SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The 10th year of Ramble and Ride was the festival's best ever, according to co-ordinator Emily Smits.

Dan the One-Man Band, who was busking throughout the festival, sings a tune. - Robin Grant/NNSL photo

"We printed the same amount of schedules as last year because I had stacks leftover last year and we almost ran out on Saturday," she said.

"Everywhere I went, because I was all over the place, there were tons of people and I haven't counted how many entries are in the diamond draw, but it's got to be double from last year ... It was pretty awesome."

The three-day festival featured local artists who set up displays of a variety of crafts, including sealskin accessories, earrings, stone carvings and paintings.

A variety of local musicians played on stages throughout Old Town, including Rebels Without Applause, Midnight Soul, Quantum Tangle and The Bushman, to name a few.

New this year was the Yellowknife Dance Collective which held a multi-location dance performance called Moving Spaces. During each show, dancers moved to different locations around Old Town lead by musicians playing fiddles and the audience followed.

"The dance company was fabulous," said festival volunteer Pamela Murray.

"They danced at different locations around Old Town and did some really interesting and unusual stuff."

Ecology North ensured the festival stayed eco-friendly by setting up a water bottle refill station.

"A lot of people brought re-usable water bottles and a lot of people biked down and lots of people said that the water bottle refilling station was a great idea," said Ecology North co-ordinator, Katherine Thomas.

Don Antoine, a local Dene carver who specializes in using materials such as moose and caribou antler and bone, said the festival is a good opportunity for artists to gain exposure.

"A lot of people took my business cards," he said.

"It gives you exposure and a chance to meet people and have a good time and enjoy the day and make a few dollars."

Not everyone felt like the crowds were big this year.

Charissa Alain-Lilly, who crafts hand-painted earrings and a variety of mittens, said she didn't have as many customers to her booth.

"It was really slow this year. I've talked to lots of other artists and I've been to other festivals and apparently all across the North, in Whitehorse, Inuvik, Fort Simpson, it's all been a lot slower this summer with the tourists," she said.

"The numbers are just down."

Festival-goer Aliya Aumond said she felt Ramble and Ride is important because it helps local businesses and artists connect with community members.

"It allows many small businesses to come so they get a lot of profit so it helps them and it brings the community together so everyone gets to meet up and hang out together and have a good time," she said.

She especially liked the henna.

"I love the designs that it leaves," she said.

"It stays for a long time and it's just really pretty to have on your body."

Phoenix Smith, a dancer with the Yellowknife Dance Collective, said Ramble and Ride gets the community engaged.

"It was great. The weather today was beautiful and there was lots of people out and participating in all sorts of different activities," she said.

"I love it because it gets people out and about in the summer and you have a chance to see all the different crafts and artists out."

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