Montreal is known for its festivals, and with dozens on offer every year, there’s truly something for everyone—whether your interests lie in food or fashion, comedy or crafts, music or murals. There are so many festivals, in fact, that it can be impossible to narrow down the list to the ones you want to attend. Lucky for you, E-QIP’s teachers and staff have ample festival-going experience, and we’re thrilled to share our favourites!
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One summer activity I enjoy in Montreal is going to Tam-tams. It's a very laid-back, casual event with kind of a hippy vibe. It happens every Sunday in the park in front of Mount Royal. It's fun to listen to so many people playing drums, and the atmosphere is very lively. Anyone can join the drum circle, but I've never tried. Some people sell things they've made on blankets on the ground. Sometimes you can even see people practicing circus arts or sword-fighting! If you want to get away from the noise, you can enjoy the walking paths in the trees, and get a great view of the city from the lookout points up the hill. —Rasa, English teacher
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I enjoy Matsuri Japon (a mix of the word 'festival' in Japanese and the French way for saying Japan) as it's the largest Japanese summer festival held annually in Montreal, hosting many different cultural activities, as well as common Japanese festival food. I like Piknic Électronik as it's a chill music festival where you can hang out with your friends during the day and party at night. The artist lineup is different enough each year, so it's always interesting and new. Just for Laughs Comedy festival is great as Montreal is known as the make-it city for many comedian legends and there's a lot of hype in the air for both performers and audiences. It's just an overall good vibe around Place-des-Arts during the whole festival. —Ravi, business to business coordinator
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I've lived in a few cities within Canada and what separates Montreal from the rest are the festivals, which happen year round, but especially in the summer. For me, F1 weekend is one of my favourites because it's the kick-off to festival season and also summer. What's cool about F1 weekend is that even if you don't attend the actual race, you can still feel the buzz and energy throughout the city, and if you appreciate cars like I do, the streets become a free car show! —Jimmy, marketing coordinator
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Every summer, my friends wait for RibFest. It’s our favourite event! It’s a great opportunity to pig out and enjoy the nice weather! —Kenia, English teacher
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You'll never get bored on the weekends because there are always a festival going on around Montreal because that's when you get to experience the diverse culture the city has to offer. — Precilla, front team; her favourite festivals include the Montreal International Fireworks Competition and Taste of the Caribbean
