Upcoming Events

March

Snowking Winter Festival
Yellowknife, March 1-28
Ph: 867.669.1571 www.snowking.ca
The Snowking Winter Festival celebrates its 15th year! Come visit the snow castle on Yellowknife Bay and stay for art exhibits, live music, a film festival, family events, a hockey tournament and great hot chocolate throughout the month.

Polar Pond Hockey Tournament
Hay River, March 19 weekend
Join us on the ice with 10 rinks, a live band, fireworks, beer gardens and other festivities throughout the night. The event is held at the Fisherman's wharf site.

Caribou Carnival
Yellowknife, March 18-21
Ph: 867.873.9698 www.cariboucarnival.ca
An outdoor winter carnival in downtown Yellowknife! The Diavik 150 Canadian Championship Dog Derby, Extreme Snowmobile Races, the Quest for the Crown and Caribou Capers.

Canadian Championship Dog Derby
Yellowknife, March 19-21
Ph: 867.445.7223 www.diavik150.com
The 56th annual Diavik 150 Canadian Championship Dog Derby will be held March 19-21.

Spring Carnival
Fort Resolution, March 24-28
Ph: 867.394.4556
A weekend to celebrate Spring. Guitar Hero competition for the kids, the Cecil Lafferty dog races and the annual Victor Lafferty Memorial cribbage tournament.

Moose Deer Carnival & NWT Dogsled Championships
Fort Resolution, March 24-28
Ph: 867.394.4556
Celebrate the end of winter with dog sled races, traditional games and fun activities for the whole family.

Iceolation Art Show
Yellowknife, March 28
Ph: 867.920.0711
Annual artist show on the theme of Ice. Opening at the Snowking Castle. Exhibition at Down to Earth Gallery the following week.

Spring Carnival
Whati, March 22-28
Ph: 867.573.3401
For details contact the town office.

Muskrat Jamboree
Inuvik, March 26-29
Ph: 867.777.8618 www.inuvik.ca
This Friday to Monday festival has several skills contests including muskrat skinning, snowshoe races, dog sledding, tea boiling, and log sawing.

April

Mad Trappers Rendezvous
Aklavik, April 2-5
Ph: 867.978.2351
A fun weekend of old time dancing, dog races, snowmobile races and cultural events.

Easter Games
Ulukhaktok, April 2-5
Four days of community events- indoor and outdoor activities, contests, prizes, and a community feast.

Snow Sculpture Contest/Easter Egg Hunt
Fort Resolution, April 3 weekend
Ph: 867.394.4541
A fun-filled weekend for the whole family.

Spring Fling
Norman Wells, April 9-11
Ph: 867.587.3721 www.normanwells.com
Enjoy the first days of spring in Norman Wells with a parade, dance, snowmobile races, youth soccer tournament, ice golf, barbeque and bonfire!

Spring Carnival
Tsiigehtchic, April 9-11
Dog sled races, traditional games and skidoo races.

Top of the World Ski Loppet
Inuvik, April 18
Ph: 867.777.8618 www.inuvik.ca
This annual event organized by the Inuvik Ski Club invites racers to compete in six different races ranging from 150 meters to 150 kilometers.

Fishing Derby
Paulatuk, April 1-30
Ph: 867.580.3709
Come fish for lake trout. Stay for the bragging rights in contests for biggest, longest, and smallest fish. Then enjoy the community feast!

Beluga Jamboree
Tuktoyaktuk, April 16-19
Ph: 867.977.2286
Celebrate springtime on the arctic coast. Exciting events and contests: snowmobile races, log sawing, harpoon throwing, drum dancing, igloo building and square dancing under the midnight sun.

Gwich'in Day
Inuvik, April 22
Ph: 867.777.8618
Full day of activities with a BBQ lunch.

May

Boreal Piecemakers Quilt Exhibit
Fort Smith
Ph: 867.872.2859
Traditional and contemporary arts and fine crafts workshops are offered through the year at Northern Life Museum and Cultural Centre.

