Montréal History Festival brings past to life
This article was updated on May 10, 2023.
The third edition of the Montréal History Festival (Festival d’histoire de Montréal) presents more than 30 thematic activities for all ages, presented by 14 Montréal history museums.
Past is present
Inspired by the Rendez-vous de l’histoire in Blois, France, the Montréal History Festival – a.k.a. the Festival d’histoire de Montréal – also offers a rendezvous with history that will stimulate imaginations so festivalgoers can dive into the fascinating worlds of the past.
Organized by the Regroupement des Musées d'histoire de Montréal, the idea for the Montréal History Festival was first hatched in 2014. The plan was to lay the foundation for an annual history festival that would inspire Montrealers and visitors of all ages and backgrounds to learn history in a fresh new way.
The third edition of the Montréal History Festival runs from May 12 to 14, 2023.
Off the beaten path
The festival presents more than 30 thematic events and activities for all ages, many of them free.
Here are some choice programming highlights:
There are daily walking tours of Old Montréal, Little Ukraine, the Lachine Canal, Mount Royal Cemetary, among other sites and neighbourhoods.
The Traditional Ghost Walk (May 13) will take you through the cobblestone streets of Old Montréal.
Definitely not Edison: Discover the World’s First Music Industry in Montréal at the Musée des ondes Emile Berliner (May 12 to 14). See and hear 100-year-old recordings played on different historic technologies and explore what it took to revolutionize music through recording. No reservations required. Hourly presentations are free with the cost of museum entry.
The Indigenous Peoples: Facts and Fiction conference (May 13) by anthropologist Pierre Lepage will be held at the Chateau Ramezay. The conference will be in French.
Sir-George-Etienne-Cartier National Historic Site presents Teatime at the Cartier’s (May 13 at 1 pm and 3 pm). Discover 19th century tea etiquette during your visit of the elegant Victorian house of George-Etienne Cartier. This activity is presented in French only.
Step into the Hospitallers’ Crypt where Montréal co-founder Jeanne Mance and over 600 nuns of the community are laid to rest (May 13 and 14). For the first time, the Hospitallers’ crypt, located in the Cité-des-Hospitalières complex, will open to the public on certain dates between May 7 to June 18 as part of the activities for the 350th anniversary of Jeanne Mance’s death (1606 – 1673). This activity is presented in collaboration with the Hospitalières de Saint-Joseph community in Montréal.
Archéo-Québec introduces the family-friendly version of its popular activity The Montreal Under Your Feet – An Archeological Adventure (May 13) at the Lachine Museum.
The daily Salon de l’Histoire at the Grande Place in Complexe Desjardins regroups some 30 exhibitors so the public can meet authors, publishers and historical and genealogical societies from across Greater Montréal.
The Montréal History Festival runs from May 12 to 14, 2023.
Richard Burnett
Richard “Bugs” Burnett is a Canadian freelance writer, editor, journalist, blogger and columnist for alt-weeklies, mainstream and LGBTQ+ publications. Bugs also knows Montréal like a drag queen knows a cosmetics counter.