2024 Riverfront Town Square
The Riverfront Town Square is pedestrian-oriented and located in the heart of downtown Whitehorse. Starting on July 1 to September 1, 2024, every Tuesday and Saturday, the riverfront and wharf will transform into a vibrant hub for people to eat, drink, socialize and shop. This area will be programmed for a market, concerts and artist workshops to activate the waterfront and draw people towards the Downtown core.
The unique combination of pop-up vendors, food trucks, live music and artist workshops will make it an exciting destination for both locals and visitors alike. More importantly, this project intends to not only support local small businesses and food vendors, but also increase foot traffic to the riverfront to boost business in the surrounding areas.
Created by: NCES artists, with the support of Ken Anderson
The community art-making event takes place at the end of Adäka Cultural Festival and acts as a prelude to the launch of the Riverfront Town Square. Dedicated to family programming, the First Nations community will invite youth and the public to paint shapes such as salmon from the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre to the wharf, where the community will then gather to unveil the artwork and inaugurate the Town Square. By involving the community to participate in enhancing the First Nations presence along the riverfront, the general public can learn about First Nations artists, the history of First Nations displacement along the Yukon River and the importance of the meaning behind the project.
Created by: NCES artists, with the support of Ken Anderson
The First Nations artwork is painted on the cement pavement by the wooden wharf for the Riverfront Town Square. Inspired by themes such as the importance of the Yukon River for First Nations and the history of First Nations displacements along its shores, the project enhances the First Nations presence along the riverfront. Moreover, this project will reinforce the First Nations identity by the riverfront in combination with the Healing Totem and the Monument for Whitehorse Residential School Survivors.
Given its location besides the Yukon River, the design is created using durable and environmentally friendly paints.
Market days (with food trucks!) are Tuesdays from 4pm to 8pm and Saturdays from 10am to 2pm.
Interested in becoming a vendor this year? Find the application here.
Tuesday July 2
Market Vendors
Whitehorse Wood Natural Dog Treats & Accessories
Anto Yukon
Imperfect Woodcarving
Chef Sandra
Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce
Food & Food Trucks
First People’s Coffee
Half Moon Ice Cream
Chipinn Fish & Chips
Klonbite
KITA Japanese Kitchen + Bar
BBQ King Restaurant
Saturday July 6
Market Vendors
Gold Essence
Whitehorse Woof Natural Dog Treats & Accessories
Hooked on Ewe
The Northern Crochet Co.
Raices Design
Chef Sandra
Food & Food Trucks
First People’s Coffee
Chipinn Fish & Chips Inc.
KITA Japanese Kitchen + Bar
BBQ King Restaurant
Food Ninja
Every Tuesday from 5pm to 7pm, there will be a series of free concerts with local musicians/bands presented by Music Yukon. Stay tuned to this page for the schedule of musicians and bands who will be performing at the Riverfront Town Square.
Interested in performing? Find the application here.
Participate in free artist workshops every Saturday from 10am to 2pm. Two local artists, presented by Arts Underground, will lead the sessions at the market. Sessions are drop-in unless otherwise noted below.
Artist Workshop Schedule:
Saturday July 6
Pressed Flower Art with The Garden Witch (Ages 5+)
Using pressed flowers from The Garden Witch’s garden, participants will make a keepsake jar to take home.
Silk Screening with Nicole Bauberger (Ages 8+)
Nicole will demonstrate her one-of-a-kind silk-screening technique. Participants will then use Nicole’s screens to silkscreen on paper and an upcycled t-shirt from her stash.
Saturday July 13
Simple Sewing for Kids with Alannah Pumphrey (Ages 5+ with adult to support, or 8+ without)
Participants will make mini Yukon animal stuffies to take home.
Try the Pottery Wheel with Sheelah Tolton (All Ages)
Participants try the pottery wheel, create textured slabs of clay and watch pottery demonstrations.
Saturday July 20
Pulp Painting with Natural Pigments with Helen O’Connor (All Ages)
Discover the contemporary technique of pulp painting with paper artist Helen O’Connor. In this hands-on demo you will learn the art of hand papermaking and create a variety of naturally pigmented pulps for explorative creating.
Needle Painting and Embroidery Basics with Alaena Warner (Ages 5+)
Learn some basic needle painting, or embroidery stitches and techniques, and work on a patch or broach you can take home with you.
Saturday July 27
Wood Carving Demo with Josh Lesage (All Ages)
Joshua Lesage will be demonstrating how to sculpt wood using chisels and mallets. Watch and interact with long time carver to learn how sculptures are made.
Art workshop with Kathy Piwowar – more information coming soon!
Saturday August 3
Painting with Atmosphere with Natasha Henderson (Ages 15+)
During this workshop, participants will be invited to try their hand at painting from observation. The emphasis of this painting is not realism, however… it is mood, atmosphere, and an attempt to capture emotion through paint or mixed media. Artist Natasha Henderson will help guide participants through the painting and creation process, with suggestions and ideas of how to add mood and atmosphere to the works.
Plastic Injection with Your Plastic Waste with Janna Swales (All Ages)
Let’s take the big step to see plastic as a resource. What can we do with it, how beautiful can we make it? Bring your plastic type 2s and 5s and see how recycling can happen before your eyes.
Saturday August 10
Making a Braided Rug with Socks with Joyce Majiski (Ages 7+, adult support required)
Learn to make a braided rug using old socks! Joyce will be demonstrating the steps involved and coaching folks through them so that they can start your own braided rug. Sign up required.
Saturday August 17
Stained Glass Art with Stephanie Luneta-Stevens (Ages 16+)
Learn the basic steps and concepts of stained glass art using copper foil and lead, what tools are needed as well as supplies. 3 participants will make a stained glass project, the public will be welcome to watch the process unfold!
Art workshop with Marlene Collins – more information coming soon!
Saturday August 24
Bee Creative Summer Acrylic Painting with Meghann Atina (Ages 7+)
Participants will be creating a summer inspired painting, created by Meghann Atina Arts, with Yukon flora, and busy bees. A step-by-step guided lesson will take approximately 1-2hrs, depending on the artist. No experience is required, all materials will be provided, and paintings can be taken home.
Elemental Expressions: Art with Stones, Grains, and Beans with Toori Fareeda Khan (Ages 10+)
Participants will explore the unique art of painting using natural materials such as stones, grains, and beans, combined with oil paint. Attendees will learn techniques to blend these unconventional mediums, creating textured, multi-dimensional artworks. Participants will take home their own unique piece of art, infused with personal meaning and the organic beauty of the natural elements used in its creation.
Emergency
For emergency medical, fire, or police, please call 9-1-1.
Non-Emergency Contacts
Road or Sidewalk Maintenance
City of Whitehorse
867-633-7669
Available 24/7
Bylaw Services
City of Whitehorse
867-668-8317
[email protected]
Weekdays 8 am to 9 pm
Weekends 10:30 am to 7 pm
Report a Municipal Concern
City of Whitehorse
General inquiries: 867-667-6401
After-hours trouble line: 867-667-2111
Report a problem online here
Harm Reduction
Blood Ties Four Directions Centre
867-633-2437
Weekdays 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Outreach Van
867-334-1647
Daily 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Housing Support
Safe at Home Yukon
867-332-0630
310 Alexander Street
General Questions
Economic Development Team
City of Whitehorse
867-334-1083
[email protected]
Weekdays 9 am to 4:30 pm
