Quebec City Marks 400 Years
Anniversary Celebrations & Events Take Place Through October 2008
if you've ever considered visiting Quebec City, 2008 is the year to do it! The city celebrates its 400th anniversary with special festivals, concerts, exhibits and more.
July 3, 1608 marks a very important date in Quebec City history. That's when Samuel de Champlain founded a settlement at "Kébec," an Algonquin word that means “place where the river narrows.”
From that date, Quebec City evolved into one of North America's loveliest and most romantic cities--it has preserved its storied past while fully embracing the future with a cosmopolitan feel. It is North America's only fortified city, with dozens of historic neighborhoods for strolling along cobblestone streets.
After a day of exploring, which might include shopping exclusive boutiques, you can eat at a world-class restaurant and dance the night away in a chic nightclub. Outdoor adventures abound as well, with options for river rafting, kayaking, snowmobiling, skiing, mountain biking and more available in and around the city.
But perhaps the biggest draw for visiting Quebec City in 2008 is simply the sheer volume of anniversary celebrations, programs, festivals, concerts, exhibits and much more planned to mark the monumental year. The city will have a festive to feel to it through October, when the celebration officially ends.
Here is just a very small offering of the special events on the anniversary schedule:
January 26: Red Bull Crashed Ice, a competition involving skiing, hockey, boarder-cross and roller derby, takes place on the streets of Old Quebec.
February 1-7: Mr. Christie Quebec Winter Carnival, the world's largest celebration of winter, takes place in Old Quebec. Two special Night Parades (February 9 and 16) are highlights of the event.
May 2-18: International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship, with 16 countries participating. (It's the first time the championship has ever been held in Canada.)
May 29 to June 8: Limoilou Big Top and Circus Festival in the borough of Limoilou.
June 3: Espace 400e launches 120 days of activity at the Bassin Louise, a waterfront area, with street performances, children's workshops, lectures, debates and more. Here, the Passengers exhibition takes visitors on a journey through a multi-media history of Quebec City.
July 2-6: Major weekend celebration throughout Quebec City, including the official commemoration July 3 and the "Great Gathering" on the Plains of Abraham July 6.
July 19 to August 6: International Fireworks Competition at Montmorency Falls Park.
August 22: Celine Dion and other artists perform a free concert on the Plains of Abraham.
October 19: Cirque du Soleil closes the festivities at the Pepsi Coliseum
To learn more, confirm dates, and to download the full schedule, visit MyQuebec2008.com.
