Quebec Winter Carnival

Quebec Winter Carnival
Carnaval de Québec

Bonhomme Carnaval in 2011
Genre Festival
Begins End of January
Ends Mid February
Frequency Annually
Location(s) Quebec City
Country Canada
Website
Carnaval de Québec

The Quebec Winter Carnival or the Carnaval de Québec is a festival held in Quebec City.

After being held intermittently since 1894, the Carnaval de Québec has been celebrated annually since 1955. That year Bonhomme, the mascot of the festival, made his first appearance.[1] Up to one million people attended the Carnaval de Québec in 2006 making it the largest winter festivals in the world.[2]

Activities and attractions

The most famous attractions of this winter festival are the night-time and daytime parades led by mascot Bonhomme Carnaval. The parades wind through the upper city, decorated for the occasion with lights and ice sculptures.

Numerous public and private parties, shows and balls are held across the city, some of them outside in the bitter cold, testimony to the Québécois' fabled joie de vivre.

Other major events include:

Outdoor dance parties are held at the Ice Palaces.

Feasts and restaurants

Races and tournaments

Also not part of the official program but worth a visit or a stay, the Quebec City Ice Hotel is open every year from early January to late March with its bar, nightclub, exhibition galleries and ceremonial chapel.

References

  1. Daniel Shafto (1 January 2009). Carnival. Infobase Publishing. p. 80. ISBN 978-1-4381-2660-9.
  2. Hilary Davidson; Paul Karr; Herbert Bailey Livesey; Bill McRae; Donald Olson (14 August 2006). Frommer's Canada: With the best hiking & outdoor adventures. John Wiley & Sons. p. 300. ISBN 978-0-470-04457-5.
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