Celebrate the eclipse of the century – April 8, 2024

Celebrate the eclipse of the century with the Planetarium at Parc Jean-Drapeau

Espace pour la vie and Société du parc Jean-Drapeau have combined their expertise and are inviting the public to celebrate the total solar eclipse in the Parc’s enchanting setting, and to mark this unique and entirely free event together, starting at 11 am on April 8.

The view of this striking astronomical phenomenon will be especially outstanding from Parc Jean-Drapeau, which offers plenty of unobstructed vantage points and an incomparable view of the river and the city. For this very special occasion, since the next total eclipse will not reoccur in Montreal until 2205, the Planetarium and Parc Jean-Drapeau teams have come up with a standout educational and festive program that will long be remembered.

As soon as they exit the Jean-Drapeau metro station, visitors will be greeted by music and festive entertainment. Starting at 11:00am guides will hand out free protective eclipse eyeglasses, courtesy of the Trottier Family Foundation, before directing them to the heart of the action: the Espace 67 amphitheatre. There, a central stage will welcome special guests and artists. Together with Espace pour la vie’s public and educational program teams, the Planetarium’s activities team will also be on hand to answer questions from curious visitors of all ages.

For about a minute and a half, southern Montreal will experience a unique and spectacular moment as the Moon completely blocks the Sun. Renowned artists and scientists will be on hand at Parc Jean-Drapeau to accompany the public for this highly-emotional moment.

To mark the occasion, the legendary Diane Dufresne will lend her unique voice to a song as a prelude to this celestial show. She will be accompanied by a pre-recorded performance by the Orchestre Métropolitain, conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin, who has selected a repertoire linked to the theme of space.

Over the course of a few hours, the main stage will welcome DJ Champion,and beloved host Sophie Fouron will take to the stage. Together, they will bring out the connections between nature, art and science. To demystify the astronomical phenomenon, the Espace 67 stage will also welcome Laurie Rousseau-Nepton, Innu astrophysicist and professor at the Dunlap Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics.

A variety of food products will be available on site—street trucks, an ephemeral sugar shack, hot drinks and more. A live broadcast, by NASA, will be presented on big screens so you don’t miss anything of the eclipse, even under cloudy skies. The program will unfold rain or shine, so dress warmly!

For more information on both the Parc Jean-Drapeau activities and the solar eclipse, visit: the Parc Jean-Drapeau and Espace pour la vie websites.

Please note: there will be no eclipse activities at the Planetarium that day as all staff will be at Parc Jean-Drapeau to greet and inform the public.