Festivals and events are planned in most communities to celebrate the
arrival of spring, the return of the sun after the season of darkness, special
holidays, and sport events. Arctic Winter Games trials are scheduled through
the area.
For a list of other (not necessarily tourism related) events in Nunavut,
check out the Nortext Calendar
of Events page.
MAY
CAMBRIDGE BAY
Omingmak Frolics
3rd weekend in May: Don't miss this four-day festival in Cambridge Bay.
Activities include northern games, a talent show, parade, King and Queen
contests, snowmobile races and a fantastic community feast. Contact: Municipality
of Cambridge Bay, (403) 983-2337.
GJOA HAVEN
Qavvarrvik Carnival
Mid-May: The whole family will enjoy this long weekend of traditional events:
igloo building contests, dog team races, and snowmobile races. Contact:
Hamlet of Gjoa Haven, (403) 360-7141.
TALOYOAK
Spring Games
Mid-May: Celebrate the coming of the warmer weather with a week of fun and
frolic. Join in both indoor and outdoor games such as dog team races, relay
races and sporting competitions. Contact: Hamlet of Taloyoak, Recreation
Coordinator, (403) 561-6341.
BAKER LAKE
Hamlet Days
Mid-May: The ice of Baker Lake is a beehive of activity as people celebrate
the coming of spring to this arctic community. Dogteam races, a children's
carnival, elder's tea and bannock, and a contest to judge the best traditional
outfit, all provide an insight into life in Nunavut. Contact: Jeff Seeteenak,
Hamlet Recreation Coordinator, (819) 793-2862.
CHESTERFIELD INLET
Hamlet Day
May 21: Join us for celebrations in this historic town on the shores of
Hudson Bay. Hamlet Day activities include skidoo races, tea and bannock
making contest, and other games. Contact: Hamlet office, Recreation Coordinator,
(819) 898-9951.
RESOLUTE BAY
Hamlet Day
Victoria Day Weekend: Celebrate springtime in this High Arctic community,
with outdoor and indoor activities. Skidoo, ski, and foot races, basketball,
indoor races and games. Contact: Susan Salluviniq, (819) 252-3616.
JUNE
HOLMAN
Kingalik Jamboree
Mid-June: Join us in the Victoria Island community of Holman to participate
in traditional events such as tea-boiling, duck-plucking, fish-filleting,
square dancing and jigging contests. Contact: Holman Recreation & Sports.
Tel: (403) 376-3511.
JULY
Canada Day Celebrations
July: Most Nunavut communities offer celebrations on or around Canada Day
(July 1st). These range from parades to games and contests, traditional
dress contests, Inuit games, and (often) a community feast or square dance.
If you are going to be in a community over this weekend, expect some entertainment.
Nunavut Day
July 9: Come join the celebration of summer and the formation of Nunavut.
Events take place throughout Nunavut. For instance in Baker Lake activities
include bicycle races, running races, a tea-boiling contest, and traditional
games. The Elders are an important part of this celebration.
WHALE COVE & BAKER LAKE
Canada Day Festivities
July 1: Come together with other proud Canadians to celebrate Canada's birthday
in Whale Cove on the shores of Hudson Bay or in Baker Lake. Canada's only
inland Inuit community, by taking part in traditional games and community
feasts. Baker even offers sailboat races! Contact: Whale Cove (819) 896-9917;
Baker Lake (Jeff Seeteenak) (819) 793-2862.
HOLMAN
Annual Fibre Dyeing Workshop
July: Week-long hands-on workshop on the use of lichens and other plants
as natural dyes. You'll collect lichens, learn to extract dyes, and how
to dye fibres of all sorts. Contact: Holman Eskimo Cooperative, (403) 396-4231.
NANISIVIK
Midnight Sun Marathon
July 3 - 7, 1997. The world's northernmost marathon draws runners from Canada,
USA, Europe and Australia. There are 10, 32, 42, and 84 km races between
Nanisivik Mine and Arctic Bay. The marathon is open to only 100 runners.
Contact: Lois Sutherland/Dawn McConnell, Nanisivik Mines, Address, Tel:
(819) 436-7502 Fax: (819) 436-7435.
PELLY BAY
Midnight Sun Golf Tournament
Late July: Celebrate summer in a unique and challenging way. This all-night
golf tournament features an original, home-made golf course, complete with
rugs right out of the homes of local citizens! Enjoy this beautiful summer
month and while you're here, try your hand at char fishing that's "out
of this world". Contact: Hamlet of Pelly Bay, Recreation Coordinator,
(403) 769-6281.
CAPE DORSET
E. A. Music Festival
End of July: Drumdancing, throatsinging, and dancing to the music of fiddle,
accordion, guitar, and concertina, all are part of this traditional and
contemporary music festival, held in Nunavut's most famous art community.
Contact: Paul Kowmageak, (819) 897-8943.
AUGUST
GJOA HAVEN
Kitikmeot Northern Games
Early August: Join competitors as they compete in traditional games such
as bannock-making, tea-boiling and duck-plucking. Watch athletes compete
in fascinating traditional games and events such as the Alaskan high kick
and the one arm reach. Watch for the Good Man and Good Woman contests. Weekend-long
festival that includes a northern feast. Contact: Hamlet of Gjoa Haven,
(403) 360-7141.
7th Annual Summer Sun Golf Classic
Mid-August: All golfers are welcome for fun and challenging 18 holes of
golf. Contact: Hamlet of Gjoa Haven, (403) 360-7141.
TALOYOAK
Kitikmeot Northern Games
Early August: Join competitors in traditional games such as bannock-making,
tea-boiling and duck-plucking. Events include Alaskan high kick, one arm
reach, Good Man and Good Woman contests and a northern feast. Contact: Hamlet
of Taloyoak, Tel: (403) 561-6541. Fax: (403) 561-5057.
