Gimli Culture Days & Nuit Blanche
Get ready for an unforgettable weekend of creativity, discovery, and lakeside culture in Gimli! From Friday, September 25th to Sunday, September 27th, this beautiful lakefront community comes alive with three days of free, family-friendly arts experiences.
Whether you’re looking to meet local artists, enjoy live performances, or get hands-on with creative activities, there’s something for everyone—from fine art and music to film and unique installations. Explore venues located just a short walk from each other in downtown Gimli (just look for the VENUE signs!).
Weekend Highlights:
- Friday: Kick off the weekend at the waterfront Lakeview Resort Hotel with fine art, live music, and stunning lake views as Culture Days gets underway.
- Saturday: Enjoy a full day of arts and activities leading up to the after-dark crescendo: Nuit Blanche! As evening falls, Gimli transforms into a twilight celebration of art. Join a Guided Walking Tour or explore the illuminated town on your own.
- Sunday: The creativity continues with more family-friendly events, including face painting and interactive activities perfect for all ages.
Dress for the weather, bring your curiosity, and come ready to explore Gimli from a whole new perspective. Free parking is available conveniently throughout town.
Make a weekend of it and build your own Culture Days adventure!
Visit event site for more details
FULL LIST OF EVENTS
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
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Waterworld Art Fair: We Can Be Heroes!
Fri, Sept 25, 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Lakeview Gimli Resort, Ballroom
Join an eclectic group of creative people, Artists of the Lake, for their hero-inspired show of fine art representing a wide variety of media including paintings, sculpture, glass, photography and more.
Heroes highlight the important things in our lives, our world. What kind of hero could you be? The Classical Superhero: Someone who performs an heroic act on a big scale, like Joan of Arc, or with mythical super skills, like Spider-Man and Wonder Woman. Or do you relate to the Unsung Hero: a person just doing their job, but in so doing, saves a life, rights a wrong, raises children, does something extraordinary without any fanfare. Sometimes, it’s the Anti-Hero that appeals to us: someone who seems to be on the wrong side of goodness–but when the dust settles, they’re on the right side after all, like Robin Hood robbing the rich to help the poor.
Through the ages artists have often explored the idea of Heroism, and this is your opportunity to see how contemporary artists choose to explore the theme within their own arts practice. Added feature from 5-7 pm is the background music provided by the Wednesday Night Jammers. Live music to enjoy while you choose your art fair favourites.
Where Art Meets Music!
Fri, Sept 25, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Lakeview Gimli Resort, Ballroom
Every Wednesday evening, a group of friends make music together–and tonight, we’re inviting you to be part of it! Come find us amid the colour and creativity of the Waterworld Fine Art Fair: We Can Be Heroes! as we fill the space with music from 2 to 4 pm.
Sing along. Tap your toes. Soak up the sights and sounds. Whether you love to make music or simply love being around people who do, there’s a place for you in this lively celebration of music, art, and community.
Come for the colour. Stay for the music. Join the jam!
Homespun Poets: Acoustic Takes on Favourite Songs
Fri, Sept 25, 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Interlake Brewing Co., 72 1st Ave, Gimli
Add a little harmony to your life with Homespun Poets at Interlake Brewing Co. Enjoy their warm, coffee house-inspired sound as they perform acoustic versions of well-known classic and contemporary songs, along with a sprinkling of original tunes. Years of musical collaboration have created a relaxed and engaging partnership that is sure to make for an enjoyable evening.
The performance is free, so come out, grab a seat, and enjoy the music. Food and drinks are available for purchase throughout the evening.
Located in the heart of Gimli and just steps from Lake Winnipeg, Interlake Brewing Co. provides a welcoming setting to gather, enjoy locally brewed craft beer and good food, and experience live music. With its relaxed atmosphere and lake-town vibe, it’s a natural place to spend a Friday evening celebrating music and community.
Free admission. Food and drinks available for purchase.
Mommy, Daddy: Songs, Stories & Serendipity
Fri, Sept 25, 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Ship & Plough, 42 Centre Street, Gimli, MB
Sometimes a chance meeting leads somewhere unexpected. For Alanna Finnson and Sean Mourre, a singer and guitarist with a shared love of music, a serendipitous encounter revealed an instant musical connection–and the beginning of a new creative partnership.
Performing together as Mommy, Daddy, Alanna and Sean explore jazz, pop, blues, rock, prog and more, bringing their own style and energy to songs both familiar and unexpected. Their repertoire reaches from iconic voices such as Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Nat King Cole and Patsy Cline to lesser-heard pop songs that may spark a forgotten memory or a little nostalgia.
