INUVIK
Twenty-four hour darkness hasn't begun yet this winter but preparation is underway to welcome the sun back in January for the Sunrise Festival.

Sunrise Festival celebrations in previous years took place at Boot Lake across from the golf course. This year, attractions will be next to the Mackenize River near the boat launch. - photo courtesy of Town of Inuvik

"I think it's going to be great," said the town's senior administrative officer, Grant Hood, at the planning committee's first meeting Oct. 30.

There had been a sense of panic around the whole event a week earlier before people realized planning it is on track, he said.

Much of the focus at the first meeting was about promoting the festival and getting people to come to Inuvik to see it. In previous years, Hood said the town spent thousands of dollars to bring Breakfast Television up to cover the event, as well as run contests with radio stations in Alberta.

While no final decisions were made, the contractor hired to co-ordinate the festival this year, Ray Solotki, said she planned to work hard to cater to the majority of festival-goers.

"This is an event for the local people," Solotki said.

"It's great that we want to promote it and show what Inuvik has to offer but if we're servicing people here, we need to be getting community groups involved and excited about it."

Activities will include performances by the Inuvik Drummers and Dancers and the Gwich'in Jiggers.

Events include a snow-carving contest. The Inuvik Ski Club is organizing a sunrise ski event.

Some attractions, including the village, will be in a new location this year at the boat launch on the Mackenize River.

Additions to the golf course this year made a change of venue for the fireworks imperative and everything else naturally followed.

"A lot of people have expressed interest in setting up tents and being part of the village," said Solotki.

"We need to have lots of opportunities to have food available there, especially for people coming in on packages. There aren't a lot of options, especially on the weekends, and having food available at the site will really draw them in."

The festival is scheduled for Jan. 9 to 11 and organizers are encouraging residents to spread the word to their family and friends.

The town has budgeted $30,000 for the event, the same amount as last year, although there was a significant cost overrun last year.

Hood said the new mayor and council will be heading into budget meetings soon and that he would consider asking for the amount dedicated to the festival to be increased to $40,000.

Beyond the few days of the festival itself, the installations typically remain for the rest of the season, including the skating rinks and the quinzees in the village.

The goal this coming year is to have multiple sites with a path connecting them from the river to Jim Koe Park and Aurora College. Organizers plan to repeat successes at the park like the sliding hill and snow sculptures.

"Some of the stuff we do in Jim Koe is legacy," said Hood.

"That stuff stays there until the snow melts and everyone can use it."

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