Christine Grimard
Northern News Services
Wednesday, March 14, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Temperatures remain frigid but plans are heating up for Caribou Carnival next weekend.

Grant Pryznyk, carnival coordinator, said that the schedule should be finalized this Friday and events are all lined up for the winter event.

With almost 45 volunteers so far, Pryznyk said he's encountering some problems: not with a low number of volunteers but in their limited availability.

Although he has numerous volunteers for the weekend, he's still looking for people to help out with the set-up on Wednesday and Thursday, as well as the tear down Sunday afternoon and Monday.

Festivities will be launched with Caribou Capers March 22 at the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre, starting at 6:30 p.m.

During the event, the NWT Pipe Band will help march in the Quest for the Crown contestants, a group of men, women, girls and boys, who have been selling raffle tickets in competition to be crowned either King/Queen or Prince/Princess of the Caribou Carnival.

After the two winners have been crowned, the tickets will be re-issued to the contestants for a second try. Whoever has sold the most tickets in both totals combined by noon on March 25 will take home a one-karat diamond.

In addition to the thrill of seeing who will be crowned, the weekend promises endless entertainment.

Thursday night's show will host the performance of an original Caribou Carnival jingle by the Mildred Hall school choir, as well as performances from some Scottish dancers, the Aurora Dancers, and the Big River Ramblers.

Comedian Don Burnstick will also perform a ten-minute show.

If that's not enough for you, after the Capers, NACC will host Burnstick for another hour at 9:30 p.m., along with fiddler Lee Mandeville.

The carnival site on Frame Lake will officially open to the public at noon March 23.

Once open, visitors can have a glance at the Diavik 150 Canadian Championship Dog Derby.

The dogs should be taking off at 1 p.m. Friday.

Extreme snowmobile racing will take place just past the carnival site at 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Contestants looking to show off their talents in Dene hand-games can register starting at noon on Friday.

The hand games from Friday until Sunday at 2 p.m.

Activities going on at the site's snow stage will test the strength, agility, and speed of those brave enough to attempt log sawing, or tea boiling, contests.

In addition to some carnival site action, various places around the city will host more events for the public to enjoy.

The former Gerry Murphy arena site will hold a snow sculpture contest for non-profit groups looking to win a diamond, and a handful of other prizes including originals by T-Bo.

The large plywood cubes that are sitting there now are holding the snow waiting to freeze.

Shriner Clowns will also be visiting from Edmonton, who will host two shows March 23 at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. at the Elks Lodge.

Visitors looking for a show of shock and disgust can have their eyes' delight at the ugly truck and dog contest Saturday morning. The contestants' trucks will be judged at the parking lot, and will then parade towards the carnival site to be there around noon.

Businesses and offices around town will take part in the Bush Gear contest by decorating their offices, and dressing up in their Northern Bests. Groups who have registered by March 15 will be judged around town March 20.