Place des Festivals in downtown Montreal is going to come alive with a week-long First People’s festival beginning July 29th.  Being the silver anniversary year, stellar performances including concerts, gallery events and parades has been lined up for the visitors. The highlight of the event is the performance of Florent Vollant and Richard Desjardins, who bring with them the cherished memories of their performance in the festival launching year (1991).

On the 1st of Aug, 700 costumed dancers take part in the Nuestroamericana Friendship parade. Moving on the St. Catherine Street the parade culminates in a multicultural show to unite the First Nations of Canada and the peoples of the world.

Susan Gray’s “Circus without borders” is the opening film at the festival. The story is about the introduction of circus arts through acrobats in the communities located in West Africa. There is a display of films coming from Latin American countries like Mexico and Chile, and also from Greenland. Some of these films have already made their mark through screenings at International film festivals in Venice, Berlin etc. Besides this several world premieres for films will take place during the festival.

The Transcestral concert, a masterpiece of creation by Moe Clark and Katia Makdissi-Warren and featuring 22 performers is likely to take the viewers by storm. Quebecor has provided support for organizing this metamorphic show which is expected to draw huge crowds at Place des Festivals on Sunday the 2nd of Aug. Besides it, DJ Mad Eskimo and singer Sylvia Cloutier will pave the way for musical extravaganza for the visitors on the 30th of July.

There are gastronomical delights for the visitors in the form of street food for four days beginning 30th July.  The festival encompasses a conference on architecture and “masterclasses” which is a conversation with Canadian Aboriginal film and television professionals.  The festival has street theatre, exhibits, book stand and traditional dances to attract visitors in hordes. In short there is something in the Montreal First People’s festival which will make the visit worthwhile for every visitor.