The Festival du Voyageur 2023 edition kicks off

Festival du Voyageur has officially kicked off. For the first time in three years the 10-day celebration is back in full force, in person, and folks are excited, taking in their festival favourites.

“You’re surrounded by good people, good music and people in costumes and everybody, you know, puts their sashes and their capos and they get nice and warm and they come down and just have a wonderful experience and a cultural experience here,” said Chantal Vielfaure, director of marketing, communications and sales for the Festival du Voyageur

One festival attendee added that “I mostly came to see JD Edwards band so that’ll be the highlight. I’m here to dance. Yeah, I’m here to dance and have fun. I love the feeling of all the lights all the time.”

Vielfaure also adding “lots of activities and amazing music. This year we have over 200 artists, which is the biggest lineup festival has ever had. This is our 54th year and we’re really, really excited to be back post-pandemic to have everyone in the park.”

The festival was held online in 2021 and moved to a hybrid – outdoor and online experience in 2022 due to the covid-19 pandemic. Attendees are glad to be back on festival grounds this year.

Vielfaure says that “we’re so excited to invite everybody back to parc du voyageur and all the activities. We’ve got three years of ideas that have, you know, cooped up. And we put together for this festival this year bigger and better.”

The festival features snow sculptures, art displays, and many activities to enjoy. 

“We also have this year, for the first time ever, animals sculpted and so sculpture with just a little ladders behind all of them that people can climb up and take photos. And it looks like they’re kind of like standing on top of the animals. So that’s going to be really fun. We also have a lot of activities like the ice sculpting is back, wood carving challenge is back.” saif Veilfaure

The festival runs from Feb. 17th to the 26th. Veilfaure says although it’s outdoors people shouldn’t worry about getting too cold.

“It’s outdoors but it’s not cold. We have tents that are extremely warm that you can warm up in as well as all the activities outside. So dress warm but don’t worry about that, you’ll be fine.”