Yellowknife (July 23/04) - More than 500 artists and guests jammed the Midnight Sun Recreation Hall, Friday, to celebrate the opening of the 16th Great Northern Arts Festival.

Speeches from a host a dignitaries and sponsors were followed by the ceremonial entry of the Whalebone -- marking the official opening of the festival -- before those in attendance were able to do what they came for; browse the great array of art from the circumpolar region and beyond.

According to festival artistic director Lynn Feasey, first-day sales of more than $66,000 were tallied, dispelling worries that fires in Alaska, the Yukon and the NWT were keeping visitors away.

"I feel fantastic and I'm having a great time," said Feasey Monday afternoon. "Everything is going smoothly and I'm looking forward to what's in store."

Feasey, her staff and the scores of volunteers will have little time to revel in early successes as the festival's itinerary is packed solid for the next four days.

Tonight, Mitaartut (The Mimickers) -- a Greenland mask dancing and theatrical interpretation -- is scheduled for 8 p.m. at the recreation complex.

For fashion lovers, Friday evening's CBC North presentation of "High Arctic-High Fashion" will be an event not to be missed.

The show is inspired by the fashion houses of Paris and Milan. Feasey promises an haute-couture spectacle of the highest order.

Designers still creating

"The designers are still creating as we speak," she said. "And I'm sure they are taking some inspiration from some of the other artists' work on display so it's going to be exciting to see what they come up with."

If Thursday's mask dancing and Friday's fashion show aren't enough to satisfy the discerning visitor, Saturday's Stuck in a Snowbank Theatre Company presentation might do the trick. The Yellowknife troupe are giving a matinee and an evening showing of The Ballad of Isabel Gunn.

The Great Northern Arts Festival wraps up Sunday with artist awards and closing ceremonies beginning at 4 p.m.