10 Things Kids Love at the Quebec Winter Carnival

10 Things Kids Love at the Quebec Winter Carnival
by TARA CANNON on FEBRUARY 24, 2016

The Quebec Winter Carnival is the quintessential Canadian winter party. It is a 3 week long
festival steeped in history, although I can assure you that when it is -40°C with windchill, one
would find any reason to throw a party. Growing up in Canada as I did, you learn a lot about
the traditions of this famous event and can probably even rattle off the name of its
mascot, Bonhomme Carnaval. Although I never had a chance to attend as a child, I was
delighted to bring my own kids when the stars aligned and an opportunity presented itself.

The Carnaval de Québec is not the only reason you should visit Quebec City, however. It is
truly one of the prettiest cities in North America; a fact agreed upon by Travel and
Leisure magazine who ranked it as #6 on its World’s Best City Awards 2015 (right behind
San Francisco). Part of the beauty of this 400 year old city is the European charm of its
narrow cobblestone streets, and the historic stone buildings within its fortified stone walls.
The Old City (Le Vieux Québec), is in fact the only walled city north of Mexico. These days,
with no great need to defend against attacks, you will find the gates open and the streets full
of lively cafes, art galleries, fine restaurants and lovely hotels.

I would love to show you all the things we enjoyed with our kids in this beautiful city during
the Quebec Winter Carnival. If you are in a hurry, you can simply watch this 2 minute video.
Otherwise, please read on.

10 Fun Attractions for Kids at The Quebec Winter Carnival
1. The Ice Hotel – L’Hôtel de Glace
Painstakingly made anew each year (with a unique theme), the Ice Hotel is a must for a
winter visit to Quebec City. Even if you are a not one of the lucky few ticking spend the night
at an ice hotel off of your bucket list, be sure to stop by for a tour. During the day, visitors
have full access to the whole compound including the cathedral, the grand foyer (with an ice

slide for the kids), and the themed hotel suites. Leave time to pop into the NEIGE cocktail
bar to sip on a delicious concoction from an ice glass (non alcoholic drinks are available for
kids). For more information (including overnight stays and tours that can help you skip the
line), see the Hôtel de Glace website.

Image Credit: Luc Rousseau

2. Bonhomme’s Ice Palace
Where else would Bonhomme Carnaval live but in a castle made of ice ! This is the Quebec
Winter Carnival’s version ofSanta’s Workshop and is sure to delight kids both big and small.
It is the perfect place to have a meet and greet with the famed snowman and get that
keepsake photo.

3. The Village Vacances Valcartier Tube Park
I hesitated in committing to an outing to a tube park because I was worried that it wouldn’t
be french enough and that we might miss out on something more distinctly
Québecois.Thankfully, I came to my senses because this turned out to be the thing that my
kids loved most about our time in Quebec City. This tube park is absolutely gigantic with all
kind of runs, from gentle slopes to terrifying double black diamonds. I finally had to bribe my

children with candy (maple taffy candy, of course) to get them to call it a day. The tubing is
only part of a larger entertainment complex that will also soon include a 153 suite hotel and
indoor aquatic park (coming December 2016). Learn more about Village Vacances
Valcartier here.

4. Ice Fishing at Village Nordik du Port de Québec
It’s not every day that you get to try your hand at ice fishing (at least not for most people).
Although my daughter and her friend did not catch anything, they still very much enjoyed the
experience. While quite a chilly pastime, visitors do remain protected from the wind inside
the igloo shaped tents. From this frozen section of the Louis Basin you can also enjoy
outdoor ice skating with the beautiful Vieux Québec in the distance.

5. A Horse and Carriage Ride Around Le Vieux Québec
Imagine life several centuries ago as you pass through the gates into the Old City on your
very own carriage ride and history tour. Personally, I have found that unless a walking tour is

specifically geared toward children, my kids don’t do very well. A short carriage ride (perhaps
with a hot chocolate in hand) and a little history thrown in, provides a much greater chance of
success.

6. The 1884 Toboggan Slide
Race your kids at almost 70km and hour on this classic 3 track toboggan slide.
The Toboggan Slide au 1884 has been delighting kids for over 130 years (it even predates
the Château Frontenac). Tickets can be purchased at the nearby kiosk and the toboggans
are provided.

Image Credit: Tourism Quebec

7. Ride the Funicular
Why take the stairs that connect the Old City’s Haute-Ville and Basse-Ville, when you can
take a funicular? The two cabins act as counterweights to take visitors up and down the
steep embankment between Place Royale and Dufferin Terrace in front of the Chateau
Frontenac. Enjoy this short, but unique experience as it is the only funicular found in the U.S.
or Canada.

8. Monmorency Falls – Parc de la Chute-Monmorency
Just a short drive outside of Quebec City are the incredible Monmorency Falls. At 83 meters,
they are a full 30 meters higher than Niagara Falls. Take the cable car from the bottom and
then view the falls from above from the suspension bridge. You might even get to see it
when the Sugarloaf appears (Pain de Sucre); a unique mound that forms in front of the falls
from the freezing mist (a little one is shown in the image below).