White Fox Jamboree
Sachs Harbour, weekend of April 30
Ph: 867.690.4351

Ptarmigan Ptheatrics Spring Musical
Yellowknife, April 29 - May 2, May 6-8
This theatre company has showcased local talent in musicals at NACC since 1991. Come enjoy this year's production. For information, see www.naccnt.ca.

Fishing Derby
Fort Resolution, May 21-23
Ph: 867.394.4541
Spring fishing derby just in time to catch coneys (inconnu). Contests for biggest, smallest, etc. $20 per person to participate.

Storytelling Road Festival (Northern Arts and Cultural Centre)
May 28-June 12
Ph: 867.766.6101, www.naccnt.ca
A travelling storytelling festival with events in Behchoko, Fort Liard, Fort Simpson, Kakisa, Enterprise, Hay River, Fort Smith, and Fort Resolution.

June

NorthWords Writers Festival
Yellowknife, June 3-6
www.northwordsfestival.ca
The 5th annual writers festival featuring local and invited authors to give readings and promote their works, including open mic events and writing workshops.

Canadian North Midnight Golf Classic
Yellowknife, June 18
Ph: 867.873.4326
www.yellowknifegolf.com
A long standing highlight of the summer season. Tee off under the sun at midnight. Banquets and pro workshops. Lots of prizes.

Father's Day Fishing Derby
Fort Resolution, June 18-20
Ph: 867.394.4541
$50 per adult to participate and $20 for youth.

Summer Solstice Midnight Fun Run
Inuvik, June 21
Ph: 867.777.8618, www.inuvik.ca
Officially on the morning of June 22.

Annual Eco-Challenge
Norman Wells, June 21
Ph: 867.587.2238
This is a three part race that could include canoeing on the Mackenzie River, followed by a bike race from the river to the start of a hiking trail, and ending with a hike/run to the top of the Hamar Mountain.

Yellowknife Summer Solstice Festival/National Aboriginal Day
Yellowknife, June 19-20
Ph: 867.766.3865, www.solsticefestival.ca
Where music and culture meet community spirit... lots of live performances at venues all around Yellowknife. Visit our website for details on time and location.

Kingalik Jamboree
Ulukhaktok, June 19-20 weekend (Father's Day Weekend)
Ph: 867.396.8000
Celebrate the return of the kingalik (king elder duck) with traditional events such as tea-boiling, duck plucking, fish filleting. Outings with families to greet the ducks, square dancing, traditional events and contests, seal skinning, traditional dress, outdoor events, feasts, bike races, relay races and a scavenger hunt.

National Aboriginal Day
June 21
Territorial holiday with events in all communities. Contact town offices for details.

Open Sky Festival
Fort Simpson, June 25-27
Ph: 867.695.3005
The tenth anniversary of this annual multidisciplinary arts festival. A range of art forms including story telling, moose hair tufting, theatre, modern dance, traditional fiddling and new media screenings. Workshops are available for audience participation.

July

Shingle Point Summer Games
Aklavik, Third week of July
Ph: 867.978.2351
Shingle Point Camp and Whaling Station- cultural games, outdoor games, competitions and prizes.

Rampart Rendezvous
Fort Good Hope, July 16-18
Ph: Edna 867.598.2154 or Shawna 867.598.2231 ext. 229

Community Arts & Crafts Exhibit
Fort Smith, all summer
Ph: 867.872.2859
A summer-long exhibition of arts and crafts by regional artists and the Northern Life Museum and Cultural Centre.

Cole Crook Fiddling Camp
Hay River, July 5-9
Ph: 867.874.6680
In honour of a young fiddler who died in a plane crash in Norman Wells. Evening performances Wednesday to Friday. Admission by donation.

