Starting today, the Nomadfest Urban Rodeo is taking over the Old Port's Jacques-Cartier Pier and will go on until Sunday night.
A "contemporary rodeo" that will allow visitors to "experience the daily lifestyle of cowboys down to the smallest detail,” the event promises a bluegrass saloon, a giant terrace, and a variety of musical acts.
Since this is a Montreal festival, food will be an integral aspect of Nomadfest. Gourmet food stations will be set up to offer you a gustatory window into the life of a cowboy.
Corn-grilling stations, cook-your-own-sausage spots, and braised bacon (with chocolate!) stands will be set up for you to enjoy.
No rodeo is complete without a competition of cowboy-skills, and rest assured Nomadfest will let you witness some men-in-chaps bareback ride some bulls and stallions.
Sorry if that last bit came off a little sexual, it's just hard not to when you have "bareback," "riding," and "cowboys" in the same sentence.
But as exciting as it is to see a cowboy take on a bull, not everyone in Montreal is pleased with the event. Animal rights activists are condemning Nomadfest, with protests planned.
Montreal's SPCA described the rodeo as "barbaric," notes CBC, denouncing the act of making animals undergo large amounts of stress solely for our entertainment.
The non-profit animal welfare organization also pointed out, quite correctly, that the rodeo "has nothing to do with the 375th anniversary of the City of Montreal."
Protests are also planned to disrupt the event by two Montreal animal rights groups. Association Terriens and KARA will be holding protests for every day of the rodeo.
"In memory of Grady...the horse who died during a rodeo in Saint-Tite on May 28th, and for all the other victims of the rodeo industry, [we] invite you to attend the anti-rodeo vigils during...NomadFest" says the protest's Facebook event page.
So even if you love the idea of a rodeo or abhor it completely, there will be something for you to do at this Montreal 375th anniversary event!
