As downtown Steinbach prepares to welcome thousands for the annual Summer in the City festival, the people behind the scenes are putting final touches on the plans for food trucks, stages, and activities that bring the event to life.
Festival organizers share their top picks, personal favourites, and special moments that make Summer in the City one of Manitoba’s most anticipated weekends.
Corn dogs, poutine and festival sweets
For Summer in the City board chair Audrey Harder, the signature food item is a nostalgic one: “Corn dog. Don’t tell anyone. I will not eat it any other time.”
Cultures in the City lead Tessa Masi is quick to pick sweets: “I’m a sweet tooth all the way, waffles especially.” Artists in the City organizer Cassandra Kornelson says poutine wins every time, while Spike in the City volleyball coordinator Jo-Anne Dalton goes practical: “I’ll probably have a protein bar on hand between matches, but I love the wood-fired pizza.”
David Klassen, who heads up the mainstage programming, keeps it classic: “Fries. They’re hot, salty, the perfect thing, honestly.”
Festival energy fuelled by music and connection
Music and atmosphere are favourites across the board. “The concerts. That’s what makes up the weekend,” says Jamie Roy of Sticks in the City. “There’s something about those summer nights and live music.”
When asked to describe the festival in a single word, organizers give answers that reflect the event’s deeper meaning. “Community,” notes Harder immediately. “Inclusivity,” reveals Dalton. Roy adds, “Energy!” and Masi says immediately, “Bright!”
“It’s about seeing families have a good time, hearing laughter, experiencing everything we’ve all worked hard to create. That’s the goal in all of it,” says Harder.
Favourite festival zones include concerts, rides, and culture
When it comes to where you’ll find them during the event, they each have a clear go-to. “I love to sneak over to the patio area,” says Harder, referencing the space where local musicians perform every afternoon. “It’s so underrated. You can relax, get a drink, play a game of corn hole, and just enjoy the music.”
Kornelson recommends strolling through the Artists in the City tent for top-tier people watching and artistic engagement: “The workshops are fun, and the culture tent is a great place to connect.”
And if you’re not sure what to eat, find Masi. “I’m point person for the food tents this year at Cultures in the City, so come find me – I’ll be there the whole weekend.”
When the lights go down, organizers look forward to rest
After days of set-up, logistics, and long hours, what do organizers do when the final note plays and the crowds disperse?
“I go home, I sit on the deck with something cold in a glass, and exhale,” said Klassen. “Sneakers off, sandals on. That’s the moment.”
Masi agrees: “A long nap. That’s always the first thing. And a well-earned one.”
For a festival powered by passion, food, music, and people who love their community, Summer in the City is more than an event – it’s a shared experience that keeps growing every year.
Summer in the City runs June 13 to 15 in downtown Steinbach. Find all the details at summerinthecity.ca!