In certain sectors of Montréal, on April 8, 2024, the Moon will completely hide the Sun for a period of up to two minutes, depending on the specific area you are in. This is a total solar eclipse.

Observing this rare and remarkable phenomenon will be especially magnificent at Parc Jean-Drapeau because it provides an ideal eclipse-watching area, with many uninterrupted vantage points toward the Sun, in a charming decor.

Experts from the Planetarium and Espace pour la vie will be on hand to enlighten curious onlookers and hand out 150,000 glasses for safe viewing of the eclipse.

It's a rare opportunity to personally witness a total solar eclipse right here in Montréal because the next one in our city doesn't occur until 2205!

A selection of street trucks will be on hand, in addition to the varied offerings of Le Ste-Hélène Bistro-Terrasse restaurant, to satisfy every taste, appetite, and gourmet craving.

Don't miss this much-anticipated meeting of the Moon and the Sun!

Schedule

• Opening of the site 11 a.m.
  
• A diversified program from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Eclipse begins at 2:14 p.m.
• Total solar eclipse 3:26 p.m.
• Eclipse ends 4:36 p.m.

Musical entertainment

1:30 p.m.

DJ Champion, a well-known figure in electronic music, will be welcoming the public with some up-tempo tunes to get everyone bopping to the same beat.

Sophie Fouron, a host who is widely popular with the public, will be the master of ceremonies and will make the connection between nature, art, and science.

Demystifying the eclipse

2 p.m.

Laurie Rousseau-Nepton, an Innu astronomer and a professor at the Dunlop Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics will explain the astronomical phenomenon that is occurring.

This will be followed by the audiovisual work entitled "Le Savoir des Premiers Peuples sur les Éclipses Solaires (Indigenous Knowledge of Solar Eclipses)", two indigenous stories illustrated by the drawings of visual artist Isadora and music by the composer Martin Roy.

Music and song celebration

3:15 pm

The legendary Diane Dufresne will be lending her incomparable voice to the rendering of a song which will be a prelude to this celestial show.

She will be accompanied by a pre-recorded performance by the Orchestre Métropolitain (OM), conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin, which has a specially prepared work linked to the space theme.