Every year, beginning on the last weekend of January and continuing for the the next two weeks (17 days in total), Quebec City is alive with sub-zero merri-making. The world's largest winter carnival, the Québec Winter Carnival, has been a highlight on the Quebec event calendar since 1894 and been giving Quebeckers and thousands of visitors a reason to celebrate during the cold, snowy winters. 
The Bonhomme Carnival has many wonderful traditions such as the Ice Palace. Since the mascot is a snow man, he needs to be in an ice palace that is cold so he does not melt. That is the history and tradition of this Quebec Festival. The palace is made of nine thousand tons of compacted snow which is sculpted for almost two months to make the palace. The palace also has electricity that runs through it, lighting it up to give it this coloring and glow through the ice. The palace made of ice for Bonhomme is located at the Place de L’Assemblee de Nationale, where most of the festival activities occur.
The snow sculptures are also another wonderful and artistic tradition held at this carnival. The snow sculptures at this carnival is one of the most prestigious in the entire world for building sculptures out of snow and one of the oldest events. Sculptors from all over the world gather in one place at the Place Desjardins to compete. The prize is an enrollment in Art University and college so they can continue to thrive in an artistic field. The night parades are also one of the most popular of activities of the Bonhomme Carnival. The parade takes place in the evening with spectacular lights and floats. The parade occurs twice through the carnival, so you will need to gather a brochure at the Carnival of which nights they are having the parade.
Overshadowing all the sculptures is the Bonhomme Ice Palace - first built in 1955. 5,000 blocks of genuine ice were used in its construction and it has become one of the most visible symbols of the Carnival. Including a maze of towers, at night, the imaginary-style palace becomes the home of a light and sound show.
It features loud music and flames, which shoot through the palace's shimmering walls in all directions, yet, do not melt even a piece of ice. It is a show, which combines music and fire-like light - a breath-taking dream world for the young. When they tire of fireworks, visitors can shop inside Bonhomme's Palace of Ice for souvenirs from all over the world.
The most colourful part of the Carnival is the brightly lit night parades. Every year some half a million spectators bundle up and line the snowy streets of the city. The parades feature fantastic floats, marching bands and many clowns. Even though it was freezing cold - about six degrees below zero - the night that I watched the parade, I could not believe my eyes when a band of young ladies marched by dressed in kilts.
During the Carnival, the Plains of Abraham, where the British battled the French and conquered Canada, are transformed into a huge winter playground for families. The entrance to the plains area, edged on both sides by snow sculptures which are fashioned by artists from various countries, leads to a field offering Aerial Trampoline, dogsled and sleigh rides, an ice climbing wall, snow slides, snowmobiling, and a sugar shack.
In addition, there are endless other activities, such as: visitors can visit the Amerindian Trail and take the opportunity to spend a night in a tepee; take a roll in the snow dressed only in a bathing suit; take part in the giant baby-foot soccer game; try breathtaking snow rafting; watch renowned snow sculptress at work; enjoy a Swiss culinary festival or savour the smell of hot chestnuts and chocolate crepes or enjoy a Calgary flapjack breakfast; taste, Caribou, a feisty alcoholic beverage popularized ever since the first carnival; take part in a soapbox derby which encourages participation from onlookers; stay in the city's famous Ice Hotel for at least one night; learn ice fishing and the smokehouse basics; listen to vocal ensemble sing a cappella, then dance in the snow; and, last but not least, watch the legendary International Canoe Race.
Each year when the Carnival is over, some of its officials, along with Bonhomme, embark on extensive tours throughout the world. This is bearing fruit. Every year visitors from around the globe increase dramatically.In early January, when winter drapes its fluffy white mantle on Quebec, Bonhomme makes a dramatic return to the city. The mayor hands him the key and Bonhomme again reigns until the February Carnival is over. There is little doubt that he provides the color, warmth and excitement to make a visit to the Carnival an unforgettable experience - a great winter sensation.
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