Jason Emiry
Northern News Services
Published Friday, August 01, 2008

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Old Town is ready to kick off the Ramble and Ride festival this weekend with a coffeehouse at Down to Earth Gallery on tonight at 6 pm.

The community will welcome visitors with many activities, including a fashion show by Jamie Look, a CKLB open house, many hands-on workshops and plenty of live music.

"On Friday night we've got some bands playing here," said Rosalind Mercredi of Down to Earth Gallery.

"The Dawgwoods, Pat Braden, Diga and Veronica Johnny will be playing. We're going to set up a stage. We will have a coffeehouse. That will be the kick-off I guess."

Many workshops will be offered throughout the weekend.

"On Saturday we have a basket-weaving and a fused glass magnet-making workshop," said Mercredi.

Yellowknife Glass Recyclers also have two workshops planned.

"We're doing a glass stenciling workshop that is very popular," said Matthew Grogono. We're simultaneously running a bike repair workshop. I've got to take care of the glass workshop so I have repairmen who will take care of the bike workshop."

Inuit carving, watercolour painting, mini-inuksuk building and a beadwork class will be among the workshops and demonstrations available to festival-goers.

The weekend will also mark the 72nd anniversary of Weaver and Devore.

"We want to have a customer appreciation barbecue and thank all the people of Yellowknife," said Ken Weaver, co-owner of Yellowknife's famous general store.

"We appreciate the support of the mining community and the people of the community. Ramble and Ride is trying to make people be aware of some of the services and businesses that are available here in Old Town. People are aware of us but we want to help support some of the newer people on the block. It's a chance for us to celebrate at the same time as Ramble and Ride."

The City of Yellowknife and The Gallery of the Midnight Sun are two of the key sponsors for the weekend's events. The city donated a Canadian polar ice diamond which will be raffled off as part of the weekend festivities. Festival-goers will receive a passport, which each participating business can stamp. No purchases are necessary. When the passport-holder has five stamps they are eligible for the contest.

"It's a fun and low-key affair," said Mercredi, "Come down, hangout and have fun. Ride your bike down and bring a chair so we have enough seating."