Yellowknife (Apr 02/03) - Some said it would not happen at all.

But when Caribou Carnival did get off the ground in the City hall parking lot Friday, Yellowknifers like Kelly Lacroix and her friends were not impressed.

Kelly Lacroix liked the sugar shack, but missed the music tent this year. - Kathleen Lippa/NNSL photo

"I like the sugar shack," said Lacroix. "And I really liked the music tent.

"But," she added, expressing a common theme among teens on Friday, "there was no music tent this year."

Other teens like Mike Lorenzen and Cassie Parrell, who hung out behind the small stage in the parking lot, said they don't like Caribou Carnival. It was better when it was held on Frame Lake, and featured a music tent.

Festival organizers are focusing on the positive. Ellie Sasseville, president of the Carnival said organizers thought the addition of the kids events "were very successful," mentioning the Barbie fashion show and toy monster truck races.

Sasseville said more free prizes were awarded this year, including $2,000 in Barbie apparel, and $2,000 in boy's toys like basket balls and remote control cars and trucks.

"We do realize there were long line ups," she said, "but from our point of view that means it was a good turn out."

Organizers don't have all the attendance numbers yet, Sasseville said. "From what we could see we think the turn out was every bit as good as the Friday event last year, if not better."