“Déguédine pis sors”
A 70th anniversary should be celebrated even longer!
Quebec City, Tuesday October 31, 2023 – The Carnival atmosphere will be ramped up across Quebec City during the upcoming 70 th edition of the Quebec Winter Carnival, presented in collaboration with Loto-Québec. Bonhomme Carnaval insisted that the festivities last 18 days this year, from January 25 to February 11, 2024. Carnival-goers will have more time to have fun with family and friends and experience the world’s most popular Carnival and its over 100 activities.
A storm of new activities
Among the new activities this year is Slide City, an activity where we are taking over three hills of Quebec City! Carnival-goers will be able to slide down Pente-Douce on crazy carpets or saucers, down Promenade-des-Sœurs Street in rafting boats, and down Ross on tubesand. Ice Cross by Kraft Heinz will delight ice skating enthusiasts with an initiation track. Other new activities are Bonhomme’s Winter Beach Gougoune et doudoune Mr. Christie with its 45-foot-tall Ice-Climbing Bear, the Scotiabank Sculpture Garden, Effigy Rally by SAIL, Delicious Carnival Indulgences, Bonhomme’s Masked Ball at Château Frontenac, and a zipline at Bonhomme’s Campground by Vidéotron! A shuttle service, offered thanks to Vidéotron, will also be available to help Carnival-goers go from Upper Quebec City, Quais de l’Espace Quatre Cents and Place Jean-Béliveau. To everyone’s delight, tons of popular activities will be back, including the two Night Parades, shows under the dome in the Loto-Québec Zone, the Ice Canoe Race by the Gouvernement du Québec, the St-Hubert Snow Bath, Laser Game Evolution at the Citadelle de Quebec.
“It’s such a proud moment and such a privilege for our organization to be celebrating the 70th Quebec Winter Carnival,” stated Marie-Eve Jacob, General Manager of the Quebec Winter Carnival. “In this milestone year, we are returning to one of our primary purposes: to serve as a release valve for the spirit and to offer a time of community rejoicing. Our theme this year is an invitation to participate in the festivities, using a very Quebecois expression, “Déguédine, pis sors!” which means hurry and go out! Go out sliding down the city hills, go out dancing at the Ice Palace, go out and celebrate at Bonhomme’s Masked Ball, go out and play in the snow!”
HIGHLY FESTIVE MAIN SITES
A joyful mix of new attractions and nostalgia at the heart of the Loto-Québec Zone (February 2-11, 2024)
Located in Place de l’Assemblée-Nationale, the Loto-Québec Zone will once again host Bonhomme’s Ice Palace. New this year, it will include a festive terrace on a second storey that offers a stunning view of the city. Time will be the theme. Visitors can revisit past decades and Bonhomme’s life in the palace’s different rooms. The highly popular SAQ Bistro and Ungava Spirits Ice Bar will also be back on this site. Fun activities will take place daily.
“Congratulations to the Carnaval de Québec team on its 70th anniversary! For 25 years now, Loto-Québec has been proudly contributing to this iconic event as a presenter. The Carnaval shines a warm light on the Capitale-Nationale region, bringing people together and enchanting young and old alike. Its spin-offs are significant and benefit the entire region. We invite festivalgoers to the Zone Loto-Québec this winter to explore Bonhomme’s castle and take in the evening shows,” said Eric Meunier, Loto-Québec’s Director of Social Responsibility.
The Loto-Québec Stage, once again located under the event dome, will feature six large shows for people wanting to sing and dance:
Bonhomme still loves camping (February 2-11, 2024)
Bonhomme so enjoyed camping last year that he insisted on doing it again. So, Bonhomme’s Campground by Vidéotron will be back this year at Francophonie Park, with a host of new and returning activities for the whole family! On offer will be Kart Adventure by Vidéotron, a zipline, a silent disco, ice slides, fairground stands and Chalet La Souche, where a special 70th anniversary beer called Salut Bonhomme will be available. The Vidéotron Stage, will present several themed events, like Country Night with Phil Lauzon, a tribute to the 90s & 00s with Gabrielle Destroismaisons and other guest artists, and a Beach Party. The drag queens will also be back with a new version of their show Glamping, created specially for the Carnival.
