Baby it’s cold outside, but that’s no reason to stay indoors. Québec City comes alive in the winter, with festivals and attractions to make you forget all about the chill. Whether it’s watching people fly down a track on ice skates or going to bed in an ice hotel, the city’s hottest winter events will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy.
The Qu?bec Winter Carnival
Ice carving, dogsled races, and maple syrup are all key elements of the world's largest winter celebration: the Qu?bec Winter Carnival.
The carnival comprises 17 days of non-stop festivities. Feel the excitement as canoes race through snow and ice-choked water across the St. Lawrence River and back. Watch artists from 30 international teams compete in creating giant, fantastical sculptures from a remarkable 360 tonnes of ice. Stare in wonder as a dogsled race speeds through the narrow, snowy streets of the Old City.
If you'd rather, keep it casual on a carriage ride through cobblestone streets. Tap your feet to fiddle music to keep warm outside a towering palace made of ice. Smell the sugary aroma of warm maple syrup and stop in for a sample. Ice skate in the shadows of the ramparts of the only walled city north of Mexico, then stroll streets lit by Victorian lamps before dining in a cosy gourmet restaurant on local Qu?bec specialities.
The Qu?bec Winter Carnival is big enough that there's always something new to try. So put on your woolly hat--or toque as the locals call them--and come and get a hug from mascot Bonhomme Carnaval.
Jamboree
Jamboree is a huge snowboard and skiing festival that takes place right in downtown Qu?bec City. As you wander a few blocks from your hotel, you'll notice massive snow jumps built next to the road.
The highlight of Jamboree is the Big Air World Cup, during which some of the world's best riders try to perform groundbreaking tricks high above the crowd. Even if snowboarding isn't your thing, the spectacular party will be. Last year, Jamboree hosted Igloofest, a one-night outdoor party during which spectators don crazy winter outfits and dance the night away in the snow.
Ice Hotel (H?tel de Glace)
Sleeping on ice takes on a new, much more positive meaning at the fairytale-like H?tel de Glace. Located just steps from downtown Qu?bec City, this is the only ice hotel in North America, and has provided guests with the story of a lifetime for the last 15 years. An astounding 15,000 tonnes of snow and 500,000 tonnes of ice are used to make the hotel and its 44 theme rooms and suites each winter.
Step inside what feels like a glacier and marvel at its majestic lobby where statues, columns--even chandeliers--are made of ice. Keep your mittens on as you pick up a champagne flute made from ice to sip sparkling ice cider. Spend an hour in the outdoor spas and sauna, and then head to your room where the walls are ice, the ceiling is ice, and, yes, the bed is also ice. As you cosy up in front of your room's fireplace, you'll forget all about the cold.
A night in this work of art between January and March for a unique experience you'll be talking about for years to come.
Festi Lumi?re
It really doesn't feel like the holidays until those coloured lights start shining. Festi Lumi?re takes care of that in extreme fashion.
This light festival, hosted by the Qu?bec Aquarium, uses more than 500,000 lights to create a magical display through trees and ice sculptures. Walk along an outdoor path through "the Enchanted Forest," gazing at so many reds, greens, blues, and yellows that you'll forget it's night time. The Festi Lumi?re also has an outdoor bar, fire pits to keep you warm, and music to get you dancing. A great, casual event to enjoy a winter night in Qu?bec City.
Qu?bec City's German Christmas Market
A little taste of Germany right at the town hall? It's on the menu at the annual Qu?bec City German Christmas Market.
A small village of wooden kiosks appears each year outside of the town hall, with the entire area covered in Christmas decorations and lights. As you walk through the market you'll smell bratwurst cooking, taste mulled wine and gingerbread, and hear choral singing as you browse a variety of Christmas-themed gifts and souvenirs. Stop for a drink at the Lufthansa WinterBar and don't forget to say hello to the man in the big red suit.
Learn more about these and other exciting events on the Qu?bec Region Tourism Website.
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