June 19, 2024 - Step Back in Time!

Québec City, June 19, 2024 – Did you know that in the time of New France, the barber and the surgeon were one and
the same? That you could pay with playing cards? And, that a child could become a real sailor at the age of seven?
The Fêtes de la Nouvelle-France TD is coming to Esplanade Park and various locations in Old Quebec from August 1
to 4. A whole range of historical activities, merrymaking and games is in store for festival-goers of all ages.

Here are a few event highlights:

• Immersive activities and historical entertainment
• A new escape room–type activity in Old Québec, in partnership with L’îlot des Palais, July 5 to October 31
• Night of the Traitors presented by Noovo: A participatory activity inspired by the game The Werewolves of
Miller’s Hollow, where you must use your wits or get outwitted
• A comedy roast of historical figures, featuring comedian Charles Deschamps
• A special New France edition of the podcast Tout le monde s’haït
• Burlesque night
• A Méga Parc Seek-and-Find game for kids of all ages
• The King’s Table festive gourmet experience with lots of surprises in store held at Montmorency Park
(mountain side)
• The traditional Giants exhibit
• The TD Treasure Hunt
• Free haircuts from KRWN barbers
• La Bûche sugar shack
• The Viandex barbecue with its celebrated turkey drumsticks
• A period costume contest, hosted by Barbada
• Performances and demonstrations by the First Nations
• Several shows in the festive atmosphere of the Corsaire Inn

Plus, talks, games, demonstrations of traditional skills, as well as tales and shows. The Decoder Medallion is on sale
as of today, at a cost of $18 (plus taxes). It serves as a pass to take part in the many activities on offer. And, for the
second year in a row, it gives 50% off at 10 historical sites in Québec City from July 1 to August 31.

Hear ye, hear ye! Activities for one and all!

The Corsaire Inn is back at Esplanade Park with traditional music and dancing and call-and-response singing. Festival-
goers can sing along with Le Diable à Cinq, La Déferlance, Lilas L’Bon Temps, Jam-Trad and En 2 temps. They can
also get their neurons firing with the two grandmas’ quiz game. A historical tale for kids will be presented on Saturday.

And, new this year, a period costume contest, hosted by drag queen Barbada, will be held on Sunday. Prepare to be
dazzled!

Knowledge Alley near the fortifications and the Public Square at Esplanade Park will be the places to go to get totally
immersed in history, with historical entertainment and performances and games for the whole family, such as the Méga
Park Seek-and-Find, a game for kids that offers five quests targeting different age groups. Back this year are the
KRWN barbershop stand, which will be offering free haircuts for festival-goers, and the Gladius family area equipped
with breastfeeding and diaper changing facilities. Also, there will be Gladius games to play, sometimes with a facilitator
present.

The First Nations will be the focus in the Ancients’ Forest, where historical facilitation will meet traditional dance and
music, myths and legends and artisans’ kiosks. You’ll be captivated by this vibrant culture!

The Town Market will also be offering products from a range of businesses such as Viandex, with its delicious giant
turkey drumsticks, the La Bûche sugar shack Saga Nomade, Le Churros.ca, Brûlerie Rousseau, Coaticook and Saucisse Kévy.

“New France is such a rich and diverse era that it’s easy for us to make history fun and offer new and exciting activities
every year,” said Marie-Eve Jacob, General Manager of the Fêtes de la Nouvelle-France TD. “We are proud to use
contemporary forms of expression to communicate and teach about the history of our ancestors. New France laid the
foundations of today’s culture so it’s important to celebrate it in a fun way.”

History and betrayal at the Garrison Club

A new venue this year, the Québec Garrison Club will host two activities, while providing an opportunity to discover
Québec City’s only private club. First, there will be six Garrison Club talks on topics relating to New France: fires,
justice, coureurs des bois and more!
One new exciting event, Night of the Traitors presented by Noovo, will be held August 2 and 3, from 4 p.m. to midnight.
Participants are invited to play the role of an impostor or be the one who unmasks the traitors in this interactive game
inspired by Werewolves. In this role-playing game, specially created for Fêtes de la Nouvelle-France, players immerse
themselves in various worlds inspired by this fascinating era. Led by a game master, participants will be comfortably
seated in a Québec Garrison Club hall while they try to unmask the villains among the group in order to win the game.
Reservations required; places are limited and subject to a fee. Register soon!

