Where November December 2018 WhereNovDec18_Digital | Page 8

essential
ChristMas events
By matthew kruchak
Beware of the Mouse King
Witness pirouettes and plies galore at The Nutcracker with two
different takes on this Christmas classic. The Moscow Ballet
(pictured above) performs its unique take on the enchanted
story. In its rendition, the Land of the Sugar Plum Fairy is the
Land of Peace and Harmony, and two ballet dancers form the
Dove of Peace, a soaring bird with a 20-foot wingspan. The ballet
takes place at Burton Cummings Theatre on Nov 23.
Catching the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s
performance of The Nutcracker
is a holiday tradition for many
Winnipeggers. Every year the
renowned company brings the
story of Clara and her prince
to life with a Canadian twist
on the Russian classic. Be
moved by Tchaikovsky’s
magical score played by
the Winnipeg Symphony
Orchestra and accompanied
by a live choir. Performances
at the Centennial Concert
Hall on Dec 19-23, 26, 28-29.
old tiMe traditions
Gather up the kids and enjoy these
family-friendly holiday events. Find a spot
along Portage Avenue and watch the festive
floats pass by while waiting to wave at St. Nick. First put
on by Eaton’s in 1909, the Winnipeg Santa Claus Parade (pictured
above) has been a holiday tradition ever since. With more than
3,000 people participating in the parade, organizers say it’s the
biggest nighttime parade in the country; more than 60,000 people
will be watching along the parade route. It takes place on Nov 17.
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Eaton’s Fairytale Vignettes are another local Christmas
tradition. Once housed in the ninth-floor annex of the former
downtown Eaton’s store, these 15 small-scale vignettes have
been restored and are on display during the holidays. The
large dolls are exhibited in display cases decorated to depict a
variety of stories, including Cinderella, Humpty Dumpty, and
Three Blind Mice. The exhibit is at Children’s Museum and
runs from Nov 17-Jan 6.
oh ChristMas lights
Crank up the heat in the car and head for a drive to
gaze at brilliant Christmas lights. The Canad Inns
Winter Wonderland (pictured) is Manitoba’s
largest drive-through holiday lights display.
The 2.5 km route features more than
one million lights, including a 75-foot
Christmas tree made out of almost 3,000
LED bulbs. Along the route, you can stop
for a snack, use the outdoor skating rink or
enjoy a horse-drawn sleigh ride. The event
takes place at Red River Exhibition Park
from Nov 30-Jan 5.
No car, no problem. Heartland
International Travel and Tours offers a
three-hour Christmas Lights Tour of the
city, including a visit to the Canad Inns Winter
Wonderland. In a heated highway motor coach, the
tour passes the Manitoba Legislative Building all lit up and
the Three Wise Men on the Great-West Life building. It also
includes a drive down dazzling Candy Cane Lane, Polar Bear
Lane and Nutcracker Street, residential streets famed for their
elaborate glowing displays. The tour begins outside the Travel
Manitoba Explore Centre at The Forks and runs on Dec 12, 17,
19 and 21.
CoURtEsY
WINNIpEG
Explore a wide range of festivities, from longstanding Winnipeg
events to activities destined to become brand new traditions.