Festival, Montreal

Favorite thing: Just For Laughs Festival ( ranked second among 100 events in North America by the American Business Association in 2002) is the largest comedy festival in the world. In the different Quartier Latin street, you can see the free and outdoor show and humorist for the four corner of the planets gives show in the different cabaret and theatre in Montreal. From July 10 to July 20.

Favorite thing: Montreal is alive with festivals particularly during the summer months. Along with an international jazz festival, the city also hosts an international film festival which was in full swing when I was there.

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Favorite thing: This festival celebrates Montreal's strong Caribbean community. French speaking nations, such as Haiti, are strongly represented, but people with origins from most of the countries in the Caribbean are represented. The events are concentrated around old Montreal with most of the activities occurring at Jacques Cartier Pier. There is also a parade that runs through old Montreal and Rene Levesque Street with an assortment of costumes that give you the feeling of Mardi Gras in July! This was going on at the same time as the Jazz Festival basically making the entire downtown a festival area.

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Favorite thing: The Montreal International Jazz Festival (Festival International de Jazz de Montréal) is one of the biggest jazz festivals in the world. It is held annually in the summer season and usually starts at the beginning of July. The jazz festival attracts artists from around the world and is typically attended by hundreds of thousands of people who are attracted by the electric atmosphere. The 25th anniversary in 2004 offered about 500 concerts, of which three-quarters were free of charge, hosted by over 2000 musicians from over 20 countries. Many parts of the city's downtown core around Ste. Catherines Street close to traffic for two weeks. Shows are held in a wide variety of venues, from relatively small jazz clubs to the large halls of Place des Arts. Some of the outdoor shows are held on cordoned-off streets while others are on terraced parks. The place has a great vibe as the attendance at the main stage on Ste. Catherines can attract over a hundred thousand people.

Favorite thing: The Festival des Arts du Village, now called Festival Montreal en Arts (FMA), is held on Sainte Catherine Street Est. This 4 day festival attracts more than 170 visual arts, performance or craft artists to the village. Like all of Montreal's festivals this one is colourful, well run, and fun.

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Fondest memory: During our one-week stay in Montreal, we saw three festivals in different parts of town. There was the Francofolie, where Francophone music performers showed their talents on stage. Downtown streets were blocked off for the festival. Not too far from there, another street, St Laurent, was also blocked off for a giant street sale. All the shops and restaurants set up tents on the street with lots of bargains! The street was really packed with people! There was another festival too on Mont Royal that we passed by but we didn't have time to go there.

Summer is definitely a great time to go to Montreal, with so many famous events such as the Grand Prix and Jazz Festival.

Favorite thing: Another claim to fame, Montreal boasts several top festivals every year. The most successful is The Montreal International Jazz Festival. Every first week in July, Montreal welcomes the best Jazz Musicians to her streets. Though many concerts are held in the Place des Arts complex, and other clubs and theaters, Montreal closes off to traffic several sections of streets in the central-eastern part of the city for the whole week. Peaceful crowds gather for free concerts all day and evening long. The atmosphere is easy-going and friendly. Besides the Jazz Festival, coming right on its' heels is the Just for Laughs Festival - Festival juste pour rire! Same idea, is almost always something happening on the streets of Montreal in the spring-summer months.

Favorite thing: Drive through downtown Montreal (Centerville) and proceed up the hill to the Mt. Royal Scenic View Point. Tourists are offered a dramatic panoramic view of the entire city from approximately 500 feet above the city. On a clear day, visibility is almost 30 miles. You can really appreciate how large the greater Montreal area is and understand the geography of Quebec. The Olympic Stadium stands out in the landscape.

Fondest memory: Every year, in May, Montreal hold the Festival de la Sante. It is family event that draws 20,000 people competing in a 40km bike ride, 10km run, or 5k walk. I competed in the 28km in-line race and was among 3000 skaters. What an amazing experience.

http://www.festivaldelasante.com/