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Takin' In Inuit Traditions at the Toonik Tyme Festival

Published by Mona Rae, Writer

Country: Canada

The Experience

Toonik Tyme is a spring festival held annually in Iqaluit, on Canada’s Baffin Island. Initially started to promote tourism in the far northern province of Nunavut, it showcases traditional Inuit talents, crafts and other less conventional festivities such as Snow Golf.

Making your way north to visit Nunavut for the Toonik Tyme celebration is well worth the trek, just be sure to pack extra warm woolies. The Toonik Tyme festival has been running for four decades, and has become quite a popular tourist attraction in recent years. People from all over the world come to attend the two-day festival that hosts hundreds of events. Some of the highlights are the North of 60 Idol Talent Competition, the Snowmobile Race, Ice Golf, Iglu Building and the Toonik Tyme Fear Factor event that features the eating of earthworms or caribou.

Every event is held at a suitable place in the Iqaluit area, so be prepared for a lot of local travel during the festival. There are events for the elders and children as well, and everyone is encouraged to showcase their talents. Toonik Tyme is held in spring, the only time when people get to see the sun; but the bitter cold is ever-present even in this season. Dress in warm layers.

The Iqaluit people are proud of their culture and way of life, and the Toonik Tyme festival allows them to showcase some of their traditional events like seal racing, dog racing, and fishing. Despite the harsh cold weather, the Toonik Tyme festival in Iqaluit celebrates the spring, and does so with the locals really letting their hair down and soaking up the sun. If you are able to convince yourself to take a vacation that doesn't involve a beach and daiquiris, then Toonik Tyme may be perfect for you.

Over the years of celebration, more events have been added to the Toonik Tyme festival, which is named after the Tuniit people, who were the first settlers from Greenland. Their prehistoric cultural traditions are followed closely by today’s Inuit people of Iqaluit, and really are intriguing to see in a day and age inundated by fast paced technologies.

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When to Go to Toonik Tyme

You'll need to visit Nunavut in April to catch the Toonik Tyme festival, which starts on the 14th of April every year, and ends on the 16th. A large number of people come to this festival during this time, so book your Iqaluit hotels and flights to Nunavut well in advance. There are no direct roads to Iqaluit, so you will need to fly from Ottawa, Ontario or Montreal, or another main Canadian city. There are five to six airlines that fly from various Canada cities to Nunavut.

Odds n' Ends

In recent years, the honourary Toonik award has been presented to an individual who shows exceptional community spirit. This has often been a distinguished guest who has attended the event from out of town, and presides over the festival events and activities. This honorary “Toonik” becomes the chairperson of the Toonik Tyme festival, and has included Prince Charles, speed skating coach John Maurice, John Diefenbaker (former prime minister of Canada), former premiers and former governor-generals, commissioners, and mayors.

Places to Eat

Storehouse Bar & Grill – Iqaluit, Nunavut
Storehouse Bar & Grill is one of the most popular spots in Iqaluit offering unsurpassed northern hospitality. Featuring pool tables, dart boards, wide screen TVs (including a monster projection system to watch the game), a full menu service and wonderful surroundings, the Storehouse is a perfect place to renew acquaintances or meet new friends.

Recommended Places to Stay

Frobisher Inn

More Experiences Nearby

Experience the Birth of a Glacier at the Ilulissat Icefjord
Iceland is known for many things, one of which should be the Ilulissat Icefjord, locally known as Ilulissat Kangerlua. A fjord is a narrow, long and usually deep inlet of sea which runs between steep cliffs or slopes. The Ilulissat Icefjord is located on Greenland’s’ western coast. It runs 40 kilometers west, starting at the Greenland ice sheet and ending close to the town of Ilulissat. On the eastern tip of this icefjord, there is the Jakobshavn Isbræ (also known as Sermeq Kujalleq) glacier. This is the most productive or active glacier in the Northern Hemisphere. Scientists have studied Jakobshavn ...609 miles away.

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Elsewhere on the Web

Toonik Tyme Festival - ToonikTyme.com

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