Montreal’s Marché Central is lighting up for the holidays with Festilumi. In a 1.5-kilometre light trail, visitors can wander through glowing forests, a holiday tunnel, and even encounter Jurassic creatures along the way – who also want to celebrate the season.
The experience spans more than a dozen themed zones, each designed to bring a sense of wonder to visitors of all ages.
“Festilumi is the biggest sound and light show in the world. And we call it Festilumi because this year, we have a lot of animation. We have dance. We have dancers. We have acrobats. We have a lot of animation,” explained Normand Latourelle, the producer & creator of Festilumi.
Festilumi drew nearly 100,000 visitors since its launch in October 2025. The trail features more than 20 million lights, with a special attention to sound.
“The music is very important. You have 350 different speakers all around. And we have every tableaux has its own music. So we give a touch of the holiday season,” said Latourelle.
He drew inspiration from his travels, blending elements of traditional Quebec sugar shacks with influences from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. For the former Cavalia creator, nature remains one of his greatest muses.
“In my life, I like nature. I love animals. So in most of the tableaux, you’re going to see a link,” Latourelle explained.
One Festilumi goer said, “The creativity behind the whole project. And I think about the team, the effort they put onto this for the kids. It’s really nice. It’s like a new world for them. And it’s nice to see all the happy kids around here.”
Festilumi’s holiday edition runs until January 4.
