Québec City, December 18, 2017 - The management of Fairmont Le Château Frontenac invites locals and visitors to a full year of cultural, historical, and culinary activities to celebrate the fabulous hotel’s 125th anniversary.
“We’ve set up amazing partnerships with numerous Québec City institutions and events,” says general manager Robert Mercure, “so everyone—especially locals—can experience the Château and the city like never before.” Université Laval’s arts and music schools, Orchestre symphonique de Québec, the Québec Winter Carnival, Village Nordik, Valcartier Vacation Village, the Société artistique et culturelle, the City of Quebec, and many more are working with the Château on new ideas, including a series of exhibitions featuring young and established artists, the Québec Conferences, and wonders from the Château’s construction and history.
The toboggan slide and skating rink are here for winter enthusiasts all season long. There’s a spectacular brunch to kick off the ice canoe race. Guests can come out and have tea with the Carnival duchesses. Canadian Rock Story comes to the iconic Château ballroom, followed by Les Respectables, which turns 25 this year. Université Laval music students come with their opera production this year, Emmanuel Chabrier‘s L’Étoile, in special dessert theatre format.
Fête du printemps brings in local growers to rub shoulders with chocolate, maple, and urban culture specialists. Stéphane Modat welcomes some of the world’s best chefs to the Champlain, where they share their amazing cuisine with some very lucky gourmets. The usual high points all get a special twist this year for the 125th anniversary. Come for a piece of the giant birthday cake on Dufferin Terrace for Canada on July 1. Come out for Fête des récoltes for a veritable cornucopia of culinary rendezvous featuring the best of the Quebec terroir and Indigenous cuisines.
Historic characters from Cicerone Tours are here all year long to show visitors around the Château Frontenac and share its story. The best Château Frontenac historians, such as France Gagnon-Pratte and David Mendel, are launching new books in 2018 to bring new insights into the life of the hotel. Open house events will give everyone the chance to see the latest renovations and rediscover the Château’s timeless charm.
As Mercure puts it: “The fact is that we’re really celebrating 410-plus years of history on Cap Diamant, perhaps with a special interest in the last 125 years in which this establishment has continuously offered the ultimate in style and service. We’re pleased and proud to invite Quebecers and visitors from all over the world to the Château Frontenac and hope many people will come out to celebrate our 125th anniversary in true 21st-century style.”