YELLOWKNIFE - The race is on, and the home stretch is less than a week away.

This coming Thursday, the Quest for the Crown will come to a close at the Caribou Capers at the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre (NACC).

Garret Tompson performs with bluegrass band the Big River Ramblers at last year's Wine Gala. The band will join a diverse cast of entertainers and musicians at this year's Caribou Capers at NACC. - NNSL file photo

Featuring an eclectic mix of local and imported talent, the Capers should prove to be an entertaining night, said organizer Gail Cyr.

"The show is always fun,"she said with a laugh.

Participants this year include the Shriners Clowns, the NWT Highland Dancers, the Big River Ramblers and more, including a special appearance by Edmonton comedian and performer Don Burnstick.

"We caught him,"Cyr said.Burnstick's appearance at the Capers will be followed by his full inspirational comedy show at NACC, where he will be accompanied by Yellowknife fiddler Lee Mandeville.

Of course this is all (tasty) garnish to the main event: the crowning of the Caribou Carnival queen or king (aged 19+) and prince or princess (aged 6-18)

The titles are given out to the participant who sells the most Caribou Carnival raffle tickets.

Round trip tickets to Edmonton, courtesy of First Air, are also part of the grand prize.

Last year, the titles went to Susan Vogt as queen and Kylie Tsetta and Trista Beck as the co-princesses.

"Maybe we'll have them show off their best ticket-selling, arm-twisting technique,"Cyr said of further entertainment possibilities.

Also drawing to a close will be the Caribou Carnival's beard-growing contest, which has pitted dozens of fuzzy Yellowknifers against each other in a fierce battle of the beards.

First and foremost, the carnival (and the capers) are meant to push away the winter and make way for spring, and Cyr agrees that Yellowknife could use it.

"What was it, -43C with the windchill this morning?"she said on Tuesday. "It's time to get on with this.

"I'm tired of shoveling."

This year, the Capers return to the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre, after a successful year at the Top Knight.

The show starts at 6:30 p.m., in time to finish up before Don Burnstick's performance at 9:30 p.m.