Day 12: A Homerun for the First Festi Ouest!

The idea first came to elected officials and administrators at the end of summer 2022, in response to the disappointing results of the last Fêtes de Saint-Lazare. Over the past few years, crowds have been dwindling at the various shows and activities offered on June 24 and July 1. Surrounding towns, offering larger-scale activities for these two celebrations, attracted our citizens. Faced with such a situation, how could Saint-Lazare both stand out and celebrate its own residents in a completely festive, summery atmosphere?

After consulting with residents over the winter, the City Council and the Service des loisirs et de la vie communautaire decided on a new direction: a weekend of festivities at the end of August, with a unifying theme. The event had to be family-friendly and able to unite all groups of Saint-Lazare's population: young and old, long-time residents and newcomers, Francophones and Anglophones.

And so, with great enthusiasm, the planning began for what would become Saint-Lazare's first Festi Ouest: a country-themed festival that would take up residence in the city on August 19 and 20, 2023. In just a few months, while this type of event usually takes a year to plan, our teams had created the visuals, hired the suppliers, booked the artists, orchestrated the programming, planned travel and parking... in short, a colossal task in unison with the sole objective of delighting the people of Saint-Lazare.

We were ready for the big day, even if the weather wasn't very cooperative on the Saturday. One thing's for sure: you were there! From the inflatable games and rides to the line dancing and the Saturday night show (with Andie Therio and Roch Voisine), thousands of you made your way through Parc Bédard.

Over the following weeks, we circulated a survey to gauge your appreciation of the event, and we were won over by the results: by a very large majority, Festi Ouest charmed you, and you're hoping for its return in 2024. You can count on the dedication of our teams to once again offer you a festival that will bring your summer to a close in good spirits! Thank you again for joining us in such large numbers.