Tam-Tams

Tam-Tams is a weekly gathering of drummers and musicians who meet on the grass around the George-Étienne Cartier Monument in Mount Royal Park. Several hundred participants form loose circles while others lie on the grass, dance, or wander between groups.

The first drummers began gathering informally on the grass in the mid-1960s and holding rhythmic sessions. Over the decades, the event grew into a regular fixture of the warm season and now draws large crowds consistently.

The name Tam-Tams refers to the drum sounds that echo across the grass every Sunday afternoon, drawing dancers, jugglers, and onlookers. Many visitors bring simple rhythm instruments and join the open circles that welcome everyone without fixed rules.

The gathering takes place every Sunday from April through October and is free to attend. Visitors can bring blankets, food, or simple instruments and move freely across the grass.

Behind the monument, groups of enthusiasts re-enact medieval sword-fighting scenarios using padded weapons. These parallel activities run at the same time as the drum circles and share the same open space without interfering with each other.