Come hear where their musical connection has taken them, and discover what these two musicians are creating together today. You might just leave with a favourite song rediscovered–or a new one to remember.
Ship & Plough provides a welcoming gathering place in the heart of Gimli, where good food, drinks and conversation come together in a relaxed atmosphere. It’s the perfect setting to settle in, listen to live music and enjoy an evening with friends.
Free admission. Food and drinks available for purchase.
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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
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Waterworld Art Fair: We Can Be Heroes!
Sat, Sept 26, 10:00 AM – 8:30 PM
Lakeview Gimli Resort, Ballroom
This fine art fair featuring over 20 creative souls from Artists of the Lake continues through Saturday with a special reception with many of the artists on hand from 6 to 8 pm. Check out the special We Can Be Heroes theme area, vote for your favourite work, and choose what kind of hero you could be to make our world a better place! Live music by Slip Jiggery, 2-3 pm and again 7-8:30 pm.
Murals & Mysteries: Look Closely, Follow the Clues, Find the Story
Sat, Sept 26, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Evergreen Regional Library Gimli, 65 1st Avenue
Come explore the colourful world of local artist Veronica Green! This Culture Days event invites families, curious minds, and art lovers of all ages to take a closer look at the vibrant murals Veronica has created right here at the library.
Can you spot the hidden details, symbols, characters, and stories tucked into her larger-than-life artwork? Follow the clues, hunt for the surprises, and see the murals from a whole new perspective. The first intrepid art detectives to complete the scavenger hunt will have a chance to win a free copy of Veronica’s exclusive colouring book, featuring illustrations inspired by her murals.
Once the mystery is solved, settle in for Storytime and treats. Come for the hunt, stay for the stories, and discover just how much there is to see when you really look at a mural!
Look closely. Follow the clues. Find the story.
Heroes on the Pier – Chalk the Walk!
Sat, Sept 26, 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Gimli Harbour Pier, 1 Centre Street
Come make your mark on the Gimli pier! The WAVE Artists of the Interlake invite artists and non-artists of all ages to grab some chalk and turn the sidewalk beside Gimli’s famous Seawall Gallery into a colourful celebration of heroes.
Our heroes might be mythical, comic-book legends, everyday people who quietly make a difference, or someone in your own life who deserves a little recognition. Maybe your hero protects the environment, helps a neighbour, inspires others–or simply makes the world a better place. Draw a portrait, write a name, create a symbol, or let your imagination run wild.
No artistic experience required–just bring your ideas. The chalk is on us, the pier is your canvas, and the theme is wide open. Come for the art, stay for the fun, and see what happens when a whole community gets creative together.
Serious artists. Serious fun. Serious chalk.
Gimli Glider: Ready for Takeoff!
Sat, Sept 26, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Gimli Glider Exhibit, Unit 119B, Lakeview Hotel, 10 Centre Street
Could you be a glider pilot? Take to the skies–no airport or pilot’s licence required! Hosted by the Gimli Glider Exhibit, this hands-on Culture Days activity invites kids, parents, grandparents, and curious aviation fans of all ages to discover the surprisingly serious art of paper-airplane flight.
Learn how to fold your own paper glider, then put it to the test. Will it soar? Loop? Dive? Glide across the room like a champion? Experiment with different folds and designs, make adjustments, and see if you can build a plane that flies farther, straighter, or simply more spectacularly.
Inspired by the incredible true story of the Gimli Glider–the passenger jet that ran out of fuel and, thanks to the skill of its crew, glided safely to the ground in Gimli–this is your chance to become a glider pilot of your own.
Fold it. Fly it. Fine-tune it. Let’s see how far you can glide!
Tiny Treasures. Big Stories. Button Up!
Sat, Sept 26, 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
New Iceland Heritage Museum, Lady of the Lake Theatre, 94 1st Avenue, Gimli, MB
“Boutons” is French for our lowly button, but the Bouton is high fashion! Buttons may be small, but they carry big stories! Join us for a fascinating look at the humble button and its surprising journey through history, art, fashion, and everyday life.
When European settlers crossed the Atlantic to the Americas, they often arrived with little more than the clothes on their backs and a few treasured family possessions. The buttons fastened to those garments became “silent passengers”–travelling through hardships and celebrations, witnessing changing times, and sometimes surviving long after the people who wore them.
