The International Balloon Festival of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu is back in force after three years of absence, welcoming on its stages international stars Jason Derulo, Ludacris and Billy Talent.

Quebec artists are not left out, we learned today, during the unveiling of the program. La Chicane, Marjo, Loud, Charlotte Cardin, Hubert Lenoir, Salebarbes, Alicia Moffet and Jonathan Roy are among the singers who will migrate to the South Shore of Montreal to take part in the festivities, spread over nine days.

Mariana Mazza will pilot her very first carte blanche which will allow her to realize "a great fantasy": to become a singer, for an evening, alongside Roxane Bruneau, Sarahmée and Laurence Nerbonne.

"I'm not an amazing singer, but I think I'm fair enough to make it fun. And I'm going to go all out with the costumes, so it's going to be crazy! “, promises the comedian, already galvanized.

Redesigned site

Festival-goers, for their part, will reconnect with a completely transformed site. Among the main new features is the redesigned main stage, in front of which bleachers will now be erected.

“The stage has been repositioned to allow people to enjoy the show and the view of the hot air balloons at the same time. Everything has been thought out to maximize the experience of festival-goers,” says Anouk Meunier, spokesperson for the event.

♦ The International Balloon Festival of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu will take place from August 13 to 21.