A month-long celebration of winter and community spirit began 30 years ago with a snow fort built for friends in Yellowknife, NWT.
Today, a huge Snowcastle is just one part of the annual Snowkings’ Winter Festival, a cultural mainstay that draws visitors from around the world.
A hardy and talented team takes up to two months to create the Snowcastle on frozen Yellowknife Bay. The finished structure can be as large as 12,000 sq. ft., or three-quarters the size of an NHL hockey rink. It features a stage for music, theatre and dance productions, an art exhibition, a lounge area, a café and a sliding area for children.
The festival also features stunning snow sculptures. These are created during the Snow-Carving Symposium, now in its 9th year, where teams from across Canada and Europe carve art out of a 10’ x 10’ block of snow. This year’s theme was medieval folklore, inspiring entries with knights, castles and mythical creatures. Each of 10 teams – the most ever – had four days to complete their carvings, which remain on display until the end of March.
The business community always steps up to support and provide goods or services for the festival. As a long-time supporter, Canadian North is proud to provide in-kind support to fly performers to the festival. Our contribution helps the community enjoy world-class winter art, live performances and unforgettable fun for residents and visitors of all ages.
Read more about the festival on their website.
