Enjoy celebrating winter

Combining performing arts, gastronomy and free outdoor family activities, Montréal en Lumière has been bringing people out to enjoy winter for 25 years! During the festival, the Quartier des spectacles shines brightly with a remarkable display of lights that invites people to celebrate, play outdoors, indulge in fine food and fill up on culture. And don’t miss the famous Nuit blanche (sleepless night) event, an adventure in the city with activities that go on all night long. From February 22 to March 3, 2024, you’ve got a date with one of the world’s greatest winter festivals!
 

From January 25 to February 11, 2024, the Quebec Winter Carnival will be offering a host of surprises to mark this anniversary edition, which will also be extended an extra week! There will be a host of activities for all ages: night parades, snow and ice sculptures, ice bars, canoe races, evening shows and, of course, the Ice Palace where Bonhomme the mascot lives. Soak up the contagious joie de vivre! In addition, as part of the Carnival, circus company Machine de Cirque will present its “Légende” project, a grandiose circus experience highlighting the heritage of the Saint-Charles-de-Limoilou church!

Put on your skates (or those available for free on site) and take in the magical atmosphere of the skating trail on Quai Paquet (webpage available in French only), the longest refrigerated ice trail in Quebec! The trail lights up as soon as night falls, revealing a spectacular setting specially designed to showcase this emblematic site in Lévis. And this year, skaters will be charmed by the wood-burning fireplaces and background music, not to mention the rest areas where they can gaze at the view of Old Québec! It’s the perfect way to take a breath of fresh air!

The CRYO Races are a truly unique event, offering runners and cross-country skiers the chance to cross Lac Saint-Jean in winter, by day or by night. On February 24, runners and cross-country skiers bathed in sunshine, or experienced runners guided by the beam of their headlamps, will find themselves in the middle of a sea of ice and attempt to meet the physical and psychological challenge of this crossing. They will be supervised and supported as they tackle this icy adventure on mechanically designed routes. Whether they choose the 37-km SUNNY or STARRY crossings, the 13-km Micro-CRYO run, or the 37-km Ski-Lo! cross-country ski crossing, all participants have the same goal: to support the cause of the On the Tip of the Toes Foundation.

A huge gathering of antique snowmobiles, an international snow sculpture competition and an illuminated trail with friendly stops await you this winter! Enjoy magical moments during the region’s winter events, which offer creative family programming and exciting sports activities! Saint-Jean-Port-Joli’s Fête d'Hiver and Saint-Cyrille-de-Lessard’s Snow Fête are not to be missed!

If you love electronic music, then you’ll love ArtikFest, back for a second year in Trois-Rivières on February 15, 16 and 17, 2024. This exceptional winter event features concerts by international DJs, epic after shows in downtown bars and daytime live music. Free and open to all, this festival of electro music and culture promises three electrifying days of entertainment. Get ready to move, dance and have fun... and be sure to bundle up!

A unique experience awaits you at Atikuss, home of the new Maskisin ÉCONOMUSÉE®, a workshop-meets-museum offering a glimpse into hand-crafted Indigenous products. A visit is a great opportunity to discover ancestral methods of beading and weaving, all while enjoying a privileged window on the artisans’ work. You can also purchase clothing and accessories created with the utmost respect for natural materials and Indigenous traditions. Interpretation panels, an audio tour and touch screens enhance this immersive foray into Indigenous know-how.