Quebec Spring Festivals
Events for Your Spring Travels
On your next spring visit into Quebec, be sure to explore local and regional festivals fit for any member of the family. From Montréal to Quebec City, your visit during spring will certainly be met with good times, a fair amount of intrigue, and plenty of memorable moments.
Festival Vue sur la Relève
Head for Montreal and experience Festival Vue sur la Relève. Held for two weeks at the beginning of April at the Cabaret du Mile-End, the Festival Vue sur la Relève is an annual festival celebrating the work of up and coming, young artists from Quebec.
Check out musical performances from bands and solo artists, dance, and theatre. During the two weeks of Festival Vue sur la Relève, drive in from nearby cities like Laval or Dorval if you're not staying directly in Montreal and experience a bit of art from the future greats.
Carrefour International de Théâtre
In Quebec City, late spring brings the Carrefour International de Théâtre, an annual festival seeking to showcase some of the very best national and international theatre. Since 1992, the Carrefour International de Théâtre has featured theatre troupes from 23 different countries like Rwanda, Argentina, and Bolivia, just to name a few. Be sure to make the drive in from Riviere-Du-Loup and enjoy a stunning array of live theatre performance.
Symposium des Arts de Drummondville
In late March, head for Drummondville and check out the annual Symposium des Arts de Drummondville. Visit the Promenades Drummondville and experience the collective works of more than 60 artists on display. Walk around and take in as much art as you can – some of which is also for sale, so bring the check book!
Canadian Tulip Festival
Out west in Gatineau, make a visit during May for the annual Canadian Tulip Festival. For nearly two weeks in early May, you'll be ensconced with tulips and tulip related revelry.
From the Tulip-polo-za (a bicycle version of polo), to the Vintage Wings Airborne Parade (air show), and the Lake of Fire, the always popular festival finale and fireworks display, you won't be disappointed. While it's a bit of a drive west, make the trip in from Saint-Jerome and enjoy the scenery on your way in for the annual Canadian Tulip Festival.
Spring & Sugar in Quebec
Spring Festivals, Syrup Farms & More
What’s a sugar shack? During early spring, sap begins to thaw and is extracted from maple trees – then boiled down to maple syrup in a quaint, usually snow-dusted cabin. Quebec features many sap houses for the public, many offering sleigh rides, guided tours through maple trees, traditional folk music, and of course, all the syrup-covered food you can handle.
Many sugar shacks are found near the Quebec City metropolitan area and along the St. Lawrence River. Enjoy an all-you-can-eat maple meal at Cabane à sucre Leclerc in Neuville, or check out live Québécois folk music at Érablière du Lac-Beauport in Lac-Beauport. Érablière le Chemin du Roy offers wooded sleigh rides in Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, while scenic hiking trails are set in Pont-Rouge at Érablière Mart-L, along with snow-cooled taffy is found at Le Relais des Pins in Sainte-Famille.
More folk music, taffy, and traditional meals are found at Sucrerie Blouin and Cabane à sucre l'En-Tailleur – both in Saint-Jean-de-l'Île-d'Orléans. And in Quebec City itself, the annual Quebec Winter Carnival features an onsite Maple Sugar Shack.
Dozens of sugar shacks are found throughout the Montérégie region and Laurentides area. Many more surround Montreal, and offer some unique activities. Check out the Sugar Shack Steam Train at Cabane à Sucre Bouvrette, the spa treatments at Cabane à Sucre Handfield, indoor hockey at Cabane à Sucre des Sportifs, and the Maple Museum at Cabane à Sucre Paquette. Sap house, sugar shack, sugar shanty, sugar cabin, whatever you call it – be sure to catch this annual tradition, each spring in Quebec.