Summer in Montreal : Festival Wrap-Up

If there is one thing Montreal summers are known for, it's festivals. From June to August, we celebrate music, food, comedy, and culture. There's something to suit all moods, all tastes and all ages. If you're thinking of visiting Montreal, summertime is definitely the way to go (not to mention our winters are frigidly cold). This summer, we tried to make the most out of Montreal by sampling as many events as we could manage. And we found that, often, the best times are had in your own backyard. 

Montreal's Hôtel de ville (City Hall) on a hot summer day waving the Quebec, Canadian and Montreal flags.

Rib Fest
When? June 27th to July 1st
Where? Quai Jacques Cartier
Highlights: We generally aren't big meat-eaters, but there is no denying the ribs here are phenomenal. We don't know much about the rib world, but it seems to have its connoisseurs. The vendors participate in contests around North America, winning awards for best sauce, best ribs, and not hesitating to flaunt their prizes. Ribs are generally sold as 1/3 rack, 1/2 rack or full rack, ranging between $9 and $23 depending on the size. Since each stall has unique homemade sauces and flavors, we found the best solution was to bring the gang and share a variety of racks. That way, you won't want to fill up on just one kind!

We had no idea Rib Fest would be so popular!

Poutine Fest
When? July 3rd to 5th
Where? Quai Jacques Cartier
Highlights: First things first, our take on poutine is a bit biased because, well, we love it. For those of you who aren't familiar with one of Quebec's finest inventions, it is a scrumptious combination of french fries, gravy, and cheese curds. It truly is one-of-a-kind. Poutine Fest vendors took the basic trio to new heights by adding to it: onions, mushrooms, peppers, pulled pork... even lobster! Our favorite was the popcorn chicken poutine. Because popcorn chicken and poutine is an amazing idea.

The bacon cheeseburger poutine (left) and the popcorn chicken poutine (right). Prepare your arteries!

Jazz Fest
When? June 26th to July 5th
Where? Quartier des spectacles
Highlights: The Franklin Electric was a must-see at this year's Jazz Fest, headlining the Saturday night at the main stage, "Scene TD". This up-and-coming Montreal band is gaining popularity... fast. We have a feeling that, in a few years' time, we'll count ourselves lucky knowing we saw them for free!

Montreal's own indie group, The Franklin Electric, take the stage on June 27th.

Osheaga
When? July 31st to August 2nd
Where? Parc Jean Drapeau
Highlights: Florence & the Machine, Of Monsters & Men, The Black Keys, Kendrick Lamar, George Ezra, James Bay and Milky Chance were among the incredible talent that showed up for this year's Osheaga music festival. Celebrating its 10-year anniversary, this indie-folk-pop event attracted festival-goers from all over Northeastern Canada and the States. It was BBB's 2nd year at Osheaga and we will definitely be coming back for many years to come! 

People from across North America (and the world) enjoy the last day of July watching George Ezra perform.

Festival Mode et Design
When? August 17th to 22nd
Where? Quartier des spectacles
Highlights: It was our first time attending Montreal's very own Festival Mode et Design (or in English: Fashion and Design Festival), a free week-long event held mainly outdoors. We had the chance to go behind the scenes at the open backstage, where models were prepping to strut their stuff on the catwalk. We also enjoyed the VIP section where bloggers and fashionistas from around the city came together for a taste of what Fall 2015 has in store. Ardene, Cours Mont-Royal and Forever 21 were among the showcased brands, and a performance by Ottawa artist Pieter Oliver was a pleasant addition to the evening. Whether you're a fashion guru or amateur trendsetter, Festival Mode et Design has something for everyone.

A model poses for the camera in the Pantene and Covergirl tent at the 15th annual Festival Mode et Design.

Of course, we didn't have a chance to make it to every festival. Other popular annual events include: 

• Grand Prix - Formula One Canadian Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
• Beer Fest - International Beer Tasting at Palais des Congrès
• Just for Laughs - World-class comedy festival 
• Ile Soniq - EDM music festival at Parc Jean Drapeau
• Heavy MTL - Rock music fetsival at Parc Jean Drapeau