Justice Minister Elaine Taylor and Whitehorse Mayor Ernie Bourassa were carted off to jail Thursday afternoon.

The two politicians had just finished addressing a handful of Sourdough Rendezvous board members, Yukon Party caucus members and the media when the cops Keystone Kops, that is arrested the duo and took them to the Ice Box.

The arrest was part of the kickoff for the annual Sourdough Rendezvous festival that began earlier this week and will peak in downtown Whitehorse this weekend.

The festival is marking its 40th anniversary, '43 on Yukon Time', Rendezvous president Marj Eschak said Thursday afternoon.

This weekend will mark the first time Rendezvous will host a snow sculpture contest with the Zip Snow Sculpture Challenge.

Teams from across the country will be doing the carvings outside the Elijah Smith Building on Main Street with the vote for the people's choice award being presented at noon Sunday.

This morning, more than 40 students from throughout the territory were being quizzed on their spelling skills during the Northwestel Spelling Bee in the large tent on Main Street. Spellers were invited to compete in both English and French language categories.

As some students squared off in spelling, others who had the day off were competing in the Hougen Group and White Pass sled dog races.

The kids' events got underway at 11 a.m., with sprint and freight races set for tomorrow and Sunday in front of the White Pass and Yukon Route depot at the end of Main Street.

As always, the beard and hairy leg contests, which judge the man with the longest beard and women with the hairiest legs, will get underway at 7:00 this evening in the Capital Hotel.

Tomorrow night will mark the crowning of the Rendezvous Queen in the tent on Main Street. The popular event will begin at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6:45, and end with a fireworks display over Main Street.

In between, there'll be a number of performances and contests on Main Street and throughout the city.

Bourassa noted Rendezvous is an event he grew up with in its early days. It's one event where local residents participate in the contests and performances.

While he encouraged people to come out to the weekend's busy activities, he noted he wouldn't be able to make it because he'll be representing the city at the Arctic Winter Games in Fort McMurray, Alta.

Before her 'arrest', Taylor congratulated the board on its 40th anniversary.

She noted the economic benefits from the event is important, as people spend their money during the festival.

In addition to its own fundraising, Rendezvous received money and in-kind services this year from the federal and territorial governments and city.