FROSTY FUN AT QUEBEC S WINTER CARNIVAL

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1 FROSTY FUN AT QUEBEC S WINTER CARNIVAL For much of the world the months of January and February are a chance to recover from the the holiday festivities of December, but for some cities the party is just getting started.new Orleans has Mardi Gras, Rio has Carnivale and Quebec City? Well Quebec City has its Winter Carnival and it may be the most fun you can have in the snow. The third largest Carnival celebration (after Rio and Mardi Gras) and the world s largest winter festival, Quebec s Winter Carnival draws over 500,000 visitors, with nearly half coming in from outside Quebec. Running from the end of January to Mid-February each year, the Winter Carnival has been celebrating winter fun for over 100 years. No visit to Winter Carnival is complete without a visit with Bonhomme. Serving as Winter Carnival s official Ambassador, this jovial seven-foot tall snowman welcomes everyone to come enjoy Quebec s winter festivities. Beloved by kids throughout Quebec (and as popular as Santa Claus), he is instantly recognizable by his red toque(hat for all of us English speakers), big smile and the traditional Québécois arrow sash tied at his waist. Word also has it that he also has some pretty sweet dance moves, especially if he hears his song.

2 While Bonhomme can turn up anywhere(he is the King of Winter after all), the best bet for meeting this jolly snowman is a stop by his Winter Palace. Located across from Quebec City s Parliament Building, this frozen castle is Bonhomme s home and features exhibits about the history of Winter Carnival.

3 A short stroll from Bonhomme s Ice Palace (and much of Old Town Quebec), this year s festivities took place at the Plains of Abraham, Quebec City s version of Central Park. An effigy pass gets you access to the festivities for $15, or for $40 you get an official festival hat, drink and snack. You ll find some traditional carnival rides like the ferris wheel (definitely worth a ride for the views of the Carnival and Quebec), but the best fun to be had is with some of the special winter activities. Fancy becoming a human bowling ball? Somehow I found myself on the inside of a giant inflatable ball, known as a zorb, running down a snowy hill towards some giant inflatable bowling pins. You know what? It was a blast and ended up being a favorite of nearly everyone in our group.

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5 Adrenaline, fur and snow flying; dog sledding( an extra $10 per adult or $8 per child) is one activity I just had to try. A short several minute ride around the track, the dog sledding run is just long enough to whet your appetite for a longer mushing adventure. A longer, if a bit more mellow, excursion can be had with a horse drawn sleigh ride($9 per adult and $6 per child). The sleigh rides last about 20 minutes with a peaceful tour through the Plains of Abraham which glides past the Fine Arts Museum and gives great views of the St. Lawrence River.

6 The Winter Carnival is justly popular with families, especially with the huge children s play area. Ice slides, climbing walls, a petting zoo, a zip line and even a giant life-sized foosball game are just a few of the activities aimed at showing the littlest festival goers a snowy good time.

7 After the day s frosty adventures I was a bit famished and there were definitely some Québécois specialties I wanted to try. Quebec has 2 things in abundance during the winter- maple syrup (Quebec produces nearly 80% of the world s maple syrup) and fresh snow; so it s only natural they combine the two. Sugar shacks can be found throughout Quebec and are featured at the Winter Carnival; here they pour hot maple syrup over fresh cold snow to produce Quebec s favorite candy-maple taffy. As the syrup cools I rolled it on a stick so I could take my sugary treat to go. I also got a chance to sample Caribou; a mix of red wine, brandy, maple syrup and spices often served warm. This heady mulled wine is just the thing to warm up after a day in the snow.

8 A host of events take place throughout the Winter Carnival including the International Snow Sculpture Festival, where teams from as far away as France, Mexico and Argentina vie for snow sculpting dominance. Other popular events include the Opening Ceremony,snow bath, and Crowning of the Queen; as well as the epic ice canoe race, where crews of elite athletes make their way across the icy St. Lawrence River.

9 One event not to miss is the Charlesbourg Night Parade. Multiple Parades take place throughout the city during Winter Carnival so all of Quebec City s communities can celebrate in the festivities. The parades feature a procession of whimsical floats, dance troupes and musicians and is of course topped of with an appearance by Bonhomme.

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11 Practical Tips There s no way around it, Quebec can get downright frigid in the winter with average high of 17 degrees Fahrenheit but that doesn t mean you should miss out on the festivities. Wearing lots of layers(including a non-cotton base layer),warm clothing, snowpants, hats, gloves, a scarf and a good pair of snow boots should keep you warm for the Carnival s frosty fun. I stayed at the Quebec Hilton, the official hotel of Winter Carnival. The Hilton is a five minute walk to the festivities offering comfortable rooms, a heated pool, fitness center and a restaurant. Many of the rooms also have a great view of Quebec City and the St. Lawrence River.