Summer is here and the weather is glorious! There’s no better way to enjoy a perfect day under the sun than with a picnic in the great outdoors. Here are our top selections for locations, as well as tasty food and drink pairings to plan the perfect summer picnic.

What to eat

When it comes to what to eat for your picnic, you are spoiled for choice in Winnipeg. Whether you want to whip something up from scratch or grab and go, you’ve got options!

Ready to nibble

There are so many fabulous food shops in Winnipeg that sell ready-to-eat, perfectly picnic-able items! If you don’t want to cook for yourself, head to De Luca’s for deli meats and cheeses, freshly baked bakery items like bread, and prepared foods (sandwiches, pastas, salads, potatoes etc.) that will fill the void with authentic Italian flavours! If you love Middle Eastern food, Blady Middle Eastern is a great place to pick up enough food for a feast. Their freshly baked pitas paired with their deli’s labneh, tabbouleh, and house made hummus will be perfect for summer’s hot weather. Love spice and South American cuisine? El Izalco Market is a great place to grab some house-made tamales, pupusas, and chiles rellenos. Love Asian food? BBQ City & Fresh Meats is a great market to visit. You can grab their authentic Asian BBQ, such as BBQ Pork (Cha Siu), BBQ Roast Pork (Siu Yok or Lechon), BBQ Duck, and other Asian foods to go. Want to keep it simple by grazing on fabulous cheese? The Cheesemongers Fromagerie is a must-visit shop. If you want a one-stop shop for gourmet, classic fare like baked goods, breads, dips, salads, soups and more, visit Black Market Provisions.

Gourmet groceries

If you’d prefer to cook this picnic for yourself, you’ll need top shelf ingredients! It’s always a good idea to visit a local farmers market, and Winnipeg has a ton of them all week long! For gourmet and specialty ingredients, these 10 gourmet food shops around town will fit the bill.

What to drink

Unfortunately drinking alcohol outdoors in Winnipeg is currently prohibited, so this section will focus on non-alcoholic juices and drinks. If you’re feeling healthy, these local juice and smoothie bars are great places to pick up some delicious and nutritious drinks (like green juices and fruit smoothies) for your picnic. Verde Juice Bar tops the list of best juice bars and you can pick up ready-to-eat healthy vegan food like salads and bowls there, too. If you prefer alcohol-style drinks, you’ll love The Sobr Market! With everything from non-alcoholic Guinness to non-alcoholic spirits, this is your one-stop booze-free shop!

Where to picnic

There are so many perfect places for a picnic in Winnipeg. Our favourite green space destinations are Assiniboine Park, Henteleff Park, Westview Park, FortWhyte Alive, Omand Park, Vimy Ridge Park, Bruce Park, St. Vital Park, Kildonan Park and Kings Park. You could also load up your car, pack a bathing suit and towel and hit a nearby beach.

However you choose to picnic in Winnipeg this summer, we hope it’s utterly fabulous!

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