In July, summer is in full swing. What does this mean for anyone visiting any of our ports of call? It means plenty of deliciously unique agritourism experiences, great food and local microbrews enjoyed on sunny terraces and above all, fun festivals and events to discover!
It is a known fact that Québec people do like a good party. Want to discover French-Canadian music? Head for the Francofolies in Montréal. Looking to sample local microbrews? There are few beer festivals dotted around the region. Love bacon? Yup, you guessed it, there’s even a pork festival being held every year! From speckled trout to hot air balloons, from buckwheat pancakes to the famous poutine, there’s a festival for just about everything.
Here’s a shortlist of the events not to miss when visiting la belle province in July.
In this article, you will learn all about:
- Montréal’s events
- Trois-Rivières’s Cirque du Soleil shows
- Saguenay’s beer and wine festivals
Jazzing things up in Montréal
The beginning of July marks the start of the largest jazz festival in the world! The Montréal Jazz Festival is truly something to behold. Attracting budding and established artists from all over the planet, huge gathering has been synonymous with soulful music, spectacular productions and larger-than-life atmosphere for over 40 years. Head downtown to access one (or several!) of the 350 free, open-air shows or treat yourself to an indoor concert for the full acoustic experience.
Another one of Montréal’s globally recognized events is L’International des Feux Loto-Québec. Throughout the entire month of July, world-class pyrotechnics teams try to outdo each other with an eye-popping 30-minute display that marries music and explosive fireworks. These can be seen and heard anywhere on the river’s shore, as the fireworks are launched from the La Ronde amusement park located on Île-Sainte-Helène. Many residents come out in the streets during the late evenings to catch a glimpse of this memorable sight. However, if you are lucky enough to be on a ship docked at the Port of Montréal only have to take a seat on the top deck for the best view in town. There’s nothing quite like watching fireworks reflected by the river’s water.
Let’s go to the circus!
Initially a small troop of street performers in Québec, the Cirque du Soleil has become a household name. It has permanent residencies in Vegas, holds shows in Toronto and Montréal, and regularly tours around the world… With a stopover in Trois–Rivières during the summer!
Cruise guests can sit under the circus tent to marvel at the spectacular, gravity-defying antics of the world-renowned troop. Each stay is choreographed around a different theme, bringing a new fresh vibe to each edition. What a wonderful way to add a bit of magic to your cruise itinerary!
À la bonne vôtre!
Looking to sample the tastiest beers and wines Saguenay has to offer? These two events should quench your thirst for adventure.
Head for the Festival des Bières du Monde for the largest selection of microbrews in the area. Over 50 microbreweries, distilleries and cider houses are on site, bringing over 450 products along with them. And they are not the only ones to answer the call: restaurateurs do too.
Each year, they provide festival-goers with plenty of delicious street food. If you’re looking for your new favourite microbrew, there’s no better place to go.
Not a beer enthusiast? No problem! As we said, whatever you like, there’s a festival for it. So it should come as no surprise that Saguenay also has an event dedicated to wine: the Festival des Vins de Saguenay. Wine enthusiasts gather here to discover the best products around, with many wines being expertly paired with locally produced cheese. Those wishing to improve their wine knowledge can attend one of the many workshops being held during the event. Can’t get more fun than that!
So many events, so little time!
Eating, drinking, and generally being merry… There’s always something going on along the shores of the Saint Lawrence River during the cruise season. Passengers simply have to step off the ship to feel the electric atmosphere and be immediately charmed by the joie de vivre of the Québec people. Make sure you add some of these unmissable events to the itinerary!
Looking for more inspiration to create the perfect cruise itinerary? Have a look at our agritourism series on our blog.
Find out more about the Cruise the Saint Lawrence sustainable development guidelines on our sustainability page.