Thursday morning, a fire broke out at Boujee Restaurant and Bar on Main Street, the same building that used to be home to Earls Main.

The fire started around 5:45 a.m. Firefighters arrived quickly and had it under control within an hour.

It’s tough to see another local spot damaged, especially in the heart of downtown. But we’re just glad everyone was okay and no one was hurt.

Click Here: To read more about the Main Street fire

Exciting Events: October 24th - 26th

Events marked with ($) require a ticket in advance. Please search them up before going.

Sports🏀

• Winnipeg Jets vs. Calgary Flames | 7PM, Oct 24 ($)

  • Location: Canada Life Centre

  • Theme: 90’s Night

• Winnipeg Blue Bombers vs. Montreal Alouettes | 2PM, Oct 25 (SOLD OUT)

  • Location: Princess Auto Stadium

• Winnipeg Run Club | 8AM, Oct 25 (FREE)

  • Location: The Forks Canopy

• DND Run Club | 8:15AM, Oct 26 (FREE)

  • Location: The Forks (Main Elevator)

  • Theme: Costume or orange theme

• Winnipeg Jets vs. Utah Mammoth | 5PM, Oct 26 ($)

  • Location: Canada Life Centre

Community Fun🎆

• Life of Pi Play | Oct 24 - Nov 8 ($)

  • Location: Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre - John Hirsch Mainstage

  • Description: Based on the best-selling novel, this epic story of courage, faith and survival roars to life with riveting storytelling and stunning puppetry.

• Boo at the Zoo | Oct 24-31 ($)

  • Location: Assiniboine Park Zoo

  • Description: All aboard, the train’s ready to go to a town where Halloween spirits roam! Welcome to a mysterious land where fall festivities are in full swing.

• Witchy Wonderland – A (not-so) Fright Fest | Oct 24-26 (Tickets)

  • Location: Red River Exhibition Park

  • Description: The largest family-friendly Halloween event is here with all the thrills, chills, and giggles to keep every ghost, goblin, and grandma grinning from ear to ear. Rides, costumes, face painting and more!

• Bonfire Marshmallow Roast | 12PM-3PM, Oct 26 (Tickets)

  • Location: Fortwhyte Alive

  • Description: Enjoy the warmth and sweetness of a great day in nature with family and friends by getting outside and roasting some marshmallows!

Markets/Halloween🎡🎃👻

• Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics | 6:30 & 8:45PM, Oct 24 (Tickets)

  • Location: Crescent Arts Centre

  • Description: Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in Winnipeg. Discover music inspired by Halloween at Crescent Arts Centre under the gentle glow of candlelight.

• 2025 Haunted Forest / Corn Maze | October 24 - November 1 (Tickets)

  • Location: A Maze In Corn

  • Description: An interactive, outdoor experience that you won't soon forget. Enter at your own risk as our resident creatures of the forest come alive and lure you in with their haunting humour.

• Six Pines Haunted Attractions | Oct 24-31 ($)

  • Location: Six Pines

  • Description: Six Pines Haunted Attractions has continuously strived to offer Manitoba’s haunt enthusiasts an ever-changing range of haunted houses since inception.

• HEEBIE JEEBIES | Oct 24-31 ($)

  • Location: Heebie Jeebies, 53071 La Salle Road

  • Description: One of the most terrifying Halloween experiences and haunted houses near Winnipeg, Heebie Jeebies is back for its annual scare-fest.

• Scattered Seeds | Oct 24-26 (Tickets)

  • Location: Red River Exhibition Park

  • Description: Winnipeg’s largest fall market. Each weekend hosts its own set of over 160 vendors.

  • Note: Use code WINNIPEGDIGEST for the cheapest tickets.

• Ghost Tours at Lower Fort Garry | Oct 24-25 (Tickets)

  • Location: Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site

  • Description: Listen to stories that unveil the dark past; discover unexplained phenomena; visit locations where disturbing and significant events have taken place and may possibly still be haunted….

• Terror Garage Halloween Haunt | 7PM-11PM, Oct 24-25 (FREE)

  • Location: 10 Brendalee Bay

  • Description: Fully decorated front and backyard with over 35 animatronics and character props, making us one of the largest home haunt displays in the city!