Discover the history and art of button collecting, explore a display of buttons from different eras and materials, and hear how these tiny objects can reveal stories about social customs, culture, technology, fashion, and the people who made and wore them.
Come curious, bring your questions, and prepare to look at your button jar a little differently. You never know what history might be hiding in plain sight–or what stories your own buttons could tell!
Slip Jiggery: Celtic Music at Waterworld
Sat, Sept 26, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Lakeview Gimli Resort, Ballroom
Get ready for some toe-tapping Celtic sounds! Local musician Ron Scott, well-known for his love of Celtic music, will be joined by a few of his musical friends for two special performances during Gimli Culture Days & Nuit Blanche.
Catch Ron and a friend or two on Saturday from 2 to 3 pm, then the full Slip Jiggery crew will play during Nuit Blanche from 7-8:30 pm in the ballroom at the Waterworld Fine Art Fair: We Can Be Heroes. With lively tunes, musical camaraderie, and plenty of heart, Ron and friends are bringing the soundtrack to your afternoon–and your Nuit Blanche evening.
And speaking of heroes… we think Ron is one of ours! His generous sharing of his musical talents is a gift to the community. Come listen in–you just might discover a new musical hero of your own.
Nuit Blanche Kick-Off: Jeff Sahulka’s Happy Hour
Sat, Sept 26, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Ship & Plough, 42 Centre Street, Gimli, MB
Start your Nuit Blanche Gimli with singer/songwriter Jeff Sahulka from 4 to 6 pm. Pull up a chair, grab a drink, and settle in for an intimate afternoon of live music with Jeff Sahulka at the Ship & Plough. Jeff brings his latest songs and a storyteller’s eye to the sweet, strange, funny and sometimes not-so-sweet stories of the human experience. Expect original music, honest moments and a few surprises along the way. But don’t stay too late! Other events begin at 6, including the Nuit Blanche Walking Tour starting from the New Iceland Heritage Museum at 6. Or grab a program and stroll the events on your own.
This special performance is free as part of Gimli Culture Days & Nuit Blanche. Enjoy the music while you take in the Ship & Plough’s welcoming pub atmosphere, home-cooked food and craft beer. Food and drinks are available for purchase.
Come for the music, stay for the stories–and perhaps a pint.
Sights & Sounds of New Iceland
Sat, Sept 26, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
New Iceland Heritage Museum, 94 1st Avenue, Gimli, MB
Step inside the New Iceland Heritage Museum and discover the stories, people, and places that shaped New Iceland–from its Icelandic roots to its enduring connection with Gimli, the land, and the lake.
During Nuit Blanche Gimli, explore the museum’s permanent and travelling exhibitions with FREE admission from 5-8 pm, and enjoy a special musical performance by Gimli musicians Krystal & Mike from 5:15-5:50 pm.
Come for the history, stay for the music, and experience the sights and sounds of New Iceland!
Free entry | 5-8 pm | Live music 5:15-5:50 pm
Music Meets the Museum: Mike & Krystal Live!
Sat, Sept 26, 5:15 PM – 5:50 PM
New Iceland Heritage Museum, 94 1st Avenue, Gimli, MB
Let the evening sky light your way to the New Iceland Heritage Museum, where beloved local duo Mike & Krystal will set the mood with a special live music pop-up. From 5:15 to 5:50 pm, enjoy a short set of sweet harmonies, easygoing strums, and feel-good chemistry that’s sure to put a little spring in your Nuit Blanche step.
Then, at 6 pm, Nuit Blanche Gimli kicks into high gear–right from the same spot! Saunter down to the Lady of the Lake Theatre for a special screening and the start of the Walking Tour. With more than a dozen Nuit Blanche events to discover, you can strike out on your own or join one of our guided groups. There’s plenty to see, so grab your walking shoes and let the night unfold!
Nuit Blanche Walking Tour: Gimli After Dark
Sat, Sept 26, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Gather for the start at: New Iceland Heritage Museum, 94 1st Avenue, Gimli, MB
When the sun goes down, Gimli comes alive with art, culture, and creativity! Join us for a special Nuit Blanche walking tour through the heart of Gimli, where more than a dozen venues will open their doors from 6 pm until late, for an unforgettable evening of discovery.
Follow the route and experience a lively mix of Culture Days events along the way: explore a fine art exhibition, catch live theatre and music, try your hand at a make-and-take art activity, listen to local authors share their work, wander through galleries staying open late, take in a special film screening, and discover plenty of other creative surprises.