Admiring winter’s beauty (February 2-11, 2024)
Fans of traditional ice and snow sculptures will be thrilled to learn that there will be a whole site dedicated to them, the Scotiabank Sculpture Garden, located in Place Georges-V. Attendees can admire the work of talented local sculptors and visit one of the largest ice dome ever built.
A vibrant winter beach (February 2-11, 2024)
Did you know that Bonhomme loves going to the beach…in winter? So for his 70th birthday, he wanted his friends to have fun at Quais de L’Espace Quatre Cents, on the all-new Gougoune et doudoune Mr. Christie. The beach will feature a 45-foot bear-shaped ice-climbing structure, where people can go ice climbing or try out the via ferrata. The 150-foot-long Blizz Slide will be there too, along with a Ball-pit Pool, Tiki Bar, Ginormous BBQ Le Braisé, developed in collaboration with Grand Chef Daniel Vézina, and an Electric Three-Ski Trail. On weekends, four renowned chefs will be at the Ginormous BBQ Le Braisé to showcase some of the best from Quebec’s culinary scene: Vincent Chatigny of Biceps BBQ, Raphaël Vézina of Laurie Raphaël, Frédéric Cyr of Fairmont Le Château Frontenac and Raphaël Théberge of Kundha Hôtel.
Magical Night Parades (February 3 and February 10, 2024)
The must-see Night Parades will once again bring Carnival magic to both Lower and Upper Quebec City. Bonhomme has planned high-spirited, colourful and surprising sequences for his birthday. The first parade will take place on Saturday, February 3, in Limoilou, beginning at 5:30 p.m., and the second parade will be on Saturday, February 10, on Grande Allée, starting at 7 p.m. More than 300 artists, dancers, acrobats and musicians will accompany Bonhomme during this traditional event, which has been a favourite since the very beginnings of the Quebec Winter Carnival.
TRADITIONS AND BREACH OF CONVENTION
Sliding like never before (January 25-28, 2024)
Brand-new activity, Slide City is breaking conventions by taking over three hills of Quebec City! Carnival-goers will be able to slide down Pente-Douce on crazy carpets or saucers, down Promenade-des-Sœurs Street in rafting boats, and down Ross on tubes. An Effigy is needed to slide, but there will be free lounge areas accessible to all at the bottom of each hill. Shuttles will be organized by the Carnival to all Effigy holders, in partnership with the Réseau de transport de la Capitale (RTC), from Place Jean-Béliveau to the different hills.
Lace up your skates and try an obstacle course (January 25 to February 18, 2024)
Ice Cross Kraft Heinz, located in Place Jean-Béliveau, will give Carnival-goers a chance to test their skating skills with an initiation track designed for the whole family. Experienced instructors will supervise participants throughout the activity. The Effigy is needed to try out the course, but the rest of the site is free. There will also be an artificial snow hill for family -oriented sliding and snow skate introduction activities, and there will be treats available in booths operated by merchants from the Grand Marché de Québec.
Delicious Carnival Indulgences (January 25 to February 11, 2024)
Delicious Carnival Indulgences will offer an opportunity for locals and visitors to discover a range of participating restaurants from the Capitale-Nationale region. Huge appetizers, innovative meals, tempting desserts… all that and more! Interested in a plateful of Carnival delights? Further details will come in December.
An out-of-the-ordinary Bonhomme’s Masked Ball (January 27, 2024)
The Ball will be making a comebackin the majestic ballroom of Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. This masked soirée will be a wild ride of circus performances set in a unique and eccentric winter universe. You’ll have to see it to believe it. Tickets are already available for purchase, at $195 per person.
Cheering on the hard-core athletes (February 4, 2024)
The traditional Carnival activity of the Ice Canoe Race, sponsored by the Gouvernement du Québec, will be back at wharves 19 and 21 of the Port of Québec. Did you know that, in 2024, it will be the 130th anniversary of the first -ever ice canoe race, which took place during the first large Quebec Winter Carnival, in 1894? And it will also be the 10th anniversary of the activity’s recognition as part of Quebec’s intangible heritage? Don’t miss it!
Special events that won’t fail to impress
With a view to offering activities everywhere, in every borough of Quebec City, our Partner Events and Skating with Bonhomme will be back this year. Details will be released in December. For everyone’s pleasure, the St-Hubert Snow Bath will be held again, on Sunday, February 11, near Fontaine de Tourny. If you don’t want to get left out in the cold, you better reserve your spot now! After its resounding success last year, Laser Game Evolution at the Citadelle de Québec will also be back, and for longer: February 5 to 8. Also returning is the Business Leader’s Luncheon, on February 1, presented by TEC Canada, in collaboration with Chambre de commerce et d’industrie de Québec, which will feature speaker Simon Laroche, Senior Vice President and President of Kraft Heinz Canada and North America Coffee.
