In addition to being the capital of the French-speaking Canadian province of Quebec, Quebec City is also home to the largest winter carnival in the world.

Provided you don't mind the chill (temperatures average at around minus ten degrees Celsius), the Winter Carnival will blow you away with the magnitude of the event as close to one million people come to enjoy the festivities.

For despite the bitter weather in January and November, the Winter Carnival is very much an outdoor affair. Processions and races wind their way through the walls of the old city, brightening up the bleak midwinter days.

The carnival features a host of activities and displays, from the snow bath, night parades, slide runs and a giant foot ball game, to ice fishing, concerts, snow sculptures, horse-drawn sleigh, Ice Tower and skating. Meanwhile, the frozen St Lawrence river acts as venue for dog-sled racing and canoeing.

But if you want the ultimate Winter Carnival experience, then stay at the Icehotel, in Duchesnay, 30 kilometres west of Quebec City. The hotel is the latest addition to the world's portfolio of ice hotels and boasts a chapel, bar and 400-capacity nightclub plus 32 rooms and suites.

This year's carnival runs from January 27th to February 12th.

The Winter Carnival may seem a little bizarre, and more than a little cold, but it is one winter celebration that is unlike any other. With such a wide variety of events and processions to watch and take part in, the Winter Carnival is an event that will mesmerise the entire family.

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