Did you know that 2017 is Montreal’s 375th birthday? If you ever wanted to visit Montreal now is the time! Plus the city’s calendar is jam packed with food events!
Today is my birthday !!!!!! And Montreal is turning 375 to this year. Since it is my birthday I want to give you all a gift: an invitation to come visit Montreal this summer…maybe we can break bread together too? Montreal’s 375th activity calendar is jammed packed for the entire year and summer also means it is time for so many annual food events which will serve up an extra slice of oomph to celebrate. Here are some of my favorite festivals…
International Jazz Festival
I am a very proud Montrealer for sure. I love my city. It is a world know metropolis but still small enough to feel cozy. Montreal has the best European feel of any other city in North America and we have the highest amount of restaurant per capita in Canada (2nd after NYC for North America).
Montreal is also celebrating the 50th anniversary of Expo 67, considered to be the most successful World’s Fair of the 20th century. There will be so many events and expositions highlighting both Montreal’s birthday and Expo 67. Fun fact from the site: today on May 2 1920, Montreal changed to Daylight Savings Time for the first time ever.
So now is the time to come and visit! And I highly recommend you drop me a line so we can eat our way through…
Montreal’s Summer Food Festivals
First Fridays (May to October)
Montreal’s finest Food truck take over the Esplanade Sun Life at the Montreal Olympic Park, every first Friday of the month. 50 of the best food trucks from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.
@ CuisineDeRueMontréal
Lobster Clam Jam (May 20 to 21, 2017)
This highly acclaimed outdoor food festival is not just for seafood lovers. It is an affordable, family-oriented culinary showcase offering guests the opportunity to experience the creations of a variety of renowned local chefs and restaurants.
Le Mondial de la bière – Montreal Beer Fest (June 14 to 18, 2017)
The Festival Mondial de le bière has become the most important international beer festival in America. Its reputation extends worldwide. Samples hundreds of beers, plus attend demonstration and workshops and demonstrations.
Taste of the Caribbean Festival (June 21 to 25, 2017)
From Jamaica’s famous jerk chicken to the spiced Rums of Barbados and Grenada, we invite you to come and explore the islands through your taste buds! A cornucopia of Caribbean culture will come alive on Île Bonsecours.
Montreal Oysterfest (August)
Created in 2009, Montreal Oysterfest continues the great worldwide tradition of celebrating food, drink, the environment and, of course…the humble Oyster
Omnivore Food Festival (August)
The Omnivore World Tour is all about discussing and demonstrating trends and innovative techniques by world-renowned chefs.
YUL EAT (September 2 to 4, 2017)
The YUL EAT Festival’s goal is to bring together fans of the culinary arts and local cuisine. The festival’s name reinforces the desire to highlight Montreal as a gastronomical force. Te abbreviated E.A.T.: E stands for Experience, A stands for Appetite, T stands of Terroir
Just the tip of the iceberg
This is a short list of events. There are many more smaller food events to attend as well like Croissant Festival, Italian week, Haïti en Folie, or Matsuri Japon. And that is on top of the regular Montreal festivals like the Jazz Fest and other music festivals, Fantasia and many more film festivals, Grans Prix, Fireworks Festival…the list goes on and on.
Note: This is NOT a sponsored post. It is really something I want to share and I hope many will come visit for Montreal‘s 375th!
That’s every kind of foodie festival in one place. I’d love to go there some day soon.
Come come come 🙂
That is a LOT of things to eat! It will be great!
Indeed, I will have to walk a lot from one place to the next in between each bite ha ha.
I’ve visited Montreal when I studied in NH and I loved it although it was winter and the city was loaded with snow! Enjoy the festivities!
Oh you were a brave soul Katarina 🙂 so glad you loved it.
Wow, all those delicious festival in just one place. How lucky are you Eve.?!. I really wish I can come .
Let me know if you do ever come Amira 🙂
I did not realize that Montreal is that old. I think I would hang out at the Taste of the Caribbean festival or the Omnivore festival. I would see if they coincided with one of the music festivals.
Oh yes, Montreal is one of the oldest cities in NA 🙂 I think following the Taste of the Caribbean festival would be the Jazz fest lol.
Firstly, happy birthday! Secondly, I had no idea it was a special year for Montreal. Wish I’d known sooner. Would loved to have visited at some point in the year but sadly our year is all planned now
Thank you so muich Claire for the bday wishes 🙂 Maybe next year, all those festivals are pretty much annual.
Eating my way through a city is always a must! I’ve been wanting to go to Montreal for awhile. Great post, thanks for sharing 🙂
Hope you make it soon…and let me know when you do!
Happy Birthday, Evelyne! Sounds like there will be lots of good celebrating in Montreal this summer. It’s a beautiful old city!
Thank you Pam for the birthday wishes 🙂 And yes I guess I have to eat my way through the summer 😉 Have you been to Montreal?
Hey, I’ll be in Montreal in September this year! But it looks like most of the best food festivals and events will be finished before then. Still, I’ll do what I can to find great food while I’m there. Can’t wait to start exploring and tasting!
Hey Tami, there will be plenty of other festivals even if not food related…and all the restaurants will still be here. Keep in touch when you come 🙂
Happy Birthday! And didn’t know Montreal was turning 375. That’s a terrific city — I’ve been there maybe half a dozen times. Including in February once — jeez does it get cold! Although it’s been a couple of decades, at least, since the last time I visited — way too long. Good food, too. I still remember my first smoked meat sandwich! 🙂 Fun read — thanks.
Thank you John and yes a big year for the city! Really I had no idea you have been here so many times! Let me know next time you come back (you better lol)
Belated happy birthday, my friend!!! I’ve never been to Montreal, but hope to visit one day!!
Thank you Liz! if you do let me know!
Omnivore Food Festival and that YUL EAT looks like a good event to be in. 375 years is impressive!
It’s gonna be a great summer, with lots of good food. Good picks!
How amazing to share your birthday with the city you live in.
Pretty neat right 🙂 ?
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! HAPPY BIRTHHHHDAAYYYYYYYYYY DEAR EVELYNE – HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
My gift to you is the fact that you cannot hear me singing right now cause that would wreck your ears!
LMAO thank you so much for the song…and not torturing my ears.
Happy Birthday Eve!!! I hope you’re having a great day 😀 And I enjoyed Montreal so much, one day I hope to be back! 😀
Thank you Lorraine, I did thanks! If you do come back let me know!
What a fun event Evelyne, we were in Montreal last year and had a great time!
Enjoy your week 🙂
Loads of events, they go on all summer 🙂 Ah wish I had know and we could have met.
I love Montreal! Visited first on a press trip in 2015 and then came back on holiday with my husband a year later. We saw a lot of preparations ahead of the birthday celebrations, not least a LOT of road works!! I went to YUL Eat the first time I was there, and I know Pete would love to come again for the beer festival!
Road work…what are you talking about lol 😉 Freaking year round but should be less this year for sure. Do let me know next you come please!
It looks like it will be a fun and delicious festival!
Lots and lots of festival, come on over and eat with me 😉