Communities across the Northwest Territories are preparing to celebrate the arrival of spring.
The season is a special time in the territory as the days get longer and communities hold events celebrating local talent and northern traditions such as dog sledding, tea boiling, log sawing, hand games and jigging.
Here’s our guide to spring carnivals taking place in the NWT this year. We’ll update this story as more events are scheduled.
Fort Simpson‘s Beavertail Jamboree is set to take place from March 1-7.
Snowkings’ Winter Festival is set to take place in a snow castle on Yellowknife Bay from March 1-28 with a busy lineup of concerts and other events.
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Wood Buffalo Frolics is set to take place in Fort Smith from March 6 to 8 with a hockey tournament, youth and adult talent shows and dances, and traditional games.
Deninu Kųę́ First Nation’s spring carnival is set to take place in Fort Resolution from March 16 to 22. Events will include a youth talent show with a Grease theme, the crowning of a royal family, bingo and a cribbage tournament.
The Yellowknives Dene First Nation’s Spring Carnival is set to take place in Dettah from March 20 to 22. The schedule includes a fishing derby, hand games tournament, talent show, hockey, baking contest, kiddie carnival, outdoor events and a community feast.
The Mad Trapper Rendezvous Carnival is set to take place in Aklavik from April 2 to 6. Events will include a community feast, snowmobile races, radio bingo, a talent show, old time dance and games.
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The Inuvik Muskrat Jamboree is set to take place from April 10-13.
The Peel River Jamboree is set to take place in Fort McPherson from April 17 to 19.
The Mackenzie Jamboree is set to take place in Tsiigehtchic from April 24 to 26.
Other spring celebrations planned this year include the Bison Jamboree in Fort Providence.
Kátł’odeeche First Nation says this year’s K’amba Carnival has been cancelled “due to unforeseen circumstances.”
If you know of an upcoming spring celebration in the NWT that we’ve missed, please let us know by email and we’ll add it to our guide.
As spring festivals get underway, please also feel free to send us photos of how you and your community are celebrating spring.
