Québec Winter Carnival - 2010

Here's where to find the fun

The Night Parades in Collaboration with Loto-Québec

Presented on Saturday February 6 and 13, the Carnival’s renowned night parades will once again wind through the streets of Charlesbourg and Québec City. The artistic aspect of previous years will be preserved. Fifteen floats and over 900 extras will light up the parade.

Place Loto-Québec

The official residence for the King of the festival, Place Loto-Québec will be the setting for Loto-Québec’s Outdoor Dance Parties and all sorts of interactive entertainment. It is also the perfect spot for discovering sculptures from the young artist’s category of the International Snow Sculpture Competition. To intensify visitors’ experiences this year, Bonhomme’s palace at Place Loto-Québec will have a new interior design based on the Canoe Race archives.

Place Desjardins

Located on the Plains of Abraham, this huge open-air playground is the ideal place for testing your skills or simply admiring the performances of the boldest carnival-goers. This year’s program promises plenty of ingenuity and fantasy: Bistro SAQ, a tug-of-war competition, the WestJet Zip-Line, the TELUS Interactive Zone, the International Snow Sculpture Competition, the Royal Canin Dog Agility Competition, Arctic Spas Village, METRO Barbecue, the METRO tent, a giant soccer game, Desjardins snow slides, sleigh rides, KRAFT snow rafting, the sugar shack and dogsledding rides.

NEW : Hydro-Québec Stage at Place Desjardins

One of the new features this year is the Hydro-Québec Stage, a place where renowned artists, musical groups and dancers will perform in a winter setting every Friday and Saturday night at Place Desjardins on the Plains of Abraham. Here, you will also be dazzled by magnificent fireworks every Friday night. And do not miss the Québec Winter Carnival’s big opening show on Friday January 29 at 8 p.m.

Mr. Christie/KRAFT Village

Designed especially for children, Mr. Christie/KRAFT Village is a gathering place for families discovering the Carnival! On all three weekends, there will be exciting entertainment on the circus-inspired outdoor stage. Do not miss the dynamic activities on this site.

Place D’Youville

Calgary Stampede Flapjack Breakfast
Once again this year a delegation from Calgary will prepare a western-style breakfast for the general public at no charge. Flapjacks, sausages and hot coffee on the menu. The Calgary Stampede Western Breakfast on Saturday February 6 from 9:30 a.m. to noon at Place Hydro-Québec.

Skating with Bonhomme
Bonhomme, the celebrated ambassador of the festival, is the symbol of the joy that animates all of the Carnival activities. Come and skate with him on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 7 pm.

2010 Major Highlights

NEW: Day Parade Featuring Giant Inflatable Characters – A first for Québec City!

A daytime walking activity in the streets of Québec City for children and families, combining entertainers and giant balloons inflated with helium or cold air, on January 31st, at 1 p.m. on Charest Boulevard.

NEW: Natrel’s Great Ice Slide

A spectacular 400-foot ice slide will be lit up on the Plains of Abraham. This new activity will enrich visitors’ winter experience.

NEW: Club Penguin’s Ice Garden

Under the direction of Michel Lepire, twelve sculptors will create this unique garden of ice-sculpture dreams.

And More

The dogsledding race, called the Grande Virée, followed by a friendly snowshoeing race on January 30 starting at 1 p.m. near Château Frontenac.

Unique and colorful soapbox jalopies will be participating in the Normandin Race on Saturday, February 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Côte de la Fabrique.

The qualifications rounds for the Canoe Race will take place on Rue St-Joseph on Friday, February 5 starting at 7 p.m. The Canoe Race on the icy waters of the St. Lawrence River on February 7 at 1:30 p.m. on Bassin Louise.

The 22nd presentation of the Carnival Painting Symposium, from Wednesday February 10 to Saturday February 13, 2010, will take place on the 3rd floor of Laurier Québec mall in Cour des promotions.

The Baie Snow Bath will take place on Saturday February 13 at 2 p.m. at Place Desjardins.

Qualifications for the St-Hubert Derby will take place on Saturday February 13, and the winners will face off in the grand finale starting at noon on Sunday, February 14 at Place Desjardins.

For more information visit Carnaval.qc.ca/en