Les Jardins Gamelin : 16 activity series in a green oasis with revamped terrasse

Press release | For immediate release

Montreal, May 25, 2023 – The ninth season of Les Jardins Gamelin starts this evening and will continue until September 17, welcoming Montrealers and visitors to a unique, diverse and green living space in the Quartier des Spectacles. Every day, Les Jardins Gamelin will present free and varied programming for every taste, on a vibrant new terrasse with plenty of vegetation!

The program includes more than 15 weekly outdoor activity series with afternoon and evening programming. There’s plenty to choose from – dancing, every musical genre, crafting workshops, urban agriculture workshops and lots of fun activities. Over the course of the season, several festivals as the snack bar by Les Survenants will create countless memorable summer moments to share with friends and family.

A FESTIVE, DANCEABLE PROGRAM

Each day of the week has its own vibe. On Mondays, everyone who loves to sing will have their chance to shine at karaoke night. Whether you’re eager to show off your secret talent or just want to have fun, the mic is open to everyone. Tuesday evenings, the DJs in residence will bring irresistible grooves to Les Jardins Gamelin with the Donne-moi du funk! series. Les Funkés are first up at the turntables on May 30, followed by DJ Kobal on June 6. The Ligue d’Improvisation Musicale de Montréal (LIMM) will be back this year for a friendly musical improv tournament on three Tuesdays: June 20, July 25 and September 5. Divided into two teams, the musicians will give tuneful responses to the prompts and topics that emcee Patrick Guérard gives them. Wednesday at lunchtime, Jardin tropical presents DJ sets brimming with African, Caribbean and Latin sounds, transporting the public to tropical lands. The DJs include DJ Sugarface BelFo (May 31) and Asma of the Tumbao! MTL collective (June 7). On Wednesday evenings, the Bals de l'été will return, to the delight of everyone who loves to dance, from beginners to experts. Whether they prefer swing, kizomba or bachata, Les Jardins Gamelin will be the place to be for dancers of every level. On Thursdays, the Midis à la carte - Concerts noontime concert series will feature jazz, classical and Indigenous music. Talented artists such as Maritza (June 1) and Sarah MK (June 8) will give captivating and intimate shows. Thursday evening, the Planète Gamelin series takes over with unique moments where music lovers can discover 15 different cultural communities, reflecting Montreal’s diversity, through DJ sets and concerts by such artists as Rommel (June 1) and Lara Klaus (June 8). Fridays in Les Jardins will include more Midis à la carte - Concerts, this time showcasing up-and-coming francophone signers and refreshing pop artists from the Montreal scene, including Miro Chino (June 2) and Simon Lachance (June 9). Friday evenings, the Ce soir on danse ! series takes over to celebrate the start of the weekend with irresistible beats from, for example, Calamine (May 27) and the Illusion Festival (June 9). Finally, Saturday evenings see the return of the long-running Soirées Salsafolie, where salsa fans can enjoy an evening of Latin culture and some infectious tunes.

A multitude of festivals

Several popular festivals will enhance the Jardins Gamelin programming. On May 28, Accès Asie will close this year’s edition on a high note. In mid-June, Bazarnaüm (June 18) and Carnaval des enfants (June 24) will fill the gardens with playful entertainment for all ages. The music of Haïti en Folie will spice up the stage in July (July 26 and 27). In August, Montreal Pride will present several activities including the opening ceremony (August 3 to 6) while the Montreal First Peoples’ Festival will follow later in August and Quartiers Danses will close the Jardins Gamelin season in September.

FUN INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS AND ADULTS

New: crafting with Les Affûtés

On three Sunday mornings this season, Les Affûtés will host several creative workshops. The DIY pros have planned a workshop series for your garden, such as building an insect hotel or a planter. Participants of all ages will be able to develop their crafting skills and learn some new techniques, all in a friendly, collaborative atmosphere.

Côtés Jardins – workshops and talks with Sentier Urbain

Tuesday afternoons, the gardening instructors of Sentier Urbain and their guest experts will present talks on various issues, from trends in urban agriculture to big environmental questions, in a spirit of sharing and enlightenment. Sunday mornings, the Sentier Urbain will invite the public to hands-on workshops where participants can learn or hone urban agriculture skills.

The return of the Maison jaune

Friday through Sunday in June and September, and Wednesday to Sunday in July and August, kids can enjoy the Maison jaune, a play space with a host of activities and cultural events providing some great outdoor fun. The space is specially designed for families, as a place where children of all ages can fully express their creativity through crafting.

