Feast on Food, Flavour and the Magic of Migration

Posted October 08, 2024

There’s something truly magical about watching thousands of Canada Geese converge at the same place and time. A Sunset Goose Flight at FortWhyte Alive makes for an unforgettable night full of food, flavour and the magic of migration.

A True Spectacle

Beautiful Scenery

Watching the sunset has long been a romantic, peaceful, calming staple. And the sunset over Lake Devonian at FortWhyte Alive in Winnipeg certainly lives up to expectations. On a clear fall evening, the sky can be found painted in a brilliant palette of oranges and golds. And when the sun finally dips behind the horizon, the dark gently descends like a velvet drape, with rich blues and soft purples. A masterpiece of nature, truly.

Awe-Inspiring Show

Though the sunsets are gorgeous, they are only the backdrop to the real show: thousands of migrating geese, gulls and birds that come to rest on the water after a day spent feeding and flying in Manitoba. These Canadian Geese and other birds are getting ready to migrate south for the winter and FortWhyte Alive is an important staging area as part of their migratory process — a place where they come to gather in flocks, where there is protection in numbers. FortWhyte Alive's Sunset Goose Flights are a spectacle to behold and happen but once a year. The time to go is now!

The first wave of birds you may see might not be the geese you expect, but rather the common Ring-billed gull. You may also happen to see Double-crested cormorants hanging out in trees next to the lake, along with other smaller yet curious, wildlife friends. It's a thrilling domino effect, to watch gulls take off, to make way for the star attraction that can be heard in the distance: flocks of Greater Canada Geese – up to 15,000 of them, descending en masse! While it isn’t out of the ordinary to see Canada Geese — there are about 100,000 in Winnipeg after all — it's certainly a spectacle to see them in numbers together, such as this.

Affordable Atmosphere

A date night at FortWhyte’s Sunset Goose Flights can cost as little as $10. From Wednesdays to Sundays until October 20, 2024, entry after 5:30 pm is only $8 for the general public and is free for FortWhyte Alive members. If you can’t find a babysitter, bring the kids! Their concession area located outside at their Interpretive Centre includes an array of snacks, both alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages and even food trucks on select nights. You can also check out their education station, lawn games, presentations and more. Check out their event schedule for listings of entertainment and live music! Feel free to B.Y.O.C (bring your own chair) or snag one of the surrounding benches and chairs. Where will the best seat in the house be?

Artist: Mari Padeanu

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Spruce up Your Tastebuds

Feast Your Eyes

A feast to fuel this spectacular flight phenomenon comes in the form of dinner and a show, thanks to the fine folks at Spruce Catering. Treat yourself and a loved one to a lovely dinner for two at FortWhyte Alive's Buffalo Stone Cafe. Take a dive into their 5 course custom Goose Flight Feast a la carte menu with salads, soup, appetizers, entrees and dessert.

Begin your meal with one of their alcoholic or non alcoholic beverages. Choose your own adventure with their a la carte offering or opt in to share multiple dishes! Dinner reservations available Thursday to Saturday, Sept 19 - October 19, 2024 5pm-9pm.

Love and Loyalty

In addition to all the reasons above, the Sunset Goose Flights and Feast are a unique night-out on the town or date night option. Did you know that Canadian Geese mate for life and choose a mate at 3 years old? Life expectancy for Canadian Geese is approximately 20 years. Their bond is so strong that even if one of the pair is injured, the other will stay by their side. And both the goose (female) and the gander (male) play a role in raising their young, which contributes to Canada Geese being known as good parents. And even though they are bonded for life, every year they still go through a courtship ritual to prepare for mating — a vow renewal of sorts. Or maybe just an extra special date night…