Festivals and cultural events Canada

A famous festival in Manitoba, focusing on emerging artists, cultural and artistic diversity. Possibility to camp on the festival site.

Set in the heart of the capital, this large festival attracts crowds of jazz lovers. For more than thirty years, he has exhibited internationally renowned artists such as Herbie Hancock, Dave Brubeck, Toots Thielemans, Wynton Marsalis, Smokey Robinson, Diana Krall…

This is the summer event that marks the anniversary of the cities of Halifax and Dartmouth. In the programme: musical performances, humor, fireworks, parades, family and sports activities, and more. Don't miss it!

A great comedy festival with actors mainly from Canada and the United States. Some French shows.

In the enchanting setting of St. Helen's Island, with a breathtaking view of the St. Lawrence River and downtown Montreal, this open-air festival is entirely dedicated to the electronic music scene with the biggest names in techno, house music and dubstep . Since 2022, the Oasis Show stage has doubled in size and is now one of the largest in Canada, promising a memorable show! The night before the event, a pre-festival party is organized in town and ÎleSoniq also presents indoor artists throughout the year.

The international independent music scene meets at Pop Montreal, a festival for music lovers in the purest sense of the word. The discovery pass (offered before the unveiling of the program..., adventurers beware!) allows you to attend all the concerts scheduled, to fill your ears with new and more familiar sounds. Pop Montréal programs many other well-known events throughout the year, such as Puces Pop, Film Pop, Art Pop, etc. (see the website for more information).

A small festival turned big, this unique and festive international gathering is a superb showcase for genre cinema from the four corners of the globe. Original and a bit eccentric, it is today a major reference for this type of cinema and the event stands out clearly from other world cinema events. Since its debut in 1996, Fantasia has attracted more than a million spectators, eager to discover the varied programming that bridges the gap between avant-garde and mainstream cinema. An event not to be missed.

MUTEK Montréal is more than a festival, it's an immersive sonic and visual experience. No DJ sets here, just live performances for total sensory exploration. Whether standing, lying down, in a dome or in virtual reality, let yourself be transported by established and emerging international artists. MUTEK also promotes Canadian artists and a commitment to gender equality. At the same time, the MUTEK Forum offers conferences and workshops on art and new technologies. 25 years of innovation and audacity to celebrate from August 20 to 25, 2024, with over 100 audiovisual performances.

More than a kilometer of Sainte-Catherine Street is dedicated to the visual arts and becomes for some time the largest open-air gallery in eastern Canada with some one hundred artists practicing different disciplines participating in the event or in the large-scale exhibition and sale. The program also includes a number of contemporary cultural events, including multidisciplinary and interactive performances that allow the artists and the general public to meet. An open-air event where it is good to stroll in the middle of the Montreal summer.

A high-caliber cultural event, the Elektra festival combines cutting-edge electronic music, multi-screen audiovisual performances and installations of all kinds (sound, interactive, robotic...), conferences, launches and vernissages in several venues across the city. The organization also organizes the biennial Biennale internationale d'art numérique (BIAN), a major exhibition of works and installations that celebrated its ^6th edition in winter 2023.

The year 2023 marks the ^10th anniversary of this massive music festival. Held in the Downsview neighborhood in the north of the city, it hosts the biggest names in the electronic and hip-hop scene. More than 50 artists will take to the stage on three stages for three days of incredible music and visual effects in an over-the-top atmosphere. Note that the festival is open to people 16 years and older, but you must be 19 years old to consume alcohol and/or to buy a VIP ticket.

The Barrie Aboriginal Friendship Centre invites you to a celebration of the wonders of life through the expression of singing and dance. Crafts and entertainment are part of the program, and the dishes are served on the ground to satisfy the great appetites.

During the second week of June, the Nimpkish reserve hosts a inter competition in which villagers compete with strength and agility.

The Toronto Fringe is part of the Fringe Movement, an international network of independent theaters. Its mission is to support marginalized and under-represented voices. With nearly 100 companies from around the world presenting their plays, you'll see a wide variety of performances. Be sure to choose your evening. The festival lasts about 10 days and many performances are free or available for a nominal fee (usually less than $15 CAN). Another event is the Next Stage Theatre Festival in October.

Jazz in all its forms takes over dozens of different venues over the course of ten days (venues, bars, restaurants, hotels, etc.), not to mention the free outdoor stages in the beautiful Yorkville neighborhood (near the Bay subway station). Every year, the biggest jazz celebrities come to the festival, as well as more than 1,500 musicians and about half a million festivalgoers. A major event, in a festive atmosphere much appreciated by Torontonians and visitors alike.

