Colors of Montreal - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

Montreal has been an established place for holding one of the greatest music festivals being the Montreal International Jazz Festival for more than thirty years. The festival takes place at the end of June and attracts music fans from all over the world. By its caliber the festival sufficiently leaves behind other music events. The popular festival is a current record holder of the Guinness Book of World Records. The festival lasts commonly for at least ten days. The main events of the festival take place in the historical part of the city.

This area gets equipped with large concert open air stages for the performances of world renowned musicians. The stages are set in close vicinity to the most significant historical landmarks. More than two thousands of musicians take part in the festival annually. The scenic Canadian city hosts guests from more than 20 countries of the world during the festival.

The audience of the festival numbers more than two millions of participants. Music fans are not stopped either with cold weather, or with long distances to overcome to visit the festival and enjoy the music of their idols. The festival was established by Alain Simard and Andre Menard. In search of original and exciting summer entertainment these two men decided on organizing a jazz festival, however they failed to get some approval and backing from either their friends or the city government. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The idea seemed to many people naïve and unsound and even unworkable. However the first festival was attended by more than 12 thousand of jazz fans. The first festival lasted only for two days. At present the festival holds up to five hundred events and lasts for more than 10 days. 20 concert stages are specially equipped in the open air for the music fest. Each day of the festival is rich in various bright performances. Within the festival the visitors will see and enjoy the performances as of renowned musicians so of amateur music artists.

It should be noted that the Montreal International Jazz Festival has become a starting point for many renowned musicians and artists. The rich entertaining program of the festival is not limited only to the street concerts. Many restaurants of the city also offer many engaging events and shows for the visitors during the festival. Evenings in the restaurants also feature interesting music programs meanwhile expert cooks offer the visitors dainty treats of a special festive menu. A scale festival featuring interesting history has gained recognition of the music fans from all over the world and has become one of the main symbolic events of the city.

Besides the jazz festival, other interesting events that attract hundreds of tourists take place in Montreal. For example, the MUTEK that is held in the late summer month and lasts 5 days. It is dedicated to audio-visual art and electronic music. The Quartier des Spectacles turns into a huge stage for music concerts with digital programs. The name of the fest is the combination of words “mutation” and “technology”. Besides music and art programs, big local restaurants join the celebration and offer a special menu.

Another significant fest for Montreal and Canada, in general, is Osheaga Music and Arts Festival held in early August. It is dedicated to rock music in all its diversity, from indie to punk. Music concerts, Indian craft fairs, and art exhibitions are held on small Saint Helena where the comfortable Jean-Drapeau Park is located. The fest received its name due to the following legend. In Iroquois, “osheaga” means “the folk with shaking hands”. The matter is that one of the first Europeans Jacques Cartier shook his hands to the Iroquois and even shocked them when he extended his hand for a handshake. Fest organizers thought that “shaking” is best suited to a rock festival.

At the beginning of the first summer month, a large-scale sporting event is held in Montreal. It is the Canadian Grand Prix, part of the Formula One World Championship. The fans of spectacular races visit the biggest city of Quebec for this event. Those who have no opportunity to travel are glued to the screens. By the way, the car race often breaks all records in TV ratings and even outruns the UEFA matches. At the Canadian Grand Prix, a guest of honor is legendary Michael Schumacher who won the race 7 times. Another guest is Lewis Hamilton who has won 6 times until 2018. Ferrari drivers won more Formula One races (Schumacher drove this sports car as well). The Grand Prix takes place at the Autodrome Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

The most spectacular festivals are Montréal en Lumière that is held in late February and lasts a week and a half and L'International des Feux Loto-Québec that is held in hot June. The first one is the amazing combination of illumination and art. During the festival, the central districts of the city are illuminated with thousands of spotlights. Multimedia, theatrical, circus, and music performances are held. Other interesting events take place during the fest held in the Vieux-Port de Montréal. Besides, the festival includes the Night of the Museums. You can visit most of the museums and art galleries for free. Some of them are open even at night. The culmination of the festival is a firework.

The L'International des Feux Loto-Québec is an impressive festival too. It is dedicated to fireworks. At the weekend, the starry sky of Montreal is strewn with hundreds of beautiful and unusual fireworks. The fest is also not without light and music shows. It is the biggest firework contest not only in Canada, but also in the world. It is annually visited by three million spectators from different countries. The competition attracts pyrotechnists from six countries: Italy, Spain, the USA, Australia, France, and Canada, of course. To see the play of light, you need to visit the amusement La Ronde Park that is located on Saint Helena.

Another unique festival is Igloofest that is dedicated to electronic music and traditional Indian igloos. It is held before the Montréal en Lumière in the Vieux-Port de Montréal that is decorated as an ice Eskimo village. Besides music programs, the fest includes a contest for the best winter look, Iglooswag, where participants can show all their skills and creativity. Another interesting fest that is popular with tourists and local people is Francofolies de la Rochelle dedicated to French music. It is held in mid-June in different city squares, as hundreds of fest participants visit the city at this time of the year.