• Poe in the Parlour | 7PM-9PM, Oct 24-25 ($)

  • Location: Dalnavert Museum

  • Description: Step into the candlelit parlour of Dalnavert Museum for an unforgettable evening of gothic atmosphere, haunting tales, and Victorian history.

• Halloween Howl | 6:30PM-9PM, Oct 25 (Tickets)

  • Location: Manitoba Children's Museum

  • Description: Fangtastic family entertainment at the 27th Annual Halloween Howl! Collect treats in 12 indoor ghastly galleries, participate in spooktacular activities, make creepy crafts, and have some ghoulish fun.

• St. Norbert Farmers' Market | 10AM-2PM, Oct 25 (FREE)

  • Location: 3514 Pembina Highway

• Halloween Carnival of Costumes & Magic | 10AM-4PM, Oct 26 ($)

  • Location: Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada

  • Description: A spook-tacular day of carnival-themed Halloween family fun! This year’s Halloween event at the Royal Aviation Museum takes on a whimsical carnival atmosphere, with games, costumes, and a touch of magic.

• The Rocky Horror Picture Show 50th Anniversary | 8PM, Oct 26 ($)

  • Location: Centennial Concert Hall

  • Description: Join the original 'Magenta' - PATRICIA QUINN - for a screening of the original unedited movie with a live shadow cast and audience participation! Plus a costume contest, and more!

Performances🎭

• Afterlight Musical | Oct 24 - Nov 2 (Tickets)

  • Location: Rainbow Stage

  • Description: A weary vampire, longing for release, encounters a lonely elderly widow who awakens both his hunger and his humanity. Over the course of several surreal nights in her apartment, the two unlikely souls forge a connection that is alternately comic, tragic, and romantic.

• Liars at a Funeral Play | Oct 24-26 (Tickets)

  • Location: Prairie Theatre Exchange

  • Description: A hilarious comedy about family & falsehoods

    How do you get your dysfunctional, estranged family together in the same room? Pretend you’re dead and invite them all to your funeral, of course! Mavis, the matriarch of a family of misfits, fibbers, schemers and identical twins, has a plan to reunite them once and for all.

• Gather Play | 7PM, Oct 25-26 ($)

  • Location: Manitoba Theatre for Young People

  • Description: When their town goes into a deep freeze and everyone is stuck inside, people start to lose their connection to the world and to each other.

Comedy❗

• Alistair Ogden | 8:30PM, Oct 24-25 ($)

  • Location: The Basement Comedy Lounge

  • Description: One of Canada’s great rising young comedic talents, Alistair’s blend of clever wit and self-deprecating silliness first brought him to prominence when he won CBC’s Next Up Competition in 2019.

• Darren Frost | Oct 24-25 ($)

  • Location: Yuk Yuk's Comedy Club

  • Description: XXX RATED! His ability to command the undivided attention of an audience is remarkable. For over 30 years Darren has toured the world bringing his unique brand of standup comedy.

• Erica Sigurdson Comedy | Oct 17-18 ($)

  • Location: Rumor's Restaurant and Comedy Club

  • Description: Erica is most recognizable from over 50 appearances on CBC Radio’s hit show The Debaters.

• Harland Williams | 8PM, Oct 26 ($)

  • Location: Burton Cummings Theatre

  • Description: Comedian and actor Harland Williams is known the world over for his outlandish stand-up and his hilarious movie roles in films.

Special Events/Concerts 🥂

• SCREAM 2025 | 7PM, Oct 24 (Tickets)

  • Location: Assiniboia Downs

  • Description: Winnipeg’s largest & longest running Halloween event showcasing electronic dance music is BACK. Three indoor stages of music with fully decorated rooms and costumed performers. Last year sold out!

• Winnipeg ComiCon 2025 | Oct 24-26 (Tickets)

  • Location: RBC Convention Centre

  • Description: Winnipeg Comiccon is a pop-culture fan convention that showcases artists and products from entertainment genres like: Sci-fi, Horror, Anime, Gaming in all its forms, and, of course, bande dessinée and comic books.

• Fall Forest Frolics | 1:30PM, Oct 25 (Tickets)

  • Location: Alloway Reception Centre

  • Description: Discover the sights, sounds, and stories of the forests in this guided forest walk.

Music 🎵

Events marked with ($) require prior ticket purchase. Other events may require the purchase of food.

Thanks for reading The Winnipeg Digest! Let’s chat again on Monday!