Parc Jean-Drapeau is a park, yes, but it’s also an island-sized, ever-evolving snapshot of Montreal’s past, present, and future.
Sprawled across Île Sainte-Hélène and the man-made Île Notre-Dame, this 736-acre space packs in everything from F1 races and electronic music festivals to ice skating and quiet nature trails. It’s where Expo 67’s utopian vision meets today’s push for green cities, where the roar of engines on Circuit Gilles Villeneuve fades into the hush of migratory birds over the wetlands.
No matter the season, there’s a way to experience the park. Summer means dancing at Piknic Électronik and floating in the Jean-Doré Beach lagoon; fall is for biking under a golden canopy; winter turns the place into a snow-covered playground; and spring sees it waking up, tulips blooming, trails reopening. Whether you’re here for the history, the adrenaline, or the escape, this guide will take you through it all.
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