ARVIAT
Inummarit Music Festival
Mid-August: Traditional and contemporary music, talent from across Nunavut.
Arviat, Susan Aglukark's home town, is known for its musicians! Contact:
Recreation Coordinator, Hamlet of Arviat, (819) 857-2841.
SEPTEMBER
ARVIAT
Hamlet Day
September: Tuesday after Labour Day. Game for all ages, parades, square
dances. Entertainment for all. Contact: Hamlet Office (819) 857-2841.
GJOA HAVEN
Uqshuqtuuq Music Festival
Mid-September: Join musicians from across the Kitikmeot as they perform
in this 2nd Annual event. Fun-filled, entertaining weekend. Contact: Hamlet
of Gjoa Haven, (403) 360-7141.
NOVEMBER
YELLOWKNIFE
The Far North Film Festival
November 29 - 30, 1996: First annual international festival of circumpolar
films. In Yellowknife, but will feature films from around the North, to
encourage film making in the circumpolar world. For info: (403) 873-4262.
Fax: (403) 920-3654.
DECEMBER
Christmas in Nunavut
December: Christmas festivals are held in virtually every community in Nunavut.
Pageants at the schools, caroling, festive church services on Christmas
Eve, and then a whole week of festivities, from traditional games to igloo-building,
from dogteam races to snowmobile "barrel" races, community feasts,
indoor games of a ridiculous nature and square dances that last until 3
AM. Blizzards may come and go, but the festivities continue.
MARCH
Easter Celebrations
March: In the old days, people came in off the land, bringing their white
fox skins and other furs to trade and attend services in the little missions
at Easter. The tradition of these celebrations continues at Easter time
in most settlements. Activities vary, but usually involve indoor and outdoor
competitive games, indoor and outdoor races (snowmobile and dogteam) and
other events. If you are in a community at Easter, feel free to attend any
church service, and the games and events. You will be most welcome.
PELLY BAY
Easter Games
March: Celebrate as spring comes to the Arctic coast. Join Pelly Bay residents
for indoor and outdoor activities, northern feasts and dancing. Contact:
Hamlet of Pelly Bay, Recreation Coordinator, (403) 769-6281.
IQALUIT
Nunavut Trade Show
Mid-March: Major showcase of businesses in Nunavut. Booths, workshops, etc.
Contact: Baffin Regional Chamber of Commerce, (819) 979-4653. Fax: (819)
979-2929. E-Mail: [email protected]
The Annual Arctic
Foods Celebration
Mid-March. Coinciding with the Nunavut Trade Show, this evening event allows
visitors to sample some of the finest country foods that Nunavut has to
offer, prepared in a variety of ways that will make your mouth water. Enjoy
these succulent morsels to the accompanyment of live traditional entertainment.
Contact: Colleen Dupuis, (819) 979-7024. Fax: (819) 979-0048. E-Mail:
[email protected]
RANKIN INLET
Nunavut Mining Symposium
Late March: Mining companies, land claims organizations, and delegates from
across Nunavut come together to discuss mining in Nunavut. Reports on exploration
programs, workshops, networking sessions. Contact: Kivalliq Partners in
Development. (819) 645-2124. Fax: (819) 645-2170.
APRIL
Hamlet Days
April: Special celebrations in each community, usually in the springtime.
These vary, but almost always are a combination of traditional and modern
games, contests, and races (snowmobile, dogteam and even "blindfolded
human dogteam" races!) Most feature evening dances called "square
dances", but not the western type, more like the old English 'round
dances', and many begin or end with a community feast. For information,
call the Hamlet office in the community you intend to visit. Visitors are
welcome.
KIMMIRUT
Hamlet Day
Early April: Participation events such as foot races, tug-of-war, square
dances, and indoor and outdoor games. Contact: Raymond Kaslak, Hamlet office,
(819) 939-2002.
PANGNIRTUNG
Hamlet Day
First Monday in April: Celebrate spring on the coast of Baffin Island, skidoo
races, igloo building contests, golf, sliding contest, and kids games. Contact:
Billy Etooangat, (819) 473-8953.
TALOYAOK
Earth Games
Early April: Celebrate this special holiday in the great outdoors. Full
day of outdoor games such as relay races, igloo-building contests and dog
team races. Contact: Hamlet of Taloyoak, Recreation Coordinator, (403) 561-6341.
KUGLUKTUK (Coppermine)
Nattik Frolics
Mid-April:A very special weekend in the Arctic coast community of Kugluktuk.
Northern games, snowmobile races, a King and Queen Contest, hockey, curling
and poker tournaments, and a grand community feast. Contact: Hamlet of Kugluktuk,
(403) 982-4471.
RANKIN INLET
Pakallaak Time
April 18 - 20, 1997 [approx]: A celebration of sunlight and warmer temperatures...
Activities vary from year to year, but usually include dogteam races, snowmobile
races, indoor and outdoor games, Inuit games, a fashion show, and square
dances. Contact: Rick Denison, Hamlet office, (819) 645-2895.
IQALUIT
Toonik Tyme
Late April: A dramatic week-long festival celebrating the arrival of spring
with games, entertainment, igloo-building, dogsled and snowmobile racing.
Contact: Toonik Tyme Committee member, David St. Louis. (819) 979-4716 Fax:
(819) 979-3712.
ARVIAT / RANKIN INLET
Nunavut 200 Dogteam Race
Late April: This important long distance dogteam race alternates starts
in Rankin Inlet and Arviat. 200 mile race along the sea ice from one community
to the other: lasts 5 days. Draws 26-30 entries, mostly traditional teams.
Entry is open to the world. For information: Harry Towtongie, (819) 645-3754. | 
