Craft sale, garbage bag fashion show, free swimming among events
Participants toboggan down a hill in Iqaluit during Toonik Tyme festivities in 2025. (File photo by Arty Sarkisian)
Iqaluit residents can look forward to a civic holiday Friday to mark the start of Toonik Tyme.
A municipal bylaw establishes the first Friday of Toonik Tyme as a local holiday, a City of Iqaluit news release said Tuesday. City offices and recreation facilities will be closed, but garbage, water and sewer services will continue as usual.
Toonik Tyme, set to run April 10 to 19 this year, dates back to 1965. The festival typically features a lineup of events including games, races and outdoor activities, organized by various groups and individuals in the community.
Events kick off at noon Friday with a free barbecue hosted by the RCMP. Kids snowmobile races follow at 1 p.m., before opening ceremonies and bingo night at the Aqsarniit hotel, starting at 7 p.m.
The full schedule is available on the Toonik Tyme Facebook page.
Other activities include a cake-decorating contest Sunday at the Frobisher Inn restaurant, free swimming April 17 at the aquatic centre, and a family sliding day April 18 outside Arctic Winter Games arena.
There are also activities for elders at the Elders Qammaq throughout the week, including the garbage bag fashion show on April 17.
The end of the festival will coincide with the Brian Twerdin Toonik Tyme Memorial Hockey Tournament, organized by the Iqaluit Hockey League and set to run April 16 to 19.
The schedule of games has not been announced yet.