Don’t want to miss anything? Then the tour is designed especially for you. But with so much to see and do, there’s no single way to experience the evening. Make a night of it, wander at your own pace, stop somewhere unexpected, and let your curiosity be your guide.
One evening. More than a dozen stops. Five hours of art, culture, and discovery. Gimli after dark has never been more interesting!
Tour starts with a special screening by Gimli Film Festival, at 6 pm, in the Lady of the Lake Theatre in the New Iceland Heritage Museum. We’ll walk through the downtown of Gimli, taking in nearby venues, ending the tour at 9 pm. But the excitement doesn’t end there–take in our Nuit Blanche Late experiences of live music at the Interlake Brewing Company from 9 until 11 pm.
Five Summers; One Magical Stage!
Sat, Sept 26, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Gimli Harbour Bandstand, 1 Centre Street, Gimli, MB
Get ready to sing, dance, and be dazzled! Gimli Junior Musical Theatre Summer Camp, founded by Romanna Klymkiw and Stephanie Marks, is celebrating its fifth summer of bringing full-scale musicals to life!
This year, our talented young performers take the stage with selections from Aladdin Jr., our 2026 production, alongside favourite moments from past musicals and special solos showcasing some of our incredible young performers.
Featuring performers ages 5-16, this lively showcase is packed with music, magic, and plenty of Gimli Junior Musical Theatre spirit!
We’re thrilled to be part of Nuit Blanche Gimli and can’t wait to share the stage with you!
Pick Your Canvas: Art, Frames or Rocks!
Sat, Sept 26, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Gimli Art Club & Gallery, 3 Centre Street, Gimli, MB
Come create, experiment, and leave your mark at the Gimli Art Club! This hands-on Culture Days event offers three ways to get creative, whether you’re a seasoned artist, a first-time painter, or simply someone who wants to make something fun.
ART IS YOU: Add your self-portrait to a giant community canvas and show us your inner artist! Paint yourself as you see yourself–or show us what inspires you, what you love, or the creative spirit that makes you you.
I’VE BEEN FRAMED! Choose a pre-drawn frame on another giant canvas and fill it with whatever your imagination dreams up. Your masterpiece will become part of a mini art show, proudly displayed for everyone to enjoy.
ROCK PAINTING: Choose a rock from the shores of Lake Winnipeg and transform it into a tiny work of art. Painted rock examples will be on display to spark ideas, but what you create is entirely up to you. Then take your little lakeside masterpiece home as a memento of your day in Gimli.
Try one, try all three, and discover where your creativity takes you. No experience necessary–just bring your imagination!
Three ways to make art. One great reason to get creative.
Mugshot: Paint, Fire & Make It Yours!
Sat, Sept 26, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Hidden Treasures Studio, 40 Centre Street, Gimli, MB
Paint it. Fire it. Make it yours. Come make something you’ll actually use! Hidden Treasures Studio invites you to pick up a brush and turn a plain ceramic mug into a little piece of your own creativity. The mugs have already been hand-made by the studio staff, so this time, the fun is all about the decorating.
Choose your colours, paint your design, add a pattern, a name, a favourite image–or simply see where the brush takes you. No artistic experience required, and no two mugs need to look alike. Once you’re finished, leave your mug with the studio to be fired, transforming your painted design into a durable, one-of-a-kind keepsake.
Come for the creativity, stay for the satisfaction of making something with your own hands. And yes, it’s free.
Centre Stage: Short, Sweet & Inspiring!
Sat, Sept 26, 6:30 PM – 6:45 PM, 7:05 PM – 7:20 PM, 8:30 PM – 8:50 PM
Aspire Theatre, 76 2nd Avenue, Gimli, MB
Take your seat and get ready for a little theatrical mischief! The A-Spire Theatre Players are bringing the stage at Aspire Theatre to life with a selection of short skits designed to entertain, surprise, and maybe even leave you wondering, “What just happened?”
Each performance will run no more than 20 minutes, making this the perfect Culture Days stop for a quick dose of live theatre. The Players may bring you a bit of comedy, a touch of drama, an unexpected character–or a twist you didn’t see coming. You won’t know exactly what’s in store until the curtain goes up!
The A-Spire Players are a volunteer, non-profit performing arts group dedicated to creating opportunities for local performers and audiences to experience the joy of live performance. This time, they’re keeping things short, lively, and wonderfully unpredictable.
Come for a skit, stay for the surprise. Live theatre. Local talent. Twenty minutes of fun.