One of the most prestigious classical music events in North America. This festival ensures the participation of renowned soloists from the national and international scene. Concerts and recitals take place in the amphitheatre and in several churches in the region. Other activities are also on the program: youth symphony orchestra concerts, a series of outdoor shows, artists' masses, outdoor musical cinema, etc. Shuttle service between Montreal and the festival.

For about ten days, the city of Trois-Rivières beats to the rhythm of the performances delivered by a hundred poets from all over the world. Cafés, restaurants, parks, museums, art galleries and other places are then invested for the occasion. FIPTR also organizes competitions for authors, including the Grand Prix Québecor of the Festival international de la poésie, which allows them to win a scholarship in addition to being invited to the festival.

Programme of the festivities at Mont Saint-Sauveur: opening of the mechanical lift L'Etoile, family animation (farmhouse, show and animation, mechanical train tour, children games, etc.).

This festival brings together the best in music, dance and theater. In addition to the renowned summer festival, the Huntsville Festival of the Arts includes many other events throughout the year, such as the spring musical, the fringe festival, the classical and contemporary music festival, and a rich year-round program. Most performances take place at the Algonquin Theatre.

The Muskoka Music Festival is a cultural event offering a variety of artistic events and festivals. The festival presents a series of events ranging from painting shows to classical music concerts. For example, the 45th Parallel Painters exhibit works inspired by winter in Muskoka. There's also a carol flash mob at the JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Resort & Spa. A concert of George Frederick Handel's Messiah is also planned at the St James Centre for Community. For those who like to sing, there's a Sing-Along Messiah at Bracebridge United Church.

Dedicated entirely to the independent music scene, the Emerging Music Festival (EMF) presents more than 90 artists and groups from here and elsewhere, with styles as varied as they are original. The program is held over four days, both indoors and outdoors. The festival makes it a point of honour to program first and foremost Canadian artists in order to promote them on a national and international scale.

Two beautiful hours of entertainment with this large musical spectacle. It's guaranteed that dancers, singers and acrobats bring you the view in an atmosphere worthy of Paris or Las Vegas cabarets.

Here, we plunge into the heart of French-language song thanks to this major event, which presents quality concerts at its unmissable Festival en chanson, held annually for the past forty years. Up-and-coming artists are given pride of place, with the festival showcasing a selection of emerging singer-songwriters via the Escales en chanson de Petite-Vallée. Confirmed artists for 2024 include Galaxie, Marie-Jo Thério and Karkwa.

Whether it's Gaspesian talent, big names in world music or promising new musical discoveries, the Festival Musique du Bout du Monde program will charm, surprise and move fans and new festival-goers alike. It also features sunrise concerts in Forillon National Park, a magical musical event, provided you can get up at dawn. A festival to discover without delay!

International literary festival for book lovers. Held in the spring, this event now takes place on Queen's Park Crescent between Bloor and Wellesley streets. More than a hundred authors are present and six stages are scattered on the festival site, including a stage reserved for French literature. Many activities of all kinds are organized and a special program is planned to entertain the youngest. This festival is also held in other Canadian cities.

As if this neighborhood wasn't already great in the summer, for over 30 years jazz has been taking over The Beaches for most of July. Note that there are performances elsewhere, including in the Riverside and Leslieville neighborhoods. Many concerts are held at outdoor venues as well as in various performance spaces. There is a huge street party on Queen Street East called Street Fest, which features street entertainment, food trucks, live performances and more. A great atmosphere!

Organized for over 20 years, this event is the equivalent of our Heritage Days. About 150 buildings of great architectural, historical and cultural value open their doors for free. The largest event of its kind in Canada, Toronto is the first city in North America to have tried the experience. This is an ideal opportunity to discover the city and its heritage secrets without breaking the bank, especially since the theme changes every year (for example, City of Sound is the theme for the 2023 edition).

For three days, Friday through Sunday, Little Italy gets festive with its annual outdoor event The Taste of Little Italy. College Street, from Markham to Shaw Streets, becomes pedestrianized for the occasion and hosts street concerts, merchant booths, large terraces to enjoy a glass of wine, activities for the youngest, etc. An invitation to slow down and enjoy life with good food!

National Day dedicated to Aboriginal people. Several events are taking place in various locations in the city to raise public awareness of this community.

About a hundred recent works from African countries, Creoles and their diasporas. In addition to screenings of short and feature films, fiction and documentaries, the Vues d'Afrique festival also features shows, exhibitions, exchanges, debates and colloquiums, etc., enough to make many discoveries! A youth selection is also presented. All screenings take place at the Cinémathèque québécoise (opening night at the Imperial Cinema).