The Grand Prix Weekend is the best time to visit Montreal, QC! The Formula 1 event draws in tourists from all over the world and famous celebrities like Michael Fassbender, Super-Models Jasmine Tookes & Winnie Harlow, Michael Douglas and many more I don’t recognize! But even if you don’t care about Formula One, the big event brings parties, festivals and celebrations for everyone! There is so much going on in Montreal, it was impossible to see everything!

The Mural Fest is all about street art and self expression, while the International Beer Fest of Montreal will have your taste-buds delighted and liver demanding a hiatus. Or check out the Saint-Laurent Street Markets, or one of the city’s largest annual French music festivals “Franco de Montreal”. Oh and it’s Montreal! So a visit to Mount Royal, Old Montreal and the Basilica of Notre-Dame is also a must! I’ll get to these in the next article.  Where I usually spend my travels abroad in Asia, on my own, this weekend was the perfect time to rent an Airbnb with friends, check out all this commotion and really catch up!

• The Mural Fest
• International Beer Fest
• Saint-Laurent Street Fest
• Franco de Montreal
• Formula One Grand Prix

Montreal is unlike any of city in North America. It’s a true melting pot of cultures, languages, fashion and lifestyle. It’s an old city that looks and feels European, where French is the primary language by law and pop culture, but almost everyone in the city can speak English. I was very grateful for the English since I found some of the local accents almost impossible to understand despite the fact that I’ve been speaking French for 20 years. Seriously.

It’s common for locals to speak Italian, Spanish, Mandarin and Arabic too. Which means the choice of food in Montreal is unreal! Feel like Dim Sum? Vietnamese? Jewish? or classic French Canadian cuisine? It’s all authentic and run by the same families since the 1960s or earlier. Among the most famous in the city is “Chez Schwartz” that serve the city’s best smoked meat sandwich. For a late night drink, I recommend checking out “La Distillerie“.

It’s a city where high class fashion, grunge, and hipster can be seen side by side. Walking around, it feels like anything goes here, people are just being themselves, whatever that may be. Essentially Montreal makes Vancouver and Toronto look like your boring aunt Mildred, and I love that. This is all part of Montreal’s unique personality and culture.

 

The Mural Fest of Montreal

The festival is the celebration of Urban Art and takes place over 11 days in June along the Saint-Laurent Boulevard. Artists fly in from all around the world to turn the old brick buildings from white canvas to amazing pieces of Art. The festival was started in 2013 and has only gotten larger and gained recognition over the last 5 years.

It reminded me of Georgetown Malaysia‘s amazing street art. I picked up a small handbook and just started to explore the area for the murals from past years and those currently being created. Artists were in the middle of creating some enormous murals that must take the entire week to complete. Just look anywhere from in the alleyways, to the front of buildings and fixtures along the street.

Check out the Mural Map on the official site. Guided tours are available but most of the artwork can simply be enjoyed while strolling through Montreal.

 

International Beer Fest (Mondiale de la Biere)

“Beer Fest”. Two magical words persuasive enough to make any millennial drive for 12 hours for this 4 day event. 2018 was the 25th year of the Beer Festival and took place in the “Palais de Congres de Montreal” building in downtown. I can say that it was fantastic!

Of course, Beer Fest is about more than Beer. There is cider, ice-wines, wines, and street food to enjoy too! And live musicians performing to give us that extra ambiance. The nice part of this festival was that it wasn’t only in a giant concrete conference hall like the Calgary International Beer Fest. The beer tents extended into a large outdoor space so I could enjoy my tasty beverages in the beautiful 25 degree weather.

Mondiale de la Biere Official Site in English

 

Festival Pricing

• $40 CAD ($30 USD) for a tasting mug, a re-loadable card and digital 22 coupons.
• $60 CAD ($30 USD) for 2 tasting mugs, a re-loadable card and 32 digital coupons
• $80 CAD ($30 USD) for 2 tasting mugs, a re-loadable card and 52 coupons
• Or everything can be purchased separately. Coupons at $1, re-loadable card $3 and the mug $15.

