MONTREAL, June 8, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - The grandfather of all Grand Prix festivals in Montreal, the Crescent Grand Prix Festival, celebrated in record breaking style its 15th anniversary this weekend, drawing record crowds on both Friday and Saturday evenings for an estimated cumulated total significantly over the previously established record of 500,000 visitors in 2011.
Mother Nature having contributed on the last two days of the oldest F1 street festival in Montreal and the biggest in the world, even recognized in the book F1 for dummies, street merchants and exhibitors were ecstatic about the turnout and the pedestrian traffic on the renowned downtown street.
"This was a dream weekend for all of our merchants, explained Steve Siosios, President of the Crescent Street Merchants Association. Montrealers and visitors from all over the world enjoyed Montréal's Joie de vivre, our great restaurants and the charm of this unique North American city. Bars, terraces and restaurants made record breaking sales while our visitors enjoyed the diversity of the exhibits, cars and food kiosks along with great music on the Corona Extra stage all three nights."
"It is always with relief and satisfaction that we deliver an event of this magnitude," commented Brian Fogt, President of BBF Promotions and Events, the instigator of this event some 15 years ago. But eleven months of hard work, combined with great sponsors who believe in us and the visibility this event provides them, is the only recipe. But to draw some 550,000 spectators over 3 days requires the involvement and hard work of so many people to whom we say thank you, thank you and thank you again for having contributed to our successes over the last 15 years and especially this past weekend."
Crescent Street merchants and the promoter are all thankful to the various levels of government for securing the Canadian Grand Prix for another 10 years. The street festival itself offers a great opportunity to showcase our beautiful city to the world. The Crescent Street Festival not only provides entertainment value for the festival goers but also contributes to the economic growth of the city by creating every year over 500 direct jobs, not counting those created by the bars and restaurants in order to accommodate the substantially increased traffic during the weekend.
The Crescent Street Grand Prix Festival, the leader over the years, intends to continue the tradition and the trend it created by extending a rendezvous to motorsport, music, food and people on Montreal's best known street again in 2015. May the summer begin!
Image with caption: "Crescent Street and its record crowd as seen from the roof of Winston Churchill Pub on Friday night. (CNW Group/Crescent Street Grand Prix Festival)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140608_C9046_PHOTO_EN_41194.jpg
SOURCE: Crescent Street Grand Prix Festival
For interviews with the President of the Crescent Street Merchants Association or the President of BBF, the promoter of the event, please contact:
Paul Vaillancourt III
Torchia Communications
Cell: 514 996-6224
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