2004 MEDIA INFO -
2005 INFO COMING SOON

For media information about Caribou Carnival or to receive the Caribou Carnival E-KIT, contact Herdquarters at 867-669-0863 or e-mail cariboucarnival@theedge.ca


BIG
STORIES
THIS WEEK
=====================
WALK TO CARNIVAL!!! – With massive crowds expected at this year’s event, parking will be a major concern. The Caribou Carnival Crew is asking Yellowknife to WALK TO CARNIVAL this year so we do not overwhelm the on-ice parking facilities and traffic in the downtown area. Please, if you can walk to Caribou Carnival this year, it’ll help everyone have more fun.

FRIDAY AFTERNOON IS A CIVIC HOLIDAY! – The City of Yellowknife has declared that Friday afternoon is now an official holiday to allow everyone a chance to celebrate the coming of spring by heading to Caribou Carnival. The coolest weekend of the year begins on Frame Lake at noon on Friday!

VOLUNTEERS & FUNDRAISING GOALS NEARLY MET – The Caribou Carnival is well on its way to meeting major volunteer and fundraising goals for this year, but we still welcome any help we can get. If anyone is interested in sponsoring or donating to this weekend's event, or if you're interested in volunteering for a few hours, call 873-9698.

ATTENDANCE PROJECTIONS – If the weather is good, the carnival is expected to attract up to 10,000 people and hundreds of other animals to the ice on Frame Lake. The fireworks display alone (on Friday night at 9 p.m.) is expected to draw thousands of people to the shores of the lake.

BUTTON SALES – Caribou Carnival buttons are on sale at 25 locations around Yellowknife (including McDonald’s, Sutherlands Drugs, The Shirt Shack, Caribou Carnival Herdquarters) or you can purchase your button when you show up to Caribou Carnival. It’s your pass to the event all weekend long! Call 873-9698 for more information.

IT'S PARTY TIME! – From the beginning, this year's strategy was to put together a weekend celebration that would make thousands of northerners smile and prepare everyone for the upcoming 50th anniversary of Caribou Carnival next year. This year will be big, and if all goes well, next year to be HUGE!


OTHER IMPORTANT
ANNOUNCEMENTS
=====================
CARIBOU CAPERS – The Quest for the Crown comes to an end at Caribou Capers on Thursday night at N.A.C.C. An amazing night of entertainment includes throat singing, Jesse James and the Wolves, Northern STOMP, the Diamond Divas and more! Don’t miss it! The fun begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 and can be reserved by calling the Caribou Carnival office at 873-9698.

CARIBLUES FESTIVAL – Check times and locations by contacting Lisa Tesar
873-9698.

MEMORIES – Anyone with old photos or memorabilia from Caribou Carnival should bring their best memories to this year’s event. For the 50th anniversary next year the Caribou Carnival Association will take a look back at the history of the event.

ATTENTION ALL CLUBS – If you wish to have your club involved at Caribou Carnival, there’s still time. Call the Caribou Carnival Herdquarters at 873-9698 if you want to get involved, or if you have an upcoming event,

e-mail it to cariboucarnival@theedge.ca and we’ll announce it on Snowstage at the event.

DOGS, DOGS, DOGS!!! – Bring your dog to Caribou Carnival and find your way to DOG CITY. Tons of events like the TAIL WAGGING COMPETITION, the Great Yellowknife HOWL-OFF, the PET/OWNER LOOKALIKE CONTEST, DOG AGILITY CONTEST and more. Just remember to bring a leash and a baggy.

KIDS – A magical weekend awaits kids of all ages this year. Come to the GO ZONE in Sombe K’e Park and on Frame Lake for KIDSWORLD, TEDDY BEAR HOSPITAL and the amazing MF WAGNER FAIR. There will be oodles of singing, dancing, facepainting and games for youngsters!

SKATING – The skating oval and hockey rink will be a fun part of
Carnival weekend. Bring your skates to enjoy family skating or to join in the Caribou Cup Pond Hockey action.

CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP DOG DERBY – Come to Frame Lake on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. to watch the top sled dog teams in Canada take their best run at a national championship.

EXTREME RACING – An action packed schedule of EXTREME DRAG RACING and SNOWCROSS will roar into Caribou Carnival weekend beginning at 11 a.m. on Frame Lake near City Hall. Saturday and Sunday only.

GENERAL
INFORMATION
=====================
LOCATION – Caribou Carnival will be held in Sombe K’e Park and on Frame Lake near City Hall.

ZONES – Caribou Carnival has two great zones this year. The GO ZONE is loaded with cultural events and exhibits, attractions for kids, live music and more. The WILD ZONE has traditional and extreme sports, the amazing SNOWSTAGE events, Carnie’s Market, Dog City and much, much more.

THURSDAY
IMPORTANT
TIMES & EVENTS
=====================
CARNIVAL STREET PARTY– At noon on Thursday come to the parking lot outside the YK Inn for the Carnival Street Party. This event will include the launch of this weekend’s JUGGLING MARATHON, as well as the ROYAL MEET AND GREET BBQ, ROUND 1 OF THE CARIBOU CARNIVAL FACE-STUFFING COMPETITION, DIAMOND DIVA RECRUITING STATION, CANCAN DANCING AND MORE.

