A major urban celebration on Saturday, February 21, from 9p.m.!

The 10th Anniversary High Lights Event

with special guest DJ James Di Salvio

Montreal, Wednesday, February 4, 2009 - To celebrate a first decade of urban winter pleasures, organizers of the MONTREAL HIGH LIGHTS Festival wanted to invite the city to a special event of spectacular proportions. Mission accomplished: the Festival gets its wish, throwing a major blowout to mark its opening Saturday, proudly inviting Montrealers and tourists to the 10th Anniversary High Lights Event, presented by Hydro-Québec on February 21, starting at 9 p.m.

9 p.m., Saturday night. Montrealers brave the cold to participate in their Festival’s outdoor activities and flock to the outdoor Festival site, enjoying themselves on the Quays of the Old Port and in Old Montréal. Suddenly, faraway music is heard, colourful lights dance under the stars, and their vision is drawn to what appears to be motion, action, excitement just steps away… Musicians and stiltwalkers approach the visitors, drawing them ever closer to the festive commotion. Destination? De la Commune Street, in front of Pointe-à-Callière, where the circle of onlookers grows ever larger and more excited. The crowd suspects something is up, without realizing the full extent of the multimedia spectacle about to erupt, a wild affair blending circus acts, pyrotechnics, digital arts, acrobatics and projections starring one hundred artists, acrobats, musicians, dancers, percussionists and fire handlers! And to crown it all, the inimitable DJ James Di Salvio pulls on his party suit - or a parka! - and mans the wheels of steel to keep the multitudes dancing frenziedly under a fireworks display that splits the night sky!

The 10th Anniversary High Lights Event is designed and directed by Olivier Dufour, Dufour Événements, spectacles et images.

Like the Montreal All-Nighter, the Festival’s closing bash for the past six years, the 10th Anniversary High Lights Event was created through the sponsorship of Hydro-Québec, major presenter of the Festival since its inception, as well as the specific financial support of Canada Economic Development, the ministère du Tourisme and the ministère des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l’Occupation du territoire.

For all the info on the MONTREAL HIGH LIGHTS Festival, call the Info‑Lumière Line at 514 288‑9955, toll-free at 1 888 477‑9955, or visit montrealhighlights.com. The 10th edition of the MONTREAL HIGH LIGHTS Festival runs from Thursday, February 19 to Sunday, March 1, 2009. See you there!

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