Winter carnivals and festivals in La Petite-Nation

Winter out here gives you two options. Stay inside until April, or dress properly and go party outdoors with the rest of the village. We strongly recommend option two.

February in particular is carnival month. Every village does it its own way, and plenty of it is free. Here's the 2026–2027 winter calendar, with the dates already confirmed and, for the rest, when things usually happen.

Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling get their own article. This one's about the parties.

Carnivals

Ripon Winter Carnival

Three days that get the whole village out, usually in mid-February. Friday is supper and a show at the market. Saturday brings a parade and a spaghetti dinner, plus an evening at the community centre that was free in 2026. Sunday means sliding, skiing, snowshoeing and free dog-sled rides at Montagnes Noires, with pancakes made by the town council. Elected officials flipping pancakes is worth the drive on its own.

In 2026 it ran February 13 to 15. For 2027, watch the municipality's Facebook page.

Thurso Winter Carnival

Put on by the Knights of Columbus, usually in late February. The lineup appears on the event's Facebook page a few weeks ahead. The Knights run a good chunk of Thurso's social calendar, so they know how to throw a party.

And in Fassett

The municipality of Fassett has its own carnival too, along with a kids' Christmas party and a family day. Details come through the municipality.

One-night parties

Lac-Simon Winter Party

A Saturday in February: skating and sliding to music, a lit-up igloo, a DJ and fireworks to finish. Hot chocolate, coffee and popcorn are free. No alcohol is sold on site, but you can bring your own (no glass). In 2026 it was February 21.

Lac-Simon's forest skating trail, a ribbon of ice through the woods that's lit at night, is worth the trip the rest of the winter too.

Bowman Forest Torchlight Walk

You walk by torchlight to the Relais du Cèdre in Forêt Bowman regional park, with a bonfire waiting at the end. Simple, lovely, and good for the whole family. The 2026 edition, the eighth, was February 28. It's usually a Saturday evening in late February.

Saint-Émile torchlight snowshoe

Same idea, Saint-Émile-de-Suffolk style: a torchlit snowshoe outing organized by the rec committee and run by volunteers. The municipality announces the date. The village snowshoe trail is an easy three kilometres, starting across from the Dome.

For the athletes

Canadian Ski Marathon

Classic cross-country skiing over distances from 15 to 160 km, on trails groomed just for the event. The 2027 edition is being set up around Montebello, February 5 to 7. The die-hards go long. Everyone else picks a loop that suits them, and nobody judges.

Montebello Fatbike Festival

Three days of fatbiking on the Montebello Vélo de Montagne trails, starting from the Château. The main event is the Défi Fat Papineau, a loop of more than 15 km. Beginners are welcome, but dress for it. In 2027 it runs February 26 to 28.

Kids' ice fishing day at Lac Croche

A morning of ice fishing for young people at the Lac Croche recreation site in Montpellier, organized with Chénéville and Lac-Simon. Free permits for ages 6 to 17, a hot-dog lunch and door prizes. Usually a Saturday in February, starting at 8 a.m.

Indoor nights

Winter is also the season for warm evenings inside.

• Disco skate at the Complexe Whissell arena in Saint-André-Avellin, 6 to 9 p.m.: January 9, February 27 and March 13, 2027.
• Traditional dance nights in Saint-Sixte, 7 p.m. at the community centre: February 19 and March 19, 2027. Nothing warms you up like a square dance. Book ahead; it's capped at 70.

The deer of Duhamel

Not an event, but a winter outing we recommend to everyone. In winter, white-tailed deer wander right through the village of Duhamel, especially in the morning and around 4 p.m. Free, and kids love it every time. Slow down when you drive; they come out of nowhere.

A lot of these winter events are run by volunteers and depend on ice and snow. Check the municipality's or organizer's Facebook page the week before.

RiponThursoLac-SimonBowmanMontebelloMontpellierSaint-Émile-de-SuffolkSaint-André-AvellinSaint-SixteFassettDuhamel

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