Are you looking for fun activities to keep the young ones occupied while they’re home for Christmas break?
We have a list of ideas that are sure to entertain them! From play time inside and out to arts and crafts, this list will keep the whole family entertained through winter break.
Active (Outdoor)
Go on a crazy carpet (toboggan) ride
Bundle up, take the kids out and it’s time to go tobogganing!
This is a fun family activity that can be enjoyed by all ages. It’s a cheap and great way to get outside and get the little ones active.
All you need is a crazy carpet (about $5-6) and a hill with snow. Here is a list of toboggan hills maintained by the city.
Go ice skating at the Forks
Time to get your skates sharpened and head on out!
The Canopy Rink is now open at the Forks. Best of all, the rink is free admission and open to the public.
It’s the perfect place to ice skate because you can always duck in if you need to warm up in the Forks Market. If you don’t have your own skates, rentals are available.
Check out the skating conditions here.
Go ice skating at your local neighbourhood rink
Don’t feel like driving all the way to the Forks? We get it. Visit your local park skating ponds or pleasure rinks instead! We’ve also compiled a schedule of all the free public skate times in indoor rinks this winter. Check it out below.
Go cross-country skiing
Take your kids to the trails for some cross-country skiing!
This is a great family activity because you get to stay active, your children get to burn off their excess sugar-fueled energy, and everyone gets some fresh air at the same time.
What’s more, it’s a fun way to enjoy the winter scenery while burning roughly 400 calories per hour. Check out the conditions of the city-maintained trails.
Active (Indoor)
Play at Activate Games
Put on your sports shoes and activewear because this is going to get your heart rate going!
If you’ve never been to Activate Games before, get ready for a video game-like experience where you run, jump, crawl and solve challenges in real life. You take on 3-minute challenges that get increasingly harder, and it’s a surefire way to bond the family.
If you do well, you get to redeem the first of many prizes on the same day!
Prices: Each admission is $25 per player for 75 minutes of fun, including tax. You’ll need to make a deposit of $5 per person when making your booking, and games are best played in groups of 3-5.
Opening hours: Activate Games is open on Sunday to Thursday from 9.30am-10pm, and 9.30am-11.30pm on Friday and Saturday.
Location: 3338 Portage Avenue Winnipeg, MB R3K 0Z1
Visit an fun recreation centre
Bowling? Check. Arcade games? Check. Laser tag? Double check!
If you’re looking for fun, then you shouldn’t miss checking out Uptown Alley. The bowling alley has a cool retro vibe and the arcade games are a ton of fun to play together. There’s even a laser tag arena with glow-in-the-dark equipment so you can team off with your kids in the dark!
Prices: Prices start from $46.99 per hour for a 5-pin bowling lane, $8.99 per person for 1 laser tag game, and $5 to start with arcade games. They often have promotions and events planned, so check out their website for the latest pricing.
Opening hours: Uptown Alley is open on Sunday to Thursday from 12 noon to 11pm, and 12 noon to 12.30am on Friday and Saturday.
Location: 1301 St Matthews Ave, Winnipeg, MB R3G 1E3
Go to a trampoline park
Flying Squirrel
If you’re looking for fun for the whole family, a trampoline park like the Flying Squirrel is great to check out this winter break!
There are tons of adrenaline-pumping activities for children and adults alike. You can play dodgeball, practice flipping in the air, or basically just have fun bouncing around on the trampoline.
For parents needing a break, there’s a café and free Wi-Fi.
Prices: For children 6 and under, the price for admission starts at $14 for 60 mins and they offer a Toddler Pass at $98 for a 10 hour-value. For everyone else, General Admission ranges from $23 for 1 hour to $40 for 2 hours. Families can split a Family Pass priced at $190 for 10 hours.
Opening hours: Flying Squirrel is open on Sunday to Monday from 10am-9pm, Tuesday to Thursday from 2-9pm, Friday from 2-11pm, and Saturday from 10am-11pm.
Location: 1250 St James St, Winnipeg, MB R3H 0L1
Fun Park Amusement Center
If you’re looking for something new, check out Winnipeg’s latest trampoline facility. They offer the same bouncing fun activities, as well as an indoor playground, arcade and laser tag.
Prices: Prices start at $20 (60 mins) and $30 (2 hours) for 5 and above, and the Family Pass is $175 for 10-pack. You might get the best value from their All Day Passes, which starts from $20 for 5 and under, and $40 for everyone else.
