Saint-Boniface, MB — This year’s Festival du Voyageur will take place virtually in festivalgoers’ homes instead of in Voyageur Park. The 2021 virtual programming will allow Winnipeggers and beyond to experience all the sights, sounds and even woodchip and tourtière smells of the festival.
Festivalgoers will be able to enjoy eight days of virtual concerts presented by Bell MTS and Caisse Financial Group, two different video series, traditional meal kits from Promenade Cafe and Wine, ice glasses and festival-themed cocktails from Patent 5 Distillery, nearly 30 snow sculptures around the city, virtual competitions, a virtual kids zone, and more.
“Even though we can’t get together in Voyageur Park this year, we wanted to make sure that February still brought that signature Festival du Voyageur joie de vivre to Manitobans – especially now when we all need it the most,” said Darrel Nadeau, Executive Director of Festival du Voyageur. “We put a lot of thought into ensuring that every signature element of our festival is reflected in our virtual offerings and we are really excited about what we came up with.”
CONCERT SERIES
From February 12-21, Festival du Voyageur will be broadcasting eight days of concerts. The concerts will follow a similar format to the regular, in-person Festival with evening concerts on February 12, 13, 14, 18, 19 and 20, and day-time concerts on Louis Riel Day, and February 21.
Festival du Voyageur is proud to be featuring over 40 artists including:
- Faouzia as a special guest
- Celeigh Cardinal
- Marie-Pierre Arthur
- Ariel Posen
- Andrina Turenne
- Super Duty Tough Work
- Sebastian Gaskin
- Ivan Flett Memorial Dancers
- And many more
Kick-off day, February 12, is dedicated to francophone musicians including a performance from Marie-Pierre Arthur, a rising star in Québec. On February 14, Festival du Voyageur will be presenting five emerging Francophone artists, which was made possible through the Musicaction program that works to support francophone musicians.
Louis Riel Day and February 20 are dedicated to showcasing Indigenous talent. Made possible with support from FACTOR, you will see a variety of programming from musicians to spoken word poetry to puppet shows. Festival du Voyageur will also have a special performance from TikTok star and renowned pow wow singer, Tia Wood.
On Friday, February 19, Canada’s Walk of Fame will be presenting their winners and finalists from the RBC Emerging Musician Program presented by James Richardson & Sons, Limited and Affiliated Companies with 2016 program alumna, Faouzia, as an exciting special guest.
Our virtual concert series will be accessible for free through Facebook and YouTube. Visit heho.ca to explore the full performing artist lineup.
VIDEO SERIES
Festival du Voyageur has created two different video series to highlight different aspects of the festival. These videos will be released online leading up to the festival to put everyone in that Festival du Voyageur spirit.
The “Festival du Voyageur at Home” series presented by the Université de Saint-Boniface is aimed at giving families activities they can do at home. All the activities are inspired by elements you would find at the festival. Through this series, people can learn how to make classic French-Canadian foods, how to build a snow sculpture in their front yard, how to craft your own instruments, how to create some French-make maple taffy and other maple desserts, and tips on how to enjoy our signature Manitoba winters. This series is supported by Safe at Home Manitoba.
The “Minut Michif” series in partnership with the Union nationale métisse Saint-Joseph du Manitoba focuses on modern Métis culture that is rooted in tradition. They explore modern Métis fashion, the colours and significance of the Métis sash, the uses for animal hides, how Métis people pass traditions down from one generation to the next, visual art practices, and how to make bannock.
MEAL & COCKTAIL TAKEHOME KITS
Food and drink is always a huge part of Festival du Voyageur, and this year is no exception. Winnipeg locals will be able to order French-Canadian take-home meals from Promenade Cafe and Wine with all the staples – tourtière, pea soup, bannock, and much more. The kits will be available to order for pickup through Promenade Cafe and Wine in Saint-Boniface.
You will also be able to order the iconic ice glasses and Festival du Voyageur inspired cocktails from Patent 5 Distillery to enjoy from home. The distillery has created two signature cockails – one caribou-inspired and the other maple-inspired – so you can cheers your ice glass to Festival du Voyageur with us!
SNOW SCULPTURES
This year, there will be the highest number of freely accessible snow sculptures around the city in recent years. Festival du Voyageur is harnessing all the local, world-class talent to build nearly 30 snow sculptures. Provencher Boulevard alone will host five large snow sculptures, creating a beautiful drive through experience.
In Voyageur Park, Winnipeggers will be able to come freely to see the sculptures from the Conseil Jeunesse Provincial Youth Symposium. This symposium was created to help foster a new generation of snow sculptors.
Winnipeggers will be able to make some to-go hot chocolates, hop in their cars, and use an interactive map on heho.ca to visit each sculpture.
COMPETITIONS
The classic Festival du Voyageur competitions will continue in a new online format.
The Beard Growing Competition is now all on social media where participants can post photos of their beards in four categories to be entered to win beard-themed prize packs.
For this year, the Fiddling and Jigging Competitions will be virtual with participants invited to submit videos taken from home for both competitions. They will be reviewed by two qualified judges, and the results will be announced immediately following the airing of the competition.
The Pea Soup Competition presented by Roquette will move into people’s homes this year. Participants will be able to pick up a kit with four different pea soups from Promenade Cafe and Wine and vote for their favourite on heho.ca.
VIRTUAL KIDS ZONE
Festival du Voyageur’s Virtual Kids Zone presented by the Éducatrices et éducateurs francophones du Manitoba will be the go-to spot for parents looking for free activities for their kids. The page will host activity booklets, entertainment, learning exercises and more.
2021 MERCHANDISE
The Festival du Voyageur online boutique is stocked with everything you need to put you in the voyageur spirit. The 2021 official merch features the wordmark created by Jordan Stranger.
The entire logo is made to represent the Sacred Fire that’s at every ceremony lighting our way and the warmth and closeness that so many are missing throughout the pandemic.
The people on either sides of the logo are distanced but with their arms open, ready to embrace when we are able. The figure at the top reflects the element of the Creator from last year’s logo but represented as a sun this year to bring out that warmth and the focus on the outdoors. Holding the entire piece together is a canoe representing the trying times that we’re all in together – navigating these new, uncharted waters.
You will also be able to purchase a Festival du Voyageur essential oil for your diffuser that will fill your room with the scent of the wood chips on the floor of the tents – something we’re all missing this year.
For more information and updates on Festival du Voyageur programming, visit heho.ca.
