Quebec is a province that stands apart from Canada’s 12 other provinces not only because of the French language (obviously), but also because of a very specific atmosphere that could be summed up in many ways, but which is above all extremely plural.
There are the artists of Montreal, the First Nations in the heart of the land taken from them by the first settlers, the cowboys and farmers of the regions, the scientists, the little sports cars of those who spend the summer at the club, the Trois Accords…
Quebec identity is complex, and we won’t try to describe it here, but you can feel it every year on June 24, sitting in front of a bonfire, with the aunts and uncles who’ve had a little too much to drink and the whole neighborhood celebrating, because we’ve been preparing the Fête nationale party for months.
In Montreal, a city of immigrants, professionals and students who come from abroad for a year or a lifetime, the Quebec identity is further enriched, and the party becomes more than a community affair. As Marco Micone (Montreal-Italian writer and playwright) once said, “you’re not born a Québécois, you become one”,
Saint-Jean, the national holiday, June 24
Saint-Jean-Baptiste is celebrated every year on June 24. The date corresponds to the summer solstice (June 21 in the northern hemisphere) and – what interests us most in Montreal – it’s Quebec’s national holiday.
Fêtes de Quartier
In the regions, St. John’s Day is celebrated with huge bonfires (if the fire department comes to put it out, it means it was really glorious) and barbecues, block parties and concerts by local old-timers. If we’re lucky, there’s also a cotton candy fair and the kind of rollercoasters that are going to be hard to look in the eye after the release of the new Destination Ultime.
In Montreal, it’s more of the same, only more urban – and we’ll be partying it up in Quebec at one of the island’s neighborhood block parties .
We’ve got the list of Montreal block parties for Bastille Day 2025 for June 23 and 24 here;
We’re going to put on our best blue-and-white outfits – fleur-de-lys makeup optional but recommended – and drink lots of water, because it’s going to be the start of a hot hot hot summer. ..
The Parade
On June 24, starting at 2 p.m., there will be the traditional Fête nationale parade through the streets of Montreal, based on Gilles Vigneault’s song Gens du Pays (1975), which in Quebec replaces the “joyeux anniversaire” with a medley of “bonne fête/ma-mon cher … c’est à ton tour de te laisser parler d’amour…”.
It has been Quebec’s de facto national anthem since 1975.
The refrain of the iconic song by Gilles Vigneault – Quebec singer and idol of the region – is;
Gens du pays, c’est votre tour de vous laisser parler d’amour…
The parade will follow the themes of the song’s verses, with a “living fresco” evoking love, snow, spring, flowers, rivers, gardens, harvests – and the people of Quebec.
We’ll be invited to sing together during moments of silence, between two popular Québécois songs.
When? Parade departs Tuesday, June 24, at 2 p.m.
Where? departure from rue Rachel Est, at the corner of rue Molson /the parade will follow rue Rachel, then end at Parc Maisonneuve for the Grand Spectacle that follows
The Grand Spectacle
After the Parade, there will be the annual Grand Spectacle, featuring beloved Quebec artists and Quebec lovers, in Parc Maisonneuve.
The Grand Spectacle will be hosted by Guylaine Tremblay , and on stage will be Robert Charlebois, Sara Dufour , Loud, Elisabeth St-Gelais , Matt Lang, Yama Laurent , Yann Perreau, Bon Enfant and Antoine Bertrand…
We invite you to bring a picnic or grab a bite to eat at one of the food-trucks set up for the occasion , and take part in the kids’ activities and contests, so the party doesn’t stop between the parade and the show.
We’ll also be covering ourselves in mosquito spray and Coppertone – the unofficial nostalgic fragrance of the Quebec summer that begins with Saint-Jean…
When?
noon: Background music and entertainment
12:30-17:30: Dress rehearsal for the Grand Spectacle
6pm: COGECO Media Moment hosted by Marjorie Vallée
8pm: The Grand Spectacle
10:30-11:15 pm: Bon Enfant (folk rock)
11:15pm-midnight: DJ set by Juju le Moko
Where? Parc Maisonneuve
Happy Saint-Jean/Fête Nationale du Québec!