The 38th edition of the FMG Hot Air Balloon Festival of Gatineau was held this past week. The 5-day event featured 31 shows across three stages, along with countless hot air balloons taking flight.
Wednesday night, Quebec’s own Éric Lapointe kicked things off as the headliner. Opening acts included country singers Ghys Mongeon and Justin Legacy. The latter even had the chance to join Lapointe on stage for a duet of his 1996 hit, “Bobépine.” The audience was thrilled and nostalgic as they sang along to classics like “Mon Ange” and “N’importe Quoi.”
Day 2 was a wet one; rain fell all day and evening, forcing both scheduled balloon launches to be cancelled. That didn’t stop festival-goers from lining up to see Flo Rida. Dressed in raincoats, ponchos, and boots, the Parc de la Baie was buzzing with energy, ready to party with the Miami rapper. Before the main act, the gorgeous Oya Baby hyped up the spectators with tracks like “Cash” and “Super Thot.” As the downpour continued, the turnout only grew. By the time Flo Rida hit the stage, the place was electric. Tossing roses to women in the audience and spraying champagne into the front row, it was quite something to witness. Soon enough, more than 30 women of all ages were up on stage dancing with him. The atmosphere was wild, hit after hit, and the echo of the crowd singing could be heard from far away.
Friday’s balloon takeoffs were also cancelled due to weather, though the rain was lighter than the night before. Still, spirits were high as people gathered for Talk and Roxane Bruneau. With cell towers overloaded and entry lines stretching up to an hour, the park was packed with smiling fans by the time Talk took the main stage, covering many well-known songs of all sorts. When Roxane Bruneau appeared, the cheers were deafening and the energy unmatched. Joining her on stage for their song “Côté Passager” was Quebec rapper Souldia. His unexpected appearance made the crowd go absolutely wild.
With a total of ten shows, Saturday was jam-packed with entertainment at every hour of the day. Day 4 was set to be a great one, featuring Ludovick Bourgeois, Mia Kelly, Les 2 Frères, and Terrebonne rapper Jay Scott. The morning’s flights were again cancelled, but the long-awaited balloons finally took to the skies at 6:30 p.m., for the first time in three days.
The final day of the festival was one to remember. As another full day of shows started, the sun was shining bright and hot in the Parc de la Baie, and people of all ages were lining up to enter. The day flew by, filled with activities, rides, and all sorts of goodies at food trucks and the FMG market, where many businesses had their products and services set up. Around 6 p.m., the crowd started gathering towards the Loto-Québec main stage, excited for Marie-Mai, who would soon take the stage.
The Montreal singer, now performing for over two decades, got her debut as a finalist contestant on Star Académie in 2003. I was a huge fan of her first album, “Inoxydable,” in 2004, but not knowing much of her more recent work, I wasn’t expecting to know many of the songs she would perform. I was very pleasantly surprised. This was the third time I would see her in concert, and this one blew my mind. Pouring her heart into this performance, she made us laugh, sing, dance, and cry. The energy she brings on stage is truly unmatched.
Following that powerhouse performance was Ontario’s own Alessia Cara, a Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter. She performed songs from her most recent album Love & Hyperbole, while also delighting fans with her biggest hits like “Here,” “Stay,” and “Scars to Your Beautiful.” Alessia brought the heat with her vocals and R&B vibes.
To close the festival, the Extra stage was lit up by drag queen Rainbow. The stage may have been small, but the energy was massive. Rainbow and her dancers transported us back to the 2000s with non-stop hits, making everyone in attendance have no choice but to dance and sing along.
On a personal note, this was my first festival as a photographer, and I feel unbelievably grateful for the opportunity. I left the park Sunday night with my heart just as full as my memory card. My overall impression of FMG #38 is one of community, joy, and excitement for next year’s edition. Concerts have a way of making thousands of strangers, singing along to music we’ve known for years, feel like friends. And that’s a feeling that can’t really be explained.
Review & photos – Jessica Couture
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