Storm Forces Abrupt End to Quebec’s National Holiday Celebration
Hey everyone, I just have to talk about what went down in Quebec City on the evening of June 23rd. What was supposed to be a grand celebration for the Fête nationale on the Plains of Abraham turned into a total disaster—one caused not by technical issues or planning mistakes, but by the uncontrollable force of nature.
Picture this: thousands of people had gathered, the energy was electric, and the excitement was palpable. Folks traveled from all over—Trois-Rivières, Longueuil, even greater Montreal—just to see big names like Garou, Ariane Moffatt, Sarahmée, Claude Dubois, and many more light up the stage. The show was supposed to start at 9 p.m., with a live broadcast on Télé-Québec to follow. But just 15 minutes before showtime, the unthinkable happened.
Around 8:45 p.m., a man came on stage and told everyone, almost unbelievably, to evacuate the site. People were stunned. You could hear the confusion and protest in the crowd. But then, the skies started to turn. Winds picked up, rain poured down, and objects began flying in the air. The decision to evacuate turned out to be absolutely the right call.
By 9:30, the site was completely empty and chaotic. Journalists, performers, stage crews—everyone sought shelter. Some people ran for cover, drenched to the bone. Others huddled under ponchos or crowded into the hotel entrances nearby. It was a mix of disappointment, sadness, and surreal disbelief.
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The show was ultimately cancelled. Richard Samson, the show’s producer, called the situation a “catastrophe,” and with tornado warnings, lightning, and gale-force winds, it simply wasn’t safe. Télé-Québec aired a pre-recorded segment from earlier in the day to salvage part of the night, featuring Garou and Ariane Moffatt performing Le monde est à pleurer , a hauntingly fitting title.
Ariane Moffatt, speaking from her hotel, summed up the collective feeling best—she called it a “deuil,” a kind of mourning. All that preparation, all those rehearsals under scorching heat, came down to an emotional halt. She praised the event’s crisis team, though. They acted swiftly and decisively.
Spectators were heartbroken. Alain, a local who arrived early to get a good spot, said he was “very disappointed.” Roxanne, who drove in from Longueuil, didn’t even get to enter the venue before being turned back. For many, the storm ended not just the night but also any desire to attend future Fête nationale events in the capital.
It’s the second year in a row the celebration’s been hit by extreme weather. Last year, it was freezing rain. This year, lightning and tornado alerts. As sad as it was to cancel, the organizers clearly made the only responsible decision.
Honestly, the whole evening was a powerful reminder that no matter how much we plan and prepare, nature still calls the shots. And sometimes, it calls them loud and clear.
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