Coasts transformed into slides, winter beaches, the return of the Bonhomme Ball… Quebec Carnival promises a “storm of novelties” to mark its 70th anniversary in 2024, extending the celebrations by a week.
We can slide down three hills in Quebec City. Illustration from the Quebec Carnival
In this anniversary year, when the Bonhomme Carnaval – which has not aged a day – will blow out its 70 candles, the event will take place over a period of 18 days and three weekends from January 25th to February 11th, 2024.
The slogan “Déguédine pis sos” was chosen for this occasion.
Bonhomme, Tuesday, October 31, 2023, at the unveiling of the Quebec Carnival program. Dominique Lelievre
“This year what we feel most is the kind of breach of convention, the ban that we are reintroducing, the transition to winter, the madness,” says Marie-Eve Jacob, director general of the organization.
With this in mind, the “City of Slides” promotion will see the light of day: from January 25th to 28th, Effigy owners will be able to slide along the coast of Pente-Douce (in the Saint-Sauveur district) on a crazy carpet in saucers, the Rue de la Promenade-des-Sœurs (Cap-Rouge) in rafting boats and the Ross Coast (Sillery) in rubber dinghies.
New for 2024: Sliding on the shores of Quebec. Illustration from the Quebec Carnival
“We wanted to find something we couldn’t do the rest of the year,” Ms. Jacob said.
More than a hundred activities
In total, more than a hundred activities are offered.
“We really deliver something that meets our expectations, so we are satisfied,” congratulates the general director. For five years, Carnival’s vision has been to “invest in large, visually appealing events.”
Jean-Béliveau Beach will be busy during the Quebec Carnival. Illustration from the Quebec Carnival
Three new websites appear. “We are expanding the space and festive areas and we think this will help reduce the queues a bit,” Ms Jacob said. These were the subject of criticism last year.
There will also be an Ice Cross taster track and snow hill at Place Jean-Béliveau, as well as a winter beach on the quays of the Espace Quatre Cents, where a 45-foot ice climbing bear will be installed.
Six evening shows will be presented. Illustration from the Quebec Carnival
The ice and snow sculptures will be brought together at Place George V, where we will find “one of the largest ice domes ever built.” In addition, the Bal de Bonhomme is reborn for an evening at Château Frontenac.
Centerpiece of the party
The heart of the festival will always be at Place de l’Assemble-Nationale and will take place on February 2nd. There we find the Palais de Bonhomme, which has the particularity of having a second floor with a terrace and rooms dedicated to the different eras of Carnival.
Marie-Eve Jacob, general manager of the Quebec Carnival. Stevens LeBlanc/JOURNAL DE QUÉBEC
Some important events are also back, such as the two night parades in Limoilou and on the Grande Allée, Camping de Bonhomme, the canoe race and the snow bath. The Loto-Québec zone will also present six nights of shows with several headliners, including rappers Loud and Mindflip as well as Bleu Jeans Bleu.
Many carnival visitors expected
The carnival hopes to surpass its latest pre-pandemic attendance figures, which showed around 450,000 visitors. “We hope that the locals will take part in large numbers and think that it will also be very strong from a tourism perspective,” expects the director.
Bruno Marchand, Mayor of Quebec. Stevens LeBlanc/JOURNAL DE QUÉBEC
Tourism Minister Caroline Proulx announced an additional $1 million in support for this anniversary edition, bringing government support to $2.8 million. The city of Quebec is donating nearly $1 million, up $60,000 this year, Mayor Bruno Marchand said.