A new Summer Music Festival will be taking place in Brandon this July. Dubbed the " Salamander Summer Music Festival", the event will take place at Rideau Park (305 Park Street) on July 21 – 23, 2023 and features DJs, local bands, university artists, performance troupes and more! Among the artists announced as appearing to date include: House of Hex, DJ Dirt, DJ Red, Julianna Moore, Full Flannel Jacket, Vertigo/Matt Cory Band, Mitchell Makoons, Jan Ek, Attica Riots and more. The weekends lineup can be viewed here. In addition to the live musical performances, a number of activities and attractions will be onsite including a kids area, workshops, art installations, food trucks, beer gardens, and a vendor village. Tickets to the event are now on sale. To visit the festivals website, click here.

Dauphin, Manitoba – May 17th 2023 – Dauphins Countryfest, Canada’s Longest Running Country Music Festival, is thrilled to extend a heartfelt congratulations to all the graduates in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. As a token of appreciation for their hard work and dedication, Dauphin’s Countryfest is delighted to offer graduates a FREE 730 CKDM Thursday Kick-Off Party pass. Dauphins Countryfest understands the importance of celebrating milestones. By providing complimentary access to the 730 CKDM Thursday Kick-Off Party, graduates can kick off their summer festivities in style while enjoying a fantastic lineup of live country music performances. If graduates wish to extend their experience beyond Thursday night, they have the option to upgrade to a Weekend Pass for $150, inclusive of all service charges and taxes. This offer is only available until June 1st 2023. "We are thrilled to celebrate the achievements of graduates from Manitoba and Saskatchewan," said Rob Waloschuk, General Manager at Dauphins Countryfest. "As an organization committed to fostering community spirit and providing unforgettable entertainment experiences, we believe that offering free access to our Thursday Kick-Off Party is a great way to honour their accomplishments. We invite graduates to join us and create lifelong memories at Dauphin’s Countryfest." Dauphins Countryfest attracts thousands of music enthusiasts each year and promises an unforgettable experience for all attendees. With a variety of food vendors, merchandise stalls, and lively entertainment, Dauphins Countryfest has something for everyone. For more information about Dauphins Countryfest and to access the form for the FREE 730 CKDM Thursday Kick-Off Party pass, please visit www.countryfest.ca

Westman Dreams for Kids recently announced that the Children’s Country Fair, presented by Richardson Pioneer, will take place at the Riverbank Discovery Centre on Sunday, June the 4th, 2023 from 10am to 4pm. Children’s Country Fair is a free event for families in Westman featuring a variety of activities and entertainment for everyone of all ages. Activities in the past have included bouncy castles, live entertainment, face painting, petting zoo, and and lots of educational attractions.  Additional details to follow on their Facebook page.

British Columbia rapper Madchild will be hitting the stage at Houstons on Sunday, May the 21st.  The stop in Brandon is just one of many on his  64-show headlining tour of Canada which started March 22 in Calgary.  After many successful years with hip-hop group, Swollen Members, Madchild creatively branched out as a solo artist in 2012 with his debut title track ”Dope Sick.” Robbie G is on board as the tour’s special guest. Doors for the Brandon show open at 7:00pm, and the show starts at 8:00pm. Advance tickets are available here.

A number of provincial parks in southern Manitoba will welcome campers this weekend, officially kicking off the 2023 season, Natural Resources and Northern Development Minister Greg Nesbitt announced today. “With the slow start to spring this year, many Manitobans might be more eager than usual to get outside and enjoy our beautiful provincial parks,” said Nesbitt. “Manitoba Parks staff can’t wait to welcome everyone for the 2023 season and the Manitoba government hopes everyone has the chance to visit their favourite parks and explore somewhere new.” All other provincial park campgrounds will open for the May long weekend. Manitobans can make a reservation for campsites, cabins, yurts and group-use areas by using the recently launched Parks Reservation Service, online at www.manitobaparks.com or by calling (toll-free) 1-888-482-2267. The Manitoba government will be evaluating the new service through the camping season for future enhancements, the minister added. Campers will notice improvements in several provincial campgrounds this season including a new picnic shelter in the Birds Hill group-use area, new playgrounds at Asessippi, Beaver Creek, Paint Lake and White Lake, and a new amphitheatre at Hecla-Gull Harbour. Mobility access mats are also being added to beaches at Clearwater Lake (Camper’s Beach), Hecla/Grindstone (Little Grindstone and Black’s Point), Rivers, Paint Lake, Wekusko Falls and Whiteshell (Brereton Lake). Some campgrounds remain closed including Otter Falls Campground in Whiteshell Provincial Park, Tulabi Falls walk-in backcountry sites in Nopiming Provincial Park and the Birch Point Provincial Park Campground. These campgrounds will be under construction for flood-related repairs this spring and the minister added opening dates are undetermined at this time. The Manitoba government will be announcing a larger park renewal strategy plan and infrastructure projects in the coming weeks, the minister noted. Tips for visitors and campers at Manitoba provincial parks include: check the Manitoba Parks website at www.manitobaparks.com for advisories before travelling; buy and print provincial park vehicle permits online before leaving home at www.manitobaelicensing.ca; all campers must check in at campground offices upon arrival to receive camping permits; have reservation confirmation and personal identification ready for check-in; be ‘Wildlife Smart’ by maintaining a clean campsite, keeping all food, trash, toiletries and cooking utensils locked in a vehicle or trailer, and pack out trash and recyclables before leaving; keep all pets on leash; and keep all campfires in approved pits such as those found in campsites and check with the campground office for any campfire restrictions. Campers are reminded that because the emerald ash borer has been confirmed in Winnipeg, no firewood can be transported outside the city. Transportation violations can result in charges and fines of up to $1,300 for individuals or $15,000 for businesses. Firewood is available for purchase from local retailers at most campgrounds. Several provincial parks are continuing to hire seasonal staff for the camping season including campground attendants, maintenance staff and tradespersons. Provincial parks are also hiring youth to join the Parks Green Team program. These seasonal positions are valuable work experience for careers in parks and natural resource management, trades and tourism. To find available opportunities, visit www.manitobaparks.com. Manitobans can stay up to date with provincial parks news, activities and events by following @MBGovParks on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MBGovParks or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MBGovParks.