Quebec Carnival: partner events across the region

After revealing the programming for its 71^e edition, the Quebec Carnival announced Thursday a storm of partner events in order to propel carnival activities throughout the region.

The Quebec Carnival organization will offer around fifty of these partner events, such as behind the scenes at the Aquarium du Québec, the Lotbinière Grizzly Diet Challenge and the Sun Life Snow Pentathlon night race.

They will take place in several boroughs of Quebec City, on Île d’Orléans, in Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, in Wendake and in Lotbinière.

These events, which demonstrate “the community’s appropriation of Carnival,” are an effective way to reach even more festival-goers, whether from the region or abroad.

“When someone tells me that in Lotbinière, in a race, there were Japanese, I find that very beautiful. This is what is needed. I want to have tourists and locals in the small streets, in the regions, on the Île d’Orléans. It’s part of the DNA of Carnival,” underlines Marie-Eve Jacob, general director of the Carnival of Quebec.

Press conference for the unveiling of the Quebec Carnival program, Thursday January 16, 2025. Marie-Eve Jacob, director of the Carnival.

Photo Stevens LeBlanc

Playing with the forbidden

The Carnival has allowed itself some “breaks of convention” for these partner events.

“We play with the forbidden,” says M^me Jacob.

She mentions, in particular, the gourmet aspect of this parallel program, where festival-goers will be invited to indulge without guilt.

“We are not afraid of abuse. Sugar, salt, alcohol, it’s welcome at Carnival, it’s ten days, we take advantage of it. We will compensate with sporting activities,” says the general director, laughing.

In this gastronomy section, there are notably Bulles, Whiskey & Gastronomy, Cassis Monna & Filles to the rhythm of the Quebec Carnival and Viandes, Flammes & Neige 2025.

Furthermore, for the entire duration of Carnival, more than ten sites and buildings will light up in red.

Present for the announcement, Liberal MP Jean-Yves Duclos took the opportunity to make a little joke.

“What a genius idea to illuminate […] Concorde and Château Frontenac in red, just a few weeks before the next federal elections,” he jokes.

But the real reason behind choosing the color red is because it is Bonhomme’s favorite color.

“That’s the only reason,” added the general director, laughing.

The Quebec Carnival will be held from February 7 to 16. Just before, Bonhomme will go to meet the carnival-goers in various ice rinks in the city and the outskirts, to practice his favorite sport in their company. The schedule is available on the Carnival website.