Quebec Winter Carnival: Vive Bonhomme!

A giant knuk and Bonhomme at the Quebec Winter Carnival's Day Parade

When’s the last time you both rode a Ferris wheel through a flurry of snowflakes?
Or wandered open-mouthed through a pavilion of glittering ice sculptures?
Or whooshed down an icy hill in a rubber raft, catching air and squealing with pure delight?

Might be time to get yourselves to the Great White North for Quebec’s Winter Carnival, going on now through February 13!

You notice how ever since you became adults, it’s increasingly common to feel jaded, cynical and bored?

Yeah, well not in Quebec City. And not during Winter Carnival.

For the last 57 years, a three-week snowbound extravaganza of civic, cultural and seasonal pride has cheered the heart of every man, woman and child in this riverside sprawl of northeastern Canada. Call it a rare, collective naïvete, but even adult people here really get into elaborate snow sculpting, belting out French songs from the 1800s, and cheering at the very sight of Bonhomme, the Carnival’s costumed snowman/ambassador/ice castle resident.

Everywhere you look, people are walking hand in be-mitten’ed hand and smiling ear to ear, their eyes glowing and their cheeks pink despite the cold. Above you, folks are hooting loudly while zip-lining across the carnival grounds. Of course, it’s possible they’ve all been drinking caribou (a traditional, potent brew of brandy, vodka, sherry and port) from plastic canes…but still.

In both English and French, the Quebec Winter Carnival is a great antidote to overwork, winter blues and that nagging feeling that nothing exciting ever happens anymore.

Having now hugged the heck out of Bonhomme (twice!), tried caribou for myself (I prefer it hot rather than cold), clapped for a giant Strawberry Shortcake balloon (these folks can put on a parade), and looked a team of sleek and ready sled dogs right in the eye, all while surrounded by an old European-style town where Christmas never seems to die, I now feel like embracing winter in a way I haven’t since my Washington, D.C. childhood.

And that’s it: the Carnival is like a Snow Day for grownups.

Don’t believe me? Well, you’ve got two more weeks to see for yourself.

Or, there’s always next year.

Either way, for now, please enjoy my favorite pictures from the first weekend’s festivities!