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Need I say more? Just note that because the festival’s layout is a bit more complex, it takes a bit of navigating before you get the hang of it, so give yourself ample time to get to each show or go early on day one to get your bearings so you don’t get lost and miss performances. Stages are sprinkled in various nooks and crannies of the park, over walk bridges and under forest cover, giving each area its own unique mood and setting. Not only were the security lines a breeze, but as an American, you tend to get used to the sprawling open spaces where festivals like Coachella and Lollapalooza are typically organized. Immediately upon stepping foot onto Parc Jean-Drapeau I knew I was going to love it there. If you’re planning on spending most of your time at the festival and just want convenience, Le Westin Montreal is a great option for SPG card holders and is three blocks from Place d’Armes, an easy metro hub to get you straight into Osheaga. Where to StayĪirbnb rentals fill up quickly the week of Osheaga, but try and snag a space near the yellow line if you can - to keep your commute into the festival super easy.

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Also drivers are extremely strict about not going over the person limit in their vehicle, so plan ahead if you have a large group. It’s worth noting that there is still a great deal of tension between taxis and Ubers in Montreal, so be aware of this as you use the ride sharing service. I made the mistake of eyeballing it and completely miscalculated. Just make sure to map walking distance from the metro stop to your destination so you’re not caught off-guard. As noted above, the metro is quick, clean and easy to navigate as well, but I found the stops to be quite sparse compared to other cities that I’m used to like New York City. Montreal is a very bike and bus-friendly city, but we mostly took cabs and Ubers as it was the only option based on the location of our rental. Getting to the actual festival is easy on the yellow line and only takes about 15 minutes from Place d’Armes (walking distance from Notre-Dame in Old Montreal). You can only purchase the special fare card on specific dates, so make sure to check on the Osheaga website for updated information. Once you’ve arrived in Montreal, make sure to purchase Osheaga’s special fare card that gives you unlimited subway access for the weekend for around $16, saving you money and the hassle of buying new fares each day. I was trying to book a one-way bus ticket out of Montreal to New England and much to my surprise nothing of the sort existed, so if you’re coming from the East Coast your best option is to fly or drive yourself across the border. The metro system in Montreal makes it super easy to pop over to Parc Jean-Drapeau (about 15 minutes on the subway from Old Montreal), which means that you can spend the mornings exploring new neighborhoods before ending the day at the festival.įly into Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) and take a taxi to your accommodation (the rate is 40 flat Canadian dollars). Despite the fact that alcohol is permitted everywhere at Osheaga, without any of the annoying designated drinking areas that many U.S. music festivals enforce, I didn’t witness one single person throughout the weekend who seemed overserved or reckless. In fact 2015’s lineup was about 75% identical to Lollapalooza’s and this year’s includes the same main headliners. The lineup rivals any other American music festival.Here’s a mini first-timer’s guide to Osheaga that will help you get a little more acquainted.įirst thing’s first. Even my most music-savvy friends looked at me with blank stares when I mentioned my travel plans for last July.īut as it turns out, Osheaga is the festival of the summer for many Canadians, with crowds descending on the historically French city from all over the country. Plenty of passes are still on sale on Stubhub for the festival this month and the lineup includes Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, M83, Flume, The Lumineers, Leon Bridges, Haim and many more. If you’re thinking about out breaking out of the typical American music festival circuit this summer, it’s the perfect one to get started with and is an easy plane ride away from the U.S.

Why would I go to a music festival that clearly no one ever talks about?Ĭhances are high that if you’re from the U.S., you’ve also never heard of Osheaga, Montreal’s biggest music festival put on every summer at Parc Jean-Drapeau. Her college friends were meeting up in Montreal for a reunion of sorts and wouldn’t it be a blast? But having been a devoted Coachella goer ever since moving to California, I was a little wary at first when my friend Lauren suggested we do a little something different last summer: Osheaga. Anyone who knows me well, knows that I love a good music festival.