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saint-jean

Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day (aka Fête nationale du Québec) falls on Tuesday, June 24 this year, giving many Montrealers a midweek break to enjoy the city, attend festivities, or just sleep in. As Quebec's official national holiday, it's a statutory day off for most, meaning government services, stores, and transit could be operating on modified schedules.

Whether you're planning to catch a parade, grab brunch, or just wondering if the SAQ will be open, here's a handy breakdown of what's open and closed in Montreal this Saint-Jean.

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With Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day aka Quebec's Fête nationale (national holiday) fast approaching, you may be gearing up for a long weekend filled with festivities in celebration of la belle province.

Or, perhaps you've got no plans at all other than sitting at home — whether to contemplate the province's complicated history or watch reality TV as you revel in a day off work. Either way, it's important to keep in mind that Monday is a statutory holiday so not everything will be up and running as per usual.

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Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu is set to come alive for two weekends this summer with the vibrant Montgolfiére International Hot Air Balloon Festival.

From August 11-13 and August 17-20, the unique spectacle will couple star-studded music performances with captivating hot air balloon displays.

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There's no shortage of good breweries in Quebec, but how many belong to women? In a sector historically dominated by women, female brewers, or brewsters, have been mostly pushed out of brewhouses over two centuries ago. Now, the Festival Brassoeurs of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu aims to prove that women can still generate excellent brews.

On March 25, the OverHop Canada brewery will host the first edition of the new Quebec beer festival, inviting 18 participating breweries that are all women-owned or have women as brewers.

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A 62-year-old man is in the hospital in critical condition Friday after sustaining a stab wound, Montreal police say.

Officers found the man after responding to a 5:25 a.m. 911 call about an injured individual in a home on boulevard Côte-Vertu Ouest near rue Cardinal in the borough of Saint-Laurent. The 62-year-old was injured in his upper body.

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Pat yourself on the back — you've made it through yet another week. And there are tons of things to do in Montreal this weekend to celebrate that fact!

Between fireworks, food and music events and of course, Saint-Jean-Baptiste festivities, it's bound to be a good time in the 514. So, here are all the riveting things to do in the city that will certainly make your long weekend one to remember.

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Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day is here again. Quebec's Fête nationale will see most of the province shut down as revellers gather in celebration of la belle province.

In Montreal, several institutions will remain open, and some city services will continue. But many purveyors of critical holiday supplies and liquid fun will close their doors.

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Police will be paying closer attention to the roads over the next two weekends. The Sûreté du Québec (SQ) says its officers will be out on roads and highways to catch travellers who are speeding or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The Quebec police force says speed and impaired driving "remain the main causes of fatal collisions" in the province.

Last year, authorities recorded nine fatal crashes during the Saint-Jean and Canada Day weekends.

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Environment Canada has issued a rainfall warning for parts of southern Quebec, including Montreal, Laval, the Montérégie region, and parts of the Laurentides and Lanaudière regions.

The federal weather agency forecasts 10 to 25 millimetres of rain in much of the province. Some areas, it says, already got as much as 60 millimetres between Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

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Do you feel it? The way the positivity clings to the air? It's real and it's happening, Montreal, because a lot of us are finally feeling optimistic about pretty much everything that's going on in the city and it honestly feels so great. 

While much of the positivity is because of the Montreal Canadiens' magical playoff run, don't forget that there's Saint-Jean, the upcoming relaxing of health measures, the return of (tiny) house parties, and everyone's hot vax summer — plus there's a full moon on June 24.

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If you're a fan of Italian cannolis or really just a fan of anything sweet, Cavallaro Saint-Jean's "cannoli nachos" are an absolute must-try.

Made with the spot's "famous" ricotta and cannoli shells, they give a whole new meaning to "holy cannoli!"

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