Mild weather, three hills transformed into a slide, formal wear for the traditional Bonhomme Ball and a wonderful reunion of the ex-duchesses first weekend of the 70the The carnival edition was perfect…or almost perfect.
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The only small problem is the speed of the numerous slides scattered throughout the city, which slowed on Saturday afternoon with the temperature approaching five degrees, but who's going to complain?
Photo Didier Debusschere
Certainly not the tens of thousands of people who streamed through the streets of the Old Capital with smiles on their faces, eager to race down the slopes of the Cité de Ski.
Photo Didier Debusschere
If the general director of the carnival, Marie-Ève Jacob, said that she was “extremely satisfied” with the way this first weekend of activities went, it must be said that the comments of the visitors also point in this direction.
“It’s really well organized. It's festive and we feel that people are in a good mood and want to have fun. We really don’t regret making the trip,” said Guy Lecompte and his wife, who traveled from Victoriaville to enjoy the carnival atmosphere.
Jean Guay and Linda Brown from Quebec with Rénald and Gaetane Lessard from Beauce and Johanne Lacerte and Guy Lecompte from Victoriaville | Photo credit: Nicolas St-Pierre Photo Nicolas St-Pierre
“Of course we would have preferred it to be a little colder so we could glide a little faster, but we can't complain. “It's well done, the atmosphere is pleasant and we have fun,” says Guillaume Jalbert, who came to slide with his son Antoine.
“I like it when things happen quickly, quickly, but here it just happened quickly. But whatever, it was still fun,” his boy added.
A comeback
After eight years of absence, the traditional Bal de Bonhomme made a significant return on Saturday as the fancy dress, tuxedo and mask were in place for this totally crazy evening held in the Château Frontenac ballroom.
To make the experience even more spooky, the carnival partnered with Machine de Cirque for the artwork, who were able to deliver the goods for the sold-out event.
Photo Didier Debusschere
“It really was a magical evening. “People were really excited about the game. It was an unusual but truly extraordinary masquerade ball,” says Marie-Ève Jacob.
The game was also attended by several public figures, including Quebec Mayor Bruno Marchand, Tourism Minister Caroline Proulx and comedian Mathieu Dufour. Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon used the slides with his family on Sunday.
Still good weather
The organization of the carnival is likely to get away with mild temperatures this week, as Environment Canada predicts temperatures between 0 and -9 degrees Celsius for the next few days.
Next Saturday a maximum of -5 degrees Celsius is expected with alternating sun and clouds.
Visitors should once again take advantage of the ideal weather to enjoy Carnival activities throughout the weekend, especially on Saturday, when everyone can dance, sing and marvel at the first night parade, the traditional Lower Town parade of this 70th Quebec Carnival.
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