✦ Historical festival
New France Festival
Every summer, Quebec travels three centuries back. The New France Festival is one of the largest historical events in North America. And after the journey, Carrera Café awaits you.
The New France Festival
The largest historical gathering
Since 1997, the New France Festival has revived the era of French colonization in America. Every August, more than 80,000 visitors mingle with 600 costumed animators in the streets of Old Quebec.
The event of the year
For five days, Old Quebec transforms into 17th-century New France. Soldiers, merchants, woodsmen, nuns, nobles, and peasants of the era come alive in the streets. Visitors can dress up themselves.
25 years of living history
The New France Festival has become in twenty-five years one of Quebec’s most popular events. Each edition explores a different theme: food, trade, relations with First Nations, daily life.
Entertainment and shows
Five days of celebration
The festival program is dense and diverse. From street entertainment to indoor shows, every corner of Old Quebec comes alive.
Costumed parades
Several times a day, costumed parades cross Old Quebec. Soldiers marching in step, nobles in carriages, artisans leading the way. A colorful and lively show accessible to all.
Historical workshops
Pottery, blacksmithing, lace-making, period cooking. Reenacting artisans demonstrate their skills. Children can participate. A lively and sensory learning moment.
Baroque and traditional music
Musical ensembles play music from the colonial period. Lute, viola da gamba, traditional violin. The squares of Old Quebec turn into outdoor concert halls.
Street plays
Historical theater companies perform scenes from colonial life in the streets. Merchant quarrels, military decision-making, religious rituals. The past comes alive before your eyes.
The art of costume
Immerse yourself in history
The great uniqueness of the New France Festival: visitors are invited to dress up. A unique participatory dimension that transforms the experience.
Dressing up
Costume rental shops are set up within the festival area. Nobles, peasants, merchants, soldiers: all social strata of New France are represented. Dressing up is optional but highly recommended.
Historical gastronomy
17th-century flavors
The New France Festivals are also a taste journey. Period merchants offer specialties reproduced from historical recipes.
Colonial kitchens
Country bread, onion soup, apple cider, stewed ragouts. 17th-century recipes recreated by food historians. A discovery of the origins of Quebec cuisine.
The period market
A colonial market is set up in the streets of Old Quebec. Spices, furs, ceramics, cloth. The commercial exchanges of New France come alive as an immersive experience.
Return to the 21st century
After five days in New France, returning to Carrera Café is a gentle landing. Latte, terrace, charcuterie platter. From the 17th to the 21st century in a 10-minute walk.
Book the after
Plan a stop at Carrera Café after your day at the Festivals. The Petit-Champlain terrace is 10 minutes from the main Festival sites. The transition between the two eras is worth the trip.
The barista’s tip
“In August, during the Festivals, the city vibrates differently. Period costumes on the Petit-Champlain cobblestones, colonial music in the air. We welcome them on the terrace with a very modern latte.”
On the podium
The three essential experiences
If you are visiting the Festivals for the first time, here are the three moments not to miss.
✦ New France Festivals podium
On the first day, the costumed parade crosses Old Quebec to cheers. Hundreds of performers, music, war cries. A spectacular opening.
Place Royale and surroundings. Period stalls, costumes, arts and crafts. The most complete and immersive reenactment of the event.
The retro-landing in the 21st century. Latte, terrace, platter. The best way to punctuate a day of historical immersion.
Historical circuit
From the 17th to the 21st century
The ideal day during the New France Festivals, with Carrera Café as prologue and epilogue.
Festivals + Carrera
10am: Brunch at Carrera Café before diving into the 17th century. 11am: New France Festivals, colonial market, entertainment, costumes. 5pm: Back to the terrace at Carrera for the end-of-day aperitif. From Italian espresso to New France cider and back.
Festivals and flavors
New France for history. Carrera Café for the present. Two eras, one Quebec.
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