Festival of the Banquise
The Celebrated Ice Boat on the Quai de Portneuf — Race, Initiation and Family Winter at the Riverside · Portneuf Pier, 102 du Quai Street, Portneuf, MRC de Portneuf, Quebec, Canada
The festival
On the dock of Portneuf, on the banks of the St. Lawrence River, the Festival de la Banquise celebrates winter and a unique heritage sport in the world: the ice canoe. Its beating heart is the Portneuf Ice Boat Race, a race of the Quebec Ice Boat Circuit, which is contested between the ice creams of the river. Around the race, a free family festival: canoe initiations, activities on the dock, artisans' market under heated roof and local flavours. Its 7th edition was held on March 7 and 8, 2026.
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The festival in images
Official visual of the festival (festivaldelabanquise.ca).
Good to know
Reference edition 2026 (detailed event description): introductions to ice-drinking canoes (paying) and pizza and cinema evening on Saturdays; Sundays, race at 11 a.m. and re-opened at 1 p.m.; exhibition on maple growing in Portneuf; traditional canoe with artisan Kéven Gagné; story of ice-drinking canoe with ethnologist Richard Lavoie; fatbikes essays and 100% local canteen by chef Patrick Roy. Numbering of the festival: 5th edition from 1 to 3 March 2024 (official release of the festival; spokesperson: Alexis Nantel), 7th edition in 2026. Portneuf Cultural grants: "Race of the Banquise". Contact relayed by directories (to be confirmed at source): 418 571-9024.
Liens officiels
Ticket: (free festival; paid shutters, initiations and helicopter towers, sold on Lepointdesale.com)