The Ice hotel in Quebec is moving this year to a beautiful park just 7 minutes from downtown Quebec City -- making this truly the most accessible Ice Hotel in the World. Not only can guests sleep overnight on ice (protected from the cold by thick pelts) they can enjoy a drink in the bar, get married in one of the most spectacular 'Ice chapels' on earth, and enjoy activities such as dog sledding. NEW this year, guests can even build a typical Quebecois type of igloo called a Queenzy. The Ice hotel opens 7 Jan 2011 to the end of March - see www.hoteldeglace-canada.com or www.bonjourquebec.co.uk

Montréal La fête des Neiges de Montréal January 22 2011 - February 06 2011 (Weekends only) When the mercury plummets, Montréal warms up and celebrates at Parc Jean-Drapeau. The program features sculptures, skating, sliding, outside shows and many surprises! Location: Montréal Category: Festival / special event http://www.parcjeandrapeau.com/home.html The Montréal High Lights Festival February 17 2011 - February 27 2011 This international-calibre event, involving Montréal's main theatres, orchestras, dance troupes and museums, as well as the city's finest restaurants and hotels, heats up the winter with the best Montréal has to offer in the way of performance, culinary, lighting and visual arts. These venues also play host to renowned artists, lighting designers and world-class chefs. See downtown Montréal ablaze with light and lively entertainment. Location: Montréal (Region: Montréal) Category: Festival / special event http://www.montrealenlumiere.com/accueil_en.aspx Festival TransAmériques May 26 2011 - June 11 2011 Make way for dance and theatre! The Festival TransAmériques presents companies boasting the leading lights in contemporary theatre and dance from Québec, Canada and abroad. This feast for the mind and senses, will join spectators and artists in the heart of the action, placing them at the cutting edge of contemporary trends in the arts. Location: Montréal (Region: Montréal) Category: Festival / special event http://www.fta.qc.ca/en/pages/fta-2010 Grand Prix of Canada June 01 2011 - June 30 2011 (Dates to be confirmed) The only Formula 1 race in North America. The world's best auto racers test their skills on the demanding Gilles Villeneuve Circuit. Location: Montréal (Region: Montréal) Category: Sports event http://www.circuitgillesvilleneuve.ca/formula-1.html Montréal International Jazz Festival June 25 2011 - July 04 2011 Ranked by Guinness World Records as the world's largest jazz festival, Montréal's Festival International de Jazz has been synonymous with a passion for music for the past three decades. For 11 days every year, the French-speaking metropolis of North America becomes the venue where fans of all types of jazz-related music rub shoulders with aficionados of jazz in its purest form. The Festival hosts some 30 countries, 3,000 musicians, 650 concerts (including more than 370 free events) and 2.5 million visitors! All on a unique site, right downtown! Montréal is without a doubt the true heartbeat of Planet Jazz! Location: Montréal (Region: Montréal) Category: Festival / special event http://www.montrealjazzfest.com/default-en.aspx Just For Laughs Festival presented by Vidéotron in association with Loto - Québec July 02 2011 - July 25 2011 The Festival invites you to celebrate its 29th anniversary. The world's largest and most prestigious comedy event has Montréal in stitches with its galas, theatre, stand-up performances and street entertainment. It welcomes 1,700 artists from 19 countries and over two million festival-goers who flock to its 1,600 shows, including 1,200 free outdoor performances. The Festival has put together a wide variety of tourism packages sure to provide you with the ultimate Festival experience! Location: Montréal (Region: Montréal) Category: Festival / special event http://www.hahaha.com/index_en.html Les FrancoFolies de Montréal June 09 2011 - June 18 2011 The biggest music festival in the French-speaking world! For the past 20 years, Les FrancoFolies de Montréal has been the true reflection of a thriving French-speaking music world! Nearly 70 indoor shows and 180 free outdoor concerts attest to the effervescent quality, diversity and energy of a music-rich, fun-filled program! Every year, for 11 full days, Montrealers and tourists throng to the safe, festive FrancoFolies site in the downtown core to savour the best musical talents of the French-speaking world. Let's tell it like it is: Montréal is the place to let down your hair! Location: Montréal (Region: Montréal) Category: Festival / special event http://www.francofolies.com/default-fr.aspx Québec City Québec Winter Carnival in collaboration with Loto - Québec January 28 2011 - February 13 2011 For over 50 years, the biggest winter carnival in the world has been celebrating the joys and magic of winter. Experience the thrills and emotions with your family by taking part in a variety of winter activities. Location: Québec City (Downtown - Upper Town) (Region: Québec City and Area) Category: Festival / special event http://www.carnaval.qc.ca/en Festival d'été de Québec July 07 2011 - July 17 2011 For the past 44 years, the Québec City Summer Festival has been drawing crowds with its unique holiday atmosphere. For 11 days the city is transformed into a giant outdoor stage where hundreds of performers show off their talents at some 10 venues in and around Old Québec City, all within easy walking distance. Location: Québec City (Downtown - Upper Town) (Region: Québec City and Area) Category: Festival / special event http://www.infofestival.com/?lang=en SAQ New France Festival August 04 2010 - August 08 2010 It was in Québec City in 1608 that the whole adventure of New France began. And every summer for the past 14 years, the SAQ New France Festival has been celebrating the arrival of the first Europeans on American soil. The festivities include theater, dance, parades, spectacular shows, and street entertainment- a busy five day program of over 1,000 artistic events that take you inside the walls of Old Québec for a unique journey back to the 17th and 18th centuries. It's the perfect opportunity to dress up in period costume and take a trip back in time right in the heart of Old Québec. Location: Québec City (Old Québec - inside the walls) (Region: Québec City and Area) Category: Festival / special event http://www.nouvellefrance.qc.ca/en/ ICE HOTEL QUÉBEC-CANADA INC. T he Hotel de Glace will be celebrating its 10th anniversary. Many creative and unique ideas will be taking place through out this special edition. Every year, the unique ice and snow cathedral is redesigned and rebuilt in its entirety. The Hôtel de Glace is a Nordic event that brings together nature and city living. Experiment winter and come to live a magical night in one of the 36 rooms and theme suites. Enjoy a cocktail in one of the famous ice glasses. The Hôtel de Glace has always been and will always be an authentic, unique and unforgettable way to experience winter. *NEW Location: Québec City (Borough of Charlesbourg) (Region: Québec City and Area) Category: Hotel (Rugged establishment) http://www.hoteldeglace-canada.com/index.php?action=&langue=en Red Bull Crashed Ice March 16 2011 – March 19 2011 Red Bull Crashed Ice combines elements from ski cross and ice hockey. The athletes have to face high vertical drops and various tricky obstacles on a Crashed Ice track. http://www.redbull.com/ Charlevoix Region La grande traversée Casino de Charlevoix January 01 2011 - January 31 2011 (Dates to be confirmed) As in days of yore, some fourty teams take on the river between Île-aux-Coudres and Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive. Before the ferry service was launched in 1959, the island-dwellers carried mail, medicine and supplies over the ice in an 8-kilometre canoe trip to the mainland and back. The Grande traversée competition, held yearly since 1991, is a tribute to these hardy souls. Location: L'Ile-aux-Coudres (Region: Charlevoix) Category: Sports event http://www.grandetraversee.com/?nav=accueil La Classique - Dogsled Race February 25 2011 - February 27 2011 Some 50 teams from around Québec, the rest of Canada and the United States compete in this dog-sled race. Location: L'Ile-aux-Coudres (Region: Charlevoix) Category: Sports event http://www.tourismeisleauxcoudres.com/?page=accueil&l=en Gaspésie Region La grande Traversée De La Gaspésie en ski de fond February 19 2011 - February 26 2011 The event, very demanding both physically and humanly, involves skiing on a distance of more than 300 kilometres in six days on way marked trails in the mountain, along the sea or in the open country. Even more, a place to celebrate and meet pleasant people; an absolute treasure of Gaspésie's winter tourism. Category: Sports event http://www.brisebise.ca/tdlg/00_acc/00_acc_ang.html Outaouais Region Winterlude February 04 2011 - February 20 2011 (Weekends only) Fun is waiting for the whole family: the Rideau Canal Skateway, magnificent snow and ice sculptures, energetic rhythms and Sun Life Snowflake Kingdom, the biggest snow playground on the continent. Don't miss all this, the cheerful Ice Hogs, and more, at this canadian winter celebration. Location: Gatineau (Hull) (Region: Outaouais, Ottawa) Category: Festival / special event http://www.capitaleducanada.gc.ca/bins/ncc_web_content_page.asp?cid=16297-16298-22877&lang=1 Laurentians / Outaouais Regions Canadian Ski Marathon February 12 2011 - February 13 2011 This annual two-day event features a double-tracked ski trail divided into 10 sections spanning 160 km (100 mi.), from Gatineau to Lachute, and welcomes over 2,000 skiers of all skill levels and ages. Challenge Canada's Winter! Location: Lachute (Region: Laurentides, Outaouais) Category: Sports event http://www.csm-mcs.com/index2.html Eastern Townships Grand Prix Ski-doo of Valcourt February 18 2011 - February 20 2011 Three days of intense Snocross, Oval and motorcycle ice racing competitions with the best drivers in the world. Family festivities, the CoopTel Show with renowned performers and a rock concert on Friday night. Action to spare and exhilaration galore! Location: Valcourt (Region: Eastern Townships) Category: Sports event http://www.grandprixvalcourt.com/en/index.html