BUSH GEAR CONTEST – Judging begins for the Bush Gear Contest at various locations around town. Call the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce for more
information.

CARIBOU CAPERS – Caribou Capers is an action-packed night at N.A.C.C. beginning at 7 p.m. The event features the Quest for the Crown coronation ceremony, throat singing, comedy, Northern STOMP and tons of song and dance. Tickets on sale for $10 at Caribou Carnival office.

FRIDAY
IMPORTANT
TIMES & EVENTS
=====================
(The fun begins on Frame Lake at noon and lasts until 9:30 p.m. )OPENING CEREMONY – Big Friday events include the Caribou Dropping Ceremony (inviting everyone to DROP what they’re doing and come to Frame Lake near City Hall)

CORPORATE CHALLENGE – Yellowknife companies compete on Frame Lake in the Corporate Challenge to determine which business is better than the rest. The games begin in the Wild Zone on Frame Lake at 1 p.m.

CULTURAL EVENTS – Traditional Hand Games will be at Caribou Carnival for the first time in the Cultural Tent beginning at noon. Drumming ceremonies, plenty of arts, crafts and traditional events will celebrate the cutlure of this great region.

BIG AIR SNOWBOARDING – The daily competition begins at 1 p.m. on Frame Lake near the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre.

HOCKEY – The launch of the Caribou Cup Pond Hockey Tournament is scheduled for Friday afternoon. Come down and watch the North’s newest annual hockey championships.

MASTERS COMPETITION – The launch of the new Arctic Masters Competition (Five events held all weekend long that will see Northerners compete to become the Arctic Grandmaster of 2004) Anyone interested in becoming a
Master of the Arctic should register at the Caribou Carnival
Herdquarters on the ice when they arrive at Caribou Carnival. Fame and fortune will be awarded to the winner.

CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP DOG DERBY – Come to Frame Lake on Friday at 1 p.m. to watch the top sled dog teams in Canada take their best run at a national championship.

FIREWORKS – The BHP Billinton Diamonds in the Sky Fireworks show will be one of the most exciting events of the year. At 7 p.m. come down to Frame Lake for the MLA ROAST AND TOAST BBQ and stick around for the
fireworks! The show gets under way at 9 p.m. The official viewing area for the fireworks is on Frame Lake near City Hall and the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre. Dress warmly.

SATURDAY
IMPORTANT
TIMES & EVENTS
=====================
(The fun lasts from 10 a.m. until midnight!)
PANCAKES – This year’s pancake breakfast at the Northern United Place begins at 10 a.m. and lasts until noon. The fun begins on the ice at noon, but come early to watch the Extreme Racing team warm up for the day’s events!

EXTREME RACING – An action packed schedule of EXTREME DRAG RACING and SNOWCROSS will begin roaring at 11 a.m. on Frame Lake near City Hall.

BIG AIR SNOWBOARDING – The daily competition begins at 1 p.m. on Frame Lake near the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre.

CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP DOG DERBY – Come to Frame Lake on Saturday at 1 p.m. to watch the top sled dog teams in Canada take their best run at a
national championship.

CANDY DROP – Weather permitting, Adlair Aviation will drop candy from the sky at 2 p.m. over a target near the Caribou Carnival site. Candy fans won’t want to miss this one!

RYFAN BREAKAWAY COMPETITION – Each team in the Caribou Cup Pond Hockey Championships will enter a player to compete in the Ryfan Breakaway Contest. The shootout begins at 2 p.m. on the hockey rink.

MUCH MUSIC TEEN VIDEO DANCE – The ultimate dance party is at the DND Gym in Multiplex from 6 p.m.-midnight. For more information about tickets contact Caribou Carnival Herdquarters at 873-9698.

SUNDAY
IMPORTANT
TIMES & EVENTS
=====================
(The fun lasts from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.)
EXTREME RACING – An action packed schedule of EXTREME DRAG RACING and SNOWCROSS will begin roaring at 11 a.m. on Frame Lake near City Hall.

BIG AIR SNOWBOARDING – The daily competition begins at 1 p.m. on Frame Lake near the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre.

UGLY PARADE – The MIX 100 Ugly Dog and Truck Contest registration will be on 51st street between the Shirt Shack and Diavik Building on Sunday at noon. Dogs and trucks will be on display at registration site until 2 p.m. then the World’s Ugliest Parade starts at 2 p.m. and goes to City
Hall parking lot where the judging will take place.

CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP DOG DERBY – Come to Frame Lake on Sunday at 1 p.m. to watch the top sled dog teams in Canada take their best run at a national championship.

CANDY DROP – Weather permitting, Adlair Aviation will drop candy from the sky at 2 p.m. over a target near the Caribou Carnival site. Candy fans won’t want to miss this one!

McDONALD'S CUP JUNIOR POND HOCKEY FINALS – Watch Yellowknife's young talent shoot for an outdoor championship at 1 p.m. on the outdoor rink.

CARIBOU CUP POND HOCKEY FINALS – The biggest outdoor hockey game year is decided at 3 p.m. on the outdoor rink.

QUEST FOR THE CROWN DRAW – Nearly $10,000 in loot will be up for grabs in the Quest for the Crown Draw, which will be held on Snowstage at 4 p.m. on Sunday.