Ange and her family improvise as snow sculptors in Saint-Jean-Port-Joli

I love the idea of celebrating winter!

When we were offered the chance to improvise as snow sculptors for a weekend at the Fête d’hiver in Saint-Jean-Port-Joli, we were thrilled to be making new artistic discoveries in a village we love.

To get into getaway mode, we stopped off for an exquisite dinner at the rural brasserie Le Plongeon. We discovered the place last summer and were delighted to find that it was open all year round (rather rare in this area)!

Le Plongeon favors local producers in all seasons, and the cuisine is refined and creative in a relaxed microbrewery atmosphere. On the winter menu: grilled trout with pan-fried lentils, St Lawrence taco, venison tataki with blueberries, shiso and ginger ravioli from Roch le fermier, vol au vent with sweetbreads and mushrooms, apple/celery/boudin tart, marinated chicken and bacon club with herb mayo, and much more to tantalise the taste buds. For dessert, the children shared a rice pudding with salted caramel and a homemade apple-Calvados sorbet. We also sampled their beers while playing a game of Uno before hitting the road again.

We had booked a chalet in L’Islet, the neighbouring village. This warm, timeless home had already caught our eye during our visits to the Lower St. Lawrence. The Maison Ultima Éco, designed by Linéaire design, is an eco-responsible building that combines rustic charm with its solid wood frame and modern comfort with its space bathed in light thanks to the large windows. The view of nature and the mountains is soothing, and lounging by the fire was sure to enhance our stay.

On Saturday morning, we headed to Saint-Jean-Port-Joli where we were welcomed like family by the Fête d’hiver team. There was a whole host of activities on offer, and the kids got in on the fun with bubble soccer, bungee-trampoline, ice-sliding, fatbikes and snow scooters. Of course, we also spent a good part of the day making our own snow sculpture as part of the family programme, a first for us!

To inspire us, sculptors from all over the province took part in the event, and their creations were all impressive and unique. The convivial spirit of the party made this beautiful sunny winter’s day even more festive. The weekend came to a close with a competition in which the best ice creations were rewarded. This warm, riverside celebration was like a breath of fresh air in the heart of winter!

Photos: Ange Hébert-Corriveau