Some towns last weekend held a winter carnival but for Dawson City on March 14 to 16 it was Thaw di Gras Spring Carnival, in anticipation of the Spring Equinox, the next Thursday.
In spite of some chill breezes and intermittent sunny skies, the major venues at Minto Park and Gertie’s parking lot were crowded with people on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. And this year the air was quiet enough on Saturday evening to allow for the fireworks display.
Friday saw the beginning of snow carving, which would continue through the weekend in the parking lot at Gertie’s, while evening saw the DCMF Lip Sync on the stage inside.
There was glow skating at the Frye Rec Centre. The Westminster had dog games and Baby Ronka and the Boyfriends performed.
Saturday saw a lot of outdoor activity at Minto Park: human curling, kick-sled action, a much-needed fire at which to warm up, a scavenger hunt, sliding on the big hill, snow skipping, and can crushing races.
On Third Avenue, in front of the Westminster Hotel, the street was blocked off for the adults and kids to play street hockey. Inside, the Pit tavern held its annual tricycle race.
Bombay Peggy’s held a Classic Cat Show.
Saturday ended with a coffee house/open mic at the KIAC Ballroom and a Trivia Contest at Gerties.
The earliest event on Sunday was certainly the 30th annual chili cook-off beside the Westminster, which was followed, later in the day, by a taste testing to determine the winner.
Inside the Pit there was a hat tossing contest, while Alex MacNeil was live at Bombay Peggy’s.
The Barry Fargey Sunnydale Classic Dogsled and Skijor race took off from the town side of the ice bridge. Sebastian Jones was the winner.
The majority of events for all ages filled the Gertie’s parking lot on Sunday afternoon. There were lots of smiles, laughter and good spirits.
Events included the log toss, wiener roast, axe throw, mini stick hockey madness, Smooshboard races, tic-tac-toe toss, slow bike races, ring toss, log sawing, tea boiling and the sugar shack, as well as the judging of the ice carving.
The most popular and all-inclusive events were the Lonnie and Candy in a Haystack Search and the egg toss.
The Great KVA Egg Toss, which ran in a smaller heat for youngsters and a larger one, with over 100 participants, for adults, was probably the biggest draw, both for humans, and especially for the ravens, which got to clean up all the splattered eggs after the people had gone.
Dan Davidson taught in Beaver Creek, Faro, and Dawson from 1976-2008. Since 1977 he has been writing reviews, news and commentary for the Whitehorse Star and What’s Up Yukon, and recently for the late Yukon Star. In 1989 he helped to found the Klondike Sun, which he edited for 31 years, and remains on its board of directors.
