From 1er As of August 11, nearly 240 artists, including Marjo, Barbada, Rita Baga and Elisapie, will take part in the festivities of the largest festival of LGBTQ+ communities in the French-speaking world. The programming of the 18e edition of Fierté Montréal is more “ambitious, dynamic and diverse” than ever, assures Chris Ngabonziza, the festival’s programming director.
The Pride parade will take place on Sunday, August 11, with 188 contingents. The route, which will begin on René-Lévesque Boulevard, will end on Atataken Street, in the heart of the Village, in order to “contribute to the vitality of the Village,” explains Simon Gamache, Executive Director of Fierté Montréal.
This year, the festivities are expanding to promote community visibility and will take place in three hubs: Urban, Olympic, Village. The various activities presented “promise to display the pride of the diversity that unites us [et de] celebrating the resilience and creativity of LGBTQ+ communities.”
At the Urban Pole, on the Loto Québec stage at the Esplanade Tranquille, several outdoor activities will mainly highlight marginalized communities. For the first time, the festival will present two shows at Place des Arts.
Big Drag Night
For 3 years, the Olympic Center has been offering a series of great free shows in the open air. From August 8 to 11, artists such as Marjo, Mitsou, Elisapie, Sarahmée will sing on the TD stage.
“Throughout my life, the entire community has been very supportive of me and even rekindled my artistic flame a few months ago, when many drag queens sent me videos of performances of my songs,” Mitsou confided during the press conference.
On Friday, August 9, the 100% Drag Evening will be held, one of the biggest “drag parties and shows in the world,” announces Mr. Ngabonziza.
“We have a reservation for you doggie evening. […] “It’s color, it’s glitter and surprises,” says drag queen Barbada before revealing rose petals from her hat. During the evening, the artist will share part of the stage with Rita Baga.
The Village hub will offer a “unique roaming program that positions the Village at the heart of the festival between the quiet esplanade and the Olympic Pole” that showcases artists from the gay district, explains Gabrielle Rondy, the general manager of the Village Commercial Development Corporation. The program includes circus, dance, burlesque, drag performances, opera, community group booths and comedy. In particular, the comedy evening Des gags et des paillettes, hosted by Mona de Grenoble, is back this year on August 2.
More details will follow.