THE 24-HOUR ARCTIC SUMMER sun will be put to good use this July as the town of Inuvik, N.W.T., celebrates its 50th anniversary with a 10-day party.

Between July 11 and 21, hundreds of visitors from around the globe are expected to let loose in the western Arctic hub, which was built in the 1950s along the northeastern channel of the Mackenzie River when the federal government decided there should be an administrative centre in the wilderness region.

“The town’s going to be full to bursting,” says Marnie Hilash, a tourism assistant for Inuvik (pop. 3,484). But it’s ready. Once hotels fill up, guests will have access to camping areas, dormitories on the Aurora College Campus and even “floating hotels,” temporary residences used by workers on the Mackenzie Delta that will be moored on the river for the week, weather permitting.

The Homecoming Celebration coincides with Inuvik’s 20th annual Great Northern Arts Festival, a world-renowned showcase of northern talent. This year, more than 60 musicians and artists will perform and display their works.

Organizers hope the “homecoming” theme will encourage former residents to return for the festivities, highlighted by a parade on the July 18 civic holiday. Traditional games, such as the Knuckle Hop (players “hop” as far as they can with only their knuckles and toes on the floor) and the Two Foot High Kick (competitors try to hit a raised target with both feet), will entertain the crowd, while community feasts, fish fries and pancake breakfasts will keep party-goers well fed and energized into the wee hours.

— Rachel MacNeill

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AS QUÉBEC celebrates its 400th birthday this summer, the province’s annual tip of the hat to the field of archaeology - Québec Archaeology Month - will be bigger than ever.

Every August for the past three years, a network of Quebec archaeologists, curators and historians has inspired the public with hands-on archaeological experiences across the province.

This year, more than 50 museums, interpretation centres and archaeological sites will participate, offering many opportunities to learn more about Quebec’s past. Organizers expect guided tours through two major archaeological sites will be a hit: the Saint-Louis Forts and Châteaux, once the seat of New France but now in ruins next to the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, and the French outpost used by Jacques Cartier and Jean-François de la Roque, sieur de Roberval, from 1541 to 1543. Archaeologists only recently confirmed the Cartier-Roberval site - located on the St. Lawrence River at Cap-Rouge, just outside Québec - as the camp of the early colonists.

With simulated digs for children, real digs for adults and tours led by experts, the event offers something for everyone.

For full listings, call toll-free (877) bonjour (266-5687) or visit www.archaeomonth.com.