A week before Canada celebrates its national birthday on July 1, Québec gets a head start with Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day (Fête Nationale). Rooted in ancient pagan summer solstice traditions celebrating the return of light and harvest, the June 24 holiday was later adapted by the Catholic Church and eventually transformed into a massive provincial celebration of Québec’s distinct culture, history, and French-Canadian identity. For several major mountain resorts, the holiday also doubles as the official, high-energy launch of their summer event calendars.
- Related: 9 Facts About the Summer Solstice
June 24 launches the period when the province’s premiere ski hills transform into lively daytime festivals, open-air concerts, and outdoor playgrounds. Here is a closer look at the distinctly Quebecois-style festivities taking place across the province’s top mountain regions to mark the occasion.
The Laurentians
Tremblant
Mont Tremblant Resort’s pedestrian village pivots into its famous Lendemain de veille au Village at Plage du lac Mercier. Operating from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., it is the ultimate alpine recovery day, featuring live lakeside folk acoustic sets, street performers, and acrobatic circus acts.
Sommet Saint-Sauveur
Saint-Sauveur opens its massive hillside Water Park for the provincial holiday. The resort grounds switch to a mountain pool-party atmosphere with family volleyball tournaments, water slide races, and live outdoor DJ sets keeping the energy up all afternoon.
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The Eastern Townships
Bromont Montagne d’Experiences
Bromont officially kicks off full-scale summer mode, hosting open-air terrace barbecues and regional microbrewery pop-ups. The base of the mountain will feature live acoustic chansonniers performing traditional Québécois folk rock as the mountain bike park and water park lines fully open for the season.
Mont Sutton
Famous for its legendary, rugged glades, Sutton officially opened its major summer infrastructure on June 24. Visitors can access the mountain bike trail systems, scenic lift rides, and Canada’s steepest giant zipline. While the full chairlifts run all day for holiday riders, the resort will extend the celebration into the weekend, hosting its music-filled, high-adrenaline official Summer Launch Party this coming Saturday, June 27.
Québec City & Charlevoix Regions
Mont Sainte-Anne
Mont Sainte-Anne launches its massive summer hiking and downhill mountain biking season on St. Jean Baptiste Day. The resort celebrates the holiday with a giant daytime “Fête Nationale Picnic” at the base of the gondola, featuring local food trucks, giant lawn games, and Québécois music blasting across the patio.
Le Massif de Charlevoix
Le Massif de Charlevoix marked June 24 by launching its panoramic gondola rides and canyoning programs. The base lodge patio becomes a scenic festival zone with local craft brewers and traditional Québécois folk artists performing daytime sets against the backdrop of the St. Lawrence River.
Bonne Fête Nationale!