Meet the Poet: Angeline Schellenberg
Sat, Sept 26, 6:45 PM – 7:45 PM
Don Fletcher Artrepreneur, 40 Centre Street
Come meet celebrated Manitoba poet Angeline Schellenberg for a short reading and conversation during Nuit Blanche.
Angeline will share a selection of her poetry, talk a little about her work and creative process, and invite you to ask questions. It’s a chance to hear poetry from the poet herself–and to discover the person and stories behind the words.
Angeline is the award-winning author of Tell Them It Was Mozart, Fields of Light and Stone and Mondegreen Riffs. She is also the host of the Speaking Crow open-mic poetry series and a practitioner of contemplative spiritual direction.
Join us for a brief, intimate encounter with one of Manitoba’s distinctive poetic voices. Hear her words, discover her work, and leave with a new perspective on poetry.
Drums, Rhythm & Community
Sat, Sept 26, 7:15 PM – 8:15 PM
Right Choice Realty, on the porch, 35 Centre Street, Gimli, MB
Come and listen to the rhythm of the heartbeat of Indigenous drumming right here in Gimli! Join local Indigenous drummer Tara Campbell and members of her drumming group for a special Culture Days gathering filled with the powerful sound and energy of drums played together.
Feel the heart-beat. Experience the joy of making music in community as these local drummers share their passion for drumming with us.
Whether you’re familiar with Indigenous drumming or hearing it for the first time, everyone is welcome to stop by, listen, and experience the age-old songs.
Come for the drums. Stay for the rhythm of the heartbeat.
Submerged: An Evening of Art & Sound
Sat, Sept 26, 8:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Interlake Brewing Co., 72 1st Avenue, Gimli
What happens when art, music and atmosphere come together after dark? Find out at Submerged, an evening art installation at Interlake Brewing Co. during Culture Days and Nuit Blanche Gimli.
Come experience the installation for yourself, take in the atmosphere, and stay awhile. A DJ will provide the soundtrack for the evening, creating a lively backdrop for an event that invites you to look, listen and experience something a little different.
Whether you come specifically for the art or simply want to see what’s happening, Submerged offers an opportunity to step into the unexpected and experience Gimli’s creative community in a relaxed, social setting.
Located in the heart of Gimli and just steps from Lake Winnipeg, Interlake Brewing Co. provides a welcoming setting to gather, enjoy locally brewed craft beer and good food, and experience live music. With its relaxed atmosphere and lake-town vibe, it’s a natural place to spend an evening celebrating art, music and community.
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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
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Waterworld Art Fair: We Can Be Heroes!
Sun, Sept 27, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Lakeview Gimli Resort, 10 Centre Street
This fine art fair featuring over 20 creative souls from Artists of the Lake continues through Sunday with more than 100 works for you to enjoy. Check out the special We Can Be Heroes theme area, vote for your favourite work, and choose what kind of hero you could be to make our world a better place!
Your Face is Our Canvas!
Sun, Sept 27, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Gimli Art Club & Gallery, 3 Centre Street
Ready to wear your creativity? For the first time during Culture Days, the artists of the Gimli Art Club are putting their brushes to work on something a little different–the human face!
Come by and let a Gimli Art Club artist transform you with a splash of colour, a fantastic design, a favourite creature, or whatever creative inspiration strikes. Whether you’re a child eager to become a tiger, butterfly, superhero, or magical creature, or a grown-up who’s ready to have a little fun and embrace your inner artist, everyone is welcome.
This is art you don’t just look at–you get to wear it! Bring the family, bring your imagination, and leave with a little extra colour on your face and a smile to match. Come as you are. Leave as a work of art!
From Imagination to the Page: An Hour with Trinity Cunningham
Sun, Sept 27, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Don Fletcher Artrepreneur, 40 Centre Street, Gimli, MB
Where do stories begin? For Trinity Cunningham, they began with an imagination that was always busy creating new worlds.
Join Trinity for an hour of reading, conversation and storytelling as she shares her work and talks about the journey from those early ideas and notebooks to becoming a novelist. She’ll read from her writing, discuss her creative process and the worlds and characters that inspire her, and leave plenty of time for questions and conversation with the audience.
A lifelong lover of writing, Trinity has explored everything from songwriting and screenwriting to fiction. After studying screenwriting and storytelling, she began transforming ideas she had carried for years into novels.
Come hear the stories, meet the writer, and discover what happens when the worlds in your imagination finally make their way onto the page.
