Share on Facebook
Share on X
Share by Email
Share on Google Classroom
The International des Feux Loto-Québec is an annual fireworks competition in Montreal. It is usually held every summer in Montreal, since 1985. Many claim it to be the largest fireworks festival in the world. The festival usually draws about three million spectators annually. It involves the detonation of some 6,000 individual fireworks. A typical competition involves either eight or nine pyrotechnics companies representing their respective countries. Shows usually occur on Wednesdays and Saturdays, starting at 10:00 pm during the duration of the competition, irrespective of weather conditions.
History
The festival debuted in 1985 and lasted three weeks. Approximately 21,000 spectators paid $5 to attend the festival events. Police estimated that upward of 300,000 people watched from various other locations around Montreal each night of the festival.
The 1985 edition was the very first such competition ever held in North America. It was described as the must-see event of the summer. The festival’s final performance reportedly drew nearly 1 million people.
Originally, competitors could enter one of two different categories. They could present a classical demonstration of just fireworks alone, or they could display a presentation of fireworks set to music. Since 1987, the classical category has been suspended. Today, performances are entirely set to music and have an overarching theme.
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the festival’s cancellation. The following year, a scaled-down edition was held. The full competition resumed in summer 2022.
Sponsorships
Today, the competition is named after its current primary sponsor, Loto-Québec ― the Quebec government crown corporation responsible for lotteries and legalized gambling.
Location
The competition is held throughout the summer months over Dolphin Lake at La Ronde, Montreal’s main amusement park on St. Helen's Island (see Parc Jean-Drapeau). The optimal viewing experience is from the grandstands set up in the park.
Each show involves pyrotechnics set to music broadcasted live at the event or over the radio. The fireworks can be seen from many places around Montreal. The Jacques Cartier Bridge is typically closed to traffic so that pedestrians can watch the show for free. (See also Jacques Cartier.) Montrealers also typically gather atop Mount Royal. Some prefer the Olympic Stadium’s esplanade and the Clocktower Pier in the city’s Old Port (see Old Montreal).
Awards
The competition issues three Jupiter awards (gold, silver and bronze) for the best displays. Participants are evaluated based on various criteria. These include the colour richness, musical selection, synchronization, technical aspects and the overarching theme.
