What do Montrealers do all summer? They celebrate, with energy and with passion. In fact, festive living is a year-round thing: Montrealers love it when company comes calling and adore sharing their city with visitors.
And the City of Festivals is the perfect place to share great experiences: music, comedy, film, fashion and sports all take centre stage. From near and far, people come to sample our famous joie de vivre, safely meandering to their hearts’ content on car-free sites and streets.
To really get into the festival spirit, here are a few ideas that you can adapt to the time of year or length of your stay to live a festive 24 hours…à la Montréal.
In the afternoon
- Explore the festival grounds as you stroll from stage to stage;
- Relax in the shade or bask in the sun on the grass, on a terrace or by a soothing fountain and soak up the festive atmosphere.
In the evening:
- Dance the night away with fun-loving crowds on streets downtown;
- Take in a show, a film, an exhibition or a performance in an indoor venue or under open skies;
- Chill in the cool ambiance of a bar or club.
WORLD-CLASS FESTIVALS ROLL OUT YEAR-ROUND
The Grand Prix of Canada (mid-June)
- for 30 years, this has been the annual rendezvous for racing tifosi as the crème-de-la-crème of the F1 world roar into town;
- performances, car shows and parades on Crescent Street—the whole city gets swept up in F1 fever!
- a fashion festival and music performances on McGill College Street;
- open-air car show on Peel Street.
Festival International de Jazz (end of June – early July)
- 11 days, from noon to midnight;
- more that 370 free outdoor shows;
- musical discoveries of every imaginable style;
- rich and varied indoor program.
L'International des Feux Loto-Québec (June and July, twice a week)
- international contest of pyrotechnic art presented at La Ronde;
- top pyrotechnic masters from nine countries light up the night skies;
- free to enjoy from a terrace or a bridge; paid seating front-row at La Ronde.
Just For Laughs Festival (mid-July)
- the largest comedy festival in the world; 1,600 international artists keep audiences in stitches;
- 1,200 free outdoor performances;
- galas, street performers, theatrical productions and stand-up shows in indoor venues and in the streets.
Les FrancoFolies de Montréal (end of July – early August)
- a giant celebration of French-language song: performances by almost a thousand artists from a dozen countries;
- indoor performances and free shows on outdoor stages.
Divers/Cité Festival (early August)
- seven days of non-stop LGBT pride celebrations;
- indoor parties and outdoor shows —and everyone’s invited!
Montréal World Film Festival (end of August to early September)
- prestigious festival that opens a world of cinematographic styles to the public;
- films from 70 countries showcasing the works of veteran filmmakers and new talent;
- plus: outdoor screenings and shows.
MONTRÉAL HIGHLIGHTS Festival (February)
- massive urban winter celebration;
- three festivals in one: gastronomy, performing arts and the celebration of light;
- conferences, workshops, tastings, shows, fireworks and more;
- don’t miss: the Montréal All-Nighter (museums open all night plus a multitude of nocturnal activities throughout the city) and the Montréal Downtown & Underground Event (a race through the city’s subterra
