The Quebec Winter Carnival or Carnaval de Québec is an annual winter carnival that takes place in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The festival starts on January 29 and continues for 17 days, coinciding with Mardi Gras celebrations in other regions of the world. With close to one million participants, it has grown to become the third largest winter celebration in the world, after the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival and Japan's Sapporo Snow Festival.

A magical ice palace was built for Bonhomme, the Carnival's guest of honour, for the first time in Jacques-Cartier Square in 1955. The impressive ice construction even had a dungeon, used to jokingly jail Carnival-goers who refused to honour Bonhomme's effigy. From 1956 to 1972, Bonhomme's palace was located at Place d'Youville. Crowds gathered to dance and celebrate at the site that had special lighting and entertainment for the occasion. In 1973, Bonhomme's ice palace was moved opposite the Québec Parliament. 

This two-week bash gets a million visitors a year, from all over the world. Many visitors, of course, are from Quebec: the "Quebecois" love their winter "Carnival de Quebec", which makes for a joyous spirit. Families are everywhere, with wee kids pulled along on sleds. Typical Quebec Carnival activities that kids will enjoy: exploring the Ice Palace, skating outdoors at Palace Hydro-Quebec, snow rafting, dogsled rides, Ice Castle with slide, snow rafting, tube rides, Maple Sugar Shack, viewing the International Snow Sculpture Show, dog talent show, music and dancing on indoor and outdoor stages. Many carnival-goers wear a traditional sash; your kids will definitely want one of the long red plastic Carnival trumpets that sound out constantly in the snowy streets.