A virtual rally to find Carnival Effigies (January 6 to February 11, 2024)
Adventurous Carnival-goers can use their smartphones to wander the streets of the city in search of the 70 virtual Carnival Effigies. The Effigy Rally by SAIL, inspired by the popular game Pokémon Go, will let participants discover how the Effigies varied over the years. Game play will take place in all Quebec City boroughs. Those who play have a chance to win prizes.
“The Québec Winter Carnival, and Bonhomme in particular, has long been an integral part of Québec City’s cultural heritage. Celebrating its 70th anniversary, the Québec Winter Carnival once again offers a varied program to celebrate winter, in addition to attracting many tourists to the Québec City region and stimulating the local economy. I invite everyone in Quebec City and beyond to come celebrate the cultural vitality of our city and relive some wonderful moments together. Happy Carnival and looking forward to meeting Bonhomme,” said Jean-Yves Duclos, Member of Parliament for Québec and Minister of Public Services and Procurement.
“The Québec government is extremely proud to support the Québec Winter Carnival’s 70th anniversary. An icon of Québec winter around the world, the Carnival is a major attraction, welcoming thousands of festivalgoers from far and wide who come to have fun and enjoy the winterfestivities. For 18 days, Quebec City will come alive like never before with the pulse of musical evenings, parades and sporting activities. We want visitors to come away withlasting memories and we hope that, even in the cold, they feel the warm and hearty welcome of the people of Québec,” stated Caroline Proulx, Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Lanaudière Region, and Jonatan Julien, Minister responsible for Infrastructure and Minister responsible for the Capitale-Nationale Region.
“For the past 70 years, anytime we tell people in other places that we live in Quebec City, the first image that comes to their mind is the Carnival,” said Bruno Marchand, Mayor of Quebec City. “The Ice Palace, the parades, the trumpets—we all have a memory of the Carnival. That’s 70 years of stories and red-cheeked children, 70 years of fun and sliding, 70 years of winter festivities that are like no other. Bonhomme must be very happy to see us still coming together after all this time. He really knows how to host an event! My hat goes off to all the teams behind those 70 years of success and the ones still to come,” mentioned Bruno Marchand, Mayor of Québec City.
Now’s the time to get the 70th Carnival Effigy
The Effigy is available for sale until January 14, 2024, atthe presale price of $20 (+ taxes) from participating Couche-Tard franchises and on the Carnival’s website. As of January 15, the cost will increase to $30 (+ taxes). The Effigy will also be sold at the sites during the event. No Effigy is required for kids aged 12 and under. For those wanting the full Carnival experience, the Full Carnival Pass (includes an Effigy, a Carnival tuque, a hot beverage and a cup of Ponce du Carnaval or a non-alcoholic beverage) is available at the price of $55 (+ taxes) in pre-sale.
Thanks to our partners
The Quebec Winter Carnival, in collaboration with Loto-Québec, wants to thank its major partners for their valued contribution to the event: Loto-Québec, Vidéotron, M. Christie, SAQ, Kraft Heinz, Scotiabank. The Carnival also counts on the support of the Ville de Québec and Destination Québec cité, the Gouvernement du Québec and the Government of Canada. And finally, we want to thank Ungava Spirits, Air Canada, TEC Canada, Benjo, Microbrasserie La Souche, Laser Game Evolution, Laurier Québec, Musée R22eR de la Citadelle de Québec, SAIL, St-Hubert, Tourisme Jacques-Cartier, Indigenous Tourism Quebec, Fairmont le Château Frontenac, Hilton Québec, Hôtel Bellevue, Hôtel Château Laurier, Hôtel Le Concorde, Monsieur Jean – Hôtel particulier, TVA, Le Journal de Québec, BLVD 102.1, FM93, Rythme 102,9, WKND 91,9, Alex Coulombe Ltd., St. John Ambulance, Audet Photo, Aventurex, Beet, Box-Expériences, Chambre de commerce et d’industrie de Québec (CCIQ), Collège Mérici, Commission de la capitale nationale du Québec, Couche-Tard, ExpoCité, Ocean Group, IPL, Amaro Water Coolers, Location Sauvageau, LSM lighting sound multimedia, Motel Mobile, Parks Canada, Pointcomm, Port of Québec, Réseau de transport de la Capitale (RTC), Sculptures Michel Lepire, Sécurité Sirois, Public Services and Procurement Canada, Société des traversiers du Québec, Solotech, StrØm Spa, Synerglace Canada, Unisson, Unitours, VIA Rail Canada and Zip Zag Canada.
