Canada‘s second largest city after Quebec, Montreal has much to be proud of: museums, historic sites, shopping districts, fabulous restaurants and vibrant nightclubs, and more, much more. An island set along the almighty St. Lawrence River, Montreal is known as the city built around a mountain, offering spectacular views photographers always appreciate. But what draws more and more tourists every year is the wealth of popular cultural, film and music festivals in Montreal, a tradition that peaks in early to mid summer but continues throughout the whole year. Here are some of the best summer festivals in Montreal, which are known all over the world and are well worth visiting.
Montreal Jazz Festival 2013
With more than 2 million visitors annually, Montreal Jazz Festival is a gigantic summer music celebration right in the middle of downtown Montreal that will take place from June 28 to July 2 2013 for the 34th time. Ideal for those with a passion for music, the festival is a non-stop entertainment that will last from noon through midnight. During the festival visitors can enjoy more than 650 concerts (Jazz, Blues, Latin-Jazz, Cuban, Reggae, Electronica, etc.) by 3,000 artists from around 30 countries, as well as 1,000 concerts and activities, about 450 of which are free to public.
Not to be missed are the performances by Aretha Franklin – the ‘Queen of Soul,’ on June 29, at 7:30 pm, Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier of Place des Arts; Holly Cole, on June 27, at 8:00 pm, Theatre du Nouveau Monde; Wynton Marsalis, on June 28, at 7:00 pm, Lincoln Center Orchestra and Wayne Shorter Quartet, on June 29, at 7:00 pm at Theatre Maisonneuve, among others.
Tickets are already on sale and are available for purchases at Place Des Arts box office which is located 175 Ste.Catherine Street West. To reserve the tickets online, visit www.placedesarts.com.
Le Mondial de la Bière/ Beer Festival
Hold from May 29 through June 3, 2013 at the Palais des Congres and Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle in downtown Montreal, Le Mondial de la Bière or the Montreal Beer Festival is perhaps the most important festival of international beers in America, which will be celebrated for the 20th time this year. Around 500 beers from different parts of the world will be included in the festival, some especially brewed for the event. Beer lovers and connoisseurs can indulge in a wide range of activities that include meeting with the brewers, conferences, workshops on beer and food pairings among others.
With about a hundred thousand visitors per year, the festival is something not to be missed. Admission to this four-day event is free but it’s worth mentioning that tasting a brew, which is offered in three or four ounce servings, requires coupons.
International Tango Festival
Since 2003, when the Festival International de Tango de Montreal was first presented in Canada, it has become a favorite for locals and tourists alike looking for high quality music and dance scene. Free concerts outdoors, milongas or dance evenings, indoor concerts and dance workshops are what make Montreal’s International tango festival a truly wonderful experience. Apart from this, within the festival there is an intensive dance training program for dancers of all levels with guest masters. This year the dance celebration will take place between August 13 and 18. The organizer of the festival is the famous dancer Elizabeth Sadowska.
Other popular summer festivals include: FIMA – Festival International Montreal en Arts (June 12-16, 2013); International festival of Circus Arts (July 2013); and Montreal Electronic Groove (July 25-August 3, 2013).
Join the happy locals for genuine summer festivals for 2013 and have fun at your heart’s content. Remember, Montreal is a destination that will appeal the entire family!
