Jessica Gray
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 27/06) - It will be the biggest year for the SnowKing, and he knows it.

The King's winter festival runs March 1 to March 31. New events like the Peter Gwoski Invitational miniputt will join the festival's famous events like the Frozen Dog Film Festival, the Block 100 Rock and Roll Bash, and the Royal Ball.

SnowKing Anthony Foliot is well on his way to completing this year's castle on Yellowknife Bay. - Jessica Gray/NNSL photo

And that's not all. Not only will there be two rooms in the ice hotel, but a mini-putt, ice rink, and concert hall. But even a monarch can feel the winter blues. He's had to hire workers to make sure his castle is built in time.

"This is the first year I've hired a four-person crew," said the SnowKing, also known as Anthony Foliot.

In past years, Foliot has relied on the sweat and tears of many volunteers. But with winter events like figure skating and hockey, volunteers are in short supply.

"The volunteer pool is stretched thin," he said this week from his castle-in-progress.

To help make this event self-sustaining, the SnowKing will also charge $5 a person, a first in the event's 11-year history.

"Joe Snow" is one of the crew dedicated to making the SnowKing's dreams come to fruition.

"I can't imagine a better job," said Snow, also known as Ryan McCord.

The crewman has been back and forth between Yellowknife and his hometown Peterborough, Ontario, for the past two years.When he heard the SnowKing needed help, he decided to come back to Yellowknife.