All you need to know about experiencing the Winnipeg Whiteout

15 April 2025
www.tourismwinnipeg.com
recreation , sports

Only in the Peg

After winning their first Presidents’ Trophy as the top NHL team through the regular season, the Jetties are ready to battle it out with the Blues in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Now’s the time to prepare for a proper Winnipeg Whiteout.

We don’t need to tell you how big this is for the city and the Jets organization, and surely you’ll feel the buzz as soon as you hit the downtown streets and see a sea of Jets jerseys entering the Winnipeg Whiteout Street Party area and Canada Life Centre.

Here’s a guide to ensure you get the most out of your Whiteout experience –– from where to stay, where to eat, and how to get gear to support the team.

And of course, Blues fans are always welcome in the Whiteout! Manitobans love Missourians, while anyone from Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky and Tennessee is most welcome too!

The WPG Whiteout Street Party presented by Crown Royal

For starters, how great is it that Gimli, Manitoba’s own Crown Royal is this year’s WPG Whiteout Street Party sponsor?

The main street party will take place on Donald Street beside the arena, jutting out into Graham Avenue and the parking lot between The Met and the Holy Trinity church (here’s the map (opens in new window)). There are four entrances (via Portage from the north, Graham from the west, Donald from the south, and one off Smith), bars, washrooms and food trucks in designated areas, and a massive screen and stage by the Portage Avenue entrance. The Met (opens in new window) will also be open the whole time for additional food and bar needs.

Admission is $10 with all proceeds going towards the True North Youth Foundation. The WPG Whiteout street party’s capacity is 5,000 fans, so get your tickets early.

A further 1,200 fans can pay $20 to attend the Party in the Plaza at True North Square, which too will have outdoor bars, plenty of food options and a massive outdoor screen for viewing.

Tickets for both events (opens in new window) go on sale on Tuesday, April 15.

$5 from all tickets sold will also go to United Way Winnipeg.

What to wear

A plain old white T won’t cut it, so check out the True North Shop (opens in new window) with various locations around the city including Canada Life Centre to get suited up. For some more fun unofficial NHL gear, you can also find lots of Whiteout gear from our friends at We Heart Winnipeg (opens in new window), North Flag (opens in new window) and The Peg Authentic (opens in new window).

Our friends at Travel Manitoba also have previously published 6 Winnipeg Whiteout fashion tips to help get your street party outfit on point (opens in new window).

How to get to Canada Life Centre

Winnipeg Jets hockey fans remain unrivalled, especially when playing on home ice in one of the loudest and most intense arenas to watch NHL hockey – Canada Life Centre at 300 Portage Avenue.

Fans come from far and wide to shout “True North” at the top of their lungs during the Canadian anthem, so regardless of how you get to Winnipeg, whether you are flying direct from LAX (opens in new window), or Atlanta (opens in new window), took a road trip from a neighbouring province or state, or are coming in for a night out from the ‘burbs,’ here are helpful directions (opens in new window) to the rink.

To help you plan your route when you get here, here’s where you can park (opens in new window), transit information (opens in new window) and accessibility info (opens in new window).

Where to stay

Downtown Winnipeg is filled with outstanding properties, from locally owned boutique hotels to international brands everyone will recognize. Here are some hotels within walking distance to Canada Life Centre:

Find a full list of Winnipeg hotels listed here, and for the latest hotel offers, check out our Packages & Deals.

What to see

Winnipeg is a quirky city brimming with world-class attractions. Visiting them will keep you busy all series long while some of our main attractions are just minutes from downtown.

Explore the largest collection of contemporary Inuit art at WAG-Qaumajuq (opens in new window), the city’s internationally celebrated art gallery featuring snowdrift-like architecture and innovative curatorial processes that bridge the far North to the centre of Canada. Embark on a metaphorical and physical journey from darkness to light through the ever-changing interactive exhibits at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. (opens in new window)

Buy from some of Manitoba’s top makers at The Forks Market where your shopping experience also includes excellent food kiosks and more than 20 unique wines and craft beers on tap at The Common (opens in new window).

Where to eat and drink local

Let this handy little guide point you to some of the best restaurants in Winnipeg, shown through our top culinary categories. For those looking to stick close to the rink, there are some prime pre-and post-game spots to check out offering lots of game day specials.

Pubs, taprooms & wine bars

Devil May Care (opens in new window) | 155-A Fort St
Yellow Dog Tavern (opens in new window) | 386 Donald St
King’s Head (opens in new window) |120 King St
Shannon’s Irish Pub (opens in new window) | 175 Carlton St
Thomas Hinds Sampling Room (opens in new window) |185 Carlton St #106
Garrick Hotel Bar (opens in new window) | 287 Garry St

Introduce your taste buds to Winnipeg’s ever-growing brewery and distillery scene when you stop for hops at Winnipeg’s 20+ craft breweries (opens in new window).

Coffee shops

After a night of enjoying Winnipeg Whiteout festivities, you might need a solid cup of coffee, so here’s a guide (opens in new window) to local coffee spots downtown and in the Exchange District.

Want to dig into Winnipeg’s food scene further? Find countless articles on chefs, food events, breweries and cocktail bars at PegCityGrub (opens in new window), Winnipeg’s most popular culinary website.

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