Hot ticket sales jumpstart Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous

The 2016 Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous festival is just getting started and already, tickets for many of the events are sold out. 

"I haven't seen it go this quick, ever," said Rendezvous organizer Colin Fenerty.

The Natalie MacMaster fiddle concert sold out weeks ago, followed by the two pub crawls, Queen's Tea and burlesque show. Many other events have limited tickets left. 

Officially, the annual festival — now in its 52nd year — kicked off last night with a pub crawl and the first night of debauchery included the Sourdough Sam competition, when men lip sync and dance to be named "primo Yukon male." 

Many of the non-ticketed events, such as the famous flour packing competition, accept entries up until 30 minutes prior to the event, but for the first time this year, early registration is required for the pet events. 

"The pet parade and dog howling contest have gotten so big," Fenerty says. "To get them all to sign up the day of, was a mess!"

The deadline to register for those events is Wednesday. 

For the "cheechakos" — those who haven't yet endured their first Yukon winter — there are rules that must be followed during Rendezvous week to avoid getting arrested by the Keystone Kops.

"If you are not wearing a garter, you risk being thrown in jail," Fenerty warns the women. And for the men, beards are the safer option: "I wouldn't recommend shaving for the next couple of days."   

There are other ways to participate, too. Fenerty says Rendezvous is still looking for volunteers.