BEFORE THE DELUGE
Rain can’t stop the festivities, as party flows into métro
IN HIGH SPIRTS
Thousands of Quebecers of all ages, shapes and sizes lined Sherbrooke St. East yesterday for the parade of the 179th Fête nationale. But just as the last of the parade participants made their way onto the grounds of Olympic Stadium, the skies opened up in a downpour, sending everyone to find shelter. Laura Beeston has the story of the parade and the Parc Maisonneuve show on Page A4 and there’s a gallery of Justin Tang’s photos at montrealgazette. com
Spirits were high as a diverse crowd of families and fière followers lined the street of Sherbrooke St. E. Monday to take in the annual parade of the 179th Fête nationale, Quebec’s provincial holiday.
But just as the last of the dancers, singers, poets, buskers, cheerleaders, Hare Krishna devotees and various other political players of the parade were making their way onto the grounds of Olympic Stadium, the sky opened up and drenched us all.
Scattering in every direction looking for shelter, taking cover in telephone booths and bus stops, the majority of the otherwise buoyant crowd crammed together at Pie-IX métro station, where an impromptu Hare Krishna dance party entertained with drums and song, waiting out the rain.
Four-year-old Xian Kai Wang, his 7-year-old sister, Dianyang, and mother, Wotan Zeng, were among the faithful taking shelter in the métro.
Earlier, when the sun was shining, Zeng explained the young family was there for their first Fête nationale after moving from China in 2011. “It’s important to celebrate where we are now,” she said, Xian Kai nodding shyly to her side.
The rain, it would appear, did have an effect on crowd numbers. None of the organizers were available to estimate the crowd as of press time, however the rear of the festival had space for families to walk and dance freely with children, and to put down picnic blankets and lawn chairs.
The parade, which started at 4:45 p.m. at the corner of
Police on site said, as of 9 p.m., there had been no major incidents requiring their intervention.
Sherbrooke and Davidson Sts., included family-friendly acts, such as a puppet dance show from the Upton-based Théâtre de la Dame de Coeur (which drove the kids wild), a troupe from Danse Mode Action and the Pierrefonds Flyer All Stars cheerleading group.
Political players present included the Mouvement Québéc français, NDP, Bloc Québécois and Mouvement citoyen du monde, groups that were followed closely by police.
The parade, which wound its way east on Sherbrooke without incident, preceded family activities at 800 de l’Esplanade that included puppet making and face painting.
Police on site said, as of 9 p.m., there had been no major incidents requiring their intervention.
The concert that followed was the final culmination of nearly 300 activities and 1,050 performances that took place during the weekend. The Parc Maisonneuve show featured Quebec comedian Guy A. Lepage, Diane Dufresne, Pierre Lapointe, pop-rock royalty Marie Mai and Richard Séguin.