Quebec City prepares for the Grand Spectacle de la Fête Nationale
Cassandra Kerwin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter
cassandra@qctonline.com
With summer just around the corner, Quebecers are preparing to celebrate Fête Nationale, which marks the summer solstice and honours the patron saint of French Canadians – Jean Baptiste, or John the Baptist.
On June 23, the annual Grand Spectacle on the Plains of Abraham will feature Garou, Claude Dubois, Ariane Moffatt, Sarahmée, Alaclair Ensemble and Bleu Jeans Bleu, among others, to celebrate Quebec culture and honour legendary singer-songwriter Gilles Vigneault. The show will be broadcast on TV and radio for all to enjoy.
“The Grand Spectacle de la Fête Nationale in the capital is part of a 25-year tradition for Télé-Québec,” said Télé-Québec CEO Marie Collin. “This year, the excitement is at its peak as we also take the production reins with various partners. True to our mission of promoting Quebec culture, we are delighted to bring together and excite the entire province of Quebec by sharing this immense moment of pride … We are celebrating the 50th anniversary of Quebec’s unofficial anthem, ‘Gens du Pays,’ a tribute to Gilles Vigneault.”
“Our national holiday celebrations on the Plains showcase the artistic talent of Quebecers throughout the province,” said Mayor Bruno Marchand. “This annual musical event in the heart of the capital kicks off the festive season in Quebec City, a vibrant season in every corner of the city.”
This year, the traditional patriotic speeches will be delivered by television and radio personalities Sébastien Diaz and Bianca Gervais. “The 2025 celebration falls at a pivotal moment. Let’s face it, our world is a bit turned upside down,” said Gervais, co-spokeperson of the 2025 celebrations. “It’s a good reason to celebrate our expertise, our talents, to let our personalities shine, to pull together, to buy local and to rekindle our pride in our identity.”
Street performers, dancers and face painters will entertain passersby on Avenue Cartier and Grande Allée. The party continues on the Plains of Abraham when the gates open at 6 p.m. The Grand Spectacle begins at 9:30 p.m, with warm- up acts beginning at 7:30.
For the occasion, the Réseau de Transport de la Capitale (RTC) will increase its regular service on June 23 from 6:30 p.m. to 12:45 a.m. on June 24. In addition, free park-and-ride lots will be available. For more information, visit rtcquebec.qc.ca.
Télé-Québec will broadcast the show live on TV, online at telequebec.tv and on the Télé-Québec mobile app. Local radio stations Rouge FM and iHeartRadio will also broadcast it live. There will be a rebroadcast on June 24 at 6 p.m. and on June 27 at 10:30 p.m. On June 25, TV5Monde will broadcast the show on its digital platforms throughout the French-speaking world. Festivities continue on June 24 with the official flag-raising ceremony at the Grand Marché.