Chateau Frontenac, Quebec City, Canada

© Romiana Lee/Shutterstoc

Where is this historic hotel?. Quebec City, Quebec, Canada

Among all the pre-Lenten celebrations that take place around the world in February, the most famous are associated with warm-weather cities like Rio and New Orleans, where revelers party it up in elaborate costumes during the run-up to Ash Wednesday. Fairmont Le Château Frontenac was assigned a National Historic Site of Canada in 1980 and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Québec Winter Carnival is a family event in the capital, Québec City, the complete joy of winter is celebrated in this carnival. In fact, this is one of the world’s biggest winter carnival. In both French and English, the locals simply call it ‘Carnaval’. With big events like parades and outdoor concerts, Quebec’s Winter Carnival take place over 17 days, start in late January to early February.

It’s a different affair in Quebec City, pictured here, where participants in the Quebec Winter Carnival enjoy all things winter, from snow sculptures to sleigh races. This former frontier outpost, and little sister to Montreal, is known for its spirited embrace of the coldest, darkest season. No surprise that its winter festival is the biggest in the Western Hemisphere.