"For more than 25 years, les Fêtes de la Nouvelle-France has offered thousands of people a unique immersive
experience into the heart of our history. I'm delighted that the Government of Canada is once again supporting this
event this year, which allows Old Québec’s 17th and 18th century culture to come alive. With activities for the whole
family, visitors will be able to celebrate this rich era. Enjoy the festival!

-The Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage

“I am delighted with the Government of Canada’s support, through CED, for the efforts to market Les Fêtes de la
Nouvelle-France. Without a doubt, the success of this festive historical event that is unique in North America will be
felt across the region and throughout Quebec and Canada.”

-The Honourable Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for CED

Boisdon’s Cabaret, by Appalaches Distillerie: The nighttime spot for racy and out-of-the-ordinary
entertainment!

Come visit Boisdon at the Esplanade Powder Magazine to enjoy some saucy history, feminist tales, burlesque shows,
risqué music and comedy. The first night will feature the podcast Tout le monde s’haït, hosted by Sam Cyr and
Marylène Gendron, who’ll be comparing how New France’s beauty standards compare to ours. In partnership with
Ninkasi Comédie Club, a New France roast will be presented on Friday, featuring comedians Charles Deschamps and
friends. They’ll be revealing some facts about historical figures that they surely would have preferred to keep secret.

The final event on Saturday is a captivating burlesque show, Les secrets de la Maison de Jeu. Set in the colonial era,
it will draw you into a little-known chapter of Canadian history, in which seduction and glamour reigned supreme. And
you’ll be able to enjoy the delicious, made-in-Quebec products of Appalaches Distillerie.

Return of the TD Treasure Hunt and launch of the Escape Backpack

A favourite of festival-goers, the TD Treasure Hunt will be hosting three new quests from July 1 to August 4. Through
the streets of the Upper City, you’ll learn the story of Mathieu da Costa, whom historians consider to have been the
first Black person to visit Canada, in the company of Samuel de Champlain and Pierre Dugua de Mons. A quest in the
Petit Champlain neighbourhood will introduce you to Domagaya (the son of the great Huron Chief Donnacona) who
was Jacques Cartier’s interpreter and guide during his second voyage to Canada in 1536. The third quest will be
located at the Pôle culturel du Monastère des Ursulines and will focus on Marie de l’Incarnation.

All-new this year is the Escape Backpack: The Last Intendant’s Treasure. This fun, immersive experience lets
participants discover the history of L’Îlot des Palais and many local points of interests relating to the New France era.
At L’Îlot des Palais, players can collect their backpack full of enigmatic contents to guide them in their independent
tour of Old Québec. Like an escape room game, several pockets in the backpack have a lock, which can be opened
only by solving puzzles linked to various historical spots. The cost is $50 per group of six, and a $25 discount will be
offered upon presentation of the Decoder Medallion. This activity, running from July 5 to October 31, is organized in
partnership with L'Îlot des Palais and thanks to a cultural development agreement with the Ville de Québec.

“Every year, the Fêtes de la Nouvelle-France honour our history and culture—what forged our identity and today
makes us proud to be Quebecois. I salute the organizers for offering such a rich, varied program, with fun, original
activities that I’m sure will draw many visitors. Thank you for contributing to the touristic development of the
Capitale-Nationale region, the place where North America began.”

-Vincent Caron, Member for Portneuf and Government Assistant for Tourism—Capitale-Nationale

A gastronomical experience that steps back in time

After its success last year, The King’s Table will be back in a new historical location: Montmorency Park (mountain
side). Participants will be among His Majesty’s subjects who are invited to a meal in New France, in a one-of-a-kind
festive atmosphere. The event will be held Saturday, August 3, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Rain date: August 4, 11 a.m. to 2
p.m.) Attendees can expect several surprises, including an opening cocktail offered by Isle de Bacchus, a winery in Île
d’Orléans. Reservations required; places are limited and subject to a fee. Register soon!

