Jasmine Budak
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (June 19/02) - Despite a dreary and drizzling sky, Yellowknifers still turned out for city council's annual community barbecue Sunday.

Bob Cook and Jennifer Wahlroth, pipers with the NWT pipe band, get ready to wow the crowd. - Jasmine Budak/NNSL photo

A mostly brass high school jazz and concert band along with a group of bagpipers entertained an enthusiastic crowd.

Picnickers dined on free burgers, hotdogs and ice cream.

The grass was littered with kids clutching yellow and blue balloons and dogs pleading with owners to hand over food scraps. Every age group was in attendance even on this drab day.

Coun. Dave McCann was in good spirits while he served up veggie dogs.

"I managed to move about 100 dogs," said a cheerful McCann.

McCann revealed he is a "quasi-vegetarian." Like many, he says he's concerned not only about the health effects of too much red meat, but also the destruction of precious farmland and North America's excessive red meat consumption.

Threatening dark rain clouds didn't stop the Sir John Franklin concert band from blasting out some old favourites. The jazz band was up next and managed to play right through the drizzle, instruments unharmed.

The NWT pipe band, decked out in Scottish kilts and little black caps, took the stage next. Long-time piper Jennifer Wahlroth tells of someone she knew who would pipe away with his back to the crowd.

"It's the ugliest instrument to play," said Wahlroth. She said it's embarrassing since your face gets all pinched and silly when you play.

Wahlroth has played the pipes for about eight years. She chose the pipes since there were few other bands she could join.

Fellow piper April Taylor complained about the less than comfortable uniforms.

"They're so tight and uncomfortable!" she said.

Festivities continued into the late afternoon to the enchanting sound of pipes.