The 70th Quebec Winter Carnival takes place January 25 to February 11, 2024
Déguédine pis sors!
#Deguedine | #carnavalqc
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Source:
Quebec Winter Carnival
Requests for interviews:
Jean-Sébastien Brousseau
Pointcomm
Cell: 418-953-4749 / jsb@pointcomm.net
Blizz – Bonhomme’s wintry oasis
This summer, get your woollen socks out!
Quebec City, May 24, 2023 – The Quebec Winter Carnival lets you experience February in the summer! Put some woollen socks in your sandals and come enjoy Blizz – Bonhomme’s wintry oasis! Located at Parc de la Chute-Montmorency, this all-new temporary location will offer a unique way for visitors to discover not only the Quebec Winter Carnival but also the joys of winter, to tempt them to come back to the city during the cold season. At Blizz, visitors can enjoy relaxation areas under the dome, have fun on a 150-ft. inflatable slide, immerse themselves in a Quebec winter in the Carnival’s experiential shipping containers, enjoy the Blizzard Box photo booth and more! Bonhomme’s Carnival float will also be there. Blizz will be open to visitors for free, every day from July 15 to September 3, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The dome
A range of activities will be offered under the dome. Visitors can discover the legendary world of the Quebec Winter Carnival Parade by climbing aboard Bonhomme’s float, taking a selfie with a statue of the Carnival King himself and even exploring a secret room in the float. If visitors want to take home more photos of the experience, the Blizzard Box offers a winter backdrop and a bonus illusion of being caught in a blizzard. To rest or cool off, the human-powered rest area is the perfect spot! An iceberg with built-in mister can be hand-cranked by a friend or kind stranger.
The setting under the dome will feature cushy waves of fabric reminiscent of the northern lights, as well as suspended snowflakes. Visitors can also awaken their inner artist in a fun family activity called “Make me a snowflake.” The goal is to use fragments of plastic snowflakes to create a sculpture, like a flower, a sea lion or stars! Snowflake-shaped picnic tables will be available, including some accessible to persons with reduced mobility.
“Blizz is the perfect combination of summer and winter, where it makes sense to wear a down jacket and flip-flops!” said Marie-Eve Jacob, General Manager of the Quebec Winter Carnival. “The Quebec Winter Carnival likes to be unconventional, and this is no exception. We invite all visitors to have fun at this pop-up site, which provides a truly unique way of discovering not only the Quebec Winter Carnival but the joys of winter in general, and to entice people to come back to Quebec in winter. I’ll be there to enjoy the flurry of activities!”
The experiential shipping containers
First unveiled to the public last February, the Quebec Winter Carnival’s experiential shipping containers have been improved to offer visitors three amazing experiences. The inside is cool, just as Bonhomme likes it, to let people fully experience Quebec winter while discovering the Carnival’s festive atmosphere. The containers will be air conditioned to emphasize the temperature difference between outdoors and in.
Here are the three immersive experiences:
The slide
You can’t go to the Quebec Winter Carnival without trying out the varied, original slides set up year after year. The same goes for Blizz! People can enjoy a 150-foot inflatable slide to imagine being at the Carnival on one of the typical winter slides. This summer, come experience winter as we turn the seasons upside-down!
The Quebec Winter Carnival has nothing but warm feelings about winter. So it would like to extend its warmest thanks to the Government of Canada for its support of this project, made possible through an investment from Canada Economic Development. Our Quebec winters are one-of-a-kind and the idea behind Blizz is to promote that!
“Every February, the Québec Winter Carnival’s diverse programming attracts a good many tourists to the region. Today, Bonhomme proposes celebrating winter in the middle of summer! What a marvellous idea to enable tourists visiting Québec during the warm months to discover the popular Carnival experience. It is a wonderful way to motivate them to return and discover the Carnival and what our city has to offer in the winter.” said Joël Lightbound, Member of Parliament for Louis-Hébert. “I am delighted that CED’s support is enabling these immersive winter experiences to be developed. Congratulations to the entire team on this original initiative, which will undoubtedly be a great success.”
