L'International des Feux Loto-Québec

As sparkly things go, it doesn’t get bigger or better (or louder) than Montréal’s annual international fireworks competition, an explosive choreography of music and fire set against the city skyline.

Easily one of the highlights of Montréal’s summer season, L'International des Feux Loto-Québec competition brings several of the city’s most iconic features together for 30 minutes of eye- (and ear-) popping fun, rain or shine, over the course of several weeks.

The fireworks are launched from inside Six Flags amusement park La Ronde (situated on Île Sainte-Hélène across from the historic Old Port of Montréal) and explode over the St. Lawrence River right beside the spectacular Jacques-Cartier Bridge. Attracting world-class pyrotechnics teams from around the globe, the competition marries music to this ancient fiery art in a percussive, “pyromusical” display that can be seen and heard right across the city.

(Pro tip: the best place to watch the fireworks is from the grandstands in La Ronde, for which tickets can be purchased.)