Canada is vast and diverse, which is reflected by the festivals they celebrate. From sophisticated cultural events to a cowboy hoe-down, Canadian events and festivals attract visitors worldwide. The most popular festivals are:
Quebec City Winter Carnival
It is a famous annual event held in February and unique to Quebec City, and is the biggest winter festival in the globe. Activities take place all across the city and include dancing, music, ice sculptures, boat races, a snow slide, parades…….. and lots of drinking.
Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival
Held in March, the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival is a seven day showcase of the wines of the world. It is basically a wine education class under the imposing sails of Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre. In 1979, the inaugural festival started as a playhouse fundraiser that featured one vintner. Today the festival attracts some of the popular and biggest industry names from around the world.
The wine festival has been established as Canada’s premier wine event and among the oldest, best and biggest wine events in the world. In 1988, it moved to the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre after outgrowing several different venues over the years. The seminars, food pairing and wine tasting are all ticket only.
Calgary Stampede
Put on your spurs, don your cowboy hat and head over to the biggest outdoor show on earth. More than one million people travel to Calgary to partake in this stampede held in July every year. Calgary is a city that features cultural diversity combined with good old fashioned hospitality. An hour’s drive out of town will put you in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. This area has some popular destinations such as Banff and Jasper, where a plethora of outdoor adventures await.
Festival Acadien
This is the largest Acadien cultural festival in Canada that lasts for two weeks. Festival Acadien features over 200 dancers, actors, musicians, singers and attracts more than 100,000 visitors. It is held in north eastern New Brunswick with participants from Acadia and other French regions. One of the highlights of the festival is the blessing of the fleet. The event involves a flotilla of fishing boats, decorated with ribbons and flags from their masts and rigging, passing through the harbour. The popular Tintamarre Parade is the culmination of the festival.
Toronto International Film Festival
Being one of the leading film festivals internationally, the Toronto International Film Festival ranked closely with Sundance and Cannes. Films such as The Big Chill, American Beauty and Hotel Rwanda made their premiers at this star-studded prominent event held each September.