A Sunday Must
Sunday tends to be the most boring day of the week. People feel inclined to prep for the coming work week, catch up on long overdue chores or just lounge around recovering from a crazy weekend. Just because the weekend is coming to an end, it doesn't mean it is over! Instead of giving in to the approaching Monday blues, hundreds of Montrealers head to the Tam-Tams at Mont Royal Park to enjoy the last moments of weekend freedom.
The Tam-tams is a weekly Sunday gathering that has been happening in the same spot since the late 70's. People congregate at the Sir George-Étienne Cartier monument with hand drums (bongos) and play freestyle music as people from all walks of life dance freely to the hypnotic beats. You can bring your own drum (traveling hippie?) and join in on the playing, or simply show up as one of the many spectators. The environment is both upbeat and relaxing. The energetic play music or dance in the crowds while others lounge, read a book, or sunbathe, or take it up a notch and play Frisbee or hackisack. If you're traveling alone, you are guaranteed to meet some interesting people, if not other travelers.
This laissez-faire get-together runs from about May to September and starts in the late morning and goes on until dark. It's free, it's entertaining, and it affirms that you don't need much to have a good time other than be in the presence others. No wonder this tradition has been going strong for so many years. To get there, take the metro (subway) to the Mont-Royal stop, walk up toward the mountain until Parc Avenue and you will soon spot the crowds.