Festival du Voyageur releases program for 2016 winter celebration

It's almost time to dust off your ceinture fléchée and moccasins.

Festival du Voyageur released its 2016 lineup of musical acts and performers Tuesday morning.

The annual winter celebration of Métis and voyageur culture runs from Feb. 12 to Feb. 21. The likes of Winnipeg musician Del Barber and B.C. duo The Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer are scheduled to perform, along with many others.

The festival is rolling out a new, themed-tent this year. The Université de Saint-Boniface Portage Tent will be open both weekends of the festival and will host a Karaoke Night, a Singles Night (on Valentine's Day), as well as a board game night.

Market Days will see merchants set up tables and hawk their wares under a tent both Saturdays of the event (Feb. 13 and Feb. 20).

There's an entire day of fiddling and jigging planned for Louis Riel Day (Feb. 15), and the usual snow and ice sculpting, traditional arts and trades and crafts demonstrations, snowshoe workshops and tours will also be on offer.

The nine official festival sites include The Voyageur Trading Post (Centre Culturel Franco-Manitobaine), Le Garage, l'Auberge du violon, Pionniers Trading Post, Club St. B, Rendez-vous on Ice (at The Forks), The Marion Hotel, Mon Ami Louis and The Wood.

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights is also getting in on the action, with an outdoor portrait exhibit celebrating the 100-year anniversary of the women's suffragist movement in Manitoba.

• 100-year history of women's voting rights put on display in Winnipeg

A free shuttle service to and from the main St. Boniface festival site will be up and running again. It will transport festival-goers between the Centre LaVérendrye, Université de Saint-Boniface's free parking lot and Voyageur Park.

The 10-day festival pass for adults runs for $32. Youth between the ages of 13 and 17 can get the pass for $16, while kids aged six to 12 cost $11 a head. Kids under the age of five get in free. Eager beavers can knock a few bucks off each of those prices by buying pre-sale tickets.

Single-day passes cost $18 for adults, $11 for youth and $9 for kids over the age of five.

Tickets are available at Safeway stores across Winnipeg. Pre-sale tickets can be purchased at the Festival du Voyageur offices at 233 Provencher Blvd, over the phone at 204-233-2556 or online.