The Feeling of Collective Joy through Cultural Events

Summer has a way of bringing back a certain feeling. It makes people want to gather, celebrate and be outside together. And this year in particular, we are being reminded, both near and far, that people are looking for togetherness and opportunities to feel connected to one another.

Let’s start with Paris and Fête de la Musique.

During Fête de la Musique, the city becomes the stage. Streets, cafés, parks, plazas and neighbourhood corners turn into places of gathering, where music brings people together without needing much explanation. In recent years, we’ve seen people from surrounding countries, most notably England, join in the celebration. As one attendee put it, “Forget about Fête de la Musique, it’s about the electricness of community. For two weeks, you meet people from different cultures, different walks of life, and it just makes sense.” That is the part that stayed with me: the idea that the event is only one part of it. What people really remember is the feeling of being surrounded by others, sharing the same energy, even if only for a moment.

That same feeling can be seen through the FIFA World Cup. Games aside, I’ve enjoyed watching people from different backgrounds come together to root for their teams, support one another, dance, cheer and share in the emotion of the moment. Whether it is in fan zones, cafés, living rooms or public spaces, the World Cup has always had a way of bringing people together and a way of turning sport into something bigger than the match itself.

And this is a feeling we know very well in Montréal. Every summer we are a playground for different festivals and outdoor events. Just last night, during Naïka’s performance at the Festival international de Jazz I was reminded of the beauty of these events. People from all walks of life, faith, ages all united singing and enjoying their favorite, or newly discovered, artist together. 

In a world where so much of our connection happens online, these moments feel even more important. They bring people back into real spaces. They make cities feel alive. They create memories that aren’t just captured through our phones, but felt in real time. Maybe that is why summer festivals, public celebrations and global sporting events continue to resonate so deeply. They offer more than entertainment. They offer a sense of belonging.

And right now, that feels like something people are craving more than ever.

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Written by: Gabrielle T.