Celebrate the Holiday Season in Québec City: Lights, Markets, and Winter Magic
As snow settles over cobblestone streets, Québec City transforms into a landscape of light. Across the city, the holiday season is a time of gathering, where traditions old and new shine together.
Step into a European-style Christmas market
Few places capture the festive spirit quite like the German Christmas Market in Québec City. Set in the heart of Old Québec (a UNESCO World Heritage treasure0 this market recreates the charm of European holiday villages with wooden stalls, twinkling lights, and the aroma of spiced wine. Created by a group of German expatriates in the early 2000s, it has since become one of the province’s most beloved winter traditions.
Visitors wander through historic streets lined with artisan crafts, handmade ornaments, and local specialties such as maple sweets, regional cheeses, and charcuterie. Choirs sing carols in French, German, and English, while children warm up with hot chocolate and roasted chestnuts. Beyond its festive atmosphere, the market highlights something deeper — how community, craftsmanship, and shared heritage come together to create light in the darkest time of year.
Experience cities aglow with festive cheer
Québec City isn’t the only place to embrace the magic of the holidays. Montréal’s Christmas Markets transforms the city into a winter wonderland, complete with outdoor fires, local treats, and sustainable gifts from Québec artisans. Across the province, smaller markets bring warmth and connection to their communities.
In every corner of Québec, winter light takes centre stage. Lantern parades wind through small towns; ice sculptures glimmer in city parks; historic churches and squares glow beneath strings of white bulbs. The province’s love of light — from candles in windowpanes to dazzling outdoor displays — captures the essence of the season: joy shared in the cold, and brightness born from togetherness.
Find warmth in winter traditions
Celebrating the holidays in Québec goes beyond festive decor. It’s in the warmth of a fireside meal, the sparkle of snow on quiet streets, and the shared laughter of friends gathered indoors after a day outside. In the countryside, inns and auberges host holiday feasts inspired by Québec’s culinary heritage: think tourtière, sugar pies, and mulled cider made with local apples.
Whether you come for the Christmas markets, the luminous landscapes, or the chance to slow down amid the season’s bustle, Québec offers a holiday experience rooted in connection to place, to people, and to the enduring glow of winter light.
Try Landsby’s Quebec City Festive Escape, which combines a three night stay in Quebec City with a visit to the Christmas Market and a private walking tour of the historic city centre.
