AT A GLANCE
The 34th International Balloon Festival of St-Jeansur-Richelieu takes place Aug. 12 to 20 at 5 Chemin de l’Aéroport. The festival site opens at 2:30 p.m. on weekdays and at noon on weekends and closes after the last concert. Admission: $54 for adult nine-day passport, $25 for youth (age four to 15) nine-day passport, $23 for single-day adult pass ($30 on Saturday), $13 for single-day youth pass ($16 on Saturday), $60 for family day pass for two parents and two children ($76 on Saturday). On-site parking costs $10 per day, or $25 for a recreational vehicle. For more information, to purchase tickets and to reserve balloon rides, visit ballooncanada.com.
HOW TO GET THERE BY SHUTTLE
The festival offers a roundtrip shuttle service for those wanting to travel from Montreal without a car. The shuttle leaves from Bonaventure station (1000 de la Gauchetière St. W.) and Terminus Panama in Brossard (1895 Panama St.).
An adult round-trip ticket costs $25; a youth ticket (ages four to 15) costs $10. The price includes a shuttle from the St-Jean-sur-Richelieu terminal to the festival itself, which runs every half-hour during festival hours. Tickets can only be purchased on the bus by cash, with exact change. Bus reservations cannot be made.
From Monday to Friday, the shuttle leaves Gate 17 or 18 at Bonaventure at 4:14, 4:45, 5:16, 5:46, 6:30, 7 and 8 p.m. The shuttle leaves Terminus Panama at 4:14, 5:22, 6:44, 7:14 and 8:14 p.m. The return shuttles to Panama and Bonaventure leave the St-Jeansur-Richelieu terminal at 5:30, 6,7, 8, 10:20 and 11:45 p.m.
On Saturdays, the shuttle leaves Gate 17 or 18 at Bonaventure at noon, 12:30, 1, 2:30, 3,4, 5, 6 and 7 p.m. and Terminus Panama at 12:44, 1:14, 2:44, 3:14, 5:14 and 7:14 p.m. Returning shuttles leave the St-Jean-sur-Richelieu terminal at 3,4, 5, 6, 8, 9:35, 10:20, 11:15 and 11:45 p.m.
On Sundays, the shuttle leaves Gate 17 at Bonaventure at 11 a.m., 1, 3, 5 and 7 p.m. and Terminus Panama at 11:14 a.m., 1:14, 3:14, 5:14 and 7:14 p.m. Returning shuttles leave the St-Jean-sur-Richelieu terminal at 4,6, 8, 10:20 and 11:15 p.m. If you miss the last bus, the festival recommends calling Taxi St-Jean at 450357-1000.