Yukon isn’t just about the stunning natural landscape or the long history. There is art and culture here too. In conjunction with this there are numerous festivals and events held throughout the year, some of which have achieved international fame and also bring many people from around the world. Here are some of the more well known of these events.
Dawson City Music Festival
This festival has been going on since 1979. Originally tiny and unknown, over the years it has slowly gained international recognition. The Dawson City Music Festival showcases North American artists from all genres. Not just for the music-lovers, it has a great atmosphere and an excellent opportunity to party. A must for artists across Canada, it truly represents the roots of this culture and is set in the Klondike, the heart of Yukon.
Yukon Gold Panning Championships
This is a fun yet friendly yearly competition and celebrates some of Yukon’s most iconic history. Gold panning is in fact still part of a thriving industry today. The competition is open to both professional and amateur competitors and anyone who joins simply has to attempt to extract gold specks from a bucket full of dirt. There are multiple different events throughout the competition, all of which gives the true experience of what it must have been like to be a goldpanner in a bygone era.
Kluane Chilkat International Bike Relay
For those that prefer something a little more active then the Kluane Chilkat race might be more down this alley. It is an eight-leg bike relay race that traverses through Yukon all the way to Haines in Alaska. As with the previous competition, this one caters to both the amateur and professional. A stunning route, to takes its riders through stunning forests, huge mountainside drops and passed treacherous ocean coastal views. Many of the riders will don entertaining costumes during the race and it is considered by many to be a highlight event for the area.
Yukon River Quest Canoe and Kayak Race
Not for the faint hearted, this is an arduous canoe race beginning at Whitehorse and ending at Dawson City. It is in fact the longest kayak race in the world. Kayakers have to paddle along the Yukon River for a night and a day to cover a distance of 715 kilometres. It can be performed in groups and also as individuals. The start is always quite a show and draws people from all parts of the world .