Visitor Information
Your first stop should be the Yukon Visitor Information Centre (2nd and Hanson sts.; tel. 867/667-3084). The third week in May to the third week in September, the center is open daily 8am to 8pm; winter hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 4:30pm. A bounty of information can be found at www.visitwhitehorse.com, www.yukoninfo.com, and www.travelyukon.com.
Special Events
February is a happening month in Whitehorse. One of the top dog-sled races in North America, the Yukon Quest (www.yukonquest.com), runs 1,610km (1,000 miles) between Whitehorse and Fairbanks, Alaska. The town is filled with hundreds of yapping dogs and avid mushers, eager to vie for the C$150,000 top prize. Making even more noise is the Frostbite Music Festival (www.frostbitefest.ca), which attracts musicians and entertainers from across Canada. Immediately afterward is the Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous (www.yukonrendezvous.com), a midwinter festival commemorating the days of the Gold Rush with various old-fashioned competitions, like dog pulls, fiddling and costume contests, and a "mad trapper" competition.
In early summer, Whitehorse hosts the Yukon International Storytelling Festival (www.storytelling.yk.net), the third-largest event of its kind in the world. The festival highlights ancient stories of First Nations and Native circumpolar peoples, but features traditional stories from all over the world. Many stories are performed theatrically, with song, music, and dance.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
