The Town of Inuvik is looking to make a splash for the partying crowd at the 2018 Inuvik Sunrise Festival, but other details of the event saw much debate at the first public planning meeting, including a suggestion to move the date altogether.

Clyde Elanik gets dogpiled by Kohl McDonald, middle, and Gordon Lennie on top while playing on the ice at the 2017 Inuvik Sunrise Festival. Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e just not bringing enough people up,SA国际影视传媒� said Kylik Kisoun Taylor of Tundra North Tours.

The festival should be an international event, he said, but falling one week into January means people would have to take off an extra week after the Christmas break, something that most working folk arenSA国际影视传媒檛 capable of getting.

Taylor said he has had customers who wanted to go to the festival but switched to the Muskrat Jamboree, which falls in April.

In addition to the poor timing of the date, the sunrise festival occurs at a time of the year when SA国际影视传媒� obviously SA国际影视传媒� Inuvik is very dark and poor for tourism opportunities.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 almost like push it forward (to make it a New YearSA国际影视传媒檚 celebration) or move it back a month,SA国际影视传媒� said Taylor.

The town would see a greater return on investment if it found a better date, he said, conceding that it is too late to make this kind of a switch for the 2018 festival but could be something to consider in the future.

One of the largest challenges for the town this year is to define exactly what it wants from staple program A Taste of Inuvik.

Over the years, the event has bounced around with its priorities, starting as a chamber of commerce initiative to showcase local businesses and now often confusing festivalgoers as to whether itSA国际影视传媒檚 a feast or not.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think itSA国际影视传媒檚 important there is consistent food,SA国际影视传媒� said Tony Devlin, who attended the meeting. SA国际影视传媒淭he year that Justin Trudeau showed up, we showed up there at 6:15, 15 to 20 minutes after it opened, and the food was gone.SA国际影视传媒�

Recreation coordinator Steve Krug said in the past there has been some confusion over whether it was a sit-down meal or a small plate.

There was much debate around the room about the best way to handle the service.

Marketing coordinator Chris Sharpe said he would like to include food from as many cultures as possible in the event, but Devlin said that might be a challenge for some groups that donSA国际影视传媒檛 have the resources to serve the crowds at the festival.

SA国际影视传媒淎 feast always sounds like itSA国际影视传媒檚 super easy,SA国际影视传媒� said Jackie Challis. SA国际影视传媒淏ut what happens in the backSA国际影视传媒� thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a lot that goes into it.SA国际影视传媒�

A profit- or cost-sharing deal with vendors was one suggestion at the meeting.

For the 2018 festival, the town will be holding a DJ party on the Saturday night, offering an event for partiers and adults interested in drinking.

There was some debate about the possibility to hold it outside at the Twin Lakes after the fireworks, but consensus seemed to be that the Midnight Sun Complex would make more sense, especially if the weather were particularly poor.

SA国际影视传媒淚 say go big or donSA国际影视传媒檛 go at all,SA国际影视传媒� said Sharpe about the DJ event.

Also scheduled for the festival is a childrenSA国际影视传媒檚 concert.

Other subjects brought up during the meeting were limiting drones around the fireworks, bringing bleachers down to the Twin Lakes so more people could sit, and extending the snow-carving judging until later in the night to get more exposure.

Regular meetings will take place until the festival, which is scheduled for Jan. 5 to 7, 2018.