By Liz Fleming
He's huge, he's round and he's snowy white - not the sexiest
guy on the scene - but when he appears onstage at gala opening
ceremonies, he gets bigger cheers from the crowd than the Prime
Minister.  Endlessly huggable despite his frosty nature,
he's one of the few mascots who speaks, and this year, Bonhomme
Carnaval has lots to talk about. 
Quebec City, home of the world famous Quebec Winter Carnaval,
is celebrating its 400th anniversary in great style. 
If you've always promised yourself a visit to the annual
celebration of ice and snow, this special birthday year is the
perfect time to do it!
From the ice sculpting contests that draw competitors from
around the world, to the two grand-scale night parades, to the
life-size foozball game, Bonhomme's glittering Ice Palace, the
zip line that sends squealing visitors rocketing through the
frosty air and much more, each year Quebec City turns itself
into a winter playground for the 17 days of the Carnaval,
welcoming close to a million visitors.
It all began in 1894, with the first large-scale winter
carnival held to celebrate the best of the season with outdoor
sports and galas.  Although the tradition underwent
growing pains and occasional interruptions during the
Depression and the war years, it continued to be an important
part of the Quebec winter season and finally reached maturity
in 1955, with the launch of the first official Quebec Winter
Carnaval.  Now more than 50 years later, the Winter
Carnaval has grown into a spectacle of mammoth proportions and
is ranked third in the world's list of top carnivals after its
famous rivals in Rio and New Orleans. 
Last year, Carnaval organizers used more than 330 tons of ice
and took 19 days to construct the large-scale outdoor
sites.  So many participants took place in the two night
parades that, had they marched in single file, the line created
would have stretched from Quebec City to Vancouver! 
Working with a budget of 7.2 million dollars, organizers
managed to generate an economic impact for the city of more
than $34 million. 
This year, the party promises to be bigger and better than ever
before.
Organizers have planned more extravagant, colorful parades, dog
sled races through the old town, sleigh rides, snow and ice
sculpting competitions, snowshoe races, drum and bugle corps
performances, skiing, sliding and more.  It's literally
the coolest party of the year.
Keen to join Bonhomme in celebrating Joyeux Carnaval? Be sure
to pack your warm woolies - nearly all events are held
outdoors, and mid-winter temperatures in Quebec City can plunge
to -40 C, and lower. Although a quick shot of Caribou - a
potent liquor made of brandy, vodka, sherry and port used to
toast the health of your fellow Carnaval celebrators - will
help in the short-term, you'll want a serious down-filled
jacket, hat, mitts, scarf and boots to protect you from the
long-term chill.  Plan your time wisely and, while you'll
want to enjoy as much outdoor fun as possible, be sure to pop
into one of the many cafés and restaurants that offer not only
a break from the cold, but also wonderful Québecois cuisine as
well.  Have a plate of poutine, a slice of sugar pie or a
chunk of maple sugar and join Bonhomme in celebrating a Joyeux
Carnaval.
