Festival du Voyageur runs February 14-23. (STAN MILOSEVIC / CHRISD.CA FILE)
Festival du Voyageur will offer a new free shuttle service this year, transporting visitors to and from Voyageur Park to alleviate traffic congestion.
The countdown to the 45th annual festival is officially on, as programming was revealed on Tuesday leading up to the event held February 14-23.
Beaver Bus Lines will operated a shuttle from The Forks to Saint-Boniface University and to Voyageur Park every 30 minutes. Aside from the shuttle, there will also be two new parking lots available in proximity of Voyageur Park at École Taché (744 Langevin St.) and Caisse Financial Group (205 Provencher Blvd.).
In just 31 days, Voyageur Park will come alive with the performances from 130 artists and non-stop entertainment. Besides the endless fun offered at the park — Festival’s “hub” of activity — 11 official sites will carry on the Festival fun outside of the wooden walls.
Two new official sites are in rotation this year at Chez Sophie sur le pont and the Rendez-vous on Ice. The latter, located at The Forks where the Red and Assiniboine rivers meet on the Red River Mutual Trail, will be open to the public from February 14-17 and will offer an outdoor bar, a fashion show on ice, and a family day.
Sports fans won’t miss a minute of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, which will be broadcasted throughout the festival in the Snow Bar.
To mark Louis Riel Day on February 17, Festival du Voyageur will offer a full day of programming, with traditional trades and crafts demonstrations, fiddling and jigging workshops. And be sure to wear blue or white that day, as the festival will be attempting to create the largest ‘living’ Métis flag ever.
Like in year’s past, the snow sculpting symposium, beard growing contest, and jigging and fiddling competitions are also back.
A 10-day Voyageur Pass is available for pre-sale until January 17 at the Festival du Voyageur offices (233 Provencher Blvd.), at (204) 233-ALLÔ, as well as online. The passes are also available at Safeway stores throughout Winnipeg at $28 for adults (18 and over), $15 for youths (13-17 years old) and $10 for children (6-12). Admission is free for children under the age of 6.
