We confirmed 11 Christmas events for kids in Winnipeg for 2026. The season starts on November 14 with Manitoba Hydro Santa Claus Parade and runs until January 3 (Zoo Lights). One of them is free. Every listing links straight to the host. This page is part of our guide to Christmas events for kids in Canada.
The short version
- 11 kids’ Christmas events confirmed for 2026 in Winnipeg
- First: Manitoba Hydro Santa Claus Parade, Winnipeg, November 14
- Free events: Manitoba Hydro Santa Claus Parade
Below is every event we could confirm, grouped by town, with the date, time, cost and the small things parents ask about (sign-ups, ages, what is included).
Winnipeg Christmas events for kids at a glance
- Kids’ Christmas events
- 11 confirmed for 2026
- Cities and towns
- Winnipeg
- Season
- November 14 to January 3
- Free events
- 1
- Last checked
Christmas events for kids in Winnipeg
11 confirmed events in Winnipeg, soonest first.
Manitoba Hydro Santa Claus Parade
Santa Claus paradeFreeWinnipeg Santa Claus Parade · Winnipeg
- Host
- Winnipeg Santa Claus Parade (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Downtown Winnipeg parade route (Portage Avenue and Main Street), Portage Avenue, Winnipeg
- When
- Sat, Nov 14, 5 pm
- Cost
- Free
- Ages
- All ages
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
The Manitoba Hydro Santa Claus Parade is Winnipeg's longest-running free community event, established in 1909, and the organizers call it the largest lit seasonal parade in Canada. The 2026 parade steps off on Saturday, November 14 at 5 p.m. along a downtown route that uses Portage Avenue, Main Street and Memorial.
Some downtown roads start closing in the late morning, so the organizers suggest giving yourself lots of time, using Winnipeg Transit if you can, and having a backup parking plan. Accessible seating is reserved in front of the barricades at each intersection, with no pre-registration needed. Pets are not allowed on the route. Dress the kids in warm layers with extra mittens, and avoid large strollers in the crowds.
Parent tip: Kids should stay on the sidewalk, not run into the street for candy; front-row watchers are asked to sit on the curb so others can see.
See dates and details from Winnipeg Santa Claus Parade (opens in a new tab)Zoo Lights
Visit with SantaAssiniboine Park Conservancy · Winnipeg
- Host
- Assiniboine Park Conservancy (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Assiniboine Park Zoo, 2595 Roblin Boulevard, Winnipeg R3R 0B8
- When
- Select nights, Nov 20 to Jan 3, 5 to 10 pm
- Cost
- $13.50 + GST in November, $18 + GST in December and January (ages 3+), 2 and under free
- Ages
- All ages, children 2 and under free
- Sign-up
- Required ahead of time
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Zoo Lights turns Assiniboine Park Zoo into a winter walk of light displays on select nights from November 20 to January 3, from 5 to 10 p.m. with final entry at 9. Favourites include the LOVE sign and the Zoo Lights Express display. New for 2026, carolers perform near the entrance from 5 to 7:30 p.m., a DJ and hula hoop party runs from 6 to 9 p.m., and the Peppermint Palace offers photos with Santa from November 20 to December 23, with winter characters from December 26 to January 3.
Tickets are date and time specific and should be bought online in advance. November nights are $13.50 plus GST and December and January nights are $18 plus GST for ages 3 and up. Children 2 and under are free but still need a $0 ticket.
Parent tip: Add a free infant ticket for each child 2 and under, and enter any time within the one-hour window on your ticket.
See dates and details from Assiniboine Park Conservancy (opens in a new tab)Santa in the Forest
Visit with SantaFortWhyte Alive · Winnipeg
- Host
- FortWhyte Alive (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- FortWhyte Alive, Richardson Interpretive Centre, 1961 McCreary Road, Winnipeg R3P 2K9
- When
- Sat and Sun, Nov 21, 22, 28 and 29, 10:30 am to 3 pm
- Cost
- $45 including admission, $25 for members
- Ages
- Children and adults
- Sign-up
- Required ahead of time
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
FortWhyte Alive sets Santa up in its wintry forest for four weekend days in late November. Families sit and chat with Mr. Claus for a minute or two so little ones can share their wish lists, and photographer Sara Miller takes photos of children and adults. One or two photos are emailed to you within a week of your session.
Advance registration is required. Time slots run every 15 minutes with five families per slot, and FortWhyte asks you to arrive 15 minutes before your time. The cost is $45, which includes admission to FortWhyte Alive, or $25 for members. General sale opened November 6 at noon, and experiences are non-refundable. Use the Alloway Reception Centre entrance at 1961 McCreary Road.
Parent tip: Arrive 15 minutes before your time slot and enter through the Alloway Reception Centre at 1961 McCreary Road.
See dates and details from FortWhyte Alive (opens in a new tab)Christmas Sod House: A Dickens Christmas Carol!
