Winnipeg Folk Festival kicks off as days of 30 C heat approach
The Winnipeg Folk Festival is preparing for its 51st year with record-breaking ticket sales despite an impending extreme heat wave. Organizers are advising attendees to stay hydrated and seek shade to manage temperatures expected to reach the mid-30s.
Why it matters
Public safety during large-scale outdoor events is increasingly critical as climate change leads to more frequent and intense heat events.
Organizers are urging festival-goers trekking out to Birds Hill Park Provincial Park to prepare accordingly, drink lots of water, aim for the shade, and stay tuned into heat-related updates through the festival's mobile app.
“We ask people to pay attention to their bodies,” said executive director Valerie Shantz. “If (you're) not feeling good, head over to our first aid tent, they'll help you out.”
Wednesday. Environment Canada issued a special weather statement indicating that a “long duration heat event” is expected to hit Winnipeg and much of southern Manitoba throughout the weekend.
Temperatures are expected to hover in the mid-30s, with humidex values reaching as high as 45 on Sunday.
Prolonged period of heat coming to southern Manitoba, Environment Canada says
Though this isn’t dampening Gavin Doyle-Gould and Logan McConomy's spirits. They'll be camping out at the festival for the first time together.
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