It's Caribou Carnival Time!!

[NWTHabsFan]

Okay, so what the heck is Caribou Carnival, you ask.

It is actually the annual winter/spring carnival that is held each March or April in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. This year's edition, the 49th annual, starts tomorrow on the frozen ice on Frame Lake just between City Hall and the Prince of Wales Museum. Yes, you heard me right...on the frozen ice!! You see, it is still cold up here as this morning' temperature at 7:00am was -43 celcius BEFORE windchill. I think it has warmed up to about -37 now, so maybe I don't need my hat and gloves any more.

Back to the Carnival. It started 48 years ago as a competition to see who would be crowned Bush King amongst all worthy and hardy trappers. Now you can still find the fun competition in the spirit of outdoor endeavours (log cutting, ice sculpting, etc.). In addition, the ice of Frame Lake will be filled with big tents full of activities and goodies to entertain one and all. The new centrepiece is the annual Canadian Championship Dog Derby which pits top mushers from all over in a three day competition that starts on Frame Lake, runs quickly through town, and then does a long circuit all over Great Slave Lake. There will also be snowmobile races, moto cross on the snow/ice, outdoor curling, shinny games, snowboarding and other fun activities. The annual Ugly Dog and Truck competion is also a must see!!

In addition, there is a newer tradition that focusses on the region's strong Aboriginal population and culture. The Tree of Peace friendship centre hosts its annual Dene-Metis talent show. There are three categories of competion: jigging, fiddling and singing. It is always a highlight and one of the toughest tickets in town to get.

So, if you can't drop everything and fly up to Yellowknife this weekend, at least take the virtual tour at its website. And think of me freezing my buns off up here this weekend and the rest of Canada starts to feel the nice, warming temperatures that signal Spring is not far off. For us up here, those signs are more of the frozen variety!!

So, at least for this one weekend, the Diamond Capital of North America is transformed into a northern celebration of the great outdoors and of warmer weather to come. When you look at the caribou on the Canadian quarter this weekend, think of us!!

www.cariboucarnival.com/

[LoupDogg]

Hey, I finally get what the NWT in your name stands for. A little bit of research could have done the trick, I guess, but hey.

Have a merry carnival. Do you have a bonhomme too?

[patate]

The "ugly dog and truck" event seems the most entertaining thing to happen anywhere, ever! ;D

[NWTHabsFan]

Goo said:

Hey, I finally get what the NWT in your name stands for. A little bit of research could have done the trick, I guess, but hey.

Have a merry carnival. Do you have a bonhomme too?

No bonhomme, but there are two mascots, one male caribou and one female. Can't remember their names. The other fun thing is they have Caribou Cops who cruise all the bars around town to make sure you are wearing your Caribou Carnival pins. If you don't have them on they fine you (basically you have to buy a pin). It's all a fund raiser for the event and for the prizes for the sled dog races.

[NWTHabsFan]

patate said:

The "ugly dog and truck" event seems the most entertaining thing to happen anywhere, ever! ;D

It is really funny, and there are some butt-ugly trucks out there. I know CBC's "On the Road" did a show on the ugly truck and dog thing. It's all for fun, the whole town shuts down for a civic holiday at noon and everyone flocks to the ice, to the beverage establishments, or home.