The whole organization is also grateful for the wonderful collaboration of Parc de la Chute-Montmorency, for allowing Blizz to set up for over seven weeks in this important and popular tourist location for our region.
“The Sépaq is pleased with this collaboration between the Quebec Winter Carnival and Parc de la Chute-Montmorency, two of our region’s major tourist attractions,” said Sépaq CEO Jacques Caron. “Quebec’s natural landscapes are like paintings that change with the seasons. This innovative undertaking is sure to spark visitors’ curiosity and encourage them to come back for a completely different, sub-zero experience.”
In closing, we offer a reminder that the Quebec Winter Carnival will be celebrating its 70th anniversary from February 2 to 11, 2024. Many new features are currently being developed. Look for news starting in the fall!
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Source and requests for interviews:
Amélie Paquet
Communications Officer
Quebec Winter Carnival
Cell: 581-748-8260
Quebec Winter Carnival 2022: February 4 to 13
Changes to the Program and Addition of Participatory Activities for the Entire Family!
Quebec City, January 10, 2022 – The Quebec Winter Carnival, presented in collaboration with Loto-Québec, is making changes to its 2022 program based on the new health measures announced in recent weeks. Good news: the Carnival will still be presented and its teams of craftspeople are already hard at work at the Loto-Québec – Bonhomme’s Palace Zone (Place de Assemblée-Nationale), the Cadbury Slides site (Parc de la Francophonie) and Jos’s Camp by Videotron (Place George-V). Although the Carnival will have to cancel its music events, it is announcing 2 new outdoor activities that are adapted to the situation, and perfect for keeping spirits high and getting the family outdoors.
Cancellation of Music Events
Unfortunately, the Carnival is cancelling the 2 music evenings scheduled for Friday, February 4 and Friday, February 11. The first event was a devoted to Hip Hop and the second evening was titled Electro Frette. The 68th edition of the Carnival will not include the Stronger than the Cold Challenges program. This program included in-person events the Jacques-Cartier Ice Swimming (February 5), the Marto Shovel-Sled Race (February 6), the Snowy Owl Challenge (February 12) and the St-Hubert Snow Bath (February 13). However, a virtual at-home edition will be offered for the St-Hubert Snow Bath, similar the one in 2021 (details will be released soon).
Two New Participatory Activities for the Entire Family
The Carnival is adding 2 participatory activities to its program : the Videotron Neighbourhood Hockey and Search and Find, presented in collaboration with Tourisme Jacques-Cartier.
1 | Win a Hockey Game at the Videotron Centre
A participatory game in 2 phases, the Videotron Neighbourhood Hockey offers a grand prize of ice time at the Videotron Centre to play a game with friends! A very rare chance to play on this famous ice!
Phase 1: Register to be part of the game and form your street hockey team: Before the Carnival, the ones who aren’t afraid of the cold and bad weather, those who are Stronger Than the Cold, can register and invite their friends to hockeydequartier.com beginning January 6. When you complete this phase, your team will qualify to win a street hockey set (goals, balls, pucks and precision targets, etc.), which might even be delivered by the Party King himself!
Phase 2: Play against other teams: During the Carnival, from February 4 to 13, the platform lets participants create street parties, invite friends and collect points! By registering the time and place of the scheduled games, participants have the chance get a visit from a squad that will deliver surprises during the games, in addition to collecting points to qualify to win the grand prize: ice time at the Videotron Centre.
2 | Search and Find Giant Bonhomme Objects
Outdoors enthusiasts and lovers of outdoor sports will really enjoy the Search and Find game, organized in collaboration with Tourisme Jacques-Cartier. During his recent visits to the Jacques-Cartier area, Bonhomme left personal effects in some of his favourite places: Jacques-Cartier National Park, Manoir du Lac Delage, Le Relais Ski Centre and the Ice Hotel at Village Vacances Valcartier. Until January 29, participants will have to find the objects, guess the secret word and register for the game at carnaval.qc.ca/concours. During the Carnival, they will have the chance to collect additional points by finding the hidden word at the Tourisme Jacques-Cartier Photo Station, located at Place d’Youville. The many prizes available to be won will let you enjoy the magnificent Jacques-Cartier area.