Opening hours: Fun Park Amusement Center is open from 11am-9pm on Mondays to Thursday, 10am-10pm on Friday and Saturdays, and 10am-9pm on Sundays.
Location: 1175 Wilkes Ave, Winnipeg, MB R3P 1B9
Go indoor swimming
When the weather outside is cold, you can still swim indoors!
Check out any of the 12 indoor pools we have in Winnipeg and enjoy some time in the water with your family.
Prices: Prices start from $7.51 for adults and $3.35 for youths (aged 2-17). There are discounts for going in the day, and passes range from 10 visits to a year’s worth. Check here for the latest pricing from the city.
Indoor Playground
Hide n Seek is a beloved indoor playground that’s always full of laughter and smiles!
There is a mini arcade area, a ball pit, slides, and a small trampoline area with unlimited playtime. Keep in mind this is geared more towards toddlers and young children if you’re planning to bring an infant.
The only downside is you can’t bring your own food in, but they sell pizzas, hot dogs and fried chicken.
Prices: For 1-3 years, admission is $12.60 (plus tax). Ages 4-14 are $16.60 (plus tax). Adults can enter for $3 (plus tax), and 1 adult can enter for free with 1 paid admission for a child.
Opening hours: They’re open from 10am-7pm on Sunday to Thursday, and 10am-8pm on Friday and Saturday. Check their website for details on holiday timings.
Location: 305 Fort Whyte Way #100, Oak Bluff, MB R4G 0B1
Arts, Museums and Libraries
Check out your local neighbourhood library
You can’t go wrong with the good ol’ neighbourhood library for a wholesome family time. It’s good for finding books to read as a family and borrowing DVDs or video games for free.
If you can’t find something (even in their Interlibrary collections), you can suggest what you’re looking for using their online form. I’ve found that they usually go for my suggestions, and it’s great because they put it on hold for me when it arrives!
Price: Free!
Opening hours: Most libraries are typically open from 10am-5pm on Friday and Saturday, closed on Wednesdays, with varying times 10am-8pm and 1-8pm on the rest of the week. Check the most up-to-date library hours here.
Manitoba Children’s Museum
There’s always something going on at the Manitoba Children’s Museum! You can check out their 12 permanent galleries on display, which encourages kids to get hands on and have fun while learning.
Every year during the winter holiday season, they bring back out Eaton’s Fairytale Vignettes, the last display in Eaton’s downtown store before it closed in Winnipeg. Learn more about a traditional Winnipeg holiday favorite, featuring 15 fairytales & nursery rhymes and guided exhibition tours.
Prices: General admission day passes are a standard ($12 plus tax), for everyone aged 1 to 101. If you think you’ll go more than 5 times, it’s worth checking out the Membership Pass for unlimited visits at $50 (plus tax).
Opening hours: They are open daily from 9.30am-4.30pm, except on holidays.
Location: 45 Forks Market Rd, Winnipeg, MB R3C 4T6
Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre
If you have dinosaur lovers, this is the perfect spot to take your little ones!
The Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre in Morden, Manitoba, contains Canada’s largest collection of marine reptile fossils, and it’s only a 1.5 hours’ drive from the south of Winnipeg.
Everything you see in the discovery centre are fossils that are 100% from Manitoba, including “Bruce” the mosasaur –– who holds a Guinness World Record as the largest publicly displayed mosasaur who is over 13 metres long!
Prices: Adult tickets are $8.25, students (5-17 years old) are $5.25, and it’s free admission for preschoolers. If you’re a family of 2 adults and 3 kids, the total will be $18.25.
Opening hours: The Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre is open from 10am-5pm on weekdays, and 12 noon to 5pm on weekends.
Location: 111 Gilmour St B, Morden, MB R6M 1N9
Gardens at The Leaf
Need a break from snow? Check out Winnipeg’s latest attraction Gardens at The Leaf, conveniently located at the south-east end of Assiniboine Park.
Visitors get to explore four distinct biomes; the Hartley and Heather Richardson Tropical Biome, Mediterranean Biome, Babs Asper Display House, and the Shirley Richardson Butterfly Garden.
Prices: Prices start from $8.50 for children 3-17, and $15.50 for adults 18-59. Children under 2 enter for free, and students and seniors get special prices. They offer discounts for buying online, so check their site for the latest pricing.
Opening hours: Daily from 9am-9pm (last entry at 8pm).
Location: 55 Pavilion Crescent, Winnipeg, MB R3P N62
Did we miss anything out? Let us know so we can add it to the list!
