If there is any silver lining to the limited version of this year’s Quebec Winter Carnival, it’s that revellers will have a chance to experience the event in a warm setting for a change – their own homes! And while that’s not really the point, with the world sadly still stuck in pandemic mode, the 67th annual Quebec City event will largely move indoors this year – at least from a participant point of view.
Set to take place Feb. 5 to 14, organizers say Carnival will only offer outdoor scenic elements and “contemplative monuments of ice and snow” throughout the city. There will be a hundred sculptures along the Ice and Snow Route and magnificent six-metre-high ice towers to represent Bonhomme’s Palace. But no event sites will be installed.
Instead, a virtual program will be added to the Carnival YouTube Channel with, among other things, musical performances, mixology workshops, interviews with the Winter Fanatics, quizzes and games to do at home, and family mornings.
All virtual events are free.
“The 67th Quebec Winter Carnival will certainly be different this year, but it will be safe and very entertaining for everyone, with hundreds of winter artworks to discover while walking in the different neighbourhoods of Quebec City, as well as a festive virtual program for the entire family to enjoy at home,” says Carnival CEO Mélanie Raymond, who adds, “We want to support people during this difficult time and give them something that will bring them joy!”
Festival program
Festive themed evenings as well as a family program on Sunday mornings will be presented on the Carnival YouTube Channel. Co-hosted by “Bonhomme Carnaval,” the program is designed to offer content that will appeal to all tastes.
Feb. 5, 7 p.m. – Viewers will be dancing at home during this crazy evening, which will bring out memories of the fun and festive atmosphere of the popular Jos’ Camp! On the schedule: Opening ceremony, a show by Émile Bilodeau with an exclusive interview presented by WKND 91.9, jig with the group En 2 Temps, and a traditional tale told by Francis Désilets.
Feb 6, 7 p.m. – The evening kicks off with a challenge competition, followed by a Carnival quiz in which Carnival visitors can participate remotely, and ending with a game of musical improvisations.
Feb. 7, 7 a.m.: Arthur L’aventurier and Bonhomme tell the story of a winter adventure for young families. In song, L’aventurier explains how he managed to find Bonhomme when he wandered off to the Great North. He also shares his knowledge about animals and winter activities.
Feb. 11, 7 p.m.: A trip into the past with Carnival memories and a retrospective of the archives spanning 66 years with special guests, including historian Jean Provencher.
Feb. 12 from 7 p.m.: Carnival visitors are invited to join this evening event with glass in hand for mixology workshops, a winter BBQ, and a show and interview with Clay and Friends presented by WKND 91.9, culminating in a lively dance party.
Feb. 13, 7 p.m.: For this last virtual evening, the Carnival will present exclusive interviews on subjects that are both interesting and diverse, such as courageous people who don’t blink in the face of danger. Meanwhile, around an outdoor fire in the magnificent Jacques-Cartier region, guests Billy Rioux (winter survival in bushcraft mode), Sébastien Zappa (Wim Hof method), Jeane Beaumont-Lapointe (ice canoe), Alexandre Lemerise (fatbike) and François-Guy Thivierge (mountaineering) discuss a passion that unites them all: winter! And because everything is more interesting when it is being discussed by a drag queen, the evening will finish with a bang with the exclusive talk show “We Drag and Talk,” filmed at Le Drague Cabaret Club and including stories and spectacular performances by the guest drag queens.
Feb. 14, from 7 a.m.: Ari Cui Cui invites her little snowflakes to visit her universe filled with magic, rhythm and education! Accompanied by Bonhomme and her friend the Joyful Baker, she will get the entire family moving, dancing, singing, and making crafts, and will even tell a special story joined by Bonhomme.
See the complete schedule and browse the interactive map HERE.