Campgrounds in the province are expected to be busy this Labour Day weekend.

Elisabeth Ostrop is Manager of Recreation and Education Services for Manitoba Parks. She says there are still some basic sites available at campgrounds in the Whiteshell, Bird Hill Park and St.Malo. But she says full service or electrical sites will be hard to come by.

Overall, Ostrop says it has been a pretty good summer for bookings.

"Our campsite reservations compared to last year are almost the same," says Ostrop. "They are up slightly, about one per cent compared to 2015."

It is free entry into Manitoba Parks this weekend, though camping fees and national park fees still apply. Ostrop asks all those camping this weekend to respect their neighbours by not being too loud and to keep campsites neat and tidy to keep away critters.

She notes some parks in the province still have interpretive events going on this weekend. Birds Hill Park will be hosting Wildlife Haven Rehabilitation Centre, while the Whiteshell Fish Hatchery will be open all weekend.

Meanwhile, heavy rain in late June caused lake levels to rise significantly. Ostrop says they have dropped to near normal and boating restrictions have been lifted for Caddy, Star, West Hawk and Falcon Lakes.

The Labour Day weekend marks the end of the season for many campgrounds in the province; some will be open until Thanksgiving.