Carnaval de Québec Kicks Off Next Week

"Celebrating its 70th anniversary, this 18-day winter festival runs Jan. 25–Feb. 11 and embraces the city’s cold with a packed outdoor program: ice canoe races on the St. Lawrence, snow and ice sculptures (plus a live sculpting garden and workshop), night parades, ice bars and a community-wide snow bath where people play in swimsuits. New for the milestone year are “slide city” sledding and tubing on three closed streets (opening weekend, Jan. 25–28) and an ice cross obstacle skating track that runs the duration of the festival. Between Feb. 2–11 attendees can try a 45-foot-tall, 34-foot-wide polar-bear ice climb with routes on its legs and a via ferrata on its back, ride a 20-foot urban zip line, or play laser tag downtown. The program also includes a silent disco, extensive live music (a grand opening on Jan. 25 features bite-sized sets by nearly 50 artists), and the festival mascot Bonhomme, who appears at major events and whose multi-story ice palace is open Feb. 2–11. A $22 “Effigy” pass grants access and can be bought online, at participating convenience stores in the region, or at the festival entrance between Feb. 2–11." - Evie Carrick Evie Carrick Evie Carrick is a writer and editor who’s lived in five countries and visited well over 50. She now splits her time between Colorado and Paris, ensuring she doesn't have to live without skiing or L'As du Fallafel. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines