Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day in La Petite-Nation's villages

Québec's Fête nationale, better known as the Saint-Jean, is the province's big party. In La Petite-Nation, it isn't a giant stage show like in the city. It's the whole village out at once, kids running everywhere, music, and the neighbour who brought his guitar without being asked.

Almost every municipality throws its own. Some celebrate on the evening of June 23, others on the 24th. Since it changes from village to village and year to year, here's the rule up front: it's June 23 or 24, so check with your town. The program goes up on the municipality's Facebook page or the event's own Facebook page.

Here's the village-by-village rundown, with what we know about each.

The south, along the Ottawa River

Thurso

The Saint-Jean evening is run by the Optimist Club, which organizes a good share of Thurso's events. In 2026, the provincial theme paid tribute to Guy Lafleur, who was born in Thurso. Nobody here needed that explained. While you're in town, swing past the bronze of the Flower, eight feet tall in front of town hall.

Plaisance

The municipality posts the program on its Facebook page. If you're coming from away, make a day of it: the Plaisance falls in the afternoon, the party in the evening.

Papineauville

Papineauville marks the Saint-Jean in the village, with details on the Facebook event. It's the seat of the regional municipality, sitting right on the 75th meridian, and it's Papineau country, so the party comes with a bit of history.

Montebello

Montebello celebrates in the village with its recreation committee. A village party in a village you can walk end to end is the best combo there is: park once and wander.

The middle

Saint-André-Avellin

The biggest municipality in the region throws its own Saint-Jean too. The program goes up on the Facebook event. With the Western Festival coming in July, the village is already in summer mode.

Ripon

Ripon celebrates, and the program goes up on the municipality's Facebook page. If the next day is a Saturday, the Place du Marché market runs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Best hangover cure in the area.

Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix and Namur

The two villages hold a joint party, with the program on the Facebook event. It makes sense when each village has a few hundred people.

Boileau

Our favourite, on paper anyway. A come-as-you-are potluck in the park, pétanque, the ball field, games, and musicians are invited to bring their instruments. Bring a dish and a chair, and tune your guitar before you leave. Boileau's municipal park has a lovely view of the surrounding hills, too.

The north, around the lakes

Chénéville

The party happens in the village, and the program is posted every year on the Facebook event. Handy detail: Chénéville has tourist-zone status, which lets shops open on statutory holidays. Forgot the ice or the sausages on the 24th? That's where you fix it.

Lac-Simon

Lac-Simon marks the Fête nationale, with details on the municipality's Facebook event. The municipal beach is right there for the daytime.

Duhamel

Duhamel celebrates in the village, with details posted every year on the Facebook event. Up at the north end of the region, with the Sépaq beach and Lac Simon nearby, it's a proper cottage-country Saint-Jean.

Lac-des-Plages

The Lac-des-Plages version, in the village. Program on the Facebook event. The municipal park has a pirate ship to keep the kids busy until the music starts.

Bowman

Bowman marks the day with a village party, and a country night was on the bill in 2026. Dig out the boots.

The other villages

We didn't find a party listed for every municipality. If yours isn't here, that doesn't mean nothing's happening. Check your town's page or call the municipal office. And if your village is planning something, tell us and we'll add it.

A few local tips

• Bring a chair. First rule of any village party.
• For beer and wine, Marché Faubert in Montpellier and Marché des Plages in Lac-des-Plages both have an SAQ outlet. Full disclosure: we're regulars at Marché Faubert.
• For the barbecue, Boucherie Les Produits David in Chénéville cuts meat to order. We're regulars there too.

June 24 is a statutory holiday in Québec. Lots of shops close or change their hours. Do your shopping the day before, or head up to Chénéville.

ThursoBoileauBowmanChénévilleDuhamelLac-des-PlagesLac-SimonMontebelloNotre-Dame-de-la-PaixNamurPapineauvillePlaisanceRiponSaint-André-Avellin

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