Other major events include: • A masquerade ball with up to 400 participants at the grand ballroom of the
Château Frontenac • The opening and closing ceremonies taking place at the Ice Palace before thousands of participants, Bonhomme and the mayor of Quebec • Outdoor sport events (snowboarding, ice canoe, snowshoes, hockey, dog-sledding, etc., some of them part of World Championship tournaments) inside and outside the city • Free outdoor public banquets (brunch, breakfast, etc.) • The Canadian, Québécois, International and Student artist snow sculpture contests on the
Plains of Abraham, the main setting of the carnival. The Plains are a public city park and stay open for leisure activities, including snowshoeing and cross-country skiing trails, during carnival time. Part of the Plains around the Citadel is transformed into an outdoor winter amusement park with various family-themed activities, including the display of the three main snow-sculpting contests (Canada's provinces, Quebec's regions, International) and the traditional
bikini snow bath event (bain de neige). Outdoor dance parties are held at the Ice Palaces. • Kiosks and other outlets in the city sell the Bonhomme effigy tag that grants admission into most of the events, although some are free outside the main site. • Most commercial main streets are decorated and some bars and restaurants set up a winter patio in front of their establishments. •
Bonhomme – short for
bonhomme de neige ("snowman") is the official ambassador of the festivities, the castle lord of the Ice Palace. Bonhomme is described as a seven-foot-tall, four-hundred pound
snowman sporting a red cap, black buttons and a
ceinture fléchée that gives acknowledgement to French-Canadian and Métis style clothing. • It is traditional to drink
Caribou, a hot alcoholic beverage, to keep warm. • The public
auction is a fundraising event in aid of the carnival. This features many goods and services donated for silent auction and live auction. ==Feasts and restaurants==