The Quebec City Winter Carnival

Prominent vacation company, Club Newport, offers its members unique benefits beyond discounted quality resorts and vacation homes from around the world. With a fully staffed team of concierge professionals, reward points, bonus resort stays, and guest passes, thousands of travelers are enjoying the rewards of membership as well as more frequent travel opportunities.

Whether you’re looking for the ultimate summertime experience or a cozy winter retreat, the travel gurus at Club Newport can help subscribers coordinate the ideal getaway. One member favorite is the Quebec City Winter Carnival.

In the late 19th century, residents of the historic Quebec City organized a festival each winter to celebrate the season’s beauty. In 1955, the city and a group of prominent business leaders partnered to make the initially informal event an official city festival. Since then, the annual Winter Carnival has

drawn hoards of people from around the world for its traditional events and performances, with food and drink for the entire family.

Among these rituals, the festival celebrates the area’s heritage through the wearing of traditional garments, such as the arrow sash (a belt-like accessory that dates back to the French-Canadian trappers that first settled the region). Additionally, the festival hosts a series of illuminated night parades and competitive events, like ice canoeing.

For many, the festival’s highlight is a visit to the Ice Palace - an enormous structure built of ice that serves as the home to Bonhomme, the 7’ tall mascot of the festival. Created each year using packed snow, Bonhomme is dressed in a traditional red tuque and arrow sash that represents the Quebecois spirit.