‘Super pumped’: Crescent Street Grand Prix Festival fuelling downtown Montreal

Downtown Montreal is revving up as F1 festivities are fuelling the city, including the iconic Crescent Street Grand Prix Festival back for it’s 24^th edition.

All the excitement on the street started on Thursday and is set to run until June 15 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

“They can expect the best party in Montreal,” said Rob Segal, president of Feldman Entertainment Quebec who put the festival together with his team. “There’s DJs and bands and exhibitions and free samples.”

“What else do you want? It’s fantastic,” he added.

According to Tourisme Montréal, the city is renowned worldwide by F1 fans as the best racing city.

“Join the largest F1 party in the world and experience the incredible atmosphere during four highly animated days,” they wrote on their website. “You will have the opportunity to see real racing cars up close and visit a variety of booths that will make you discover the fascinating world of F1.”

Festival-goers also have the opportunity to attempt the Pit Stop Challenge, or check out the lineup of performances that’ll be on their El Jimador Stage — including magic being performed at the festival for the first time by Montreal magician Raphael La Ferrara.

More celebrities will also be in the city, like Canadian singer Karl Wolf.

“It’s so much fun,” he told CityNews. “It’s full of festivities.”

On Friday, Wolf is set to fill Francesco’s Nightclub on Rue Saint-Jacques with hits during a DJ set he’s doing.

“It’s going to be so much fun,” he explained.

“This is our first time so we’re really excited to get to experience the whole shebang here,” said Maureen Murphy, forward from the Montreal Victoire hockey team.

The women, definitely used to competing during their action-packed Professional Women’s Hockey League season, even gave their advice to the drivers for the big race on Sunday at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

“I would say stay focused and drive recklessly,” said Amanda Boulier, a Montreal Victoire defender, laughing.

“I think just have fun,” added teammate, Alexandra Labelle. “Montreal is so nice and I think it’s a nice weekend for everyone so just have fun and do your best.”

Also filling the streets are racecar enthusiasts who flew in for the Grand Prix weekend.

CityNews met Brenda Valdovinos and her son Sebastián Espinoza on Crescent street, who travelled from Mexico to experience the festival and race for a second time.

Espinoza hopes to become a race car driver.

“It’s my dream,” he explained. “I’m so happy to be here for the whole Grand Prix.”

“It’s an experience because my son has been like three years playing with the simulator and everything,” added Valdovinos.

“We’re so excited,” said another festival-goer, Anaelle Franchet who brought her two young girls to the festival. “We’re actually big F1 fans.”

“This is our little thing, the three of us girls,” she added. ” So we decided to come here today, so we could have a glimpse of the ambiance.”

“We got to see a real F1 car,” she said. “We’re super pumped. Super exciting.”