It’s Toonik Tyme again in Iqaluit

Solomon Awa receives his honorary Toonik certificate April 12 at the event’s opening ceremonies in Iqaluit.. The Toonik Tyme board of directors chose Awa, a resident of Iqaluit for the past 12 years, to recognize his leadership of the August 2011 bowhead whale hunt near Iqaluit. (PHOTO BY SARAH MCMAHON)

You won’t have trouble finding something to do this weekend in Iqaluit as Toonik Tyme takes over the city.

A half-day civic holiday on the afternoon on Friday, April 13 means people in Iqaluit can get started fast.

To build up your energy for the afternoon’s activities, there’s a hot traditional lunch at the Anglican Parish Hall between 12 and 1 p.m. as a fundraiser for the St. Jude’s Cathedral fundraising committee ($15 a person).

Then, at 1 p.m. adults, can get out their golf clubs for a round of ice golf at Toonik Lake ($15 a person to participate).

For adults, there’s a scavenger hunt that starts at 1 p.m. at the curling rink and costs $20 for a team of five to participate, with prizes for the winning team.

A teen sliding party, starting at the Makktuttukkuvik youth centre, takes place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m..

And if you like bingo, you won’t want to miss the giant bingo at the curling rink. Doors open at 5 p.m., bingo starts at 7 p.m. and a book costs $100 for a chance of some of the $20,000 in prizes.

Saturday is packed with activities:

• departure of the dog team race on the sea ice at 10 a.m.;

• a giant craft fair that starts 10 a.m. in the curling rink;

• a country food market at noon at Iqaluit square;

• a Toonik Tyme family crafts time at the library from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.;

• an igloo-building contest behind at the Nunavut Court of Justice starting a 1 p.m.;

• a noon-hour ice sculpting competition in front of the RCMP V Division headquarters;

• afternoon of traditional outdoor games, tea and bannock contest and seal skinning contest in front of Nakasuk Elementary School;

• Mumirniksautijut dance-off at the Nakasuk gym 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., $1 entry;

• traditional Inuit games from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the youth centre, free for youth; and,

• Toonik concert with the Stanfields at the curling rink, from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., tickets $40, on sale at Arctic Ventures.

Sunday features a rotary brunch at the Inuksuk High School, followed by family golf at Toonik lake, snowmobile drag races at 1 p.m. and a kite regatta.

Monday sees elders outdoor games outside the Elders Qammaq from 1:30 p.m.to 3:30 p.m., a youth music night from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the youth centre, a cake decorating contest at 6:30 p.m. at the curling ink and a closing celebration and pot luck feast from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the curling rink, $2 entry, children and elders free.

Throughout the weekend, you’ll also find hockey at the Arnaitok arena and the Arctic Winter Games arena, with 29 teams competing, including girls’ hockey teams from Nunavik.

To check for schedule changes go to the Toonik Tyme website.