Events & Festivals in Trois-Rivières
Your complete guide to what's happening throughout the year
Trois-Rivières packs its calendar with events that balance deep tradition with modern energy. Summer festivals anchor the schedule. Yet each season delivers its own flavor: winter carnivals, autumn food markets, spring gatherings. Most events cluster around the historic Old Town and waterfront, making for easy walking between venues. You will find international competitions alongside neighborhood celebrations. This mix delivers an honest window into local life, year-round.
- FestiVoix music festival in late June
- Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières in mid-July
- Fête nationale du Québec celebrations on June 24
- Summer festival season, late June through August
- Christmas market weekends in December
- 12 October 2026 Thanksgiving
- 11 November 2026 Armistice Day
- 11 November 2026 Remembrance Day
- 25 December 2026 Christmas Day
- 26 December 2026 Boxing Day
- 1 January 2027 New Year's Day
- 15 February 2027 Family Day
- 15 February 2027 Heritage Day
- 15 February 2027 Islander Day
- 15 February 2027 Louis Riel Day
- 17 March 2027 Saint Patrick's Day
- 26 March 2027 Good Friday
- 29 March 2027 Easter Monday
- 23 April 2027 Saint George's Day
- 24 May 2027 National Patriots' Day
- 24 May 2027 Victoria Day
- 21 June 2027 National Aboriginal Day
- 24 June 2027 Discovery Day
- 24 June 2027 Fête nationale du Québec
- 1 July 2027 Canada Day
- 12 July 2027 Orangemen's Day
- 2 August 2027 British Columbia Day
- 2 August 2027 Civic Holiday
- 2 August 2027 Heritage Day
- 2 August 2027 Natal Day
- 2 August 2027 New Brunswick Day
- 2 August 2027 Saskatchewan Day
- 16 August 2027 Discovery Day
- 16 August 2027 Gold Cup Parade Day
- 6 September 2027 Labour Day
- 30 September 2027 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
January
🎭Festival du Rire de Trois-Rivières
This comedy festival pulls Quebecois and international stand-up acts into venues across the city. The mood stays warm and festive. It offers escape from winter cold. Adults seeking lively nights out will find their match here. Most performances run in French.
February
🎉Fête des Neiges de Trois-Rivières
A central park hosts this family winter celebration. Visitors find snow sculpting workshops, ice slides, horse-drawn sleigh rides, outdoor games. Hot drinks and maple taffy keep everyone warm.
⚽Tournoi de Pêche sur la Glace
Anglers drill holes in the frozen Saint Lawrence River. The largest catch wins. A heated tent offers refuge. Veterans compete. Curious newcomers watch. Both are welcome.
March
🎭Festival International de la Poésie
Trois-Rivières becomes a poetry hub for this event, with readings, performances, workshops. Quebec and international poets take part. The tone stays thoughtful and engaging. Literature enthusiasts and students feel at home here.
April
🎭Salon du Livre de Trois-Rivières
This major book fair spotlights Quebecois publishing with author signings, panel discussions, hundreds of exhibitors. It ranks as a key event for francophone literature. Families and serious readers browse together, discovering new works.
May
🎉Festival de la Bête Puante
Trois-Rivières embraces its unofficial mascot with this festival. The skunk gets its day. Costumed parades wind through streets. Quirky games and family activities follow. The city laughs at itself. Community spirit runs high.
🎭Festival de Théâtre Jeunesse
School troupes from across Quebec perform short plays. Venues scatter through the city. The energy is supportive, creative, young. This is where tomorrow's artists emerge.
June
🎵FestiVoix de Trois-Rivières
One of Canada's largest French-language music festivals spreads across multiple outdoor stages along the Saint-Maurice river. Pop, rock, and indie artists perform. A huge, energetic crowd gathers for over a week of concerts.
⚽Coupe d'Or de Soccer
Hundreds of youth soccer teams from Quebec and Ontario converge on Trois-Rivières fields for this major tournament. The atmosphere mixes competition with community spirit. Games run simultaneously across multiple pitches.
🎉Spectacle de la Fête nationale du Québec
Quebec's national holiday brings free outdoor concerts. Popular Quebecois musicians take the stage. Fireworks end the night. The crowd is massive, proud, and loud.
July
⚽Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières
Race cars tear through a temporary street circuit in the city core for this premier motorsport event. Engine roar dominates three days of qualifying and racing. Dedicated fans and curious onlookers both show up.
