Spirited Manitoba is a "happening" province year round and come summer no Winnipegger in their right mind would want to be anywhere else but home. There are so many fascinating things to do and see. Check out the festival line up below. One of the big ones is Folklorama and Winnipeg Folk Festival. Even if you don't attend these events the music and excitement float in the air. Sometimes you can get a taste of it at various public venues free of charge. Keep checking here, I will share this information with you.

This weekend Winnipeg Folk Festival starts, you can go for a day or the entire weekend. If that is too expensive a fare for you there is the Socca Reggae Festival in the Old market place which is a fraction of the cost. Don't sit at home, enjoy Winnipeg.

MANITOBA COMMUNITY FESTIVALS

• Carman Potato Blossom Festival – June 13 and 14
• Gretna Hot Spot Festival – Sept. 6 and 7
• Manitoba Sunflower Festival – July 25 to 27
• Montcalm Heritage Festival, St. Joseph – June 28 and 29
• Morden Corn and Apple Festival – Aug. 22 to 24
• Plum Fest, Plum Coulee – Aug. 15 to 17
• Saskatoon Berry Festival, St. Ambroise – July 11 and 12
• Winkler Harvest Festival and Exhibition – Aug. 8 to 10
• Elkhorn Western Weekend – June 14 and 15
• Métisville/Destination Boissevain – July 26 to 28
• Neepawa and Area Lily Festival – July 18 to 20
• Pierson and Area Indoor Rodeo – April 18 and 19
• Prairie Pioneer Days, Killarney – July 12 and 13
• Summer Solstice Days, Baldur – June 20 and 21
• Triple H Rodeo – April 25 and 26
• Turtle Mountain Métis Days – July 5 and 6
• Virden Indoor Rodeo and Wild West Daze – Aug. 15 to 17
• 4P Festival, Pine Falls/Powerview – Aug. 29 to Sept. 1
• Cheyenne Days, Ste. Agathe – July 25 to 27
• Festival Châteauguay, St. Georges – July 18 to 20
• Follies Grenouille St. Pierre Frog Follies – July 31 to Aug. 3
• Lac du Bonnet Canada Day Celebrations – June 27 to 29
• Niverville Olde Tyme Country Fair – June 13 to 15
• Pinawa’s Birthday Celebrations – July 18 to 20
• Sagkeeng First Nations Treaty Days Celebration – July 28 to Aug. 3
• RM of Springfield Canada Day Celebrations, Dugald – June 30 and July 1
• Fete Saint Jean Baptiste Days, La Broquerie – June 27 to 29
• St. Malo Summer Festival – Aug. 28 to 31
• Summer Fest, Dominion City – July 6 and 7
• Opaskwayak Cree Nation Indian Days – Aug. 11 to 16
• Thompson Nickel Days – June 19 to 22
• Norway House Treaty and York Boat Days – Aug. 4 to 10
• Ashern Rodeo – Aug. 29 to 31
• East St. Paul Family Fun Days – Aug. 17 to 24
• Fisher River Annual Treaty Days – July 30 to Aug. 3
• Fisherton Ranch Rodeo – Aug. 2 and 3
• Gimli Icelandic Festival of Manitoba – Aug. 1 to 4
• Jour Métis St. Laurent Métis Days – Aug. 1 to 3
• Lake Francis Annual Ranch Rodeo – Aug. 9 and 10
• Oak Point Ranch Rodeo and Music Festival – July 5 to 7
• Peguis Pow Wow – July 18 to 20
• Stonewall Quarry Days – Aug. 15 to 1

July 10, 2008
COMMUNITY FESTIVALS IN FULL SWING AROUND THE PROVINCE
Great Festivals Around the Province to Visit Including the Folk Festival: Robinson
Culture, Heritage, Tourism and Sport Minister Eric Robinson announced the province will provide a total of $185,800 this year in assistance to 42 Manitoba community festivals and invited everyone to check out Manitoba festivals including the Folk Festival which starts today and has been running for 35 years.

“Many festivals include a cultural focus providing a unique educational experience that helps Manitobans of all ages learn about our province,” said Robinson. “Celebrating our cultural roots and historic past shows us the cultural diversity that makes Manitoba such a great place to live and visit.”

In Manitoba, the types of festival range from family fun days, powwows, cultural festivals, country fairs, rodeos and western weekends.

“I congratulate the Folk Festival on 35 years of success,” said Science, Technology, Energy and Mines Minister Jim Rondeau at the Folk Festival launch today. “This unique Manitoba tradition brings together dedicated volunteers and music enthusiasts and, for some, marks the official start of summer celebrations.”

Robinson noted that a new festival celebrating its first year of funding is the Sagkeeng First Nation Treaty Days Celebration, which runs from July 28 to Aug. 3. This long-standing celebration with strong community and volunteer support includes a fishing derby, square-dance competition, children’s activities, truck mud bog, horseshoe tournament, canoe races, marathon, triathlon and golf tournament.

First introduced in 2003, the Community Festival Support program provides consultative and financial assistance to rural and northern community festivals which are recognized as being signature annual events in their communities.

The next intake for winter festivals will be Nov. 1, 2008, a change from the previous Dec. 1 deadline. Application information is available at regional offices of Manitoba Culture, Heritage, Tourism and Sport.

The province has also been a proud supporter of the Winnipeg Folk Festival for all 35 years of its existence. There are over 45,000 admissions to this four-day festival of people and music with attendees arriving from all over the globe to listen to the world’s best music.

Economic impact studies in 2001 showed that out-of-town visitors to the Folk Festival spent more than $4.5 million in Manitoba. The Winnipeg Folk Festival receives the maximum grant of $90,000 through the Major Arts Festivals Operating Support program, which has a budget of $448,000.