It sure has changed a lot since Elsa was there

_Elsa_

 “What’s this? I don’t remember seeing a snowman character so things have surely changed a lot from then until now,” Elsa thinks.

‘Overseeing the Carnival is always Bonhomme, a snowman character in a red cap. You’ll see his likeness all over the city, where you can take selfies with him. Your ticket for the festivities is a “Carnival Effigy” that you wear around your neck, and the arrowhead sash that comes from Amerindian folklore is a must. It’s what you see around Bonhomme’s waist. ’ (Source)

‘The idea of a winter carnival resurfaced in the 1950s. While Bonhomme Carnaval and his duchesses were innovations at the time, the organizers also relied on attractions that had proven their worth: the ice palace, the great parade of decorated floats, and the ice canoe race between Quebec City and Lévis, which were all part of this new edition of the revived carnival, in 1955. 

From one winter to the next, the program was gradually enriched with additional winter activities and sports, often inspired by the traditional lifestyle of Quebecers. Other novelties, like the international snow sculpture competition and the snow bath with Bonhomme, made their appearance to provide the simple pleasure of “playing with winter”.

In the 1990s, after 40 years in existence, the carnival embraced new directions to keep up with societal changes. It refocused its activities on the family, and nearly all the festivities were brought together on an immense site located on the Plains of Abraham. Then, from 2014 on, the organization brought the celebrations back into the city streets, to better respond to the changing expectations of carnival lovers. The duchesses’ competition, for example, which had been set aside for several years, was updated to suit contemporary tastes and revived on the 60th anniversary of the carnival.’ (Source) 

Elsa is getting excited after reading all these changes. She definitely has to ask the girls if they want to attend!

Let’s continue – Things to do at the Quebec Winter Carnival

Start at the beginning – Walking in a Winter Wonderland