Carnaval de Québec

We really enjoyed our weekend. Lots to do and see. Some really nice activities, ice and snow sculptures and shops and restaurants. We spent the weekend there and had a great time. We recommend it at least once.

All I can say what a lunch bag let down! We travelled all the way from Ontario to experience Carnival 2025 and were so disappointed. You would think Bonhomme could at least show up to the areas of Carnival. We waited well over 1 hr for the ice castle. The walking distance between venues is a lot. I cannot believe they didn’t even make traditional maple taffy in snow! The night time parade was ok, Bonhomme was there, but to get bleacher seats was $79 for 1 hour parade. I had always wanted to go to this Carnival and left feeling unimpressed. More signage required for visitors.

Not sure what all the riff raff is about. I have to disagree with a lot of the negative reviews here. Carnaval was honestly one of the best experiences of my entire life. It was everything I wanted, and expected it to be. My girlfriend and I went on the last weekend of the festival. There was so much to do and see. My advice for those considering coming that don’t want to be disappointed at their own fault like some shown here, my advice would be the following: PREPARE. 1. Research the history of carnaval, and what it means to the city of Quebec. You’ll have a much deeper appreciation for it going there. 2. Look deep into the actual website inside and out so you know what to expect. The FAQs, what’s happening this year, what your effigies get you and don’t get you, know everything before you get there. 3. Carnival is one of those events where you truly get what you pay for. The more you spend, the more you get out of it! Invest prior to going. I highly suggest you spend the extra couple bucks and get a VIP effigy. You’ll get a bunch of coupons you can use to redeem all kinds of free stuff. When we went, we got free souvenirs, maple taffy, drinks etc. along with a bunch of other perks. You’re going to spend more than the difference there anyway. I would also get vip passes for the parade as well. Being able to sit down and be fed free drinks for an hour before the parade is quite nice, haha! At the very least I would highly recommend those two, everything else is up to you, but do as much as you can! The more the merrier. We also went to the nuit blanche Pajama party, which if you’re a young adult like me, you should definitely go. So fun! 4. Dress warm! It is freezing, and there is a good chance the snow will be pouring down like no tomorrow. Layer up. balaclava, snow pants, hat, gloves, everything you’d wear on a ski trip, bring it to carnaval. There’s a 99% chance you’ll have to wait in line to do anything, which is common for any popular event, so this is crucial. But use the time to socialize with those around you! It makes the time fly by. You’ll thank me later. 5. Getting to the event is tricky. Especially if the weather is bad. Our hotel was about 7 mins away, and we were drinking the whole time so Uber was our best friend. But because of how busy it was down town, wait times were long for getting a ride. If you’re driving, definitely find a public parking place in advance, multiple ideally. 6. Grab a schedule / program as soon as you get there. There is more than meets the eye in terms of things to do at carnaval. It has a bunch of scheduled stuff on there happening throughout the day ie photos with bonhomme, musicals, live events etc. Go and see it for yourself. Everyone has their own wants and needs for stuff like this, but I recommend everyone goes and experiences it at least once. Myself on the other hand, I’ll be back from now on every single year. Joyeux Carnaval!!!!

This is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure!!! Just a heads up, parking can be tricky and it’s really chilly out there!!! The entry fee is $39 for adults, but kids under 12 can get in for free.

Intricate ice sculptures, amazing designs within Garden of sculptures as well as the ice castle. It’s become very commercialized and lines get long but if you just expect it, you can enjoy music and sights while you wait. Fun music, happy people and cocktails in ice blocks. Try the toboggan and ice skating ⛸️

I would give zero if I could but… We drove all the way from Toronto to Quebec City, excited for the Winter Carnival, and even booked our stay at the Hilton Quebec to be in the heart of the action. What a mistake. This so-called “carnival” is nothing but a joke. There are only two small areas with an ice slide and a few sculpture activities —nothing remotely close to what you’d expect from a world-famous winter festival. And guess what? You have to pay an additional fee (around $140 for a family) just to participate in making sculpture ! The Effigy pass, which is supposed to grant access, doesn’t cover it. Then we heard about another activity area called Gougoune et Doudoune. Sounds great, right? Except no one—NOT the hotel concierge, NOT the locals—could tell us where to find the shuttles to get there or where it is located . We spent an hour and a half walking in the freezing cold just to find the tourist information center. Even they admitted the carnival was underwhelming and lacked proper organization. Though they did their best to help us, it wasn’t their fault. When we finally found Gougoune et Doudoune (after another 20 minutes of walking), we couldn’t believe what we saw. A tiny snow tubing area, some oversized card games, a ball pit, climbing sculpture and a little race thingy—things you could easily find in a neighborhood park. And of course, the Effigy didn’t cover this either, so we had to pay again for both adults and kids. I have to say this as well there were only few people. We could count number of people there. So please do not call it a carnival. We had more kids in my street than the entire carnival This event was a complete scam—wasting people’s time, money, and excitement. The organizers should be ashamed for putting on something this poorly planned, misleading families into thinking they’re coming to a real winter festival. My 11-year-old was beyond disappointed, and so were we. Never again.( I will add pictures later)

