INUVIK
This past weekend showed a kid's life here in Inuvik can be a pretty good thing.

Seven-month-old Nate Campbell was one of the youngest participants enjoying the Muskrat Jamboree Kiddies Carnival on June 6, along with his mother Shayna Allen and sister Kaycee Campbell. - Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo

The third edition of the annual Muskrat Jamboree Kiddies Carnival rolled out over the weekend and even the foul, rainy weather couldn't put much of a damper on the fun.

Saturday's events were moved into the Midnight Sun Recreation Centre due to the cool, wet weather, but hardly skipped a beat otherwise.

Gretta Sittichinli, the head of the jamboree's organizing committee, said she was very pleased how things were progressing.

It costs about $30,000 to put on the festival, she said, and that was in some doubt earlier this year following a funding snafu between the town and the organizing committee.

The jamboree directors didn't submit an application to hold a fundraising bingo on the weekend of the traditional adult event in late March, she said.

The town refused to provide the committee with an exemption for the oversight, and that was a significant blow for the group. The bingo typically raises about $30,000 for the group.

However, the town had awarded the jamboree's bingo slots to the Inuvik Speed Skating club and the Children First Society, who had submitted their paperwork on time.

Neither group was willing to budge on their bingo times, and the town council didn't wish to set a precedent.

That forced the directors to take a hard look at whether they could afford to hold the separate kid's event, and eventually they decided they could.

Most of that was forgotten, though, over the weekend, Sittichinli said, surveying the dozens of children lined up to partake in the races and free food Saturday.

Three years ago, the board decided to hold a separate children's event for the jamboree, Sittichinli said, to make sure they were receiving their fair share of attention.

Oftentimes, the kid's stuff was lost in the shuffle of the adults competitions, she said, and that wasn't fair to the children.

Since then, the carnival has grown into one of Inuvik's more popular events.

"I really like the foot races," said Chrissy Hvatum after taking part in the egg-and-spoon run.

"It's just kind of fun," added her friend Nick Badgley.

Jolene Donovan, whose daughter Winnie was taking part in the events, said she's enjoyed the carnival every year since its inception.

"It's an event solely for the children," she said. "We don't do many events solely for the children."

Winnie said her favourite part of the carnival was "the races."

Kirt Ruben, who was attending the carnival with his daughter, said "the kids love the games, and it's a reason for the kids to get together for a weekend."

By Sunday, the weather had improved enough for the events to be moved back to Chief Jim Koe Park, and a moderate-sized audience of perhaps a 100 people applauded enthusiastically as the children took to the stage for the talent show and money draw.

Louie Hunt was the big winner, taking home $3,000 in the draw.

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