Fête nationale du Québec à Montréal

Though the official day of Québec’s national holiday is June 24, the celebrations occur over two fun-packed days. Also known as Saint-Jean-Baptise (named after St. John the Baptist), Fête nationale du Québec is celebrated in Montréal with everything from neighbourhood parties to a night parade to a giant free music show.

The huge, free outdoor concert kicks off the official celebrations in the amphitheatre of Parc Jean-Drapeau on June 23, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. The idea is to be mid-party when the clock strikes midnight and ring in the 24th in style from moment one! But, parents, you can also go earlier to hear the rehearsal, when from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. there’ll be food trucks and activities for kids. This raucous show features famous Québécois acts including Éric Lapointe, Koriass, Marie-Élaine Thibert, Roxane Bruneau, Florent Vollant and more – all hosted by Guillaume Lemay-Thivierge.

The annual Fête nationale parade takes place on June 24, 2019, starting at 9 p.m., and will proceed down Saint-Denis Street this year, from Boucher to Cherrier Streets. From gorgeous floats to live music to acrobatics and animation, the parade unites the work of over 200 creators and is a fun reason for the whole family to stay up late.

To find the full schedule of neighbourhood celebrations, which include outdoor jam sessions and community picnics, follow the link below. But it’s just as much fun to explore this city-wide, family-friendly celebration on a whim, sniffing out the street party nearest you. And look up – there’ll be fireworks.