On July 26, 2026, Montreal’s Plateau‑Mont‑Royal neighborhood hosted the 20th edition of the Haïti en Folie festival at Parc La Fontaine. The celebration, titled “Lakay se lakay,” brought together residents and visitors for a day devoted to Haitian cultural expression.
The program featured a series of hands‑on activities designed to showcase the island’s artistic and culinary traditions. Participants moved through culinary workshops where they learned to prepare Haitian dishes, while percussion sessions invited attendees to try traditional drums and rhythms. Creole language classes offered basic instruction in the island’s primary tongue, and painting activities allowed artists of all ages to create works inspired by Haitian motifs. Storytelling circles provided a platform for sharing folktales and oral histories.
Organizers described the event as an effort to honor and promote Haitian cultural heritage within the multicultural fabric of Montreal. By presenting food, music, language, visual art and narrative in a single public space, the festival aimed to deepen appreciation for Haiti’s contributions to the city’s cultural landscape.
The Haïti en Folie festival has been a yearly fixture in Montreal for two decades, marking its 20th anniversary this summer. Since its inception, the event has grown into a staple of the Plateau‑Mont‑Royal’s cultural calendar, drawing community members who seek to maintain connections to their roots while introducing new audiences to Haitian customs.
The 2026 edition continued that legacy, offering free and accessible programming that encouraged participation across generations. As the day concluded, the park’s pathways were filled with the aromas of Haitian cuisine, the echo of drums, and the vibrant colors of painted canvases, reflecting the festival’s core aim of keeping Haitian culture alive and visible in the city.