A Festive Hub That Is Still Vibrant
Carnival visitors will not be disappointed because the festive hub will live up to its reputation. Visitors can celebrate at the biggest winter festival in the world, with all the planned activities at 3 main sites, including the Loto-Québec – Bonhomme’s Palace Zone (Place de Assemblée-Nationale), Jos’s Camp by Videotron (Place George-V) and the Cadbury Slides (Parc de la Francophonie). Access to all these sites will be controlled to comply with the health measures currently in effect, including validation of vaccination passports. Also on the site will be the Tribute to the Parade activity, an exceptional chance to see behind the scenes of the Carnival parade by visiting 4 stationary themed floats.
The Scotiabank Snow Route in the Neighbourhoods
The Carnival will still be holding the Scotiabank Snow Route and its online game accessible on mobile devices. A very popular event in the 2021 program, it was created and designed with the health situation in mind. The Scotiabank Snow Route will present close to one hundred ice and snow sculptures in the process of being created or already completed by the sculptors in the central neighbourhoods of the city, including Limoilou, Sillery, Montcalm, the Old City, Petit Champlain, Lower Town and Upper Town. And be on the lookout, because the King of the Party will be appearing in various neighbourhoods during the Carnival aboard his Bonhomme Mobile.
View the list of events and activities that are cancelled, still being presented or added
The Effigy Stays at the Pre-Sale Price!
Due to the health situation, the Carnival has decided keep its Effigy at the presale price, only $15. It is on sale online at carnaval.qc.ca/boutique. The Effigy is not required for children 12 and under.
Thank You to Our Partners
Thank you to our major partners, Loto‐Québec, Cadbury, SAQ, Scotiabank and Videotron, and Laurier Québec, Tourisme Jacques-Cartier, the Corporation des Concessionnaires Automobiles du Québec, Sauvageau, Alex Coulombe ltée, Ungava Spirits, St-Hubert Restaurants and Solotech. The Carnival can also count on the support of the Government of Canada through Canada Economic Development for the Regions of Quebec and Canadian Heritage, the Government of Québec through the Secrétariat à la Capitale-Nationale and the Ministère du Tourisme, Ville de Québec and Destination Québec cité. Thank you to the Commission de la capitale nationale du Québec and Public Services and Procurement Canada, who will host the Carnival on their sites. Finally, the Carnival wants to thank its media partners, its collaborators, its various service providers, its partner hotels, including Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, Hôtel Château Bellevue, Hôtel Château Laurier and Le Concorde, as well as the many volunteers of the event, whose involvement is essential.
View the list of events and activities that are cancelled, still being presented or added
All Carnival sites will be accessible with presentation of the vaccination passport, while respecting the capacity limit of people and other health measures in effect.
The 68th Quebec Winter Carnival will take place from February 4 to 13, 2022
Winter Fun!
#carnivalqc | #winterfun
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Source: Quebec Winter Carnival
Information and interviews:
Jean-Sébastien Brousseau
Pointcomm
Quebec Winter Carnival 2022: February 4 to 13
Return of the Festive Hub and Major Music Events!
Quebec City, December 1, 2022 – The Quebec Winter Carnival, presented in collaboration with Loto-Québec is back! For the occasion, the biggest winter festival invites Carnival fans to come celebrate its return with some winter fun during its 68th edition! From February 4 to 13, the Carnival brings back its festive hub with Jos’ Camp by Videotron (Place George-V), the Cadbury Slides (Parc de la Francophonie) and the majestic Bonhomme’s Palace (Zone Loto-Québec, Place de l’Assemblée-Nationale) where the Hip-Hop and Electro Frette shows will be presented. Building on the success of the animation held on main commercial streets last year, Bonhomme will liven up all corners of the city with his finest snow and ice sculptures with the Scotiabank Snow Route.
Last to Be Presented, First to Return!
The Carnival was the last major event presented before the pandemic and it will also be one of the first major events to offer an almost complete program after this difficult period: “We are very happy to pick up where we left off in 2019, to continue moving in the new directions we had planned, and to offer Carnival visitors the major events we are celebrated for. But beyond our long-term vision is something that is more important to us: bringing back the smiles of all the children, letting adults relive their childhood memories, and the simple joy of being with each other again after everything we have been through,” exclaimed Mélanie Raymond, Director of the Quebec Winter Carnival.
