{"id":4604,"date":"2013-02-06T16:12:38","date_gmt":"2013-02-06T21:12:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dougbardwell.com\/db\/?p=4604"},"modified":"2017-11-19T10:41:57","modified_gmt":"2017-11-19T15:41:57","slug":"top-ten-reasons-you-need-to-get-to-quebec-winter-carnival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dougbardwell.com\/db\/top-ten-reasons-you-need-to-get-to-quebec-winter-carnival\/","title":{"rendered":"Top ten reasons you need to get to Quebec Winter Carnival"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Bonhomme<\/a>

Bonhomme – ambassador of the Winter Carnival<\/p><\/div>\n

The 59th<\/sup> Annual Quebec Winter Carnival <\/a>2013 kicked off on February 1, and will continue until February 17. There\u2019s plenty of time to still get there and have the time of your life. This is the third largest festival in the world and the world\u2019s largest winter festival. Dress warm, come hungry and you\u2019ll go away happy\u2026guaranteed.<\/p>\n

In less than 24 hours during the opening days of the show I enjoyed sledding on an fast, 120m ice-chute, snow tubing on a long snow hill, human foosball, field hockey, ice skating, cross country skiing, snowshoe races, dog sledding, ice and snow sculptures, winter hot tubs and saunas, dancing under the moonlight, horse-drawn sleighs as well as delicious food and adult beverages. While most activities are outside, there are adequate places to come in, warm up and refuel; so you never need to worry about being outside all day long.<\/p>\n

So what\u2019s still going on<\/span>?\u00a0 Here\u2019s my top ten choices for things I wouldn\u2019t miss if I was still there:<\/p>\n

1)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Take in LUMOCITE<\/strong>, a spectacular lighting of the city\u2019s most famous landmarks with 3D and SFX illumination presented by world renowned multi-media teams from L.A., Budapest, Geneva, as well as Quebec. Starting Feb 6 until Feb 9, the show goes from 6 p.m. until 11 p.m. each night.\u00a0 Starting in 2014 this will be an international competition in Quebec.<\/p>\n

\"Beavertails,<\/a>

Beavertails, the gooey, delicious maple treat served warm.<\/p><\/div>\n

2)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Canada is known for its adult beverages, and to celebrate, BRASSEE DU CARNAVAL<\/strong> is where you\u2019ll want to be to sample the best of local microbreweries. From Feb. 7 through Feb. 10, you can taste from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. in front of the Armoury.<\/p>\n

3)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Get a photo with the ambassador of Winter Carnival, the bigger-than-life BONHOMME<\/strong>. Saturdays and Sundays you\u2019ll find him in the Loto-Quebec Zone from 11:30 a.m. until 12 p.m.<\/p>\n

\"Human<\/a>

Human foosball<\/p><\/div>\n

4)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Try HUMAN FOOSBALL<\/strong> on an icy rink. Two teams of twelve people put on blue or red jerseys and then strap themselves to long poles that limit their movement to left and right only. Working in tandem (supposedly) they each try to advance the ball across the court and into the opponent\u2019s goal. Come with a team or come by yourself and they will partner you up. It\u2019s a pack of laughs you won\u2019t forget.<\/p>\n

5)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Be amazed at the International ICE SCULPTURE<\/strong> competitions. Young art students as well as collegiate and local competitors had their projects completed before I left and they were expertly done. (How anyone can hollow out the inside of a giant ice sphere without cracking it, baffles my mind.) If they did such amazing work, I\u2019m sure sorry I missed the international competitors. The international teams will be working from February 5 through February 10 if you want to see them in action.<\/p>\n

6)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 DOGSLED RIDES<\/strong> are available by climbing the hill past the Oreo snow slides. Amarok Expedition<\/a> had out two teams of 4 to 6 dogs and were offering the opportunity to ride and actually drive the teams yourself. With just a minute or two of instructions, whole families were off around a predetermined course for some quick, fun with dogs that just want to run. This year Winter Carnival, next year the Iditarod?<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The Ice Palace is lit up with music and lights each night<\/p><\/div>\n

7)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 DANCE<\/strong> the night away under the stars (or the snow) to the beats of local DJ\u2019s and the colorful lighting of the giant Ice Palace. Giant fire barrels are spaced around the site to keep you warm; but if you groove enough to the music, you\u2019ll stay plenty toasty.<\/p>\n

8)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Get crazy and watch the SNOW BATHERS<\/strong> battle the snow with only their bathing suits and some determination at 2 p.m. on February 16. Afterwards, do a favor and buy one of them a hot Caribou drink from Bistro SAQ \u2013 oh, so tasty \u2013 but powerful \u2013 so maybe only have one\u2026or two\u2026or?<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\u00a0SLIDE SHOW<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Mouse over the lower right corner and click on the arrow to see full-screen version.<\/div><\/div>\n