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World's Biggest Winter Carnival Provides Perfect Reason to Celebrate Winter in Québec
Leave it to the Québécois to host the world's biggest winter carnival, Québec Winter Carnival, set for 17 long, cold days from Jan. 26 to Feb. 11, 2007. If you want to sound more like a francophone, call it Carnaval de Québec. And that's one of the joys of Québec: No matter how much you stumble over the French pronunciation, you'll get smiles and nods—and toasts if you happen to hold a drink in your hand—making you feel good about trying to immerse yourself in the culture.
It can be darn cold this time of year in Québec City because it's alongside the St. Lawrence River, but the residents have a joie de vivre that is absolutely contagious. Think Mardis Gras in the winter. If you can't beat the cold, have FUN in it! The official mascot, a snowman named Bonhomme Carnaval, wanders the venues making sure you have a grin on your face. Just be careful: If you're a friendly lady, he might hit on you, as all good Frenchmen do!
As you might imagine, 17 days of events and celebration are difficult to capsulize into a brief synopsis. So, I'll stick to the highlights just to peak your interest. The most legendary competition to watch is the Canoe Race across the St. Lawrence River, which has snow and icebergs providing obstacles across its often choppy waters. The qualifiers are held the previous day, on Rue St-Joseph, which will be snow-covered for the event. Another exciting competition is the dogsled race through the streets of Old Québec, again covered with snow for the event. The starting gate is at The Fairmont Château Frontenac. The race then continues along Saint-Louis Street, Grande Allée and the Plains of Abraham, and returns to the starting point. More than 30 teams are expected to participate in this race that runs for 6 kilometers (almost 4 miles).
Another showstopper is the International Snow Sculpture Competition. The Plains of Abraham and Place Loto-Québec are transformed into a giant outdoor museum where sculptors from around the world give life to blocks of snow. Or line up on the streets to watch nighttime parades, complete with floats, marching bands and street entertainers, and closed with Bonhomme Carnaval taking up the rear. Opening and closing ceremonies for the Carnaval are always entertaining too.
If you want to participate instead of spectate, try activities such as snow rafting, sleigh rides, ice skating with Bonhomme, kite-boarding, kite-skiing, skiboarding, sledding and winter ultimate frisbee.
For more information about the Carnaval, visit the event website at www.carnaval.qc.ca. For information about Québec and lodging, visit Tourism Québec's site, www.bonjourquebec.com.
And don't forget you can ski and snowboard at three major resorts within about an hour's drive: Mont Sainte-Anne, Stoneham and Le Massif.