Big Events Are Back!
The 68th Quebec Winter Carnival will kick off with the Hip-Hop QUB Music Evening featuring none other than Souldia, preceded by Zach Zoya, Naya Ali and Calamine on Friday February 4, at 7 PM, at Bonhomme’s Palace (Loto-Québec Zone). The shows will be presented on a large stage with a spectacular light show scenography combining the play of light on the snow and several screens. An experience that should not to be missed! Entrance with the Effigy.
Misstress Barbara at the Electro Frette
The following Friday, on February 11, electronic music lovers who want to dance will get what they are looking for and much more with the Electro Frette QUB Music Evening, which will also take place this year on the Loto-Québec stage at Bonhomme’s Palace. Starting at 7 PM, DJs CastNowski, Tony Romera and Bassjackers will take turns on stage, with what will surely be a memorable performance by the great Misstress Barbara to close the evening. An Italian who has lived in Montreal since she was a child, she is a pioneer on the turntables and has been spinning records since 1996. Misstress Barbara is also a singer and has received several Juno nominations and has collaborated with Sam Roberts and Björn Yttling (Peter Bjorn and John) among other artists. Entrance with the Effigy.
Amazing Sites in the Heart of the Festivities
All Carnival activities have been planned according to the health measures in effect, in particular by making it mandatory to present a vaccination passport to enter the sites.
1 | Loto-Québec Zone – Bonhomme’s Palace (Place de l’Assemblage-Nationale)
In addition to the 2 big musical evenings (Hip-Hop and Electro Frette), the Loto-Québec Zone will offer many other activities. This is Bonhomme’s favourite site, because it is where his magnificent palace and throne are, and he is still the undisputed King of the Party. This year, the palace will be inspired by the post-modern architecture of the great Californian villas. The site will be punctuated with spontaneous entertainment on weekends: Bonhomme’s gardener, valet, butler and personal trainer will follow one another to present short artistic and wacky plays. This is the perfect place to have a drink at the SAQ Bistro or quench your thirst at the Ice Bar. And since this is Bonhomme’s special site, you can have your photo taken with the King of the Party.
“A partner of the Quebec Winter Carnival for over 20 years, Loto-Québec is delighted to take part in this much anticipated return! This celebrated traditional event loved by so many festival visitors makes the Capitale-Nationale region shine through its unifying and festive elements that perfectly match the values of the Rendez-vous Loto-Québec. We invite visitors to take advantage of the activities offered in the Loto-Québec Zone and to come admire Bonhomme’s mythical Palace. If the magnificent and much loved Bonhomme is close by, you can be sure that there is lots of fun waiting for us!” proudly noted Eric Meunier, Director of Responsible Gaming and Social Engagement at Loto-Québec.
2 | Jos’ Camp by Videotron (Place George-V)
One of the best places to get crazy, the activities at Jos’ Camp will make everyone see through children’s eyes! Jos’ Camp is where you will find Axe Throwing, the Logging and Tripping obstacle course, the Hockey Shootout, dancing with the Trad Dance Revolution video game and a chance to embark on an adventure in A Forest Tale. Everything you need to stay warm and bring out the inspired lumberjack hiding inside of you!
3 | Cadbury Slides (Parc de la Francophonie)
This year, the Carnival doubles the pleasure for inner tube sliding fans by offering 2 big slides. Located in the Parc de la Francophonie, the Cadbury Slides site offers Carnival visitors 2 impressive crisscrossing icy descents of over 80 metres! And because Bonhomme never forgets his little snowflakes, a third ice slide suitable for kids will also be on the Cadbury Slides site. Hot drinks and sugary treats will also be available.
Tribute to the Parade
On Grand-Allée street, along the parliament, festival visitors will get an exceptional chance to participate in the parade in a different way, by visiting 4 stationary themed floats. They will be able to climb onto the floats, see behind the scenes and take photos of themselves on them. A beautiful tribute to the Parade, which cannot be presented this year due to heath measures.
The Scotiabank Snow Route
Building on its success in 2021, the Scotiabank Snow Route and its online game will be back in 2022. It will offer close to a hundred ice and snow sculptures in the process of being created or already completed by the sculptors in many neighbourhoods of the city. The Quebec Winter Carnival is will be present throughout the capital in Limoilou, Sillery, Montcalm, the Old City, Petit Champlain, Lower Town and Upper Town. And be on the lookout, because the King of the Party will be appearing in various neighbourhoods during the Carnival aboard his Bonhomme Mobile.
