The Long John Jamboree marks the end of the Snowking Festival and the official beginning of Spring in Yellowknife. It is a quintessential Canadian outdoor experience complete with a Long “John”spiel outdoor curling tournament, Northern Putting Challenge (where ice hockey meets mini put), igloo-building, maple syrup taffy, ice sculpture competitions, poutines, ski plane tours, snow volleyball, a BRR tent, snow yoga, a snow stage, and the annual Burn on the Bay (a giant bonfire) all located on the ice of Great Slave Lake’s Yellowknife Bay. It also happened to fall on Adam’s birthday weekend so we took full advantage of all the festivities the Jamboree had to offer 🙂 After an eventful day at the Jamboree, we finished off the night at the Snowking Castle for the Royal Ball.

Strolling down to Great Slave Lake for the Long John Jamoboree

The Long “John”spiel curling tournament on Great Slave Lake.

Maple syrup taffy pops are made by boiling maple sap or maple syrup, pouring it in a thin layer in the snow and then rolling it up on a popsicle stick. Easy, delicious, and Canadian!

Maple syrup taffy pops!

Snow Yoga at the Jamboree

Poutine!

Snowking Castle from the gates of the Long John Jamboree

Ice sculptures

Ice sculptures

Ice sculptures

Snow Beach Volleyball at the Jamboree

Long John Jamboree Northern Putting Challenge: “Mini Putt” – where the putter is a hockey stick and the green is the ice of Great Slave Lake!

The Northern Putting Challenge – where the putter is a hockey stick and the green is the ice of Great Slave Lake!

The Northern Putting Challenge – where the putter is a hockey stick and the green is the ice of Great Slave Lake!

The Northern Putting Challenge – where the putter is a hockey stick and the green is the ice of Great Slave Lake!

Air Tindi Aerial Tours – ski plane, here we come!

Our Air Tindi ski plane

Us and our little ski plane

Fellow ski plane passengers all packed in tightly

Aerial view of the Long John Jamboree and the Snowking Castle

Aerial view of Yellowknife from the ski plane

Aerial view of the former Con Mine – this first gold mine in NWT

Aerial view of the Robertson headframe at the former Con Mine – this first gold mine in NWT

Aerial view of the networks of ice/winter roads around Yellowknife

Aerial view of Yellowknife from the ski plane

Aerial view of Yellowknife from the ski plane

Aerial view of the houses in Houseboat Bay from the ski plane

Aerial view of Dettah Iceroad from the ski plane

Adam getting served at the ice bar

Birthday drinks in the BRR tent

Birthday drinks in the BRR tent with our friend Edwin

The Long John Jamboree’s Burn on the Bay is gigantic bonfire! The YK Burners build a huge cone out of wood pallets on the ice of Yellowknife bay and light up the whole structure making an oversized (and loud!) crackling bonfire! I guess that’s one way to stay warm on a cold March evening…

The Long John Jamboree huuuuge bonfire

The Long John Jamboree huuuuge bonfire

The Long John Jamboree huuuuge bonfire

The Long John Jamboree huuuuge bonfire

The Long John Jamboree huuuuge bonfire

The Long John Jamboree huuuuge bonfire – as the fire burns out, the bonfire crew come in to ensure the fire is contained

The ice slide lit up at the Snowking Castle for the Royal Ball

The Foghorn String Band tearing it up on stage at the Snowking Castle for the Royal Ball

After the Royal Ball, we came out of the castle to find the northern lights dancing and swirling above us! What a spectacular way to finish off an awesome celebration!

After the Royal Ball, we came out of the castle to find the northern lights dancing and swirling above us! What a spectacular way to finish off an awesome celebration!

Northern lights over the Long John Jamboree

Northern lights over Great Slave Lake

Northern lights over the snow sculptures at the Snowking Castle