INUVIK - Thanks to organizers of this year's Oceans Day celebrations, there will be plenty of reasons to enjoy the weekend.

The fun starts off Friday, July 11, with a parade leading to the site of events at the river park.

Alexa Pitoulis and Azkaa Rahman are co-ordinating the Oceans Day celebrations in Inuvik this weekend. A Friday afternoon parade will open the festival's two days of fun and cultural activities. - Dez Loreen/NNSL photo

Azkaa Rahman and Alexa Pitoulis are two of the organizers of the event.

They have been working hard to plan two days of activities and events for the whole family.

"We've got some big exciting events for the opening day," said Rahman.

She said guest speakers have been lined up to discuss the importance of the day.

The logo contest winner will be announced and the winning T-shirt design unveiled at the opening ceremonies.

"We had a contest for our logo, which is displayed on all the posters and shirts," said Rahman.

On Friday night, a barbecue will be held at the park, with live music to entertain the crowds.

Rahman said the event will not interfere with the Great Northern Arts Festival, whose opening ceremonies also take place Friday.

Activities get off to a fast start on Saturday with a canoe race at Boot Lake.

"The race starts right at 10 a.m." said Rahman.

"We'll also have shuttle buses taking people to Boot Lake from Jim Koe Park."

Pitoulis said the race is just a fun event with no pressure.

"If we have enough women, we'll have a women's race, but there is no pressure. It's not an endurance race, just a fun time," she said.

A Northern games demonstration is also being planned for Saturday afternoon at Jim Koe park.

Pitoulis said the events could not have been organized without the help of the committee in charge of the initiative.

"There are seven people that helped with this," she said.

"The committee is made of people from different organizations."

Many have volunteered to help at the Ocean's Day celebrations this year, she added.

"We have to thank everyone who is involved," she said.

This is the first time the Oceans Day celebrations have come to Inuvik.

In past years, the event has been hosted in the communities of Sachs Harbour, Ulukhaktok, Paulatuk and Tuktoyaktuk.