A two-hour parade, a giant bonfire and outdoor rock and jazzconcerts. This may sound like homecoming weekend in a Midwesterncollege town, but Quebec residents annually ratchet thoseactivities to a fever pitch in a unique celebration of theirheritage.

Attendees of NAFCU's 48th Annual Conference and Solutions Expoin Montreal will have a chance this week to immerse themselves inone of the cornerstones of French Canadian culture at Fête nationale du Québec(Quebec's national holiday), also known as St. John de BaptisteDay.

The province-wide holiday, celebrated every year on June 24,closes banks and government offices while bringing revelers of allages into city parks and promenades in celebration. Expect manyareas of downtown to be closed to traffic and occupied by massivecrowds of Montrealers and Quebecers of all races, creeds andcolors.

St. Jean de Baptiste Day is woven into the history of Quebecfrom its earliest years. The first known celebration occurred onJune 23, 1636, on the banks of the St. Lawrence River with abonfire and five canon shots.

Although celebrations throughout the years have been codified bythe government and supported by the Catholic Church, the bonfiretradition dates back to pagan times, when it was a part oftraditional Summer Solstice celebrations. But the holiday didn'tgain national status until May 11, 1977, through an Order ofCouncil by then Lieutenant Gov. Hughes Lapointe. From then on,things only got more festive.

June 24 is the Feast Day of the Nativity of St. John theBaptist, but events this year begin the evening of June 23 with LeGrand Spectale, a massive free outdoor concert at Place desFestivals on Rue Jeanne-Mance. Quebec comedians and musicians willentertain the crowds starting at 6:30 p.m., with the major actstaking the stage at 9 p.m. The only language spoken or sung duringthe evening, of course, will be French.

The festival continues June 24 with défilé de la Saint-Jean, thelongstanding annual parade celebrating the history and beauty ofQuebec culture. This year's parade will march under the theme LeQuébec, une terre où il fait bon vivr! (Quebec, a landwhere life is good!)

Now 172 years old, the two-hour extravaganza starts at 1 p.m. atthe corner Rue Boucher and Rue St. Denis. Organizers have hintedthat there will be free gifts for early arrivers.

Threaded in and among those activities will be hundreds of localcelebrations, or fêtes de quartiers, at parks and public spacesthroughout the city and province. Fireworks, bonfires, facepainting and activities for kids mark the events. Even Montreal'sChinatown will host a street fair as part of the celebration.

Everything ends on June 24 with the lighting of the traditionalbonfire at Parc Olympique de Montréal (4141 Avenue Pierre DeCoubertin). Locals will tell you that nothing says Quebec pridelike a pyre of fire.

As for those who aren't done celebrating, the 36th annualedition of the Montreal JazzFestival begins its 10-day run June 25 at the Place desFestivals. Featured artists, which number in the hundreds, includejazz giants Wayne Shorter, Chris Botti, DeeDee Bridgewater, theJohn Schofield/Joe Lovano Quartet and others. Aging rockers TheSteve Miller Band and Huey Lewis and the News also makeappearances.

On the Quieter Side: But there's more toMontreal than festivals. The city is rife with history, culture andbon vivance. Here are a few more recommendations for thosewanting to leave the crowd behind (remember to check whether thesedestinations are open during the festival).

Read more: Go shopping, sailing, hiking orsightseeing …

Scale Mount Royal: Located north ofdowntown, Mount Royal (1260 Chemin Rememberance) at 764 feet isless a mountain and more of just a large hill. But Montrealers areproud of their promontory, which has three peaks and gave Europeanexplorer Jacques Cartier his first view of the area that wouldbecome the city.

A broad path and winding road allow both hikers and motoristseasy access to the summit, which opens to a spectacular cityscape.The adjacent Mount Royal Cemetery is the last resting place formany local dignitaries, and visitors can even hoist a tall cool oneto the grave of brewing giant John Molson.

Saunter through Old Montreal: The once walleddistrict of VieuxMontreal (303 Rue Notre-Dame Est), founded in 1642 and thecity's oldest neighborhood, is just a five-minute walk fromdowntown. The area still retains much of its historic charm.Historic architecture abounds and cobblestone streets lead to avariety of shops, cafes and museums, including the Pointe-à-Callière: Museum ofArcheology and History (350 Place Royale), which features arare underground exhibit of the city's original aqueduct. OldMontreal's St. Lawrence riverfront boasts some large recreationalspaces.

Sail aboard Le Bateau-Mouche: Montrealbasically occupies an island near the confluence of the St.Lawrence and Ottawa rivers. A ride aboard the riverboat le Bateau-Mouche (Ruede la Commune Est at Vieux-Port de Montreal) is a leisurely way totake in the city sights without the hassle of the crowds. The boatholds 180 passengers and offers open-air seating in warmerweather.

Visit Notre-Dame de Montreal Basilica: Fans ofgothic architecture will revel in the Notre-Dame de MontrealBasilica (110 Rue Notre-Dame O), what was once North America'slargest religious structure and home to Gros Bourdon, one of theworld's largest bells at 12 tons. Look for beautiful art andwoodworking and an impressive array of stained glass windows inthis impressive, neo-gothic structure built on a foundation thatdates back to 1672.

Shop the Underground City. Get away from thecrowd and by visiting La Ville Souterraine, also known as theUnderground City (800 Rue de la Gauchetière O). The subterraneancenter located beneath the pavement of Montreal's downtown.

Comprised of 20 miles of tunnels beneath the streets, theUnderground City is home to subway and bus routes, shops and banks,and even an event arena.

Scratch at the Montreal Insectarium: VisitingNorth America's leading insect museum may not be to everyone'staste, but it's one of the city's most unique experiences. The Insectarium(4581 Rue Sherbrooke Est) is home to some 250,000 species – someliving and some not – and you can even savor your favorite membersof the arthropod phylum with a little dash of hot sauce. Bonappétit!

Browse the Marché Atwater: Coffee, pastries,meats, cheeses, and fresh farm fruits and vegetables crowd thestalls at the MarchéAtwater (138 Avenue Atwater). The elegant Art Deco structurewith its landmark clock tower is home to a bevy of delectableedibles. The Boulangerie Première Moisson bakery produces 40different varieties of bread, and the rich aroma of freshly brewedcoffee entices passersby to stop and linger.