FAQ
Below are answers to some of the more commonly asked questions about the festival and Dawson City.
How do I get to Dawson City?
By Air: Air North offers direct service to Dawson City from Whitehorse, Inuvik, Old Crow, and Fairbanks plus direct flights to Whitehorse from Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton. Air Canada also offers direct flights to Whitehorse from Vancouver.
By Road: There are three different routes to Dawson City: the Klondike Highway (from Whitehorse), the Dempster Highway (from Inuvik, NWT), and the Top of the World Highway (from Tok, Alaska). Click here for current road conditions.
By River: Every year, a handful of adventurous festival-goers make their way to Dawson on the Yukon River. Check out the Tourism Yukon website for information on this exciting trip and lots of other great Yukon travel ideas.
Where should I stay?
Accommodations in Dawson City are at a premium during Music Festival weekend. People wishing to rent rooms in hotels and B&Bs should do so well in advance.
There are also a number of commercial and government campgrounds located both in and around Dawson City that offer space for tents, campers, and recreational vehicles. Information on commercial campgrounds, RV Parks, hotels and B&Bs in and around Dawson City is available from the Klondike Visitors Association. Phone the Visitor Information Centre (beginning in May each year) at (867) 993-5566
You can also check out our sponsors section for direct links to some of our favourite places to stay and a whole bunch of other great businesses and organizations who make the festival possible.
NOTE: Please be advised that the Yukon Government campground in West Dawson is designated a QUIET camping area and a liquor ban will be in effect throughout the weekend. Camping is expressly prohibited at Crocus Bluff and the Moosehide Slide.
How do I get to the festival site from Dawson City?
The festival takes place at five separate venues in downtown Dawson City. All of our venues are in easy walking distance of one another – and of Dawson’s many hotels, B&Bs, campgrounds, RV Parks, restaurants, shops, tourist attractions and other amenities.
Where can I park?
We encourage festival-goers to leave their cars wherever they’re staying for the weekend and walk between venues and around town. There is no designated festival parking area at the main site in Minto Park.
Does my Weekend Pass guarantee access?
The Weekend Pass guarantees admission to all our outdoor programming, including the Festival’s Mainstage at Minto Park. The Festival’s two indoor venues (the Palace Grand Theatre and St. Paul’s Anglican Church) are much more intimate, and admission at those venues is subject to legal capacity.
What is the schedule of events?
Mainstage concerts are scheduled for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings. Concerts at the Palace Grand Theatre occur on Saturday and Sunday evenings, as well. This year’s festival includes a special Saturday evening concert in St. Paul’s Anglican Church, concurrent with mainstage and Palace Grand activities. Having trouble deciding which concert to attend? Don’t worry, the mainstage will be going strong well past midnight, so there’s often lots more music to catch after the off-site shows.
The mainstage is also home to Saturday’s KidsFest. For the rest of us, daytime concerts and workshops take place in venues throughout town all-day Saturday and Sunday. There will also be a free Kick-Off Concert at the Gazebo on Front Street on Friday afternoon. This event is presented by CBC North.
A detailed schedule of performances is available each June at the "schedule" link above.
Can I bring my kids to the festival site?
Youth between the ages of 13-18 require a pass or ticket to access any of our ticketed festival venues. Minors of any age are not permitted to enter the festival beer gardens. Children under 13 are admitted free of charge provided they are accompanied by a weekend pass holder.
Are there activities for kids?
All of DCMF’s daytime programming is family-friendly; while the evening programming is as well, parents often find that, like many large outdoor concerts, the Festival site can be too busy and noisy for young children to find enjoyable.
For many, DCMF’s KidsFEST is the highlight of the weekend, including world-renowned children’s performers, craft workshops, instrument-making, face-painting, and more!
Can I buy food at the festival?
Food will be served by fabulous food vendors, serving a wide variety of carnivorous and vegetarian fare. (And don't forget, there's also a variety of great local restaurants located just a few blocks from the main festival site!)
Can I bring my own food and drink?
Feel free to pack food and unopened water bottles; however, no outside alcohol is permitted on site.
Can I bring my dog?
Sorry, but pets of any kind are not allowed on the festival site with the exception of seeing-eye dogs. For reasons of health and safety, we also ask that you do not tie your dog anywhere in Minto Park during festival weekend.
Are there any ATM machines on the Festival site?
No – the nearest ATM is located at the corner of 2nd & Queen.
Can I bring my camera?
Festival patrons are welcome to take amateur photos. However, it is important that you respect other audience members and the artists by using discretion while shooting. Photos must be for personal use only. If an artist has requested that no photos be taken of them, security volunteers may alert you.
Artists have expressed concerns over the intrusiveness of festival photographers. As a result, we have a photography policy in place for professional photographers. Patrons who appear to be taking professional photos may be asked to cease by festival staff.
When will the Festival take place in 2013?
The festival takes place annually on the third weekend in July. Our 2013 festival will take place from July 19-21.