This February 18 to 28, 2010, Montreal gets ready to host the High Lights Festival, one of the largest winter festivals in the world. This year, the festival will be highlighting Portugal throughout the festivities.
Annually drawing more than 750,000 participants each year, the city will be lit up with hundreds of unique events geared to art lovers, gastronomy fans, families, outdoors-types, and more.
Montreal High Lights Festival
The High Lights Festival is in fact 5 festivals in one, celebrating the best of Montreal’s arts, culinary scene, and attractions. Here’s are some of the highlights:
Montreal High Lights: One of the hottest events of the entire High Lights Festival is the High Lights Event presented by Hydro Quebec on February 20. The event is a massive free outdoor multimedia spectacle, combining circus arts, pyrotechnics, digital arts, acrobatics, projections, musical performances, fire-handlers, and more.
Performing Arts: As part of the Sun Life Financial Performing Arts aspect of the festival, this year, the new Caliente! Series is dedicated to showcasing artists with Portuguese backgrounds as well as “hot and spicy” Latin rhythms. Another highlight this year will be fado singer, Misia, native from Porto, who has transformed the traditional Portuguese ‘fado’ music style for a contemporary audience.
Culinary: For those who love food, the Air France Wine and Dine Experience is a must. Local chefs will team up with 21 guest chefs from around the world, 18 wine producers from Portugal, and food experts to create unforgettable dining experiences at many restaurants throughout the city.
Celebration of Light: A family favourite, the BMO Bank of Montreal Celebration of Light will transform the streets of the Quays of the Old Port, Old Montreal, and Place des Festivals into a winter street festival. Outdoor entertainment, children’s activities, entertainment, shows, and buskers will liven Montreal’s streets during the Celebration of Light taking place on two weekends: February 18-21 and February 26-28.
Nuit blanche a Montreal: For art lovers, it doesn’t get any crazier than Nuit blanche: a night-long event taking place on February 27th from 8pm to 8am in three main districts of: Old Montreal & the Quays of the Old Port; the Quartier des spectacles and the downtown core; the Plateau-Mont-Royal and Mile-End; and the Pole Maisonneuve. Live performances, music, art displays, design, and interactive exhibitions.
For more information on the festival or to order tickets, go to: montrealenlumiere.com.