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Pageantry in Costume

By Carole Herdegen

For five days every August, old Québec City returns to its French origins with story tellers, singers, dancers, parades zigzagging narrow, winding streets and citizenry dressed in finest 17th century costumes. Each year, the New France Festival, as it is known, becomes larger and attracts a greater number of international tourists. More than 400,000 visitors participated in last year's events.

In 2006, the Festival will celebrate its 10th anniversary. Visitors to Quêbec City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, also come to enjoy the atmosphere of a walled city steeped in history. They walk the cobblestone streets and admire old public buildings, beautiful castles, chapels, churches, towers, public squares and palatial homes. During these special 5 days in summer, tourists can virtually "re-live" history.

Each year, the number of participants continues to increase while Festival organizers witness a growing number of theater productions playing to packed audiences.

Both community and visitors eagerly anticipate the Festival parade. New, fifteen-foot figures are added to the parade each year. These giant figures represent personalities from 17th Century Québec. Some are remembered and loved heroes while others are notorious for their misdeeds. These giant figures are intermingled with growing numbers of courtiers who march though the winding streets of this old walled city. Their reward is the winning of applause for the minute detail in their costuming, characterization, and demeanor.

Next year's festival will take place from August 2nd to 6th, 2006. Check out the web site at www.nouvellefrance.qc.ca or call the toll free number for more information (866) 391-3383 (Canada, USA)

However, the New France Festival is not the only event that draws great numbers of visitors to Québec City. There are other festivals, shows and competitions that make Québec City a year round tourist destination. The Summer Festival transforms the city into a giant outdoor stage for eleven days with hundreds of performances by more than 800 artists displaying their talents.

The Summer Festival will be held from July 6th through the 16th, 2006. Further details can be found on the web site: www.infofestival.com.

Destinations magazine calls the Loto-Québec International Fireworks Competition the "top event of the year in Canada". This unique, annual fireworks event is set to music with the Montmorency Falls as its beautiful background. It brings together not only competing countries from around the world but also more than 350,000 spectators.

The 2006 competition will take place from July 22nd to August 9th. Click on www.quebecfireworks.com to get the dates, times and ticket information or call for information and tickets at (418) 523-3389 or toll-free (888) 934-3473.

During the months of March and April, a visit to a "sugar shack" is a must. Here, one can sample traditional hot maple taffy served on a bed of fresh snow and scooped up with wooden sticks. "A springtime treat that can't be beat".

The crown of Québec must certainly be its fine dining and first class hotels recognized around the world for their distinct European favor and thoroughly enjoyed without having to travel across the Atlantic. The legendary Fairmount Le Chateau Frontenac Hotel overlooking the St. Lawrence River since 1893 has been ranked as one of the great international hotels and is probably the most photographed hotel in the world. Wherever you point your camera, night or day, winter or summer, you are bound to capture a spectacular view of Old Québec with the hotel playing a prominent part in your photograph.

Coming Soon:
Québec City will be celebrating its 400th anniversary on July 3, 2008. From January to October 2008, hundreds of special events are being planned to commemorate the birthday of this great North American city. It isn't too early to plan some vacation time for a visit!

There are nearly 6 million people who visit Québec City each year as business travelers, conventioneers, or tourists. Readers of Travel + Leisure 2005 voted Québec City one of the top cities in North America and regard it as the most Romantic City in Canada.

Did you know?
In the 19th Century, Québec City was one of the five largest ports of the world.

Joseph Armand Bombardier of Eastern Québec invented the snowmobile in 1922.

For further travel information contact:
Quebec City and Area Tourism and Convention Bureau
399, rue Saint-Joseph Est
Québec, Canada G1K 8E2
Tel: (418) 641-6654
Fax: (418) 641-6578
Web Site: www.quebecregion.com.

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Scenes from the New France Film Festival 2005



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