I was recently asked by some American friends who were on visit what makes life so great here in Montreal. Among other things, our nightlife and festivals are definitely worth mentioning!
Montreal is considered to be one of the most fabulous party cities in Canada. Additionally, it has a vibrant nightlife that is accompanied by festivals. The festivals aim at showcasing the locals’ talents in design, architecture, and art. An interesting fact to note is that there are different festivals all year round. It, therefore, means that you are guaranteed to have a good time during your vacation any time you visit the city. Here are a few of my favorite Montreal underground festivals that you should watch out for.
The Mural Festival
Festival Mural was started in 2013 in a bid to exhibit art in the streets of Montreal. To make the event interesting, artists from different parts of the world are invited to present their art. It allows them to express themselves on the street walls of Montreal.
In addition, there are no copyright laws for the murals; therefore, the public is welcomed to see them for free. The public is also granted permission to take photographs of the murals that please their eyes. Streets in Montreal that you can find murals include; Mont Royal Avenue and Saint Laurent Boulevard.
Consequently, there is no age limit for people that can view the street murals. Apart from viewing art, tourists and locals can engage in fun activities or eat from local vendors. The Mural Festival is held every June.
The OFF Jazz Festival
The international Jazz Festival in Montreal stands as the best as it held a Guinness world record for being the largest festival in 2004. The annual event annually grows as the committee comprising bands and musicians are focused on ensuring that they achieve their mission.
Moreover, Montreal’s Jazz festival is undoubtedly the best as it presents over 2000 artists and has many more attendees every year. There is a significant number of tourists that also attend the event. Since the number of people attending the festivals comes in large numbers, different venues cater to them.
The largest Jazz festival is always held either in late June or early July of every year. Due to the pandemic, the event is scheduled to happen two and a half weeks later in 2021. Now, there’s also the OFF Jazz Festival.
ZooFest
The ZooFest was founded in 2009 to give a chance to uprising artists to show their raw talents. The festival covers all genres ranging from comedy, magic, storytelling, music, and theatre. It is a platform that allows the new generation to meet with the public.
With the different presentations, it is no doubt that you will have a great time. It is possible as you will have a taste of each piece of art. Also, an outstanding aspect about Zoofest is that the charges are friendly and happen in July.
Anarchist Bookfair
The Bookfair aims at displaying more about the anarchist cultural and social events. The Anarchist Bookfair includes groups, distributors, and booksellers from locals and others from different regions.
A positive aspect of attending the event is that you will have access to books or materials that are not available in book shops. What is more, you get to enjoy reading the different publications for free. You also need to know that there are publications prepared for this specific affair which makes it unique.
Luckily, the Anarchist Bookfair is open for all, including children. The kids get to enjoy activities that have been set aside for them. Even though the event does not charge, attendees are encouraged to give donations. They aim at helping cater for expenses that are as a result of the event. Therefore, if you are interested in finding out what anarchism is about, attending the event is advisable.
With the festivals explained above, it is evident that my hometown has a lot to offer from its locals and tourists. Apart from enjoying the art in the city, you also get to learn about something new. A point to note is that the events in Montreal are spreaded across the year; hence, you are sure to have a good time anytime you visit.