Jason Unrau
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Aug 12/05) - Christmas in August - as well as Halloween, Valentine's Day and Easter - was a dream come true for children attending the Inuvik day camp last week.

In what has become an annual day camp event, Holiday-palooza delivered the joys of four favourite holidays all in one week.

"For Christmas we made decorations, did a gift exchange and made green slime," reported camper Hailey Verbonac of her favourite holiday repeat. "Don't ask me why we made slime, we just did."

Holiday-palooza began with Easter on Tuesday, and continued with Christmas on Wednesday, Halloween on Thursday and a Valentine's Day dance on Friday.

Day camp co-ordinator Kimberly Male explained that the popularity of the event made it a must-do again this year.

"The kids get to have Christmas and Halloween twice a year," she said. "I'd love it, too."

With the sound of music pouring into Male's office, day camper Jessica Clarke-Kuzman popped in to give her assessment of the Valentine's Day festivities. "I like dancing, I'm going to go dancing right now," she said, running out to rejoin her friends.

While most of the girls seemed to enjoy the dance, some of the boys weren't having as much fun.

"I don't like dancing, it sucks," said Brandon Craig, who preferred dressing up like a pumpkin monster for Thursday's Halloween re-run.

Ryan Kuzman was a little more accepting of the shindig but admitted he was too shy to ask any girls to dance.

As for day camper Scott Boudreau, while the Christmas re-run was his favourite, he said the dance was alright, too.

Danced with three girls

"It's perfect," said Boudreau, adding that he danced with three girls. "I didn't get any Valentine's cards but the dances made up for it."

Holiday-palooza was a bonafide hit, summed up by Verbonac after the dance ended.

"Usually you have to wait a whole year but we got every good holiday in one week!" she said.