17th Annual Fly-Fishing Derby
Great Slave Lake, July 9-11
Ph: 867.873.4334m, www.enodah.com
Hosted at Trout Rock Lodge, come try your hand at fly-fishing at one of the most beautiful locations around. Contests, fly-fishing lessons, shore lunches and more!

Kiwanis Family Day & Fishing Derby
Hay River, July
Ph: 867.874.6283
Enter a good old-fashioned fish derby as a part of the Kiwanis Family Day in the middle of July each year.

Great Northern Arts Festival
Inuvik, July 9-18
Ph: 867.777.3536 or 867.777.8638, www.gnaf.org
This annual event occurs in mid-July and lasts for 10 days. The festival features to 80 visual artists and 40 performers from across the north who gather each summer in Inuvik to celebrate the diversity that is Canada's North. There are Inuit, Inuvialuit, Gwich'in, Dene, Metis and other First Nations, as well as non-Aboriginal artists and artisans.

Little Buffalo River Fishing Derby
Fort Resolution, July 9-11
Ph: 867.394.4541

Billy Joss Open Celebrity Golf Tournament
Ulukhaktok, July 16-18
Ph: 867.396.8000
Each summer the Billy Joss Open Celebrity Golf Tournament is held to raise funds for literacy programs in the north. The three-day tournament includes both day and night golfing under the 24 hour sun.

Parks Day
July 17
www.parksday.ca
An opportunity to participate in one of hundreds of unique and fun events taking place at parks and sites from coast to coast to coast. Events take place in several NWT communities. Contact local town offices for details.

Canoe Days
Tsiigehtchic, July 16-18
Ph: 867.953.3361
Canoe races, talent shows, jigging/dancing contest, drum dancing.

Le Frolic Bastille Days Celebration
Yellowknife, July 15-17
Ph: 867.756.8320
The 11th annual Bastille Day celebration happens at Le Frolic. The weekend features live entertainment, the famous petanque tournament, a fantastic buffet and a cooking competition.

Folk on the Rocks
Yellowknife, July 16-18
Ph: 867.920.7806, www.folkontherocks.com
Yellowknife's own music festival takes the stage at Long Lake for a weekend of fine northern and international music, specialty food and arts and crafts.

Yellowknife International Airshow
Yellowknife, July 24
Ph: 867.920.5693, Sarah Morgan

Pine Lake Picnic
Fort Smith, July 25
Annual picnic sponsored by Fort Smith businesses and hosted by Wood Buffalo National Park. Everyone welcome for events, hand games, contests, and prizes.

August

PaddleFest
Fort Smith, July 31 - August 2
www.fskayak.webs.com
River trips, contests, spectator friendly competition, kayaking and canoeing, whitewater, flatwater, youth kayak games, whitewater rafting, best rapids ever!

Midway Lake Festival
Fort McPherson, July 30 - August 2
Ph: 867.952.2017
Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2010, Midway Lake attracts old-time fiddlers, as well as local bands. There is bus service from Fort McPherson. Bring a tent- food and crafts available at this annual family festival. Held at Midway Lake, 30 km from Fort McPherson on the Dempster Highway

Mackenzie Days Celebration
Fort Providence, July 31 - August 2
Ph: 867.699.3441
Mid-summer celebration on the upper Mackenzie River with cultural events, canoe races, adult and youth talent shows and more.

Annual Ramble and Ride
Yellowknife, Friday to Sunday August long weekend
www.oldtownyk.ca
A weekend event in Yellowknife's historic Old Town with activities for the whole family.

Annual Commissioner's Cup Race
Yellowknife/Hay River, August long weekend
http://sail.ssimicro.com
Great Slave Cruising Club- one of the longest fresh-water races in North America. The race starts on Friday at 9 am. Races resumes from Hay River on Sunday at 9 am. Boats return sometime Monday.

Gateway Jamboree
Enterprise, August 14
Ph: 867.984.3491
Experience an amazing day of family fun and entertainment just a few kilometres north of scenic Twin Falls Gorge.

