The ultimate guide to the Quebec Winter Carnival in 2024

The ultimate guide to the Quebec Winter Carnival in 2024

A seven foot tall snowman. Massive ice sculptures. A drink that will knock your socks off, insane events like ice canoeing and a lively nighttime parade.

Those are just a few of the things visitors can expect at the Quebec Winter Carnival in 2024 (Carnaval de Quebec), which is one of the world’s most famous winter festivals.

Quebec Winter Carnival

For decades, the historic city has welcomed revellers to join the party which goes from the end of January to mid-February, making it one of the best things to do in Quebec City in winter. This year’s festivities last for 18 days (up from the usual 10), from January 25 to February 11, 2024.

While there’s a long list of events to keep everyone entertained, it’s safe to say that the highlight for most is still an encounter with Bonhomme, that jolly ambassador who’s even more revered than Santa in the eyes of some youngsters who will be celebrating his 70th anniversary in 2024.

So how does one make the most of their festival experience? Here’s the ultimate guide to enjoying the Quebec City Winter Carnival.

Bonhomme at the Quebec Winter Carnival

Best Quebec Winter Carnival activities

The Quebec City carnival has a dizzying amount of activities for all ages, and most of them are included with admission. There’s a whole list of new attractions for 2024, including Slide City, which will take over thrill hills and festival-goers can zoom down on crazy carpets, saucers, rafting boats and tubes.

There’s also a 45-foot tall ice climbing bear, a sculpture garden, a masked ball at the iconic Château Frontenac, and a zipline at Bonhomme’s Campground.

A zorb at the Quebec Winter Carnival

“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!” says Marie-Eve Jacob, general manager of the Quebec Winter Carnival.. “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!”

 

A zorb at the Quebec Winter Carnival

 

Perhaps one of the best things about the Winter Carnival is how family friendly it is, and there’s a huge play area aimed at keeping little ones happy.

From maneuvering giant puppets and wall climbing to ziplines, petting zoos and sled runs, kids can easily spend hours running around—leaving mom and dad to enjoy their Caribous in peace!
Play area at the Quebec Winter Carnival

What to eat at the Winter Carnival

What the heck is a Caribou, you ask? Uh, pretty much the greatest drink ever for anyone north of the 49th parallel.

Caribou is a mixed drink very similar to mulled wine, usually made with red wine, brandy, anise, cinnamon sticks, cloves and maple syrup. Served hot or cold, the result is a bevy that’s guaranteed to get your insides tingling and ward off the winter cold.

Quebec Winter Carnival Caribou

Another festival favourite is maple taffy, which is cooked maple syrup drizzled over snow. After about 30 seconds it begins to harden, which is the perfect time to roll it up on a wooden stick, essentially making a sweet maple lollipop.

Maple taffy at the Quebec Winter Carnival If that still doesn’t satisfy your sweet tooth, pick up some Beaver Tails, which are a traditional pastry treat sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon.

Fun events at the Winter Carnival

While most Winter Carnival festivities are situated in front of the Parliament building, a number of events take place in other areas around Quebec City in an effort to include all communities.

One of them is the Charlesbourg Night Parade, a spirited procession that includes decked-out floats, dancing, singing, and of course an appearance by Bonhomme.

Bonhomme in the night parade at the Quebec Winter Carnival

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.

In 2024, the first parade takes place at 5:30 pm on Saturday, February 3 in Limoilou, and the second parade is on Saturday, February 10 on Grande Allée, starting at 7 p.m.

Canada-Quebec-City-Carnval-Parade-Collage

Cheer on paddlers during the ice canoe race

If you think rowing is hard work, try doing it through frozen ice chunks.

That’s exactly what hundreds of hardy souls do during the annual ice canoe race on the St. Lawrence River. Sometimes lasting up to three hours, the race sees boats with five rowers hit multiple spots along the course while battling ever-moving massive ice flows.

To get past them, rowers are often forced to stick their feet into the frigid water, and essentially skate along the ice in an attempt to get the canoe back into the water. After witnessing this contest, the rowing machine in the gym doesn’t seem so bad after all!

2024 marks the 130th anniversary of the ice canoe race, and will be held on February 4th at the Port of Québec.

 

See the international Snow Sculpture Competition

Back at the Carnaval grounds, the International Snow Sculpture Competition is always a crowd favourite.

Pitting competitors from around the world against each other in a bid for snow carving superiority, the tradition sees sculptors work around the clock to transform a huge pile of snow into the masterpiece of their choosing—and the public is even allowed to vote for who should be crowned the champion.

Quebec Winter Carnival Snow sculpture

Visit Bonhomme’s Ice Palace

No visit to the Winter Carnival would be complete without visiting Bonhomme’s Ice Palace. Featuring a different theme each year, the frozen castle includes exhibits tracing Carnaval’s history, as well as an up-close look at the snowman’s crash pad.

Bonhomme's Ice Palace at the Quebec Winter Carnival The Ice Palace is spectacular at night when it’s lit up with bright LED lights, and the area around it transforms into a nightclub of sorts. DJs spin serious beats as revellers dance beside the palace, fuelled by alcohol served from nearby huts.

Spoiler alert: Bonhomme is kind of a bad host and there’s no guarantee that he’ll show up to his own house party, but it’s worth keeping an eye out for him just in case.

What to wear to the Winter Carnival

There’s no way to sugar coat it—Quebec City can be bloody freezing during winter. While temperatures can fluctuate, some years have seen the mercury drop to around -20 celsius—so cold that even a couple glasses of Caribou won’t ward it off!

Happy volunteers at the Winter Carnival.
Happy volunteers at the Winter Carnival.

With that in mind, visitors should layer up. Start with a breathable base layer (not cotton), then add a cozy sweater, parka, mitts, toque (that’s a hat, for you non-Canadians) and warm winter boots with good grip. Snowpants are also recommended, and it’s a good idea to bring along packs of Little Hotties hand and toe warmers.

Finally, don’t forget the ultimate Carnaval accessory: the arrow sash. Traditionally tied around the waist with the knot on the left side, sashes can be purchased in shops around Quebec City for about $20. Bonhomme will be proud!

Canada-Quebec-City-Carnaval-Tamara-Cutout-2

Quebec Winter Carnival tips

Price: Guests aged 12 and over are required to buy and wear a Bonhomme-themed Effigy, which costs $20 ahead of time or $30 as of January 15th. Carnival packages are also available for a pre-sale price of $55, which includes things an Effigy, toque, Carnival touque, a hot beverage and a cup of Ponce du Carnaval or a non-alcoholic beverage

Where to stay in Quebec City: Can’t nab a room at the ice hotel? The festival is located just outside the walls surrounding the historic centre, which means it’s an easy walk from any hotel in Vieux-Quebec. However you can’t beat the Hilton Quebec when it comes to location, as the hotel is right across the street from the grounds and many rooms offer great views of the Ice Palace. Click here to book

Top tip: To really get into the spirit of things, head to one of the on-site bars and purchase a Caribou. But not just any Caribou—a huge hollow stick shaped like a candy cane filled to the brim with Caribou, that you can walk around with!

An Effigy for the Quebec Winter Carnival

More things to do in Quebec City in winter

The festive fun doesn’t end with Carnival: there are so many ways to enjoy winter in Quebec City, like soaking in one of the nordic spas, playing at Village Vacances Valcartier and even sleeping in an ice hotel!

Check out this complete guide to winter activities in Quebec City, and sign up for one of these tours:

 

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