Playing games with Randolph

Sunday afternoons, Randolph offers a selection of board games as well as a trivia game as part of a series called T’as de beaux jeux. Whether you come alone, with a friend or with the whole gang, get ready for fierce competition and lots of laughs!

Giant games

Wednesday to Sunday, everyone is invited to get outside and play some giant games: Scrabble, Connect 4, chess, beanbags or Jenga. As always, self-serve regular board games, ping pong and foosball will be available at all times.

A WARM AND LUSH SETTING FOR ENJOYING THE SUMMER HEAT

The large terrasse in Les Jardins Gamelin has been redesigned and rebuilt by the multidisciplinary design studio EN TEMPS ET LIEU. The new iteration has more space for urban agriculture thanks to the installation of large planters that will gradually start to overflow with flowers and shrubs as the summer goes on. They provide refreshingly shaded places to sit.

The snack bar and bar will be run by the street food experts from Les Survenants. Whether it’s for breakfast, a quick lunch, after-work drinks or an al fresco dinner, the new menu of reinvented classics Gamelin-style includes options for kids and vegetarians – something to satisfy everyone. Les Survenants also have a few culinary surprises to reveal as the season goes on!

The social organization Sentier Urbain continues to take good care of the theme gardens, greenhouse and butterfly house. The organization’s on-site horticulturists are happy to share their passion, give advice and answer questions about the dozens of plants and flowers growing in the gardens.

A WELL-ESTABLISHED SOCIAL MISSION

Since 2015, Les Jardins Gamelin has been an inclusive space for all communities. Established community organizations work on-site to provide support and resources to people in precarious situations. The organizations include the Société de développement social and its Équipe Mobile de Médiation et d’Intervention Sociale (ÉMMIS), the Old Brewery Mission, Accueil Bonneau, the Carrefour de Ressources en Interculturel (CRIC) and the Groupe de recherche et d'intervention psychosocial (GRIP).

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 September. 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, which has now completed five seasons, 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 and thanks to the support of the borough of Ville-Marie and numerous partners, including Sentier Urbain, the Société de développement social and the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SVPM).  

More information: jardinsgamelin.com 

ABOUT QUARTIER DES SPECTACLES AND THE PARTNERSHIP 

The Quartier des Spectacles is 20 years old! The Quartier des Spectacles is Montréal’s cultural heart, boasting North America’s most concentrated and diverse group of cultural venues as well as numerous festivals and events. The Quartier also hosts innovative urban installations involving cutting-edge lighting design and immersive environments. The Quartier des Spectacles has become an international showcase for digital public art.

The Quartier des Spectacles Partnership, founded in 2003, is a non-profit organization with more than 85 members active in the district. It is responsible for animating the Quartier des Spectacles by programming cultural activities, managing and animating public spaces, providing distinctive illumination and promoting the Quartier as a must-visit cultural destination. The Partnership benefits from the support of the Ville de Montréal. 

More information: quartierdesspectacles.com

- 30 -

PHOTOS 

Download link.
Please include full credit and caption.

MEDIA CONTACT  

Mélanie Mingotaud  
melanie@mingo2.ca
(514) 582-5272  

SOURCE

Chloé Goldstein  
chloe.goldstein@quartierdesspectacles.com
(514) 812-2193 

APPENDIX

PARTNERS

The Jardins Gamelin project is produced in coordination with:

L’arrondissement de Ville-Marie
Le Service de police de la Ville de Montréal

Social outreach:

La Société de développement social avec l’équipe Mobile de Médiation et d’Intervention Sociale (ÉMMIS)
La Mission Old Brewery
L'Accueil Bonneau
Le Carrefour de Ressources en Interculturel (CRIC)
Le Groupe de recherche et d'intervention psychosocial (GRIP)

Programming partners:

Bazar production
EN TEMPS ET LIEU
Festival international de la chanson de Granby
Festival international Présence autochtone
Festival Quartiers Danses
Fierté Montréal
Francouvertes
Haïti en Folie
Les Affûtés
Les Productions Carmagnole
Les Filles Électriques
Les Survenants
Ligue d’Improvisation Musicale de Montréal
Ma première Place des Arts
Randolph Pub Ludique
Révélations Radio-Canada
Salsafolie
Sentier Urbain
Studio ZX
Syli d’Or de la musique du monde
Vitrine MUZ

The festivals:

Festival Accès Asie
Le Bazarnaüm
Carnaval des enfants
Haïti en Folie
Fierté Montréal
Festival international Présence autochtone
Festival Quartiers Danses

And all the artists featured in the programming.