Culture Week on Mission Island
Fort Resolution, Second week of August
Ph: 867.394.4291
Local instructors teach dry meat making, bannock, canoeing, rabbit snares, drumming, moosehide tanning, and setting fish nets. Participants rotate among the demonstrations. Camping encouraged. Road access.

Deninoo Days
Fort Resolution, Third weekend in August
Ph: 867.394.4541
Join in or watch triathlon, baseball, canoe and boat races, traditional games and cultural activities for all ages.

South Slave Friendship Festival
Fort Smith, August 12-15
Ph: 867.872.3065, www.fortsmith.ca
22nd annual festival- 3 days of music from the NWT and internationally, every single venue in town is used every evening. Nashville of the North, sharing the music.

Ikhalukpik Jamboree
Paulatuk, August 13-16
Ph: 867.580.3709
Celebrate the return of the Arctic Char with traditional games and drum dances. Crib night, Opening Ceremonies, Jamboree King & Queen, Good Man/Woman competitions (13 events).

Whati Fishing Derby
Whati, mid-August
Ph: 867.573.3401
For dates and details, contact the town office.

Marilyn Sanderson Memorial Fishing Derby
Fort Resolution, August 27-29
Ph: 867.394.4541
Named for a community Elder who cared about kids and their families having something to do together. Come on out and join us!

September

Aklavik Dizzy Daze
Aklavik, September long weekend
Ph: 867.978.2351
Fall celebration Labour Day weekend featuring casinos, competitions and fun activities for the whole family.

Fiddling and Jigging Talent Show
Hay River
Ph: 867.874.3581
The biggest fiddling and jigging championship North of 60! The event raises funds for music programs, preserves the culture and promotes northern artists.

7th Annual Canzeal Cup
Yellowknife, September long weekend
http://sail.ssimicro.com
Great Slave Cruising Club, seventh annual Canzeal Cup race to Moose Bay. Departs on Saturday and returns on Monday. For those who do not want to race, come out for a great weekend of sailing and stories!

October

Hanna Stewart Memorial Loche Derby
Aklavik, after freeze-up: mid-October to mid-November
Ph: 867.978.2351
The 17th annual ice fishing derby is fun for the whole family. The dates depend on the river ice. Prizes for the heaviest, longest, lightest, and shortest loche (burbot or mariah, a cod-like fish).

November

Community Arts & Fine Crafts Christmas Sale
Fort Smith, November 19
Ph: 867.872.2859
A great shopping opportunity for that original gift from an original place! Arts and fine craft displays by local Fort Smith artists. Come meet the artists!

December

Christmas Games
Ulukhaktok, December 24 - January 4
Games, dances and community events throughout the holiday season.

January

Sunrise Festival
Inuvik, beginning of January 2011
Ph: 867.777.8618, www.inuvik.ca
The 24th annual celebration of the return of the sun to the community. Bonfire and fireworks on the Saturday closest to the sunrise.

Yellowknife Northern Performers' Festival (Northern Arts and Cultural Centre)
Yellowknife, January
www.naccnt.ca
Check the NACC website for coming events.

February

Marilyn Sanderson Memorial Hockey Tournament
Fort Resolution

March

Kamba Winter Carnival
Hay River, early March
Ph: 867.874.6701
A family weekend full of activities with something for everyone- children and adult talent shows, dog races, outdoor activities, raffles, hand games and lots of prizes.

Beavertail Jamboree
Fort Simpson,early March
Ph: 867.695.3300
Winter golf, dogsled races, and a community feast.

Wood Buffalo Frolics/Muffaloose Days
Fort Smith, mid-March
Ph: 867.872.3065 www.fortsmith.ca
The Frolics is a two day event with a community feast, dance, games, a hockey tournament and dog sled races. Most popular is the caban a sucre- the sugar shack- where maple syrup is poured over snow for a scrumptious winter treat!