L’International des Feux Loto-Québec, also known as the Montreal International Fireworks Festival, is considered to be amongst the most prestigious and largest fireworks festivals in the world. It has been held yearly at the La Ronde Amusement Park on Ile Notre Dame over the Dolphins lake, since 1985, and is named after its major sponsor, Loto-Québec.
The competition takes the form of a series of weekly fireworks shows put on by the countries that are competing and usually begin in late June and end in late July. The fireworks are synchronized to music which makes for an artistic experience.
Spectators can purchase tickets to have reserved seats at the grandstand at La Ronde Amusement park. However, the majority of spectators, often numbering in the tens to hundreds of thousands of watch the fireworks for free from nearby locations all over the southern end of the island of Montreal including bridges, parks, tall buildings and wherever else they can find a nice view.
This year, the 37th edition, there will be fireworks throughout the summer from June 27 to August 1, 2024.
They will be lit off from La Ronde amusement park at Parc Jean Drapeau and begin at 10 p.m. on the following days:
- Thursday, June 27, Tribute to Boy and Girl Bands
- Thursday, July 4, Japan – The Greatest HANABI Show with Film Music(opens in a new tab)
- Sunday, July 7, Italy – Medley Italian Song(opens in a new tab)
- Thursday, July 11, Austria – Made in Heaven(opens in a new tab)
- Sunday, July 14, Mexico – Feast of Emotions(opens in a new tab)
- Saturday, July 20, Canada – Epic Journey(opens in a new tab)
- Saturday, July 27, France – Crepusculaires(opens in a new tab)
- Thursday, Aug. 1, Tribute to Coldplay
On the evenings the Montreal Fireworks Festival is held, the Jacques-Carter Bridge is closed to all traffic. This enables people to walk to the site to enjoy the show and the outstanding views of Montréal and its surrounding areas. Road users are invited to use the Champlain or Victoria Bridges, as well as the Louis Hippolyte Lafontaine Bridge-Tunnel, during this period.