FOR THE ARTS LOVER
OÙ TU VAS QUAND TU DORS EN MARCHANT…? (May 25 to June 10)
MUSÉE NATIONAL DES BEAUXARTS DU QUÉBEC
The site of the sprawling museum is itself stunning: it’s on the Plains of Abraham, a.k.a. Battlefields Park, an urban oasis where British troops defeated French soldiers in 1759.
With more than 38,000 works of art going back to the 1600s, the museum has four pavilions.
In addition to essentials by Quebec artists such as Alain Paiement, Antoine Plamondon, and Diane Landry, the museum houses an impressive collection of Inuit art and also hosts important international exhibitions. Coming soon: the North American premiere of photographer Philippe Halsman’s retrospective, Astonish Me! (June 15 to September 4), featuring photos of Alfred Hitchcock, Marilyn Monroe, Albert Einstein, and more. This free, interactive, site-specific theatre piece (Where are you going when you sleep while walking…?) is part of the Carrefour International de Théâtre festival. It will take people on a journey around Parliament Hill for nighttime performances, revealing more about the city than any walking tour.
MUSÉE DE LA CIVILISATION
Permanent exhibits at this magnificent institution examine how Quebec’s identity was forged over centuries. Shows include Nanotech: The Invisible Revolution (until October 15), Like Cats and Dogs (until September 4 and offering scientific, sociological, and cultural findings about these pets), and the upcoming Mad About Brains (May 17 to the spring of 2018).
FOR THE MUSIC FAN
FESTIVAL D’ÉTÉ DE QUÉBEC (July 6 to 16) The city’s annual music fest rivals the likes of Coachella and South by Southwest. Now in its 50th year, the outdoor extravaganza that takes place at various venues, including the Plains of Abraham, will host Kendrick Lamar, the Strumbellas, P!nk, Metallica, the Backstreet Boys, Men Without Hats, Phantogram, and dozens of others this summer.
FOR THE SPORTS FAN
BAIE DE BEAUPORT A revitalization project for the city’s 400th anniversary opened up the bay for swimming, boating, sailing, kayaking, windsurfing, and kite surfing. Just five minutes from the downtown core, it also offers beach volleyball and soccer.