Snowkings’ Winter Festival turns 30 on Saturday. Snowking XXX gets under way at noon when the Snowcastle’s front door is carved out by snow saws.
Yellowknife is forecast to be basking in -13C and a mix of sun and cloud when the big moment rolls around. (Expect some snow later on Saturday afternoon.)
“We’re stoked to have people see what we’ve cooked up for this year’s 30th celebration – which is wild to think about,” said festival programming coordinator Sir Slush, otherwise known as Taylor Shephard.
The Yellowknives Dene Drummers will join the opening afternoon’s festivities, as will touring accordion and clarinet duo Bridge & Wolak.
After that, the festival’s four-week schedule packs in three to four evening events each week.
Advertisement.
Advertisement.
Multiple Folk on the Rocks veterans are on the schedule. Tea Fannie will team up with local group Troublesome 96 for the Cabin Fever Reliever on March 7, while Skye Wallace plays The Oddball on March 20.
There are plenty of daytime events, too.
Sir Slush selected YK LARP’s appearance on the afternoon of Saturday, March 22 as a highlight. (LARP stands for live action role-playing.)
“We’ll have actual knights and wizards in the castle teaching kids how to properly fight a snowman,” he said, “which will be a great time.”
Advertisement.
Advertisement.
Cabin Radio’s Jasmine Nasogaluak and Ehxea Antoine will be at the castle for its grand opening to capture some opening impressions. Watch for their video tour on our website later this weekend – and if you see them with the Cabin Radio orange microphone, go say hi!
Outside the castle, the 2025 edition of the festival’s international snow carving symposium will be visible. This year’s theme is “medieval lore.”
Events throughout March include:
Tuesday, March 4: Wamp’s Frozen Dog Film Festival.
Friday, March 7: Cabin Fever Reliever with Teafannie, Troublesome 96.
Saturday, March 8: Royal Ball with Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys and Andrea Bettger. This is also Fur Day, which in the past has been used to promote the NWT’s fur industry at the Snowcastle.
Wednesday, March 12: Carmen Braden and Rob Elo.
Saturday, March 15: Shiver ‘n’ Shake with Electric Religious and The Co-op.
Advertisement.
Advertisement.
Wednesday, March 19: King’s Comedy Night with Sarah Stupar, Emily Blake, Mike the Plumber, Shylo Ember and Mason Mantla.
Thursday, March 20: The Oddball with Skye Wallace and Amy & the Easy Hundo.
Friday, March 21 at 8pm: Sizzling Soiree XXX with Parkas & Pasties.
More: See the full Snowkings’ Winter Festival 2025 schedule
Saturday, March 22: YK LARP yeti hunting at the castle from 1pm, then the Royal Rave at 8pm with DJ BLKFT, DJ Tmixxy and DJ Flora.
Wednesday, March 26: Sub Zero Jam with Home Base.
Saturday, March 28: The Great Meltdown with F$#@ed Up and Brenden MacIntosh.
