From Festibière to Parasol
by Orkestra
After almost 20 years as Festibière, our first festival is entering a new era. What began as a more traditional brewing event has gradually evolved into a much more festive and immersive experience. Today, the evolution is taking shape with a new identity: Festival Parasol.
While the change of name and identity may seem sudden, it’s actually the result of a transformation that began a few years ago. The constraints imposed by the pandemic had prompted the Gatineau Festibière team to rethink the event and explore new approaches. And what was supposed to be a temporary event finally became a much-appreciated formula. Festival-goers loved the changes, and it was clear that Festibière had to evolve to fully reflect what it was becoming.
And so Festival Parasol was born.
A festive stopover for a few hours
If we had to sum up the spirit of Parasol, we’d say it’s a short express trip, without plane or passport.
Festival-goers come to discover new products, immerse themselves in a festive and colorful universe, and get a change of scenery without leaving the city. Just like when you go south: you want sun, fun, flavors and an atmosphere you can’t find anywhere else.
And for that to work, we needed a name that embodied that spirit.
Why Parasol?
We were looking for a friendly, relaxed and unifying name. Not something too serious or too niche. Parasol ticked all the boxes:
- It immediately evokes a relaxed, festive atmosphere. A terrace in the sun.
- It works like a “hat” under which you find lots of different experiences.
- It connects us to the inspirations of southern cultures, rich in color and flavor.
In short, we think it was the right choice.

Changing without losing our bearings
As we all know, changing the identity of a well-established festival is not something to be taken lightly. Under normal circumstances, we’d advise against it. But in this case, we wanted to strike the right balance between novelty and continuity, so that festival regulars would always feel at home.
That’s why we’ve kept several key Festibière elements:
- The flagship colors of the visual identity;
- The label system and illustrated characters, part of the festival’s DNA;
- Microbreweries, because the industry continues to impress us with its creativity.
We’re not throwing anything away, we’re enhancing the experience.
What’s next?
We can’t wait to see how the public responds to Parasol’s first official edition, but one thing’s for sure: the team is more inspired than ever. The change has given a big boost of energy internally, and we can’t wait to see festival-goers pack their bags and head for Gatineau.