🎭Festival International Danse Encore
This dance festival spans classical ballet to contemporary and urban styles. Professional companies and emerging artists perform outdoors and in, energizing public spaces across the city.
🛒Marché Public de Trois-Rivières Summer Season
The main public market runs outdoors weekly. Farmers, bakers, and artisans gather in expanded numbers. Residents treat this as ritual. They buy produce, flowers, cheeses, and baked goods straight from the source.
August
🎵Festissimo
Historic churches and chapels around Trois-Rivières host this classical music festival. Chamber music, choirs, and soloists fill summer evenings with serene, acoustically rich performances.
🎵Festival de la Chanson de Trois-Rivières
This celebration spotlights francophone songwriting and emerging artists. Concerts happen in clubs and small halls. The environment feels supportive and discovery-driven, good for new music hunters.
🎭Cinéma sous les Étoiles
Outdoor film screenings in parks and public squares feature Quebecois cinema and family-friendly classics. Attendees spread blankets and chairs, creating casual community picnics after dark.
September
🍽️Foire Gastronomique de Trois-Rivières
This food fair puts regional producers, cheesemakers, and culinary artisans center stage. Visitors sample and buy local products, watch cooking demonstrations, eat from food trucks. Locals who care about food mark this as a favorite.
🎭Nuit Blanche à Trois-Rivières
Museums, galleries, and odd spaces open late. Special installations fill the night. Performances and interactive art draw crowds. The city center goes pedestrian-only. This is global concept, locally executed.
October
🎭Expo Beaux Arts
Visual artists from the Mauricie region show and sell work at this exhibition. Painting, sculpture, and photography fill the space. The relaxed setting lets you view and acquire art straight from creators.
🎉Festival des Couleurs en Mauricie
This festival chases autumn foliage around Trois-Rivières with guided hikes, photography workshops, scenic train excursions into surrounding hills. Outdoor enthusiasts and photographers find their match here.
November
⚽Tournoi International de Hockey Midget
This tournament brings elite teenage hockey to the local coliseum. Scouts crowd the stands. The pace is relentless, the arena electric. Top-tier midget-level teams battle for attention in fast, competitive games.
December
🛒Marché de Noël de Trois-Rivières
Wooden chalets fill the Old Town heart for this traditional Christmas market. Local crafts, holiday decorations, and seasonal foods like mulled wine and gingerbread line the stalls. Twinkling lights and carolers complete the mood.
🎵Concert de l'Avent à la Cathédrale
Choirs and orchestras fill the cathedral each holiday season. Sacred and classical music echoes through stone. The atmosphere is solemn, beautiful, brief. A moment of calm amid December rush.
Tips for Attending Events
Practical advice to help you get the most out of local events and festivals.
Summer in Trois-Rivières means crowds. FestiVoix and the Fête nationale concert are massive. Book rooms months ahead. Walk or use shuttles. Parking is a nightmare. Traffic stalls.
Winter demands respect. Temperatures plunge. Layer up. Your outer shell must stop wind. Boots need insulation and waterproofing. Cover your head and hands. Always.
French dominates most performances. Check programs online first. Some events are bilingual. Others rely on visual impact. Know before you go.
Buy paid tickets online. Discounts apply. Some festivals use cashless wristbands. Bring a payment card.
The center and Old Town are built for walking. Event venues cluster here. Comfortable shoes are non-negotiable. Street closures are common during festivals. Follow the signs.
Event Categories
Browse events by type to find what interests you.
Major festivals unite the community. Parades roll through streets. Outdoor activities fill the days. The atmosphere is festive, open, city-wide.
Cultural programming runs year-round. Exhibitions open. Performances sell out. Literary events draw readers. Visual arts fill galleries.
Sports range from professional races to amateur tournaments. Competition is fierce at every level.
Markets follow the seasons. Night markets appear in summer. Local products dominate. Crafts and food draw steady crowds.
Religious observances and festivals, reflecting local traditions.
Music spans classical, popular, and contemporary. Festivals book big names. Concerts fill venues of every size.
Food festivals put local producers center stage. Regional cuisine is the star. Tasting is mandatory.
Rooms near Trois-Rivières's main venues go first around festival dates - our accommodation guide covers which neighborhoods to book and when.
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