Carol concertFortWhyte Alive · Winnipeg
- Host
- FortWhyte Alive (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- FortWhyte Alive sod house, 1961 McCreary Road, Winnipeg R3P 2K9
- When
- Sun, Nov 29, noon to 4 pm
- Cost
- Included with general admission, free for members
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
On the last Sunday in November, FortWhyte Alive opens its sod house for a Christmas program with a Dickens Christmas Carol theme. Homestead volunteers bring the sod house to life, showing visitors what a day in the life of prairie settlers was like and answering questions. FortWhyte describes it as a fun, interactive way to learn about Manitoba's cultural history.
The program is included with general admission to FortWhyte Alive and is free for members. It takes place outdoors and may include barriers for visitors with disabilities, so FortWhyte asks families needing accommodations to contact its accessibility team ahead of time. The suggested entrance is the Alloway Reception Centre at 1961 McCreary Road. The same day also has a bonfire marshmallow roast listed on the calendar.
Parent tip: This program is outdoors, so dress for the weather; enter through the Alloway Reception Centre.
See dates and details from FortWhyte Alive (opens in a new tab)WSO Christmas POPS
Christmas showWinnipeg Symphony Orchestra · Winnipeg
- Host
- Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Centennial Concert Hall, 555 Main Street, Winnipeg R3B 1C3
- When
- Sat, Dec 5, 7:30 pm; Sun, Dec 6, 2 pm
- Cost
- Ticketed, see WSO page for prices
- Ages
- Audiences of all ages
- Sign-up
- Required ahead of time
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
WSO Christmas POPS is the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra's festive holiday concert for audiences of all ages, led by Associate Conductor Monica Chen. The full orchestra performs alongside special guest artists from Manitoba and beyond, with a program of familiar holiday favourites and uplifting seasonal music.
The WSO describes a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere and calls the concert perfect for families, friends and first-time visitors to the hall. Choose either the Saturday, December 5 evening show at 7:30 p.m. or the Sunday, December 6 matinee at 2 p.m., both at Centennial Concert Hall on Main Street. The matinee is the better fit for younger children. Tickets are sold through the WSO box office and website.
Parent tip: The Sunday matinee at 2 pm is the easier choice for young children.
See dates and details from Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (opens in a new tab)Christmas Sensory Story Time
Christmas story timeWinnipeg Public Library · Winnipeg
- Host
- Winnipeg Public Library (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- St. Vital Library, 6 Fermor Avenue, Winnipeg R2M 0Y2
- When
- Mon, Dec 7, 6:30 to 7:15 pm
- Cost
- No fee listed
- Ages
- Ages 3 and up with a caregiver
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Winnipeg Public Library's Christmas Sensory Story Time shares books, songs and movement activities about Christmas in a sensory-supportive environment. The library sets up low lights, fidget toys and a visual schedule so children know what is coming next, which can help kids who find regular story times overwhelming.
The program is for children ages 3 and up with a caregiver and lasts 45 minutes. It runs on a Monday evening in the program room at St. Vital Library, which makes it possible to attend after daycare or school. The calendar lists children ages 3 to 8 and families as the audience. It is a thoughtful option for neurodivergent kids and their siblings who want to enjoy a holiday story time together.
Parent tip: A caregiver must stay with the child; the visual schedule helps kids who like to know what comes next.
See dates and details from Winnipeg Public Library (opens in a new tab)December Storytime with a Pilot
Christmas story timeRoyal Aviation Museum of Western Canada · Winnipeg
- Host
- Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada, 2088 Wellington Avenue, Winnipeg R3H 1C2
- When
- Thu, Dec 10, 11 am to 12:15 pm
- Cost
- Included with general admission
- Ages
- Early learners and families
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
The Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada runs a monthly Storytime with a Pilot for early learners and their families, and the December session has a holiday theme. A pilot reads a winter story about a reindeer and a polar bear, highlighting themes of curiosity, resilience and possibility, and then children make polar bear suncatchers in a creative activity.
The museum says the program blends literacy, imagination, movement and STEM learning, all set among the aircraft of Canada's aviation heritage collection. It is included with general admission, so families can stay afterward and explore the galleries. The session runs on a Thursday morning, which suits preschoolers and younger siblings who are not yet in full-day school.
Parent tip: The program is included with museum admission, so plan extra time to explore the aircraft afterward.
See dates and details from Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada (opens in a new tab)How The Grinch Stole Christmas in Concert
Christmas showWinnipeg Symphony Orchestra · Winnipeg
- Host
- Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Centennial Concert Hall, 555 Main Street, Winnipeg R3B 1C3
- When
- Sat, Dec 12, 7:30 pm; Sun, Dec 13, 2 pm
- Cost
- Ticketed, see WSO page for prices
- Sign-up
- Required ahead of time
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra presents How The Grinch Stole Christmas in Concert, screening the 2000 film while the orchestra performs the music live. The WSO describes the story of the grouchy Grinch and little Cindy Lou Who, who turns Whoville and the Grinch's world upside down in her search for the true meaning of Christmas.
There are two performances at Centennial Concert Hall: Saturday, December 12 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, December 13 at 2 p.m. The Sunday matinee is the easier choice for younger kids. Tickets are sold through the WSO box office and website, and the hall offers pre-ordered intermission drinks to skip the lines. A live orchestra paired with a familiar holiday film can be a good first symphony experience for children.
