Yellowknife (Mar 17/06) - Caribou Capers is coming and that means winter is on the way out. The community party is a time to shed heavy parkas and shake off a season's worth of cabin fever, said organizer Gail Cyr.

"The whole thing is a celebration of the end of the winter and the light coming back," she said.

"We want to give people a taste of what this town was all about 50 or 60 years ago, when people really did welcome the end of winter, because winters were a lot different than they are now," she said.

Mildred Wilke, second from left, wins her second Miss Congeniality sash from Mike Olsen at last year's Caribou Capers. - NNSL file photo

This year's unseasonably warm winter broke records. Decades ago, winters in the sub-Arctic were colder, harsher and seemed longer for Yellowknife residents.

"When you emerged after that long haul between mid-September and mid-May, you were real happy and you were a little wild," Cyr said.

Community members are encouraged to dress up in costumes from Yellowknife's early days next week. Costume prizes will be awarded at Caribou Capers.

A Caribou Carnival queen, king, princess and prince will be announced during the evening, as well. The event also features can-can dancing, highland dancers, storytelling, a fiddler and jigger, plus lots more.

Hip-hop recording artist Godson will present a special performance, as well.

Caribou Capers kicks off the carnival at the Top Knight at 7 p.m. on March 23. Although it's a licensed event, all ages are welcome.