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When the weather turns brisk, it’s time to get your tickets to the Quebec Winter Carnival.
- Cris

Quebec Winter Carnival

For lots of people, when they hear ‘carnival’ they imagine scantily clad Brazilian women wearing outrageous costumes in Rio. That is definitely one way to celebrate carnival. There is another way - completely different - where costumes are not required but ski boots with spikes on the bottom blend right in. It’s the Quebec Winter Carnival and you definitely have to experience it at least once in your lifetime.

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The Quebec Winter Carnival is a full-blown cold-weather celebration that turns the city into a glowing, snow-dusted playground. Every February, Québec City leans all the way into winter with music, sculpture, parades, snow slides, and a mascot named Bonhomme who is both charming and slightly mischievous. If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to live inside a winter storybook, this is it.

Going Somewhere? Protect Your Trip (and Your Sanity)

A Palace Made of Ice and Imagination

The Ice Palace is Bonhomme’s official residence and one of the most photographed structures in Québec City. Built entirely from massive, carefully carved ice blocks, the palace shifts in style from year to year. Some years it’s whimsical with rounded towers; other years it’s sharp and crystalline, catching the light so well it looks almost electric.

Visitors can walk through sections of the palace, explore rooms lit with colorful LEDs, or simply stand outside and admire how the structure glows against the snow. At night, music and projection mapping often turn the palace into a living piece of art. Kids treat it like a real castle, adults treat it like a marvel of architecture, and Bonhomme treats it like home, greeting guests with a smile and his iconic sash.

The first time that I attended Carnival, I asked ‘what’s with the ice house?’ The answer was as snarky as the palace itself. “Oh, that’s where they put the drunks.” This seriously confused me because wasn’t everyone drunk? When I went to check it out, a quick 10-minute stop turned into 2 hours of fun where I finally walked out only because I needed food. The palace alone is worth the trip.

What to Wear: Embrace the Cold the Québec Way

Let’s be honest: Québec in February can be fiercely cold. Think single-digit temperatures, icy winds, and the kind of chill that reminds you who’s boss. But here’s the thing - locals don’t hide from it; they dress for it.

A good winter outfit for Carnival includes:
● A heavy, insulated winter coat
● Waterproof boots with thick soles
● Thermal base layers (top and bottom - trust me)
● Warm gloves or mittens
● A scarf or neck warmer
● A hat that actually covers your ears

This is the only form of carnival that I have ever experienced where everyone looks like the Stay Puft Marshmallow and enjoys themselves with abandon. It’s totally going to happen that someone will try to hit on you only to realize you aren’t their spouse (the puff jackets all look alike) and they buy you a piece of cake as an apology. Some people find love here. Others just laugh all night, having a great time.

The Parades: Nighttime Magic on Snowy Streets

The Carnival hosts two major parades - one downtown and one in Upper Town - and both feel like stepping into a winter dream. Floats glide through the snowy streets, performers dance in bursts of light, marching bands play upbeat music, and snowflakes swirl in the glow of lanterns and spotlights. People on the floats throw candy and money out all night long.

What makes Québec’s parades special is the atmosphere: everything sparkles. Kids stomp through fresh snowbanks to get a better view. Adults warm their hands around cups of hot chocolate or Caribou (more on that soon). And Bonhomme himself appears on one of the final floats, waving his unmistakable foam-finger grin at everyone cheering along the route.

Even if you’re not usually a parade person, the nighttime setting transforms it into something more like living theatre - equal parts whimsical, artistic, and joyful. Most people want the candy more than the money and I’ve seen a few hustlers grab candy and then sell it to the disappointed people who caught money. This is not your typical New York Parade.

Food and Drink: Warm From the Inside Out

Winter food simply tastes better when you’re surrounded by snow. The Carnival leans into Québec’s culinary roots with rich, hearty, comforting flavors.

You’ll find:
● Maple taffy on snow - hot maple syrup poured onto fresh snow, rolled up on a stick (oh my god it’s delicious).
● Poutine - fries, gravy, cheese curds, and pure happiness.
● Tourtière - a savory meat pie that’s a Québécois classic.
● BeaverTails - fried dough pastries topped with sugar, chocolate, or cinnamon. These aren’t your typical donuts.
● Food That Gets Set On Fire - cakes drenched in brandy are set on fire (flambe) in front of you, the fire is gracefully extinguished (no one spits on it) and then you eat warmed cake. This is the perfect way to step inside for a few minutes to warm up.

And then there’s Caribou, the Carnival’s unofficial signature drink. It’s a warm, spiced blend of wine, whiskey, and sugar - not too fancy, not too subtle, but perfect for frigid nights. You sip it from a small plastic glass or, if you want to be truly authentic, from a hollow plastic cane. Personally, I thought it was God-awful and promptly dumped the liquid into a bin and replaced it with warm spiced wine but you should try it and decide for yourself.

If you dream of a party where you can wear a hoodie and not worry about your hair then Quebec Winter Carnival may be your place. It’s time to get tickets because they sell out each year.

See you next Wednesday.

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