SAINT-BONIFACE, January 16, 2018 – This morning at Fort Gibraltar, Festival du Voyageur revealed the programming for its 49th edition, taking place February 16 to 25, 2018.
FESTIVAL FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
This year, Festival du Voyageur has raised the age at which children get free admission. Previously five years and under, now children 12 and under will get into Voyageur Park free.
“On this 49th year of Festival du Voyageur, we are focusing on bringing generations together to celebrate joie de vivre and create lifelong memories,” says Darrel Nadeau, executive director of Festival du Voyageur. “We want to encourage parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and others with children in their lives to attend the festival as a family.”
In anticipation of having more families in attendance, Festival du Voyageur has doubled its children’s programming.
Outdoor activities:
- Snowshoeing
- Sleigh rides
- Outdoor playground with towers, tunnels and climbing hills
Indoor activities:
- Children’s entertainment
- Family-friendly dance parties with DJ K Chedda
- Circus Workshops with Mr. Circus
- Crafting in partnership with ArtCity
In addition to the children’s programming above, there will be historic interpretation in Fort Gibraltar with themed days including Bathing the Brigades, Come and Dance, Getting Down to Work and more.
EXCLUSIVE SHOWS FEATURING OVER 150 ARTISTS
Festival du Voyageur will welcome more than 150 world-class international and local artists who’ll be performing during the event’s 10 action-packed days. This year’s lineup includes performances by Begonia, Bright Righteous, Canailles (Québec), De Temps Antan (Québec), Dear Rouge (British Colombia), Jérémie and the Delicious Hounds, Koriass (Québec), Le Couleur (Québec), Leonard Sumner, Les Tireux d’Roches (Québec), Shred Kelly (British Colombia), Super Duty Tough Work, Sweet Crude (Louisiana), William Prince and VIKINGS.
Three exclusive ticketed shows are lined up for the Voyageur Trading Post (CCFM – 340 Provencher Blvd.):
- Saturday, February 17 – Klô Pelgag,(Québec) & Faouzia
- Sunday, February 18 – Justin Towns Earle (United States) & Madeleine Roger
- Saturday, February 24 – Royal Canoe, Attica Riots and 3PEAT
For ticket information, visit the Festival du Voyageur website (www.heho.ca/).
CARVING OUT TIME FOR FUN
Snow, ice, wood, and now, cheese are on the list of materials carvers will transform into intricate sculptures during Festival du Voyageur. New this year, carvers will take part in the Bothwell Cheese Carving Competition on Sunday, February 18, 2018, in the Université de Saint-Boniface Portage Tent.
Returning this year:
- International Snow Sculpting Symposium featuring teams from Germany, China, France, Netherlands, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Manitoba
- Ice carving demonstrations at the Rendez-vous on Ice
- Wood Carving Challenge featuring chainsaw carvers from all over the nation including stars of HGTV’s Carver Kings and OLN’s Sawdogs
After the wood carving is completed, there will be a live auction on February 19, Louis Riel Day, where festivalgoers can bid on the sculptures.
SHUTTLE SERVICE: EASY AND FREE FOR ALL
Again this year, Festival du Voyageur offers a free shuttle service provided by Beaver Bus Lines in order to help reduce traffic around Voyageur Park. Shuttles will stop every 20 minutes during park hours at the Centre LaVérendrye (614, Des Meurons street), the Université de Saint-Boniface (entrance on Despins St.), the Centre culturel franco-manitobain (340 Provencher Blvd) and Voyageur Park. Parking is free at these shuttle locations.
PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS!
Voyageur Passes are currently on sale for $65 for adults, $30 for youth (13-17 years old) and seniors (60+). Day passes are also available for $25 for adults and $15 for youth and seniors.
To better manage the flow of visitors at Voyageur Park, reduce the length of line-ups and offer an even more enjoyable experience to our festivalgoers, Festival du Voyageur has introduced a limit to the number of Voyageur Passes and Day Passes that will be on sale for the 2018 festival.
Instead of an Adult Day Pass that is valid on any day of the festivities, there are 8 different Day Passes that will correspond to each of Voyageur Park’s 8 days of public programming. Please note that changes will only affect the Adult Day Passes. With this new system, it is possible that certain days may sell-out.
Voyageur passes are sold at all Safeway and Sobeys locations in Winnipeg, Portage La Prairie, Brandon, Steinbach, Selkirk and Gimli as well as the 233-ALLÔ (2556) info line, the Festival du Voyageur office (233 Provencher Blvd) or online at heho.ca/.
For additional information regarding Festival du Voyageur, download the newest version of our free mobile application developed by Greencopper and available for iOS and Android devices.
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More information:
Laurie Brand, Communications Assistant Mariève LaFlèche, Communications Assistant
Work: (204) 258-2563 Work: (204) 258-2564
Mobile: (204) 918-0351 Mobile: (204) 795-1568
