Gatineau, June 14, 2022 – For Les Grands Feux du Casino Lac-Leamy, the summer of 2022 marks a return to normalcy that will be anything but normal. The 25th anniversary promises to reconnect us with each other and the elements in a whole new expression of the event.
“It is important for me to mention that the announcements I am about to unveil today are the result of more than a year and a half of hard work, for my team and me. The pandemic and the adversity that accompanied it have helped us cultivate and bring forth an innovative and original vision for the future of the event, of which we are deeply proud,” says Marc-Antoine Massicotte, President and CEO of Les Grands Feux du Casino Lac-Leamy..
A transformed venue with 4 hours of entertainment every night
1 km of multi-sensory experiences that will awaken the senses
“With the creation of this new component of the Les Grands Feux, we want to give the public an experience that brings people together and transforms them. Following the rhythm of the sunset, the site gradually evolves and reveals its other face. Gradually, everything becomes illuminated, magical, festive, out of time and out of everyday life. The public will have the chance to be carried by luminous, immersive and sensory experiences imagined for the occasion. The universe we’ve created is sure to surprise, amaze and ignite a few sparks,” says Thomas Payette, Mirari’s creative director.
From the opening to the exit, including the grand pyromusical show, participants will discover gathering and entertainment areas dotted with analog and digital experiences and installations developed in collaboration with the creators of Mirari, a Quebec-based multidisciplinary creative studio. Through a narrative inspired by the universe of fire, participants will find themselves among installations that will provide them with refreshing and surprising experiences :
Les Parcours lumineux : the entertainment experience will begin with a light path that will come to life at the 2 new official entrances of the event site, accessible via the Laurier-Victoria and Laurier-Alexandra Bridge intersections. Bordered by mature trees, the two entrances will offer similar paths that will change throughout the evening, until sunset, to become even more illuminated once night falls.
They will offer participants a magical experience upon arrival, as well as upon the exit, as if stardust had settled after the great late-night fireworks show.
Le Grand Feu, central gathering point : the trails will then lead to a structure representing a great bonfire that attracts and gathers participants in the heart of the event site, within the Canadian Museum of History backyard. In the form of a scenographic sculpture that rises from the earth like a volcano, this large central fire is composed of light, smoke and materials that reflect light during the day and shine with a thousand lights at night. The beating heart of the site is a place to meet, sit, eat, dance and admire unexpected artistic performances.
La Boîte d’art numérique presents Lucioles : every evening on the event site, participants will have the chance to admire an original audiovisual installation by Myriam Boucher entitled Lucioles which explores the wonder and magic of a nocturnal landscape animated by these luminous insects commonly called “fireflies”. She will propose an experience composed of reflections, beams and rainbows created with different materials, lights and screens. Fireflies is an original work created exclusively for Les Grands Feux and we are very proud of it!
La Lanterne, resting area at the foot of the trees : a little further on the site, there will be an immersive rest area called La Lanterne. Looking like a haven of peace, participants will be able to stroll around and be amazed by this suspended, colourful and illuminated installation that takes place at the foot of three majestic mature trees. This will certainly be an area that will not go unnoticed, visible from as far away as the Ontario shore! Other surprises immersive areas will also be available on the site when the event comes!
2 new culinary components bringing together no less than 10 restaurateurs from the Outaouais
L’Incandescent, cooking on fire ephemeral restaurant, will appear in a new area of the site called La Braise. As you approach the site, the smell of grilled meats and vegetables will immerse participants in the best of summer. Smoke from Argentinean grills, mechouis and smokers will add a unique festive touch to the atmosphere. Custom designed and using wood and charcoal cooking techniques, it will bring together 2 guest restaurateurs per night from the best addresses in town. This new event will invite gatherings and discoveries in a casual setting, on the riverfront, near the Alexandra Bridge, next to a SAQ Bistro lined with picnic tables. The masters of fire who will take turns at the Incandescent’s grills: La Boucherie des Vilains, Antonyme, Clandestin Cuisine créative, Chelsea Pub, Le Cellier and Le Rituel. They will be working with hyperlocal products from Brylee Farm, Ferme aux Saveurs des Monts and Domaine Mangalica among others. Local beers will also be available at this location only, offering the best the region has to offer in terms of breweries with : La Brasserie du Bas-Canada, Gallicus, 5e Baron, À la Dérive, Chelsea & Co and Hoffman.
La Boîte Découverte, a local ready-to-eat box specially designed for picnicking and tasting on the event site that includes 8 small dishes to share concocted by as many local restaurateurs, namely : Les Vilains Garçons, Olivia Bistro-Boutique, Clandestin Cuisine créative, Roberto Pizza Romana, Pub Chelsea, Le Cellier, Le Rituel, and Soif – Bar à vin. It is possible to reserve your box now.
“Thanks to this beautiful complicity between our two organizations, these new unique culinary experiences bringing together farms, microbreweries and numerous talents from the Outaouais region will be launched here this summer. This type of initiative, like those undertaken by Les Grands Feux with the local community, has a real positive impact for us, restaurant owners in the Outaouais region,” says Les Vilains Garçons team.
In addition to these two new offerings, La Cuisine de rue aux saveurs locales will be back and will welcome in La Plaza, 4 local food trucks every night among Le Vilain Camion, Les Brûlés artisans fumeurs, Olivia Bistro and Za-za la délicieuse remorque. La Plaza will also feature a SAQ Bistro offering many Quebec products, as well as an outdoor terrace area, near Le Grand feu!
Expanded and enhanced fun area to entertain young and old alikes
Les Étincelles : Tim Hortons playground will offer play experiences, campfire areas, a S’mores bar and even a retro pink lemonade station prepared by the Gatineau company Flirt Drinks exclusively for Les Grands Feux! Enough to sweeten the beaks of young and old alike! Next to this large family area will be a new Coin Bébés, a family care area with changing tables and breastfeeding chairs available to parents. A quiet corner to make their lives easier.
Closing the evening in style with the Grand pyromusical show
Les Grands Feux would not be the favourite event of tens of thousands of families since 1996 without the majestic pyromusical performances so beloved by the public! Twenty-five minutes of pure magic from international guest firms and exhilarating music await participants on August 3, 6, 10, 13, 17 and 20. Complete program, tickets, passports and tourist packages on sale at feux.qc.ca.