Back in the late 1800’s Canada’s economy was quite slow. In order to try to give it a little boost, the owner of the Quebec Daily Telegraph came up with a plan. Frank Carel published the idea for a carnival to take place in Quebec. It quickly became popular and has become an annual event. This year it will be taking place from January 30th to February 15th. If you want to attend it, here’s what you need to know.
Tickets
In order to attend this event you will need to purchase The Carnaval Effigy. What it is, is a small pendant that allows attendees to participate in all 17 days of activities and entertainment. Visitors will need to wear this pendant at the carnival in order to gain access to the different sites. The cost is $15 for those that are 8 years and older.
What To Do
There’s so much going on at Carnaval De Quebec that many visitors attend all 17 days of it. Some of the more popular activities include:
Parades. Each day of the carnival there are both daytime and nighttime parades which feature the mascot Bonhomme Carnaval.
Public Auction. This auction will feature both a live and silent auction component. Visitors can bid on both good and services that have been donated. All proceeds go towards monies needed to put on the carnival.
Masquerade Ball. This year it will be held in Château Frontenac’s grand ballroom. About 400 people are expected to be in attendance.
Public Banquets. They are free to the public and consist of a variety of different foods.
Sporting Events. These events include outdoor sports such as hockey and snowboarding.
Dance Parties. These occur outdoors at the Ice Palaces.
Other Important Information For Visitors
Many of the streets are blocked off and feature immaculate decorations. However, most of the establishments in the area are still open throughout the carnival. The official ambassador of Carnaval De Quebec is bonhomme de neige or Bonhomme, which means “snowman”. He is a rather large snowman and can be spotted wearing black buttons and a red hat. The traditional drink of the carnival is called Caribou. It features alcohol and is hot, so consuming it is a great way to keep warm in the very frigid weather.
About a million people are expected to attend Carnaval De Quebec. This is one of the world’s largest winter festivals. If you plan to be in attendance, make sure you bundle up and plan accordingly as you will probably need to spend at least several days there.
