10+ Free Winnipeg Weekend Events September 11-13
Posted Every Tuesday before 7 PM.
FEATURED EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
Experience three days of food, music and entertainment as The Weekender transforms the Graham Avenue pedestrian corridor into a major downtown street festival. Highlights include Food Truck Wars with 40 food trucks and mobile vendors, an artisan market, Adventure Zone, Family Zone, live music and entertainment, and a 3×3 basketball tournament. The festival is free to attend and open to the public.
Experience the sights, sounds and flavours of Chinatown at the 2026 Chinatown Night Market. The two-day festival features cultural and musical performances, Lion and Dragon Dance, drumming groups, breakdance competitions, a Bubble Tea Battle, an eating competition and more.
Give reusable, unwanted household items a new home during Winnipeg’s Free Giveaway Weekend. Residents can place usable items at the curb marked with a “FREE” sign, while others can browse neighbourhoods for items they can reuse. Items may include books, furniture, electronics, toys, sports equipment, clothing, household goods, tools and more. Any unclaimed items should be removed from the curb by dusk on Sunday.
DOWNTOWN
Explore more than 150 years of Winnipeg policing history through exhibits featuring historic uniforms, equipment, photographs, forensic displays, and unique artifacts. Admission is free.
Celebrate Manitoba’s sporting heritage through exhibits, memorabilia, photographs, and stories featuring hundreds of outstanding athletes, builders, and championship teams. Admission is free.
Join Cree Knowledge Keeper Marilyn Dykstra and traditional helper Peyton for a New Moon gathering focused on thankfulness, healing, community and Wahkowtowin, or kinship. Participants will explore Cree teachings, traditional tea and medicines, and connections between relationships, balance and human rights. A potluck will follow the gathering. Smudging smoke will be present during the event.
Explore the past during Second Saturdays at Dalnavert Museum, a free monthly program for families. Learn to play a Victorian-era game in the Visitors’ Centre, explore the historic house at your own pace with a self-guided tour, and finish your visit with a craft in the attic.
Enjoy free admission to WAG-Qaumajuq during Canada Life Free Sundays. Explore current exhibitions, the Gallery’s collection of Inuit art and the Visible Vault, with family-friendly activities and special programming that may include art-making, tours, films and performances.
MORE FREE EVENTS
Spend the day at Divine Clarity’s free Fall Open House with shopping, special offers, live presentations and more than $3,000 in prize giveaways. From 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, drop in for live talks and Q&A sessions covering spiritual development, Reiki, crystal therapy, shamanism, hypnotherapy, mediumship and other topics. Visitors can attend in person or join the talks online via Zoom. Optional 10-minute Mini Aura & Chakra Readings are available for $20.
Discover how seeds travel and how plants find new places to grow during this free drop-in activity at the Living Prairie Museum. Learn how seeds can be carried by the wind or animals, then help a few seeds travel home with you to take root. The activity is open to all ages, and visitors can drop in anytime during museum hours.
Drop off unwanted electronics and accessories for safe and environmentally responsible disposal at Grant Park Shopping Centre. Presented in partnership with the Electronic Recycling Association, the collection event offers secure data destruction, with eligible devices repurposed and others recycled. The drop-off depot will be located at the front of the mall along Grant Avenue near Applebee’s.
Celebrate the fifth annual Neighbour by Neighbour Community Music Festival with a full day of free live music, family activities, and community fun. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy performances by El Leon & The Strangers, Mise en Scene, Tyler Del Pino & The Brasstronautz, the NXN Mic Drop Showcase Winner, and more. The festival also features a kids’ area, farmers market, clothing swap, photo booth, food vendors, beer gardens, and a whiskey bar, making it a great way to wrap up the summer.
Young designers ages 7–12 can use their imagination to create their dream bedroom, living room or play space for a chance to win a special prize. The free drop-in activity takes place in the Living Room – Room Setting 1 and is exclusive to IKEA Family members.
Watch live Standardbred harness racing at The LOOP at Red River Exhibition Park. Cheer on Manitoba’s horses, enjoy the open-air track and watch or wager on the races. Admission and parking are normally free, with snacks and refreshments available for purchase.
*Admission may be required when a separately ticketed event is taking place at Exhibition Park at the same time.
Check out Manitoba’s largest car show as the Fabulous 50s Annual Flashback Car Show celebrates its 30th annual event. The family-friendly show features dozens of classic and eye-catching vehicles, live entertainment, vendors, food trucks and the Fab 50s Vendor Mall. Admission is free for spectators, with public parking available for $5.
FREE SWIM
Sat: 6:30 – 9:45 p.m. (Youth swim)
Sat: 3:30 – 5 p.m.
Sat: 3 – 5 p.m.
Fri: 7:30 – 9 p.m. (Youth swim)
Sun: 4 – 5 p.m.
ADULTS 18+ ONLY
Enjoy an evening of live music by the Sean Taylor Band on the Mainstage. This free 18+ performance is part of McPhillips Station Casino’s weekend entertainment lineup.
Enjoy a live performance by Yonipz in the relaxed atmosphere of Loft 180. This free 18+ event offers a great way to spend a summer evening with live entertainment.
Enjoy live music featuring local bands across rock, country, and blues genres in a lively weekend atmosphere. This recurring event is a popular nightlife option in the city.
KIDS EAT FOR FREE
Kids eat free on weekends at Hooters! Children 10 and under can enjoy a free meal from the kids’ menu with the purchase of an adult entrée priced at $12 or more.
Note: This offer may stop at any time without prior notice. Call the restaurant first to confirm availability.
Enjoy a family-friendly Sunday at Fionn’s where kids eat free all day, and adults can sip on $7 Caesars. A great way to wrap up the weekend with good food and savings.
Note: This offer may stop at any time without prior notice. Call the restaurant first to confirm availability.
NEAR WINNIPEG
Celebrate agriculture and community at the Double B Agricultural Festival with rodeo action, agricultural displays, children’s activities, a community parade, midway rides and games, entertainment and Saturday night fireworks. Admission is free on Friday, making September 11 the best day to experience the festival at no admission cost.
VERY CHEAP ($10/Person Or Less)
Explore Manitoba’s electrical history through interactive exhibits, historic artifacts, and hands-on displays that showcase how electricity has shaped everyday life. Visitors of all ages can discover vintage appliances, power equipment, and the evolution of electrical technology.
Enjoy a final summer evening with 100 NONS featuring live performances by Rubber, Nova Pole, HARM and Raver Rouge. The lineup brings together alternative rock, metal, punk and electronic sounds for an evening celebrating Manitoba’s Francophone music scene.
Celebrate fibre arts from farm to fashion at the Manitoba Fibre Festival. The two-day event features workshops, demonstrations and a vendor market showcasing fibre growers, designers, artisans and fibre specialists. Flexible admission pricing is available at the door.
