Things to Do on St. Jean Baptiste Day
Many Festivities to Enjoy on Quebec's National Day
Jun 18, 2009
French-Canadians know it as “La Fête Nationale,” which translates to “The National Holiday.” And for those who didn’t know, that’s exactly what St. Jean Baptiste Day is in Quebec. On June 24 of every year, one week before Canada Day, Quebec holds a province-wide party to celebrate its culture.
Events are held in regions and communities across the province, with the big-stage celebrations taking place in the provincial capital, Quebec City, and its largest city, Montreal.
St. Jean Baptiste Day Activities in Quebec City
While June 24th is the official statutory holiday, festivities begin the night before. This year, Guillaume Lemay-Thivierge will get the party started as the host of a night of music on the Plains of Abraham on June 23.
The musical acts scheduled to perform include rock duo Alfa Rococo, who will open the night with tunes from their award-winning album, Lever l’ancre. When their solo set is done, they’ll be joined by the likes of Richard Séguin, Annie Villeneuve, Louise Forestier, Yann Perreau and others to honor in song the 175th anniversary of La Fête Nationale. Hip-hop fans will want to stick around to the very end, as Loco Locass and Omnikrom will hit the stage at 11:30 PM.
Over at Place D’Youville, Jeanphilip and Call Me Poupée, two of the top up-and-coming bands on the Quebec music scene, will delight fans with their talents.
On the holiday day itself, there will be plenty more than just music to keep everyone entertained. The Museum park at the Plains of Abraham has family fun on tap between 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., with inflatable games, clowns, face-painting, children’s theater, arts and crafts just some of the activities available. Popular children’s entertainer Océane will also be on hand.
Come evening time, celebrations move to Place Royale. It’s the second straight year that the time-old tradition of “Le Bal à la brunante” (the Ball at Dusk) will be held in the heart of the historical quarter of the Petit Champlain. Activities planned for the night include cake tasting, singing games, as well as humorous tales and folklore with Gérald Côté, the Verret family and Denis Maheux.
St. Jean Baptiste Day Activities in Montreal
Not in or near Quebec City? Montreal features a host of activities across the region both on June 23rd and 24th. In the heart of the city itself, festivities will get underway at 1 p.m. on June 24 with the Défilé des Géants de la Fête nationale (Parade of Giants). The parade features 18 giants characters that will make their way down Sherbrooke Street, beginning at Fullum until reaching their destination at Maisonneuve Park.
Music will take over at the end of the parade. Roots/folk group La Bottine Souriante are first on stage at 5 p.m., leading into a set by popular 90s rock group Zébulon. The main event of the night, hosted by Guy A. Lepage, is scheduled for 9 p.m. and will include Éric Lapointe, Marie-Mai, and Ariane Moffatt, among several others.
For more information on festivities across Quebec, visit the official site (in French only).
History of St. Jean Baptiste Day
Originally a popular event during France’s old regime, it was the French colonists who brought it over to Canada. La Minerve newspaper co-founder Ludger Duvernay would instil a patriotic feel to the celebrations; on June 24, 1834, Duvernay invited 60 people to meet and discuss the future of Quebec and its people. It was at this meeting where the idea of “St. Jean Baptiste” as the national holiday would become a reality and, as well, the St. Jean Baptiste Society would be founded.
While the day was feted annually from thereon in, it wasn’t until 1925 that the Quebec legislature would officially declare it as a statutory holiday in the province.
