JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1019 Report
Festi Ouest, St. Lazare’s western-themed weekend of fun, is set to return this August following a highly successful first year.
Running from Aug. 23 to 25, this year’s event features an entire extra day of family-friendly festivities. Attractions will include carriage rides, line dancing, mini golf, a small-scale animal farm, mechanical bull rides and plenty of options for food and drink.
Like last year, the events will also feature musical performances by some notable names from Quebec’s music scene. Montreal-based singer and pianist Grégory Charles will be headlining the event. Country music singer Marven James, who is also resident of St. Lazare, will also be performing. Their performances will take place on Saturday, Aug. 24.
Last year’s event, which saw a turnout of around 5,000 guests, was by all measures a success, said Christelle Paré, St. Lazare’s director of communications and community relations.
She added that the success of the new event “wasn’t just a feeling.” The town distributed a survey to several participants a few weeks after the event to quantify the reaction.
Survey respondents said they enjoyed the family-friendly environment, as well as the rides, accessibility and the overall atmosphere. Paré added that respondents gave the festival a high approval rating.
Prior to last year’s event, some St. Lazare residents had voiced their disappointment with the fact that celebrations for both St. Jean Baptiste Day and Canada Day had been scrapped, part of the funds being redirected to this new event.
However, Paré emphasized that the festival worked to bring together the community for a weekend of fun, without having to compete with neighbouring municipalities for attendance.
“The Festi Ouest was really an event where we wanted to have everybody together, and we’re really happy with the results,” she said, noting that guests had arrived from across the Montérégie region and Montreal.
It remains to be seen whether Festi Ouest will become a regular annual function unique to St. Lazare. However, with the 150th anniversary of St. Lazare approaching, Paré said plans for a 2025 edition of the festival are already in the works.