Aqpik Jam Music Festival

The annual Aqpik Jam is held in mid-August and attracts many tourists from as far away as Greenland. The music festival is named after the wild berry (cloudberry) that is plentiful around Kuujjuaq in the late summer. Aqpik Jam promotes Native artists, although special acts such as Glass Tiger and Honeymoon Suite have been invited to perform in recent years. The music performed can range from traditional throat-singing and drum dancing, to country, gospel, rock and heavy metal.

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For more information

Northern Village of Kuujjuaq
Attn. Aqpik Jam Committee
P.O. Box 210
Kuujjuaq QC  J0M 1C0

Annual Fishing Competition

Every spring, the Nayumivik Landholding Corporation organizes an ice-fishing competition for Inuit residents. Large lake trout can weigh from 30 to 40 pounds. The community also organizes other activities (including snowmobile races) to celebrate the spring season, usually around Easter.

Christmas Candy Drop

The candy drop event is unique to Kuujjuaq. This tradition was begun in the 1970's by Johnny May, a well-known local bush pilot. On December 25 around noon, local residents gather near the Koksoak River to collect the candy and other articles (such as clothing and furs) dropped from a passing single-engine airplane.

Aircraft used in the annual candy drop:

• de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter
• de Havilland Beaver

Easter Snowmobile Race

Held over the Easter weekend, Kujjuaq's annual snowmobile race draws racers from surrounding communities. Depending on the year, different routes may be followed: for example, from Kuujjuaq to Tasiujaq, Kuujjuaq to Kangiqsualujjuaq, and more recently up the Koksoak River. All races finish in Kuujjuaq.

Easter Snowmobile Race. Photo: Isabelle Dubois