“Another signature event for Québec City will bring excitement to the old town for the 27th year! The Fêtes de la
Nouvelle-France are an opportunity to celebrate our history and culture with festivities that combine the historical and
the modern. This new presentation is sure to appeal as much to history buffs as novices, and as much to tourists as
local families!”

-Bruno Marchand, Mayor of Québec City

Free activities you won’t want to miss

The spectacular giants of the Fêtes de la Nouvelle-France TD will again be exhibited throughout the event, this year
at Place de l’Assemblée-Nationale. The Giants’ Gathering is an opportunity for locals and visitors to learn more about
their heritage and even to take a selfie with a giant!

This year Félix-Leclerc Park will be the site of the Tales and Legends of Yesteryear, where participants can listen to
astonishing stories that will take them back in time to New France.

For the first time, the Fêtes de la Nouvelle-France TD will be honoured at the Quebec National Assembly in the
afternoon of Friday, August 2. Additionally, a talk will be given on ballroom dancing in New France in the 18th century
and in the post-Conquest decades. This will be followed by a traditional dance activity.

“The TD Bank Group is thrilled to once again be supporting the Fêtes de la Nouvelle-France TD and to offer festival-
goers a whole range of entertaining and meaningful activities. We strongly believe that shared events like this one,
hich celebrate our cultural heritage, help strengthen communal ties and build more inclusive communities,” stated Carl
Vignola, TD Wealth Private Banker.

The Decoder Medallion is your festive pass

The Decoder Medallion, designed in Quebec and made of biodegradable wood, is your pass to the main sites and to
the TD Treasure Hunt. It also entitles the holder to a $25 discount on the Escape Backpack activity, to one free
Coaticook ice cream from the Coaticook kiosk, and to 50% off the entry fee of 10 historical sites in Québec City. The
Decoder Medallion is now available for purchase, at a cost of $18 (plus taxes) at www.nouvellefrance.qc.ca (delivery
fee extra), at the departure points for the TD Treasure Hunt quests, at L’Îlot des Palais, and at the site entrances
during the festival. Entry onto the site is free for ages 12 and under.

The Royal Package, for the total experience

The Royal Package is available for $45 (plus taxes) (over $15 in savings) at www.nouvellefrance.qc.ca (delivery cost
extra) as well as at site entrances during the festival. Quantities are limited. The package includes a Decoder Medallion,
a tricorn hat or flower wreath, a souvenir cup, one drink, and one giant turkey drumstick from the Viandex Barbecue.

Thanks to our partners

The Fêtes de la Nouvelle-France TD want to thank their partners for their contributions to and collaboration in the
event: our presenter TD Bank Group, Appalaches Distillerie, the Diocese of Québec, KRWN, Viandex, Le Corsaire
Microbrasserie, Coaticook, L’Îlot des Palais, Méga Parc, Wendake Tourism, the Huron-Wendat Museum, La Bûche,
Les Éditions Gladius, Bouchard + Avocats Inc., the National Assembly of Québec, the Québec Garrison Club, Floralies
Jouvence, Alex Coulombe Ltée., Pôle culturel du Monastère des Ursulines, Rabot D. Bois, Société des traversiers du
Québec, Vignoble Isle de Bacchus, Les Producteurs de lait de Capitale-Nationale-Côte-Nord, Les Éleveurs de porcs des Deux Rives, Les Producteurs de pommes de l’Est-du-Québec, Audet Photo, BEET, Au 1884 and Le Vélo vert. Very special thanks to the Ville de Québec, Parks Canada and the Commission de la capitale nationale du Québec for welcoming the Fêtes de la Nouvelle-France TD on their sites. We also want to warmly thank our public partners, the Ville de Québec, Destination Québec Cité, the Gouvernement du Québec and the Government of Canada. And finally, thanks to our hotel partners: Le Concorde Quebec, Delta Hotel by Marriott Quebec and Hilton Quebec.

Requests for interviews:
Julie Moffet
Press Agent
Cell: 418-580-8421
julie@juliemoffetcommunication.com

Source:
Amélie Paquet
Communications Officer
Cell: 581-748-8260
amelie.paquet@carnaval.qc.ca