Festivals and Annual Events

Annual car show held at the Palais des congrès de Montréal in late January. Car manufacturers from around the globe display their best products. Vehicles are displayed by the hundreds (650 vehicles in 2008) in a large exhibition gallery. Renown brands such as General Motors, Nissan, BMW, Ford, and Volkswagen come out and display their extreme creativity in models of cars that range from classy and retro to eco-friendly and futuristic in design. Not to be missed if you're in Montreal during the season and are into glossy colors, metallic shines, and fantasizing about being the protagonist in car racing games and movies.

An exciting annual festival, relatively new for a city which derives its festivals from centuries old traditions. The purpose - to celebrate light! Quite original, and more than just an "enlightening" affair. Consists of more than a week of celebrations ranging from food and wine stalls to musical concerts and film shows. This festival can be called the one event that brings all of Montreal together - all classes, all nations, all religions - as most of its activities are free.

A festival celebrating written arts, literature, poetry, and satire. Performances range from poetry recitals to comedy acts to literary stage shows. The evenning (5 to 7) shows are usually free for all, but it is the late night sittings (11pm onwards) that really mesmerize the audience. Tickets are quite reasonable, at $12 - $15. The show starts with renowned performers, and then switches on to newly discovered talented artists. They keep the guests enteratined with mesmerizing recitals and narratives, as well as original compositions. Some of the events also feature small press publishers, who help emerging writers to get their work published. The event may become a drag for the youthful, partying soul, but it is surely not to be missed if you are into literature and poetry.

Festival to acknowledge the creative productions of the Quebec film industry. Aimed at promoting Quebec film culture, supporting the film makers, and acting as a brdige between the silverscreen and the demands of the public. The highlight is the screening of various documentaries, short fiction-based films, animated and music videos, and just about any kind of film that the industry has produced.

A film festival that screens films and documentaries on the various aspects of art and architecture from around the globe - its history, development through the ages, and its implementation and interpretation in different cultures. It aims to promote awareness and appreciation in the public about the importance of art, and the impact of art on the development of a society along with screenings of informative films which cover the life of artists, their work, impressive artistic achievements, masterpieces of photography and painting, and fascinating feats of architecture from around 30 countries. In 2007 the festival celebrated its 25th anniversary, screenig more than 200 films in eight theatres around Montreal, including the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, the Canadian Centre for Architecture, the Goethe-Institut, the Cinémathèque québécoise and the Cinquième Salle of Place des Arts.

Saint Patrick is widely revered as one of the patron saints of Ireland, and the republic of Ireland and Irish colonies and communities worldwide obvserve St Patrick' Day in honour of the respected saint. The day is celebrated by Irish and non-Irish, Christians and non-Christians alike in Montreal, and is marked with feasts and festive merrymaking. Irish food and drinks are consumed publicly, and people dress up in green and put up green flags and banners. Although not a public holiday, it is still one of the major events that draws crowds from all areas of the city. The highlight of the event is a Parade that has been held continually each year in the city since 1824, and is the largest of its kind in the whole of North America. It is held around March 17 every year.

This is a fashion mega event held twice annually since it began in 1994 and attracted only 50 customers. The present attendance is over 8000 in each session. The primary aim is to introduce the creations of prominent as well as emerging fashion designers to the public, and to enable them to buy designer clothing at relatively lower prices. As most of the brands are female-oriented, the customers are usually businesswomen and professional women, as well as female students and tourists. With the recent introcution of male fashion brands, the event now also attracts a large number of men.The event allows fashion designers to come into contact with the elite public and the public to acquire designer labels at considerably lower costs than designer outlets.

A multilingual literary festival held in Montreal, claiming to be the first of its kind in the world. Gathers more than 250 writers, poets, journalists, musicians and actors from around the world to present their art in the language they feel comfotable in. Languages commonly heard are Spanish and Portuguese apart from the popular French and English. Many of its performances are free to attend. A treat for lovers of international literature.

Inaugrated in 1995 with the purpose of promoting chamber music and its various forms. Performances are held in historic and cultural sites around the city to reflect the mood of the events. Tickets are relatively expensive, with a normal adult ticket at $36 for the floor and $24 for the balcony.

Music festival started in 2000, featuring electronic, vocal trance, experimental pop music. Attracts crowds by the hundreds as concerts rage on all night. Held in late May to early June.

Celebrated on the 24th of June each year as a national holiday in all of Quebec, to mark solidarity with the similar festival celebrated in France. Activities range from small street performances dotted throughout town to free musical concerts organized in large public parks.

Breathtaking displays of fireworks, guaranteed to be the most impressive you have ever seen. Fireworks go off to orchestral performances by groups of musicians from over a dozen countries. The festival takes place inside the La Ronde amusement park, with tickets starting from $35, but the magtnificent display of flashes and glows can be seen from atop any rooftop in the city center free of cost, and from public places like the Jacques Cartier Bridge, which is closed to vehicular traffic from 8pm onwards on the big night.

July 1st, 1967 was the day Canada was declared independent. This day marks the anniversary of independence. Celebrations include parades, family carnivals, fireworks displays, maritime exhibitions, and freee public concerts.

Claimed to be the largest jazz festival worldwide, this event attracts thousands of visitors annually as it continues for more than a week, during which several streets in the downtown area are closed to traffic for setting up of concert stages. Activities include free outdoor performances as well as paid indoor shows.

Internationally famed comedy event, featuring standup comedy, paid indoor performances, street acts, and fun pranks on the public.

Festival to celebrate and promote French muscial compositions. Propagates through free outdoor concerts held in downtown streets that are sealed off for traffic for a week during the festival. Was held in 2008 from July 23-August 3

One "hot" festival. Hundreds of large hot-air balloons of different types and colors, some of them in special shapes like animals and cartoon characters. The event is held at the St. Jean sur Richelieu Municipal Airport somewhere in the second week of August. The festival also includes music and other attractions besides the magnificent display of colors. Balloon rides are also offered, though these are quite expensive ($150 for a morning ride and $175 for an evening ride). A fascinating feature of the festival is the illumination of balloons on selected nights, when they turn into giant balls of light drfting calmly across the night sky, creating an almost magical sight. Not to be missed if you are in Montreal during these dates.

A festival dedicated to children! A wide variety of games, costume parties, fun filled activities like painting,sculpting and modelmaking, a marvellous night-time fireworks display, and musical performances all through the event. More than a hundred totally FREE recreational opputunities from 9 am to 6 pm.

A revolutionary film festival, aimed at promoting new film makers, filming ideas and techniques, and filming styles and trends. Screenings of various films from around the world. Some produced by eminent names in the film industry, but most…

Musical festival to celebrate the culture of the Arab world through the performing arts. Traditional and modern Arab performances are part of this festival.