Sunday, February 17 & Monday, February 18, 2019
Festival Description
Coinciding with the end of the Winter Carnival in Quebec City, this festival will offer art and dance activities for the whole family, celebrating the art of avant-garde artist Françoise Sullivan and francophone culture. Free with gallery admission.
Live Music
Lose yourself in the positive energy of fiddle ensemble Ariko. Composed of sisters Jill, Kelly and Nicole Lafaive, Ariko has received the “Coup de foudre Salut!” award for their concert Portrait de famille. The band offers unique arrangements of traditional French-Canadian songs, traditional fiddle tunes and stepdances coloured by zydeco and jazz. Ariko will perform on Monday, February 18, at 2 pm.
Dance Workshops
Learn Ottawa Valley-style step dancing to the tune of live fiddle music at one of the family-friendly dance workshops hosted by Ariko.
Dance Workshop Times:
- February 17 at 12, 1 and 3 pm
- February 18 at 12:30 and 3:30 pm
Outdoor Activities
“I danced with light feet on the rough slopes of winter, I turned into the cold wind and ran under the sun.” – Françoise Sullivan (Danse dans la neige by Françoise Sullivan, Peter Trepanier, National Gallery of Canada)
Bonhomme de neige
February 17 and 18 from 12 – 2 pm and 3 – 4 pm
The McMichael will be hosting a special guest during our Family Day Festival! Bonhomme, the official representative of the Carnaval de Québec, will be assisting and welcoming visitors throughout the day. Be sure to take a photo with Bonhomme!
Winter Walk-and-Talk with Maya-waasige
February 17 at 2 pm
Family Scavenger Hunt
February 17 – 18 from 11 am – 3:30 pm
This Family Day, guests are invited to join our family self-guided scavenger hunt and explore the McMichael grounds and outdoor artworks. Inspired by the spirit of French Canadian explorers and traders and guided by modern-day GPS devices, visitors will be challenged to uncover the secrets of the McMichael’s beautiful grounds.
Art Workshops
February 17 – 18 from 11 am – 3:30 pm
We invite our guests to participate in art workshops inspired by the works of contemporary Quebec artist Françoise Sullivan, particularly her large-scale circular Tondo painting series and her spinning linear mobiles.
Learn to string together a mobile using wire, fishing line, cardboard and oil pastel! Create a singular mobile, or string together a series of circular and square shapes to create a linear mobile. Hang your creation in the McMichael’s art studio to spin alongside other artwork. and don’t forget to take your mobile home!
Visitors will also have the opportunity to explore texture, layering and shape manipulation with a series of Tondo-inspired paper collage workshops.
Cookie Decorating, Presented by Aura by Cashew & Clive
February 17 – 18
Visit the McMichael’s restaurant, Aura by Cashew & Clive, to take part in cookie decorating fun for the entire family! Design and eat your own cookie masterpieces. $5 per person. Warm up with hot chocolate and sweet treats.