The winters are long and sometimes very cold in Quebec.By January, the snow is piled high along the streets and houses are all but hidden behind towering snow banks. Long shards of ice hang from the eves and the sky is often filled with drifting white flakes of snow. All in all, it is very beautiful and very cold.

Every year, for two weeks in late January and February, the city of Quebec celebrates the beauty of winter with the Carnaval de Quebec. Locals and tourists crowd the streets and restaurants to watch the various games, parades and musical events. The Plains of Abraham, a hugh open air playground, is filled with toboggan runs, snow slides, zip-lines and dozens of activities for children of all ages. The climb to the top of the hill is lined with snow sculptures crafted by international artists. Every evening there are new bands and musical groups entertaining the crowds of young people who come to dance in the snow. Ice bars are set up along the streets featuring Caribou, the traditional drink of Carnival. There is also plenty of hot chocolate for the junior crowd.

The Winter Carnaval continues to focus on putting winter front and center by organizing a wide variety of popular activities, while never losing sight of the historic and cultural character of Quebec City. Each year new events and attractions are added. The Quebec Winter Carnaval is the biggest winter festival in the world. Last year nearly 750,000 people attended the 17 days of festivities. Over half of those attending were tourists.

The two weeks are filled with unusual and sometimes hilarious activities and competitions. There are canoe races on the frozen St. Lawrence River and dog sled races through the center of the old city. A large number of locals participate in the snow bath which involves rolling around in the snow and throwing snow balls while clad in bathing suits.

A new feature this year was the daytime parade which took place on a very cold Sunday afternoon. The parade featured giant inflatable balloon characters. Sponge Bob Square Pants and Nemo were two of the children’s favorites. Parents pulled young children on toboggans along the snowy streets while teenagers danced along with the parade. The color and animation were brilliant against the snowy background.

Perhaps the two most recognizable features of the Carnival are Bonhomme, the giant, jolly snowman who is the ambassador of the festival. He is seen throughout the 17 days of the Carnival in various locations from the snowy Plains of Abraham to the formal opening dance at the luxurious Chateau Frontenac. Bonhomme is said to live at the Place Loto-Quebec in the Ice Palace which is constructed anew each year. At night the Ice Palace is strobed with colored lights. During the day thousands of visitors walk through the Palace to view the sculptures and historic artifacts housed within its frigid walls. Every Tuesday and Thursday night during Carnival, Bonhomme appears at the local outdoor skating rink to skate with the children. An often asked question is “who is inside the Bonhomme costume” and the standard answer is “Bonhomme is a real person and he lives at the North Polo all year except during Carnival when he comes to Quebec to play with the children.”The theme of the 2010 Carnival is “The Music Makes You Dance.” After spending four days visiting the numerous outdoor sites and activities, I am not sure it is the exhilarating dance music that makes you move you feet or the, at times, biting cold that makes you want to move to keep warm. At any rate, for 17 days and evenings, the air is filled with music from hip hop, country, disco, latino and much more. This 56th Carnival is guaranteed to make you smile and want to dance. This yearly event is so popular that it has made the list of 1000 places to visit while you can still move your feet to the music.

Each year a large number of journalists stay at the Hilton Quebec hotel which is located within easy walking distance from most of the Carnival activities. Its close proximity to the old city and the festival events make it a favorite with tourists from around the world.
The Allegro restaurant provides a hearty breakfast for those venturing out into the cold while the cozy lobby bar is perfect for a drink with friends after the festivities. www.hiltonquebec.com.

For more information: www.carnaval.qc.ca