Yellowknife hosts a vibrant and energizing annual festival scene, featuring major musical events, cultural celebrations, cinema showcases and community gatherings.
See below for a special list of all the fun things happening in our slice of life in the knife.
NWT Culinary Festival - Get a taste of the North's rich palate, try new things and bask in the delight of ingenuity.
July 23 - 26, 2026 - Showcasing Yellowknife’s culture, local food & culinary experts.
Walk into Taste of the North on 50th Ave, a market that features food made, grown and harvested in the North.
The Yellowknife International Film Festival (YKIFF) - YKIFF is the Northwest Territories’ film and media event, spotlighting excellence in local, Indigenous, Canadian, and circumpolar filmmaking alongside global cinema.
This initiative is supported by the Western Arctic Moving Pictures, a non-profit Canadian arts organization.
Paddling Film Fest showcases the world's best paddling films to audiences in Canada, the United States and around the world. The festival inspires more people to explore rivers, lakes and oceans, push physical and emotional extremes, embrace the lifestyle, and appreciate the heritage of the wild places we paddle.
Old Town Ramble & Ride - During the August long weekend, residents gather in the most historic part of Yellowknife to celebrate community.
We got everything from local vendors, public art displays, workshops, trash-formation art show, buskers, old time movie house, spoken word poetry, walking tours and a children's area complete with a bouncy castle, storytelling, face painting, music, and so much more.
Folk on the Rocks is Yellowknife's largest and most coveted music festival, drawing performers from the NWT, Nunavut and across our great country for the North's biggest party under the midnight sun.
Jump between 6 unique stages, including a children's area and beer garden, try international cuisine at the food fair and treat yourself to some one-of-a-kind Northern crafts in the artisan tent to get the most out of the experience.
Still Dark Festival invites you to embrace the depths of winter, turning February blues into song. Every February, spend your weekend listening to some local talent at your favourite hot spot.
The Snowkings’ Winter Festival is a yearly, month-long event celebration held in March, featuring a massive, hand-carved snow castle built on Great Slave Lake. The event is a hub for tourists and locals, showcasing live music, ice slides, burlesque performers, and much more.