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This July, Les Jardins Gamelin Are Going All-In With The Circus!

Press release | For immediate release

All month, activities in the Jardins will be focused on the circus arts. Seven days a week, there will be breathtaking performances and chances to learn more about the exciting world of the circus – all while enjoying the Jardins’ relaxed atmosphere.

Montreal, July 5, 2017 - For the month of July, during the MONTRÉAL COMPLÈTEMENT CiRQUE festival, Les Jardins Gamelin will wear its finest circus colours. There will be shows, parades, artists, performers and workshops, adding to the already warm and inviting atmosphere of one of downtown Montreal’s most popular gathering places. Each day from morning to night, visitors of all ages will be immersed in a world of creativity, talent and imagination.

SEE, HEAR AND PARTICIPATE IN MONTRÉAL COMPLÈTEMENT CIRQUE

Starting July 6 and continuing for the rest of the month in Les Jardins Gamelin, Montrealers and visitors can see an all-new show called Rouge, created by MONTRÉAL COMPLÈTEMENT CiRQUE and inspired by love in all its forms. On a pyramid-shaped stage surrounded by the audience, artists will perform spectacular acrobatic routines for 30 minutes, under the sky and above the crowd. On the program: amazement, delight and breathtaking feats! Rouge will be presented twice every evening, from July 6 to 16 at 7:30 and 10:30 p.m. and from July 17 to 30 at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. (There are no shows on Mondays or Tuesdays, except for July 11).

During lunchtime and weekday happy hours (5 to 7 p.m.), local circus artists, along with colleagues from France and Mexico, will demonstrate their skills in juggling, unicycle riding, wheel gymnastics, balancing, clowning, diabolo tricks and even hula-hoop routines. Feast your eyes and enjoy plenty of thrills and chills! Circus performances from Monday to Friday at 12:15, 5:30 and 6:15 p.m., and Saturdays at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

What would the circus be without audience participation? All month, spectators will have a special opportunity to try their hand at different skills thanks to circus-arts workshops on weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. and Saturdays at 11 a.m. Participants will be introduced to juggling, spinning plates, hula hoops and devil sticks. Who knows? Maybe the next great talent will be discovered!

This July, Les Jardins Gamelin invite you to join the fun and go full circus!

STREET ARTS IN MOTION

From July 26 to 30, FierS à Cheval puts street theatre at the top of the bill in Les Jardins Gamelin. This roving show, starting at the Beaudry metro stating and making its way to Place Émilie-Gamelin, is like a fleeting dream. It features strange characters in Baroque attire, and larger-than-life horses made of inflatable materials and animated by bold puppeteers in legendary costumes. FierS à Cheval, part of À nous la rue, will be presented from July 26 to 30 at 7:35 and 10:05 p.m.

ENCOURAGING CHILDREN’S CREATIVITY

For kids under 12 and their families, the Maison jaune, a space created just for them in a remodelled shipping container, will extend its opening hours in July and add a variety of circus-related activities. The Maison jaune will be open every Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

On Sundays, as part of the matinées familiales avec Petits bonheurs, families are invited to attend shows and fun arts workshops led by professional artists. Art will take many forms, allowing each child to fully express their creativity: dance, storytelling, acrobatic theatre, comic books, singing, music, theatre, puppetry, circus arts, clowning, architecture, visual arts and more. All budding artists are welcome. The matinées familiales avec Petits bonheurs, Sundays from 9:30 a.m.

See the online schedule for details of the Petits bonheurs shows and workshops. (In French Only.)

MORE WEEKEND FUN...

Every weekend from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Déjeuners sur l’herbe Complètement Cirque are the perfect way to enjoy brunch on the grass, featuring Mexican-style dishes including torrijas, churros and chilaquiles prepared by guest chef Maurin Arellano. For this circus-themed month, the Jardins Gamelin snack bar will serve a special menu including Cupid Wings, Red Velvet cupcakes and the Orpheus cocktail, as well as new items like Caesar salad, po’boy sandwiches, vegetarian tacos and cheeseburger poutine. Don’t forget to leave some room for the Jardins’ delicious dairy bar!

As well as the special circus-related program, Les Jardins Gamelin will continue to present several regular activities. Every Sunday from 11 a.m. to noon, Sentier Urbain will present its urban agriculture workshops on a range of topics: healing sick plants, organic fertilizer, pollinators and more. And, on Tuesdays from 5 to 7 p.m., a Sentier Urbain facilitator will guide Jardins visitors through the space’s seven thematic gardens, including Quebec heirloom vegetables, medicinal herbs and a space designed just for pollinators. Côté Jardins, every Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. Sentier Urbain workshops every Sunday from 11 a.m. to noon.

On a different note, every Sunday from 2 to 7 p.m., the Randolph games club offers hours of fun with skill, strategy or role-playing games designed by specialized facilitators.

... AND WEEKDAYS TOO!

Every Wednesday morning from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., it’s time for yoga on the lawn. Beginners and experts alike will love stretching out under Janet Echelman’s superb hanging sculpture, 1.26. At night, the sculpture takes on new dimensions thanks to beautiful splashes of light.

In addition to 1.26, art lovers are invited to admire Chuuut, a creation on the Place Émilie-Gamelin pavement by Ilana Pichon, and Gratte-ciel, cascades d’eau/rues, ruisseaux..., a sculpture by Melvin Charney located on the lawn, near De Maisonneuve Blvd.

COMIC BOOKS IN LES JARDINS

Comic-book artist Cyril Doisneau has set up his summer headquarters in Les Jardins Gamelin. Every two weeks, he releases another instalment in his observations of life in Place Émilie-Gamelin. You can find every instalment, dating back to mid-May, on the Jardins Gamelin Facebook page.

ABOUT LES JARDINS GAMELIN

In the spring of 2015, Place Émilie-Gamelin showed a new face to Quartier des Spectacles residents and visitors with Les Jardins Gamelin, open from May to October. A large, green and inviting civic space in the heart of downtown, Les Jardins Gamelin return every year with an original temporary layout and a versatile set of facilities. The space’s unique, accessible and human-scale programming has become a part of daily life for residents and visitors, making Les Jardins Gamelin an inclusive gathering place in true Montreal style. The initiative, led by the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership, is produced in collaboration with Pépinière and co, Sentier Urbain and numerous partners, with the financial support of the borough of Ville-Marie.

ABOUT THE QUARTIER DES SPECTACLES

The Quartier des Spectacles is Montreal’s cultural heart, boasting North America’s most concentrated and diverse group of cultural venues. The district is the year-round host to countless festivals and events, many of which include free outdoor shows and activities. The Quartier hosts innovative urban installations involving cutting-edge lighting design, immersive environments or interactive digital spaces. Year round, the Quartier presents artistic video projections on several building façades. The Quartier des Spectacles is a showcase for new multimedia technology, making Montreal a global leader in the urban exhibition of digital content.

More information: quartierdesspectacles.com.

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