Les Tam-Tams du Mont Royal – Street Festival Review | Condé Nast Traveler

"So what's this happening all about? Since its inauguration in 1876, Mount Royal Park has served as one of the city's main gathering spaces. And since the mid 1960s, the informal, yet institutionalized, phenomenon known as Tam Tams has been one of the city's quirkiest and most beloved traditions when the weather is nice. When does it occur? Every Sunday afternoon during the warmer months, at the base of the George-Étienne Cartier Monument obelisk, groups of friends, strangers, and percussionists from all walks of life gather to form communal drumming circles. Nobody really knows with absolute certainty how or why Tam Tams came to be, but these Montrealers have been marching to the beat of their own drums for so long that they've become an institution unto themselves. What can we expect to see during one of these Sundays? The magic of Tam Tams is its informality—and how beloved it is in Montreal. In addition to the drum circles, you'll find all sorts of artisans and craftspeople selling their wares. Don't expect to find luxury gifts, though; the handmade nature of the shopping here is part of the charm. Behind the Cartier obelisk, you'll find a devout community of LARPers; that's right, "Live Action Role Players" simulating lightsaber battles and medieval jousting matches. Do we need to make plans in advcance? The beauty of Tam Tams is that it's free. Even if you simply pair it with a quick walk through the park on your way from brunch in Outremont to some other activity Downtown, it's fun to take in the sights, even if it's just an hour or so." - Todd Plummer