Montréal May 26, 2009 – As the sun shines down on Montréal, it’s the perfect moment for visitors to start preparing their summer vacations to the city. Montréal has an abundance of activities for travelers over the coming months, from festivals to outdoor attractions to simply soaking up the French flair of the “most European city in North America.” And staying in Montréal has never been more affordable thanks to Tourisme Montréal’s Sweeter Deal package offering visitors hotel options with either the second night for half price or the third night free at select participating hotels.
So many festivals and events!
Montréal is often called the festival capital of the world, and visitors to the city won’t be disappointed by the variety and number of events on offer this summer. For a perfect first taste of what the city is all about, check out the Montréal Fashion & Design Festival from June 17 to 20. Here’s your chance to discover some of the best fashion Québec designers have to offer as models sashay along catwalks in the middle of McGill College Avenue in the heart of downtown. Of course Just for Laughs is back with a vengeance from July 3 to 26 with headliners including Whoopie Goldberg and John Cleese. And in August it’s the men who take to the courts of the Rogers Cup tennis tournament (August 8 to 16). NASCAR will help us end the summer with a bang as they take over the Gilles- Villeneuve circuit on August 29 and 30.
“2009 is a big year in Montréal and this summer visitors will be able to enjoy some important anniversaries with those of us who live here,” said Charles Lapointe, president and CEO of Tourisme Montréal. “We Montréalers know how to celebrate and all of these events will be pumping up their programming this year. The Montréal International Jazz Festival turns 30 and they’ll be launching it in style with a free outdoor concert by Stevie Wonder on June 30, which means the festival will run two days longer than usual!” Several other events are celebrating their 25th anniversary this year: Cirque du Soleil, the Montréal International Fireworks Festival (June 13 to August 22) and the Montréal Bike Fest (May 31 to June 7), which finishes with the Tour de l'Île cycling event. Mutek, the electronic music festival also celebrates its 10th birthday this summer (May 27 to May 31).
Feel the music
While other musical events may not be celebrating special anniversaries, that doesn’t mean their programming isn’t top of the line all the same! The Osheaga festival (August 1 to 2) returns to Montréal with headliners including Coldplay, Beastie Boys, the Roots, the Arctic Monkeys and Montréal native, Rufus Wainwright. The Virgin Festival (June 19 to 20) will also be hosting its first outdoor concert in the city this summer with the Black Eyed Peas, New Kids on the Block and hometown favourites, Simple Plan. If an outdoor dance club is something you’ve always dreamed of trying, the weekly Piknic Électronik parties at Parc Jean-Drapeau should not be missed (every Sunday until October 4).
A fun, family getaway
And of course there’s no end of options for family fun in the city. Montréal’s own Cirque du Soleil presents its latest original show, OVO, in the heart of the Quays of the Old Port (until July 19). If eye patches, buccaneers and swords are more up your alley, the new exhibit Pirates, Privateers and Freebooters at the Pointe-à-Callière Museum (until January 3, 2010) could have you dreaming of swashbuckling days. Or if you prefer a fun visit with the un-dead, try out the new Mummy ride, based on the blockbuster hit movie, at La Ronde. Another option is the recently opened Le TAZ, one of the largest indoor sport centres in Canada devoted to rollerblading, skateboarding, BMX circuits and all the adventure sports you could imagine. And at the Montréal Science Centre come experience AQUA, a multi-sensory show for the entire family that will make you re-consider how you use water in your day-to-day life (until September 7).
There’s also free, outdoor fun for all, especially around Mount Royal Park. Lovingly referred to as “the mountain” by locals, make sure to check out the weekly tam tam party. Every Sunday afternoon for more than twenty years now, thousands of percussionists, dancers, venders and onlookers gather at the foot of the mountain for hours of spontaneous performance. If you’d rather just walk around Mount Royal, make sure to download a free podcast walking tour from Les Amis de la Montagne (www.lemontroyal.qc.ca) beforehand to enjoy everything the park has to offer.
Discover Montréal on two wheels
Getting around Montréal has never been easier for tourists with the launch of Bixi, a self-serve bike rental system. For a low fee you can rent one of 3000 bikes housed at 300 stations across the city, 24/7. Visit the city like a local as you enjoy Montréal’s almost 350 kilometres of bike paths, including a route that easily and safely takes you through the heart of downtown and into Old Montréal. You can even ride to the Château Ramezey Museum to check out this summer’s exhibit, The Great Bike Tour, which takes you through an interactive history of biking.
Get the latest scoop from our Montréal Insiders
It’s so easy to learn about all of the amazing opportunities the city has to offer visitors thanks to Tourisme Montréal’s new Montréal Insiders program, with five locals sharing all of their knowledge on what’s hot and happening throughout the city in the world of arts and culture, epicurean life, gay life, nightlife and girls’ getaways.
So how are these Montréal Insiders sharing their passion, expertise and love of Montréal? Online, where everyone can reach them. Each Insider is actively exploring the city and regularly updates their blog on the Tourisme Montréal website with their latest adventures, but it doesn’t stop there. Come “friend” them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter and check out their videos on YouTube. It has never been easier for travelers to learn from five friends “on the inside” about the latest local buzz.
Arts and Culture Montréal Insider: Daviel Lazure Vieira
http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/Blogs/Arts-And-Culture
Epicurean Life Montréal Insider: Katerine Rollet
http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/Blogs/Epicurean-Life
Gay Life Montréal Insider: Daniel Baylis
http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/Blogs/Gay-Life
Nightlife Montréal Insider: Brendan Murphy
http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/Blogs/Nightlife
Girls’ Getaway Montréal Insider: Tamy Emma Pepin
http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/Blogs/Girls-Getaway
The Sweeter Deal Package: the best way to book a stay in Montréal!
Tourisme Montréal’s Sweeter Deal Package now makes travel to Montréal easier than ever! When visitors book a hotel in Montréal using the summer Sweeter Deal Package, they are entitled to a third night free or half-off the regular price of their second night, depending on the participating hotel selected. With rates starting at $130/night, visitors who book a Sweeter Deal Package at one of the 25 participating hotels will also receive a gift bag including a liquid soap courtesy of Tourisme Montréal and Fruits et Passion, discount coupons for Montréal attractions and shopping malls and 2 Privilege Passports for the Montréal Casino. This Sweeter Deal runs from June 1 to October 15, 2009. The list of participating hotels and applicable rates is regularly updated on the Sweet Deal Web site at www.sweetdealmontreal.com.
Other activities and events are planned to round out the summer line-up. For more information, please visit www.tourisme-montreal.org.
To schedule an interview with one of the Montréal Insiders or a Tourisme Montréal spokesperson, please contact Tanya Churchmuch at 514-844-1575 or churchmuch.tanya@tourisme-montreal.org.
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Source:
Tanya Churchmuch
Tourisme Montréal
514-844-1575
churchmuch.tanya@tourisme-montreal.org