Parent tip: Choose the Sunday 2 pm matinee for younger children; pre-order intermission drinks to avoid lines.
See dates and details from Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (opens in a new tab)Jolly Jamboree
Christmas story timeWinnipeg Public Library · Winnipeg
- Host
- Winnipeg Public Library (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Westwood Library, 66 Allard Avenue, Winnipeg R3K 0T3
- When
- Sat, Dec 12, 10:30 to 11:15 am
- Cost
- No fee listed
- Ages
- For children and their families
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Jolly Jamboree at Winnipeg Public Library's Westwood branch is a Saturday morning holiday celebration for children and their families. The library promises festive songs and stories for the whole family, followed by time to create a jolly craft with a celebration theme to take home.
The program lasts 45 minutes, so it fits easily into a weekend morning without taking over the day. Because it is aimed at children and their families rather than one narrow age group, older and younger siblings can come along together. Westwood Library is in the west end of the city, and the Saturday time slot makes it a good pick for working parents who miss weekday story times.
Parent tip: Leave time after the stories for the take-home craft.
See dates and details from Winnipeg Public Library (opens in a new tab)Nutcracker
Christmas showRoyal Winnipeg Ballet · Winnipeg
- Host
- Royal Winnipeg Ballet (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Centennial Concert Hall, 555 Main Street, Winnipeg R3B 1C3
- When
- Dec 18 to 27, matinees at 1 pm and evenings at 6:30 pm
- Cost
- From $45
- Ages
- Audiences of all ages
- Sign-up
- Required ahead of time
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
The Royal Winnipeg Ballet's Nutcracker is a Winnipeg holiday tradition the company describes as enchanting audiences of all ages. This version is set at Christmas 1913 in a lively Canadian home, where neighbourhood boys play street hockey, the family decorates a giant tree, and young Clara receives a handmade Nutcracker that springs to life to battle the Mouse King, with Mounted Police joining the toy soldiers.
Performances run December 18 to 27 at Centennial Concert Hall, with 1 p.m. matinees on December 19, 20, 23, 26 and 27 and 6:30 p.m. evening shows on most dates. Tickets start at $45. The show runs 2 hours and 5 minutes with one intermission, so matinees may suit younger children best. The RWB lists the genre as classical, story and family.
Parent tip: The show runs about two hours with one intermission; a 1 pm matinee is easier for young children.
See dates and details from Royal Winnipeg Ballet (opens in a new tab)Jingles, Giggles, and Christmas Wiggles
Christmas showWinnipeg Public Library · Winnipeg
- Host
- Winnipeg Public Library (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- St. James-Assiniboia Library, 1910 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg R3J 0J2
- When
- Wed, Dec 23, 10:30 to 11:30 am
- Cost
- No fee listed
- Ages
- For children and their families
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Jingles, Giggles, and Christmas Wiggles is a family program at Winnipeg Public Library's St. James-Assiniboia branch. Families sing along to familiar seasonal carols with silly, surprising new twists, then help the library staff create brand-new remixes of their own. It is meant to be playful and noisy rather than quiet and formal.
The program is for children and their families and lasts 60 minutes in the second-floor program room. The library lists babies, toddlers, preschoolers and families as the audience, so it works well for mixed-age siblings. Held on the morning of December 23, it is a handy way to burn off some pre-Christmas energy once school is out for the holidays.
Parent tip: The program room is on the second floor of the branch.
See dates and details from Winnipeg Public Library (opens in a new tab)A story for the trip home
Our picture book follows Rally the corgi on his first train ride to see his grand-paw-rents, and every page is hand-painted in watercolour. It is a cozy five-minute read after a big day out.
A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolour. Ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon.ca (opens in a new tab)Winnipeg Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask
What Christmas events for kids are in Winnipeg in 2026?
We confirmed 11 Christmas events for kids in Winnipeg for 2026, each on its host’s own page, including Manitoba Hydro Santa Claus Parade, Zoo Lights, Santa in the Forest, Christmas Sod House: A Dickens Christmas Carol!, WSO Christmas POPS, Christmas Sensory Story Time, December Storytime with a Pilot, How The Grinch Stole Christmas in Concert, Jolly Jamboree, Nutcracker and Jingles, Giggles, and Christmas Wiggles. Each one is listed above with times, cost and a link to the host.
Are there free Christmas events for kids in Winnipeg?
Yes. 1 of the 11 events here are free, including Manitoba Hydro Santa Claus Parade. Some free events still ask you to register, so check each listing.
Where can kids see Santa in Winnipeg this year?
Santa appears at Manitoba Hydro Santa Claus Parade, Zoo Lights and Santa in the Forest. Times and booking rules are in each listing above.
Where are there Christmas story times for kids in Winnipeg?
Christmas story times on this page: Christmas Sensory Story Time, December Storytime with a Pilot and Jolly Jamboree. Library story times are usually free; ones with a meal or show are ticketed.
How do you confirm these events?
We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city, library or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on November 2, 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.
Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.