went today Feb 9th 2025: everything has to paid; everything!! 5.50$ for a maple syrup popsicle stick! 143$ for sculpting in ice for 2 to 4 people on a 12" x 12" block. you have to pay 44$ per person above 13 just to see ice sculptures or any activities. had to pay 15$ parking. so if you plan to go for a couple of hours and live in a far city, do not bother bcs it will cost you 170$ for 4 to see things. note we did that same exact activities in our local city of 6K people and all was FREE and they had more activities! they just gave a huge middle finger to poor family: they are not welcomed here. get this: they have so many sponsors! and the workers are VOLUNTEERS yet have these outrageous prices? we can afford it but abusing people is NOT OK! this used to be a "welcome all" family activity. now this is a RICH ONLY activity. SHAME ON YOU to charge that much and ignore the poor families. will NEVER GO BACK! they only care about profits.

Quebec da caraval is nice very busy lots of line ups this town thou is something else very European like cobblestone streets so adorable

This was our second visit to Quebec's Winter Carnival but it probably won't be our last. It's such a fun, upbeat festival. There's so much to do, depending on the date and location. Our favorites this time around were the ice sculpting workshop and watching the ice canoe race from the ferry. We were disappointed that the professional ice sculptures were not throughout the city like they were two years ago, now you have to pay to see them. It was so fun seeing them as we explored the city last time.

I give it such a poor rating because of the terrible and deceiving marketing they do on the event. First, like years past, they don't advertise the schedule on the website until the last minute. We booked to be in Quebec on Wed. Jan 31 - Fri. Feb 2 not knowing what was scheduled all that time, but seeing they started on Jan. 24. They still didn't have the schedule posted when I last left 2 weeks prior to the event. Second, we got there only to find nothing, zippo, nada was open, not until Fri. Feb. 2, when we were departing. Couldn't get in to see the sculptures, ice dome, kids events, etc. etc. although they were all sitting there gated off. There were tons of other people complaining as well even some locals working in the restaurants and bars who had been expecting big crowds. Yes, you could see lots of ice sculptures outside of businesses, but that was reserved almost exclusively to the lower city. Third, speaking of sculptures, I have no idea how long they have been doing it, but don't come expecting to see snow sculptures like they had many years ago, but they are just ice sculptures now. They used to be scattered in the Plains of Abraham, but are not in a small park near the entrance to the Old City. Oh, no more dog sleds either. It is pretty obvious this event is slip sliding away, a confirmation we also got from one of the locals. He said it was also much bigger and better. Sad, but to market the way they do and hawk $30CDN each to get in to see really nothing but just sheer disappointment. I LOVE QC and will still come, but don't get sucked into future Carnival's until they prove they can do it right and treat us right.

Loved this! The parade is awesome. Try the beaver tails if you go! The ambiance from the nein lights and the amazing ice sculptures are awesome. If you are in the area this is definitely a must do. Bundle up and use hot hands in gloves and boots!!!

What an amazing, almost surreal experience. This is a perfect weekend trip. The exhibits apparently change from year to year but they are exhibits you won't typically see in your city: ice slides, dog sledding, ice sculptures, ice castle, etc. etc. etc. And isn't that what traveling is *really* about? Seeing, doing, and eating things you can't do at home. Yes, it's cold. I don't care how tough you think you are - you must have snow pants. You must also have face/neck covering. Warm boots and socks are also mandatory When we were there, it got to -14F (-25C) and never got above 5F (-15C). Dress appropriately and you will be fine. Keep in mind you will be outdoors for hours and hours at a time - perhaps the whole day like we were. It's very different than walking to/from your car.