Image Credit: Yves Tessier, Tessima

9. Le Monde de Bonhomme – The Quebec Winter Carnival Fairgrounds
The fairgrounds on the Plains of Abraham (site of the famous battle between the French and
British) are where much of the Quebec Winter Carnival fun happens. On this site, kids can
enjoy dog sledding, sleigh rides, amusement rides, tubing, a snow bath competition, a canoe
pull, snow bowling, live music and so much more. Dress warmly and plan to stay all day.

10. Outdoor Ice Skating Under a Clear Blue Sky
Take in the crisp cold air with an afternoon of outdoor skating. You will find a rink on the
historic Plains of Abraham that operates from mid-December to mid-March. It has skate
rentals and a snack bar. There is another outdoor rink at Place D’Youville in the heart of the
Old City that is open from mid-October to mid March. This space has skate rentals but is
without a snack bar (warm up with a hot chocolate and yummy pastries at the
nearby Second Cup cafe).

Image Credit: Ville de Québec

5 Foods to Try in Quebec City
When in Quebec, there are several food you may want to try if you have not already. May I
recommend the following:

Poutine: Although it is now on many menus around the world, Quebec is the birthplace of
poutine. What’s not to love about a pile of fries, layered with cheese curds and then
smothered in gravy? Ask a local for the favourite spot, or try Chic Shack which is right next
door to the Fairmont Chateau Frontenac in the Upper Vieux Quebec.

Tourtière: A delicious meat pie made from finely diced or ground pork, veal, beef or even
wild game.

A Montreal Smoked Meat Sandwich: If you are not going to get to nearby Montreal for a
famous Schwartz’s Deli smoked meat sandwich, you can certainly find a decent substitution
in Quebec City. What makes Montreal smoked meat special? The kosher meat is cured with
a special recipe of cracked peppercorns, garlic, coriander and mustard seeds and more (and
less sugar that New York pastrami).

Quebec Cheese Please: Did you know that Quebec wins all kinds of awards for their
cheeses? Take a peek at this list from the Canadian Cheese Grand Prix to help make some
educated choices to pair with your wine.

Maple Taffy: Known as tire d’érable in french, this sweet treat is made from sweet maple
sap poured on to snow and then lifted with a stick. It was a favourite for my son (who doesn’t
like sweets), yet was considered too sweet by my candy-loving daughter. Go figure !

For the adults only:

Caribou: Okay, this is more of a drink than a food, but it certainly sticks to your ribs ! I was
initially hesitant to try this traditional Quebec Winter Carnival drink, that is a concoction of red
wine, whiskey/brandy and maple syrup (although there are many variations on this recipe).
When the mercury dropped low enough, however, my resolved weakened and it actually
tasted pretty good.

Where to Stay for the Quebec Winter Carnival:
We generally stay in boutique hotels, but we found our stay at the Hilton (the Official Hotel of
the Carnaval de Quebec) to be very enjoyable and extremely convenient. It is right across
the street from Bonhomme’s Ice Palace, on the Carnaval parade route, and only a short walk
to the Monde de Bonhomme fairgrounds. The rooms are spacious, the service good, and my
kids loved the indoor/outdoor pool.

The Hilton Quebec City (website)

Price Range: $$$
Hotel Class: 4 star
Family Friendly Room Options: Options include double/doubles, queen/queens,
king/+sofabed, and larger suites.
Reviews: 78% of family reviewers rate as ‘Very Good’ or ‘Excellent’ on Tripadvisor.
Best Rooms: High floors facing the river and the Old City.

If you prefer a boutique hotel, take a look at the Auberge Saint-Antoine(website). If a stay
in a fairytale palace is on your bucket list, look no further than the Fairmont Château
Frontenac (website).

What to Wear to the Quebec Winter Carnival

If you enjoy accessorizing, sport the arrowhead traditional sash, also known as the “ceinture
fléchée”. Another popular accessory is the carnival cane. No, all of Quebec City doesn’t walk
with a limp, but they do enjoy warming up with a festive libation. The cane is hollow and can
be filled will Caribou, or another spirit of your choice to be enjoyed while out and about.

Note: The rules around consuming alcohol in public are refreshingly lenient in Quebec.
Drinking out of your souvenir cane in other Canadian provinces, is not advised.

During the Carnival de Quebec, the average high temperature ranges from a low of -14°C
(7°F) to a high of -5°C (23°F). That said, it can go much lower. During our stay, the
temperature hovered around -26°C (-15°F), an experi ence that I found rather shocking (I am
Canadian, but live in relatively balmy Vancouver). My advice would be to prepare for the Ice
Age, and you will likely remain happy and warm. So as not to go on at length in this post, I
have written this separate post on What To Wear To the Quebec Winter Carnival.

To learn more about all the great events that are part of the Quebec Winter Carnival, please
see the Carnaval de Quebec website.

Disclaimer: While visiting Quebec City, we were guests of Tourism Quebec and Quebec
City Tourism, with most expenses being covered by these entities. All opinions about our
experience are entirely my own. As always on my website, I encourage you to also
read current reviews by other family travelers on hotels, attractions and restaurants
(Tripadvisor, Google, Yelp etc.) before booking or making any final travel decisions.