Here’s what’s happening at 2024’s Old Town Ramble and Ride

Yellowknife’s Old Town Ramble and Ride festival returns for its 18th edition this weekend with music, art, food and more.

The festival will kick off on Friday night with a free concert at Down to Earth Gallery from 6:30 to 10pm featuring Herman Nelson and the Heaters, Natasha Duchene, Sechile Sedare and Ryan McCord. Coffee, lemonade, stew and bannock will be available.

Saturday will feature a range of events starting with bike decorating at Latham Island Park at 9:30am followed by a bike parade departing from the park at 10:45am. People are encouraged to bring bikes, trikes, scooters, skateboards and strollers.

A free walking tour will start at Guy Architects at 10am.

At 1:30pm the Latham Island Paddle Race will begin. Racers will paddle the 3.6km route around Latham Island on stand up paddle boards, canoes and kayaks.

Music, art and kids activities

On both Saturday and Sunday, there will be live music at locations throughout Old Town and Hank Koenen Park will have life sized board games for people to play.

There will also be a kids zone across from the old Johnson’s Building Supplies building with face painting, a bouncy castle, balloon artist, colouring contest and crafts.

Down to Earth Gallery and Gallery of the Midnight Sun are both offering art demonstrations and workshops between noon and 4pm each day. Down to Earth Gallery will also have a kids quiet zone with bubbles, books and games throughout the weekend.

There are also several art exhibits for people to check out.

Trash-Formation will feature “beautiful and strange” works of art made by Yellowknifers from upcycled trash. People can view the exhibit from 11am to 5pm at the old Johnson’s Building Supplies on Saturday and Sunday and vote for their favourite pieces.

A special mural by Diane Boudreau will also be painted at the building.

The Yellowknife Artist Run Community Centre’s mobile gallery will be exhibiting the work of the Tamarack Fibre Group.

Ahmic Air will be offering city sightseeing tours while people can take a tour of a Coast Guard vessel at the government dock.

Gallery of the Midnight Sun will be selling lemonade and dessert squares with proceeds going to Inclusion NWT. The Yellowknife Seniors Society will be holding a silent auction at old Johnson’s Building Supplies where they will also begin selling their Christmas raffle tickets.

You can find the full schedule of events here.