LOVED the carnaval!!!! They have it every Jan-Feb I believe, and you just pay once to go every day if you want!! Wear that lit up effigy with pride, hehe. I think it was only $20-25, which is a good price for all that you get!! Let's see...we tried out their human foosball (super amazing), went tubing (that was fun!), you can sled, get into a hot tub while it's freezing outside, enjoy tons of alcohol in a huge sugar cane, go dog sledding, and just play random games, such as who can move a huge life-sized duck around some cones the quickest, haha. It's all super fun to check out, as well as the snow sculptures and ice castle!! Plus, I really didn't think it was that crowded, which was nice! There's a lot of people but also a lot to do, so you really don't have to wait long for everything. We came on opening night and the day after. Everyone's in good spirits and having a blast, even though it's 0 degrees outside!

Oh my gosh!!! Now, know that if you are reading this that I can not express how much attending Carnaval is a must! We have been attending since 2010, pre-child​, with a ​ baby and with toddler and a whole lot of friends! We LOVE Carnaval! Our advice, go. Plan ahead and get a hotel within the walls. Do your homework and eat delicious food and get up in the morning and head to the grounds. Have a blast on the rides, activities and warming up listening to music. Dress warm, really you...yes you, dress warm!!! Invest in good boots. Not just fashionable. Purchase enough foot and hand warmers for 2-3 a day. Bring cash to the grounds. Go to the parade, wake up early on Sunday and see Bonhomme. Hug Bonhomme and thank him for one of the best trips ever. Really though, go on the rides, get a cane of caribou​ and make memories with your friends. Our daughter has been attending since she was five months old. You can bring children and they will have an amazing time. Just keep in mind good warm clothing. If you are reading this and need tips on traveling with children let me know and we will send you our tip list. Now that our child is a toddler there are so many fun things. Petting zoo, toddler hockey, sledding, sleigh ride...so amazing!!!!

OK here's my "tip"....when somebody from Brooklyn gives you tips regarding how to dress in Québec don't believe a word of it for a second. That gal says she wore 4 pants including ski pants and 9 tops which included 3 down goose feather jackets and she was still freezing. Good Lord! I think she needs to see a doctor because her body temperature sounds freakishly abnormal from everybody else. Either that or her true New Yorker-ness is shining through because many New Yorkers' idea of being outdoors is walking underground in the city's subways and tunnels. They're not the most outdoorsy people in the world. Sure Québec City might be cold during the winter but it's not so cold to require 10,000 layers of clothing. If you're naturally drawn to winter activities like me (why else would you be going to Québec in the dead of winter?) chances are you probably already have suitable winter clothing. I wore ski pants to the Winter Carnival but there were many people wearing jeans (I suspect many had thermal underwear hidden underneath like me). The hard work put into the Carnival clearly shows. I've got to imagine many months of preparation were involved in pulling off the short two weeks of the Carnival. Overall I was very impressed. I walked away with the feeling the Québec people are very serious about their winter. That's cool. They don't fear it. They embrace it and have fun with it. The whole Carnival costs $15. Food is extra. Parking can be a little pricey but it's always pricey in downtown Québec any time of the year. I think I read somewhere there were over 300 activities scheduled throughout the two weeks. There's even a couple parades at night on the weekends. By the way, if you can catch the "Snow Bath" event I highly recommend seeing it. It was an absolute riot to watch even though I didn't understand a word of French. But that's OK because who doesn't enjoy watching a bunch of crazy people run around in -2 F temps only in swim suits and bikini's? I figure they had to be either certifiably crazy or "on drugs" to participate. Like I said Québec people love their winter. They love their snow. Kudos to them and their city's big annual spectacle.

