Winter often gets a bad rap, but there are ways to make the best of the season. The Quebec Winter Carnival is a 17 day long frozen fairyland celebration that has been around for 60 years. In fact, it’s the largest winter festival in the world, set in one of the most charming towns on the continent. This year’s action takes place from January 29 to February 14. It started out as a rather rowdy party but it has evolved into a family oriented one that draws about 500,000 visitors each year. Here are some reasons why Canada’s coolest carnival is an experience that shouldn’t be missed.
1. Bonhomme
Bonhomme is the 400 pound snowman mascot of the carnival and his popularity rivals that of Santa Claus. The giant snowman has been the carnival ambassador since 1955 and you can visit him at his Ice Palace or catch him in one of the parades. He speaks both French and English and while his name means “good man,” he is known to be a bit mischievous.
