Montreal Jazz Festival 2010: Don’t Miss It!

If you’re a music lover, what could be better than a trip to the Montreal Jazz Festival – and if you combine it with a vacation in the city, so much the better. The Montreal Jazz Festival is a world-class music event that doesn’t cost a fortune to attend. You can get to see hundreds of concerts in downtown Montreal, and many of these shows are free. What’s more, the festival is very family-friendly, with lots of special activities for the whole family or just for kids.

The Guinness Book of Records named the Montreal Jazz festival the largest jazz festival in the world in 2004. Over two and a half million guests attend each year. Each year, the festival offers its guests 650 concerts over 13 days. This is where to come to see the famous jazz musicians you love. Past festival performers have included jazz legends Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, and many more. In 2010, the festival will run from June 25 to July 6.

The Jazz Festival is held in the beautiful and unique Canadian city of Montreal. While you’re not attending the festival, you can explore the many beautiful sites the city has to offer. Montreal is an island city on the St. Lawrence River. It is bilingual, but is the largest French-speaking city in North America. It is also the cultural center of the province of Québec.

One of the city’s most famous sites is the Notre Dame Basilica. Built in 1656, this is Montreal’s oldest Catholic church and one of the largest churches in North America. It’s known for its intricately designed interior that chronicles the history of the city. In the evening, the entire family can be entertained by a sound and light show that presents the history of Montreal and the Notre Dame Basilica.

Another interesting site is the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. This is one of Canada’s most famous museums and offers a collection of international and Canadian exhibits. The museum building is of interest too. The original museum from 1912 is connected with the 1991 annex with underground galleries.

Montreal is also famous for its Botanical Gardens. The gardens feature over 20,000 different plant species. They have the largest Chinese Garden outside Asia and a Japanese Garden complete with a tearoom and a bonsai collection.

When traveling with children, they will be entertained by many fun activities outdoors. You can explore Old Montreal, which was founded in 1642. At Jacques-Cartier, the area’s central square, you might find jugglers, mimes, face painters, and other street performers. You can also take the kids to visit the Montreal Science Centre which features several interactive exhibits.

If you love music, the Montreal Jazz Festival is an event you can’t miss. Not only will you experience great music, you can also discover the beautiful and exciting city of Montreal.