WINNIPEG — Despite a chilly start to the holiday weekend, tens of thousands of visitors headed to The Forks to take in live music, skating and tobogganing.
The Forks said around 60,000 people came through the Market from Friday through Monday, including thousands who laced up their skates and headed out to the river trail.
“We have a new counter system installed on the Red River Mutual Trail,” said Chelsea Thomoson, marketing and communications manager at The Forks. “It recorded over 18,000 passing through The Port.”
Thousands of Winnipeggers were also outside enjoying above average temperatures on Louis Riel Day.
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Around 24,000 visitors headed to the The Forks on Monday, and more than 8,000 people took in the activities at Festival du Voyageur.
Thomsan said visitor numbers were up from 2015, and the weather had a lot to do with it.
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“Attendance at The Forks, especially in the winter, varies greatly on weather conditions,” she said.
“Last year the temperature for the Louis Riel weekend was closer to -20 C for most of the weekend. This year, the mild temperatures on Sunday and Monday brought a lot of Winnipeggers down to The Forks to take in all the activities.”