Festival Memoire et Racines

View on map
MusicJoliette
DatesDates TBA · Usually JulyCheck locally before booking
DurationSummerEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forLive music, late nightsWhat sets Memoire et Racines apart is its
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: CAD
CategoryMusicFestival type
The story

Festival Memoire et Racines in Joliette

Festival Memoire et Racines, founded in 1995 in Saint-Charles-Borromee near Joliette, is Quebec's largest festival of traditional and roots music, running five days each July at Parc Bosco with around 200 artists. Programming centers on Lanaudiere's own fiddle, accordion and step-dance traditions, kept alive through generations of Acadian-descended families, alongside storytelling, dance workshops and touring roots acts from Canada and abroad.

Festival Memoire et Racines began in 1995 as a single tent by the river in Saint-Charles-Borromee, part of the greater Joliette area, and has grown into the largest festival of traditional and roots music in Quebec, now running over five days each July at Parc Bosco and drawing around 200 artists from Quebec, the rest of Canada and abroad.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

What sets Memoire et Racines apart is its rootedness in one specific regional tradition: Lanaudiere's Acadian-descended families kept fiddle, accordion, turlutte singing and gigue step dancing alive in isolated communities long after these forms faded elsewhere in Quebec, and the festival treats that inheritance as its core rather than a folkloric add-on

02

The mystery stays covered

Hands-on dance and music workshops let visitors actually learn the steps and tunes rather than only watch them performed

03

The city starts moving

Informal jam sessions that form spontaneously around the campground after the main stage closes are, for longtime attendees, as central to the festival's character as the scheduled concerts, giving it a genuinely participatory feel distinct from a standard music festival lineup

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

Kitchen-party style fiddle and accordion tunes

Water and renewal

Living ritual

turlutte call-and-response singing and gigue step dancing

The sacred route

Living ritual

all rooted in Lanaudiere's Acadian-descended farming communities

The local code

Living ritual

form the festival's musical core

Tradition 5

Living ritual

Informal jam sessions that gather spontaneously around the campground after the scheduled program ends have become an unofficial but well-established part of the festival experience

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually July

Getting around

Use Joliette transport around the venue or route first; event-day controls can change normal timing.

What to wear

July days at Parc Bosco run warm, so dress light with sun protection for daytime outdoor sessions, but bring a layer for cooler evenings, and wear shoes comfortable enough for dancing if...

Safety

At Festival Memoire et Racines, agree on a meeting point and plan food, water and the return route before crowds thicken.

Where to stay

Stay near workable transport in Joliette, especially if the event runs late or streets close.

Tickets/cost

Official ticket link is available. Confirm access rules before booking.

Language/currency

CAD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map46.02 N, 73.42 WOpen in Google Maps

Joliette, Quebec, Canada

Nearest airportYUL — Montreal / Pierre Elliott Trudeau
TransportUse Joliette transport around the venue or route first; event-day controls can change normal timing.
Stay areaStay near workable transport in Joliette, especially if the event runs late or streets close.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Joliette via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Joliette, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for July.Compare faresFestival gearJuly days at Parc Bosco run warm, so dress light with sun protection for daytime outdoor sessions, but bring a layer for cooler evenings, and wear shoes comfortable enough for dancing if joining a workshop or jam circle.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Canada and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Festival Memoire et Racines?

Festival Memoire et Racines is listed for July · Summer. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Festival Memoire et Racines take place?

The festival is listed in Joliette, Canada. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Summer is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Joliette, Quebec, Canada

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLmemoireracines.org
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually July
Source statusOfficial source linked
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