Montreal’s Italian week – Montreal’s Italian week is 25 years old this year. The Montreal Times is proud to be an official sponsor again this year. The Italian festival will be from August 3rd to 12th. Montreal’s Italian Week aims to promote and revitalize Italian culture through the expressive and artistic forms that characterize it. The festival (formerly known as Settimana Italiana) was created in 1994 and took place in the Montreal-Nord borough. After celebrating the festival in different boroughs, the Congress finally organized it in Little Italy.
The Congress aims to conserve and support the rich cultural heritage of the Italian community through Montreal’s Italian Week Festival. An event of international stature, the festival takes place annually in different neighbourhoods of Montreal, especially in Little Italy. Offering a rich and diversified program according to specific region every year, the festival is one of the essential elements of Montreal’s summer landscape.
Today, the Italian community is one of the largest ethnocultural groups in Quebec and contributes significantly to its social and economic development. According to the 2016 census, Quebec now has nearly 326 700 people of Italian origin, including more than 147 015 in Montreal.
Montreal’s Italian week spreads out of Little Italy Since celebrating Italian culture shouldn’t be limited to Little Italy, activities are organized everywhere around the city, even in Laval!
NDG (August 4th)
Laval (August 5th)
Lasalle (August 7th)
Saint-Leonard (August 9th)
Little Italy Come and enjoy all the charm Little Italy has to offer! Merchants will invade the streets ; terraces will be open and the atmosphere will be festive on Saint-Laurent boulevard between the streets Jean-Talon and Beaubien.
Fashion show «â€‰Moda sotto le stelle »
Festival-goers will be charmed by a magical evening under the stars, as Italian-Canadian designers will present a fashion show that combines style and elegance on August 10th. With a festive ambiance and a DJ, designers will unveil their collections to make you discover italian fashion.
Desserts contests (Tiramisù and Granita)
Italian gastronomy is one of Montrealers’ favourite legacies. What’s better than a Granita al Limone and a Tiramisù? Festival-goers will have the pleasure of tasting pastries as well as the judges who will award the best dessert award in each category on August 10th and 12th.
Opera «â€‰La Bohème » from Giacomo Puccini
The first festival to offer an outdoor opera for free, Montreal Italian Week continues to honor this tradition. Giacomo Puccini’s opera La Bohème will be performed by several artists, some from Italy, and will be the last show presented as part of the festival on August 12th in the evening
Italian Film Festival
Screenings of classic Italian films will be offered throughout the festival from August 3rd to 10th. The films will be screened at various locations throughout the city, including the Leonardo da Vinci Center, the Little Italy Cultural Center – Casa d’Italia and the McCord Museum.
Outdoor Concerts
Several styles of music will allow festival-goers to enjoy outdoor concerts from August 10th to 12th in Little Italy, enough to put a party atmosphere ! Marco Calliari, accompanied by Jerome Charlebois, as well as Giorgia Fumanti and the Borrkia Big Band are some of the must-sees !
Fiat 500 Car Exposition
Because it is necessary to dream a little, the festival presents an exhibition of Fiat 500, Italian vintage cars, from August 10th to 12th. Colourful and timeless, they will make you dream about your next trip to Italy.
The Montreal Times is Proud to be a sponsor of Montreal’s Italian week once again!