For its 30-year anniversary, this year's Snowking festival is taking on a medieval theme.

"Imagine going into an ancient monastery, or church or castle," said Snowking president Bill Braden, describing the impression that visitors to the snow castle might get.

The month-long event starts Saturday at noon. A full list of activities can be found .

Braden said anyone at the site can expect to see some amazing architecture, including gargoyles, knights in icy armour and other cool carvings (pun intended).

One thing Braden has noticed this year is the festival's increased involvement with the business community. 

"We've got over 50 different businesses that contribute in some way or another," he said. "Much of it is goods and services in-kind — everything from garbage collection to transportation to helping out with meals, tools [and] lumber. There are so many areas where the business community comes and helps us out."

He added that Snowking has also partnered with the NWT Brewing Company and the Woodyard pub to create a special drink for the season. Snowking is also working with SSI Canada, who engineered a web-cam system to live-stream the castle's interior and the snow sculpting happening outside the castle's walls.

"It's tremendous. I call it a vote of support from the community," he said. 

Having spent years with Snowking, Braden said his favourite part has been opening day.

"There's always a great crowd of people that come and watch," he said. "The great castle gate is actually cut through the snow wall and then the people flood into the castle."

Braden added that seeing the amazement on people's faces and kids running to the ice slides — of which there are three this year — never gets old. 

"We count ourselves as the premier winter event in Yellowknife and we work hard to deliver what people have really come to anticipate and expect," he said.

Taylor Shephard, a program coordinator with the festival, said people can expect a wide variety of acts this year.

"We're happy to have the Yellowknives Dene First Nation come to help launch the festival," Shephard said. "We'll also have performances by [musicians] Bridge and Wolak as well as an event in the evening with Leela Gilday and her band."

Also happening this year is the 9th annual snow carving symposium. It features a wide swath of teams, ranging from local NWT carvers to places like the Netherlands and Texas. 

Each of the 10 teams have been tasked with carving the best sculpture, following the medieval theme of the year. The first day of carving started Feb. 27. The last day is slated for March 2, according to Snowking's website.