A crowd gathers outside Yellowknife's Snowcastle on March 2, 2024. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
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Yellowknife’s Snowcastle is open for the 2024 season. On this page, check out a video tour with Cabin Radio and our photos from opening day.
This year, Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi is the inspiration for the castle’s design and many of its finishing touches.
You’ll see hints of Gaudi in all sorts of different sculptures, in how some of the walls and windows are constructed – and even in the washrooms, which must be the finest washrooms Yellowknife has ever seen.
Watch Ollie’s tour of the 2024 Snowcastle. Camera: Sarah Pruys
Snowking makes much of the fact that this year’s castle is said to have more than 100 feet of tunnels for the kids, and the slides this year have been angled so that they don’t empty out into the crowd, he added, a significant design improvement on 2023.
Check out the Snowkings’ Winter Festival website for information on this year’s events and admission. The castle is open from Tuesday to Sunday until March 29.
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Below, explore the castle in our photos.
You can learn about Antoni Gaudi and see designs inspired by his work throughout the castle. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
Take a stroll around the outside of the castle to see features like this…
… and this. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
Believe it or not, these are the washrooms. They are resplendent. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
This year’s hall, home to evening events, sits beyond a Pan-Arctic Pavilion sign. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
Here’s how it looks inside. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
As the Roman numerals state, this is the festival’s 29th edition. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
Tunnels are a key feature of this year’s design. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
The Yellowknives Dene Drummers opened this year’s festival. Sarah Pruys/Cabin Radio
A drum dance helped everyone stay warm with a biting wind coming in off the bay. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
Always remember to bring your saw to the drum dance. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
Earlier, Snowking opened the castle in customary fashion, sawing open the door. Sarah Pruys/Cabin Radio
On the other side of the door, team members craned their necks to listen for the moment to start sawing. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
The castle is open until March 29. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
Dozens of staff and volunteers put each castle together. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
The slide is always a key castle feature. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
Sarah Pruys/Cabin Radio
Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
Blocks of ice abound. Ollie Williams/Cabin Radio
Now, meet some of the faces we saw on opening day. Sarah Pruys/Cabin Radio
