The 14th Festif officially starts on Thursday! from Baie Saint Paul. A “special edition” marked by the floods of last May, but which the organization wants to forget for a few festive days.
“We’re very excited,” says Clément Turgeon, General Director of the Festif! a few hours before the opening of the festival.
The organizers admit it will be a significant edition as the team was tested by the floods just over two months ago. We are all the happier!
However, the aim is not to commemorate the events.
Before the shows, we’re going to show a little wink, but all we wanted was to make a beautiful edition, and then enable the populace to own the edition, use it, and forget a little bit , what’s happened. Last May.
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The Parc de la Virevolte site near Rue Saint-Joseph was completely flooded last May. The organization did “a chore” to be able to hold shows there. It is the only festival site that was damaged. (archive photo)
Photo: Radio Canada/Tanya Beaumont
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On Wednesday, 21,000 banknotes out of a total of 23,000 banknotes in circulation had found buyers. 13 fee-based performances out of a total of 20 are sold out. Clément Turgeon recalls that 45% of the program is free. The free shows are often my favorites, he says, adding that they’re often an opportunity to make discoveries like Belgian singer Charlotte Adigéry.
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The manager of the Festive! Clément Turgeon accompanied by production manager Anne-Marie Dufour.
Photo: Radio Canada / Alicia Rochevrier
What we like is that they provide free Discovery shows so that’s not an obstacle.
When most hotels and campsites are full at the weekend, it is always possible for latecomers to find a place to sleep. Clément Turgeon invites festival-goers to use social networks. In the “Camping citoyen du Festif!” group, several residents of Baie-Saint-Paul offer their backyard as a campsite.
There are still a few spots left on the official Festif campsite! However, the parc campsite, which was not far from the Rivière du Gouffre, had to be relocated close to the St. Lawrence due to the high current of the river.
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“For safety reasons” the lake stage will not return. Descent of the Rivière du Gouffre in a rubber dinghy is not recommended this year due to the river’s high current. (archive photo)
Photo: Baie Saint Paul Festival
A meteorologist at the Festif
Like the Festival d’été de Québec, the Festif also has a meteorologist. “Last year we were very challenged,” the organizer recalls.
It allows us to follow the situation in real time because [ les outils en ligne ] are not always tailored to the region as such. He’s installed systems on site so we really have a better view.
The organization may therefore reschedule the time of certain shows if the schedule allows.
The festive! will take place in Baie-Saint-Paul until Sunday 23 July.