It wasn’t exactly cheap since beer tents charged anywhere between 2 and 8 coupons for 2 or 4 ounces. Meaning a 4 coupon 2 ounce draft costs $4 CAD, where that same beer would be 9 to 12 ounces in a store for $6 CAD.

My friend Jon and I split a $60 card with 2 mugs and ended up re-loading out card with another 20 coupons ($20 CAD). We enjoyed walking around the crowds and picking out interesting brews to try! White IPAs, to Maple Syrup Wine, Pair Cider and Coffee Stouts. It was all very delicious!

After slamming back a few tasters, check out Montreal’s great poutine (gravy fries with cheese curds), hot dogs or spicy burgers. Nothing soaks up a few beers like greasy street food. Vegetarian and peanut free options are available too.

 

Saint-Laurent Street Fest 

This is the happening street of Montreal! Saint Laurent Boulevard is very long and filled with Pubs, Restaurants, Clubs, Shops and more. So naturally, during any festivities the local shop owners set up what might be the longest street market in Canada! I strolled down looking at Hawaiian shirts, artwork, food stalls, pottery stalls, lawn chairs, hats, and even a swing dancing club running lessons to show off and promote their classes!

Hit the street stalls by day and return at night for live music, clubs, country bars, mechanical bull rides (ouch) and karaoke! This weekend, people were out on the street well after 2 am getting late night snack food, socializing and desperately trying to get Ubers! Which is the best way to end a great night out!

Franco de Montreal

Nothing says “I traveled to Quebec” like seeing a free French music concert in the middle of the city! That being said, I skipped out on this one because I’m not really into French music.  This music festival only celebrates French musicians, 2018 being the 30th annual event. It takes place from June 8th to the 17th with events spread out around the city. About 3/4 of the events are free and outdoors, with the rest of the venues taking place inside and require tickets.

This year saw performances from artists such as Brel Symphonique, Rapkeb Allstarz, Arthur H, Fred Fortin & Les Breastfeeders. None of whom I recognize. Coeur de Pirate happened to be playing in Montreal on the same weekend, but independent from the Franco de Montreal event. If your interested in getting into French music, I strongly recommend Coeur de Pirate, the lead singer Beatrice Martin is an amazing artist whose style is like a fusion between early day Avril Lavigne and Amy Lee. She’s superb.

 

Formula 1 Grand Prix 

Canada has a long history of hosting Formula One events, dating back to the 1970s and split between Toronto, Montreal & Quebec City. In Montreal the race takes place at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, a racetrack built on several islands in the Montreal harbour. The Grand Prix has visited Montreal every year since 1988 except for 2009 during the financial crisis. The circuit holds 100,000 fans but that isn’t nearly enough and tickets go fast!

Official Grand Prix Montreal Site

Gilles Villneuve is a famous Canadian Formula One driver and my second cousin twice removed. His son Jacques Villeneuve is currently racing in the Formula One circuit and is one of the Champions that has seen his race day ended on the circuit’s famous “Bienvenue a Quebec” wall, now known as the “Wall of Champions” after 5 other Formula One Champions crashed into it over the years.

• Entrance fee: A basic standing ticket near the track costs $126 USD for General Admission for the weekend but range up to $750 for more exclusive seating. See Tickets Here
• Location: Circuit Gilles Villeneuve

Around the city are displays of high end sports cars, Formula One cars and of course a nice variety of street food! Large TVs are set up in the public parks for everyone to enjoy the race even without a ticket. Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini and Koenigsegg tents show the latest models of cars although getting a good spot to see everything in the crowd is tough! Walking around downtown Montreal I saw visiting tourists cruising around in beautiful Rolls Royces Phantoms, Bentleys, Ferraris and classic cars. It was really quite fantastic for car lovers!

The Grand Prix Weekend is one of the city’s largest celebrations of the year and the perfect weekend getaway for tourists of all kinds! Art shows, music, markets, and motor shows make touring around the historic city of Montreal a delight! So next June, maybe check out Montreal for your next vacation!

Luckily I also had the time to check out some of Montreal’s regular tourist attractions you can find anytime during the year, but that’s for next time!

Tallyon!