Ever since I have been in Montreal, I have been aware of the Tam-tams, but I admit, I haven’t been there too often; however, having a camera in my hands has inspired me to revisit some of the Montreal sites that I have taken for granted.
The Tam-tams take place on Sundays, near the monument to Sir George-Étienne Cartier and in Mount Royal Park’s surrounding green spaces. A colorful gathering of drummers, dancers, vendors, and their admiring audiences.
Thousands of drum players, dancers, vendors, and visitors come together every Sunday afternoon throughout the temperate months, occupying much of the open space on the eastern edge of Mount Royal Park.
The Tam-Tams typically start around 10:30 am and continue until sunset. It is not an officially sanctioned nor sponsored event, simply a regular if technically spontaneous event. As such, it’s difficult to pinpoint when it started or what motivated the first drum circle.