The gf suggested going to Quebec for their Winter Carnival - I saw the website and I was sold. Its the largest winter carnival in the world and lasts 16 days in late January until mid February. You buy a $12 figurine pass (that hangs from your coat and is valid for the entire carnival) and it allows you access to the ice palace for concerts, outdoor hot tubs (for the brave in -2 degrees), sled rides, dog sledding races, zip lining, a ferris wheel, impressive ice sculptures, parades, fireworks, horse sleigh rides (minimal additional cost), tubing / rafting (minimal additional cost), and tons of activities for kids. In addition to the Winter Carnival, there are other great things to do to occupy a long weekend. Old Quebec is a historically preserved walled city on a cliff facing the St Lawrence River. It felt like Christmas as we walked around as it lightly snowed and the snow crunched under our feet. There were plenty of quaint shops and a number of great restaurants: Panache, Le Patriarche, Savini, and my sentimental favorite Le Cochon Dingue (The Dirty Pig). We stayed at The Hilton due to its vicinity to the Carnival, but next time I want to check out one of the boutique hotels that we ate at (Auberge Saint-Antoine). The famous Hotel de Glace (ice hotel) is also a short drive away. It is a hotel made completely out of ice each year - everything from the beds, chairs, chandeliers, and glasses at the bar are made of ice. People spend the night on fur covered beds and sleep in sleeping bags. It is definitely a place you have to see to believe. The drive from the NYC area is supposed to be about 9 1/2 hours (535 miles), but I made it in about 8 hours. I must be used to long drives (I did Niagara Falls last year) - it was tedious, but at least it was scenic (it makes you want a rustic cabin in the woods with a cozy fireplace). Remember to pick up maple syrup from duty free when you come back.

Great cold- wintery white wonderland. People are all friendly and helpful. First time- wasn't sure what to expect. Kinda thinking an adult Mardi gras minus the boob flashing. What I see- a tobaggin slide ride- fast and bumpy but fun! Yea I screamed! To my right- hot tubs- with people in swimwear sipping drinks- something about wearing that big furry hat while in the the hot tub. ice sculptures completed and in the making- very cool! big tents serving finger foods and beverages.... American (chase) credit and bank cards not accepted by the atm's unless u have specific logo on the back. This event is CASH ONLY! dog run- the owner is CUTEEE $10 for a lap around- fun sleigh ride with horse carriage style- $7pp and a nice 20min ride. Doesn't go far. I would suggest doing it in the day time to see the lake and sights. Blonde horses tom and Cathy- hiiii! bumper cars done quebec style is a large snow tube in wheels- didn't do it since they were fixing the ice. Boo! few people selling camping/ tent and furniture. overall nice experience. Not what I thought but happy I flew up here. Lots of children being pulled on their little sleds- lots of dogs- diverse groups of people. Bonus- close to lots of bars! When there look up and for the hotel that has a round too floor/ roof. It glows at night. As you walk towards it... You will pass lotsa bars that remind me of Mardi gras. TRY THE CARIBOU!! Omfg! The walking stick is about $12 each- thick plastic and to fill 2 sticks cost me about $65 American. Ouch. But it was worth it- cash only!! It's a spiced sangria that hot in temperature. Delish!!!!! You can buy in white tents

This was soooooo much fun !!! I could tell the people spend months practicing in order make this so beautiful and fun !

Below are some tips of Quebec, the weather, the winter carnaval - La Monde de Bonhomme and restaurants I highly recommend. Two restaurant I recommend in Quebec are Bati Bassak (Thai Cambodian resturant) and Les 3 Brasseurs (unique food dishes cooked with their home brew beers). In addition, the Poutine and Beaver tails are popular in Canada that you must try if you havent tried before. As for the weather temperatures, brace yourslf for extreme cold temps below freezing point. Layer up and dress as many layers as you can. To give you an idea, I wore 4 pants including Ski pants and 9 tops which included three down goose feather jackets and I was still freezing and got chills. wear a ski mask otherwise your face will freeze and burn with pins and needles feeling in the outdoors especially during the night time. must wear warm gloves and bring plenty of hot heat packs and toe warmers. In addition, I recommend the Ice hotel behind the scenes tour of the making of the hotel de glace and do try to watch the carnaval parade that starts at 7pm only held on Saturdays to see the floats and carnaval mascot Bonhomme. The winter carnaval also has an app that you can download with the time schedule of the carnaval which is very helpful. I recommend you download it. It is call "app carnaval" in google play search. Have fun and stay warm. Also old Quebec is worth checking out too near the carnaval area. You will see the oldest Hotel in Quebec, a famous and large hotel - Fairmont hotel Le Chateau Frontenac, souvenir shops, strip of restaurants and the city lights and waters The Winter Carnaval is pack with activities on time schedule. Some you need to pay admission to do others are included with the effigy price $15. Go early to the carnaval to check out the activities as lines get long fast. Also if weather conditions are bad, they usually close earlier than the schedule time. So be there early and dress warm...you will be glad you did. Nearby in Quebec, there is a waterfall that during the winter time is frozen but during springtime is hiking trails. A must see - Montmorency Falls. The cost for four adults and one car is $51 and includes the tram that takes you to the top of the mountain.