“What an incredible joy it is to be together again for our traditional winter festivities that have animated the city for 68 years,” added the Mayor of Quebec City, Bruno Marchand. “Once again this year and to everyone’s delight, it will be possible to enjoy the Quebec Winter Carnival in some of our neighbourhoods. I am very proud of the mission the organization of the Quebec Winter Carnival has given itself to make having fun accessible everywhere in our city. It will be a true pleasure to stroll through our animated main streets and be able to observe the frenzy of the Carnival in enchanting settings, while encouraging our local merchants. I invite the entire population of Quebec City and everywhere else to join in the fun, to have a tasty hot chocolate with Bonhomme and have fun with your family at our wonderful sites.”
“It is with great enthusiasm that your government supports the convivial and unifying Quebec Winter Carnival, without a doubt one of Quebec’s signature events known internationally. Over the years, the Carnival has been able to highlight Quebec’s many attributes: the majestic St. Lawrence River, the legendary Plains of Abraham, the magnificent Grande Allée street, in addition to creatively animating different parts of the historic capital city. For its 68th edition, the Carnival continues to make Quebec shine as a premier tourist destination, as Quebeckers welcome people from all over the world. I invite citizens and visitors to participate in the activities that will be offered to them, to celebrate the joys of winter and to discover or rediscover all the beauty of the magnificent Capitale-Nationale region!” Caroline Proulx, Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Lanaudière and Bas-Saint-Laurent regions.
Stronger Than the Cold Challenges!
4 challenges for winter fanatics who have a particular love for the cold and extreme conditions!
1 | Jacques-Cartier Ice Swimming (February 5)
60 winter enthusiasts looking for thrills will be able to take a dip in the Jacques-Cartier River during the third presentation of the event in Jacques-Cartier National Park. Registration required.
2 | The Marto Shovel-Sled Race (February 6)
On your shovels, get set, go! The very first Carnival shovel-sled race will take place at Bonhomme’s Palace. A friendly and wacky competition animated by our friend Marto Napoli.
3 | Snowy Owl Challenge (February 12)
This year, Bonhomme’s playground will extend into the majestic nature of the Jacques-Cartier National Park, where winter trail runners can enjoy traditional marked trails of 5 and 11 km, and for families and little ones, a 1 km obstacle course will be set up. Registration required.
4 | St-Hubert Snow Bath (February 13)
A traditional event like no other, the St-Hubert Carnival Snow Bath is back at Jos’ Camp by Videotron. Cold or not, we’re diving into winter! Registration required.
The Effigy Is Available Now!
The Effigy is the pass you need to access the activities of the 3 main carnival sites and the major musical events. It is on pre-sale now online and at participating Couche-Tard stores at a cost of $15, taxes included, until January 15. After that date it will be on sale for $25. It is not required for children 12 and under.
Thank You to Our Partners
Thank you to our major partners, Loto‐Québec, Cadbury, SAQ, Scotiabank and Videotron, and Laurier Québec, Tourisme Jacques-Cartier, the Corporation des Concessionnaires Automobiles du Québec, Sauvageau, Alex Coulombe ltée, Ungava Spirits, St-Hubert restaurants and Solotech. The Carnival can also count on the support of the Government of Canada through Canada Economic Development for the Regions of Quebec and Canadian Heritage, the Government of Québec through the Secrétariat à la Capitale-Nationale and the Ministère du Tourisme, Ville de Québec and Destination Québec cité. Thank you to the Commission de la capitale nationale du Québec and Public Services and Procurement Canada, who will host the Carnival on their sites. Finally, the Carnival wants to thank its media partners, its collaborators, its various service providers, its partner hotels, including Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, Hôtel Château Bellevue, Hôtel Château Laurier, Le Concorde and Hilton Québec, as well as the many volunteers of the event, whose involvement is essential.
All Carnival sites and activities are accessible on presentation of the vaccination passport.
The 68th Quebec Winter Carnival will take place from February 4 to 13, 2022
Winter Fun!
#carnivalqc | #winterfun
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Source: Quebec Winter Carnival
Information and interviews:
Jean-Sébastien Brousseau
Pointcomm