Montréal’s 28^th edition of the Just For Laughs Festival presented by Videotron in association with Loto-Québec kicks off on July 6 and runs through July 17, 2010, followed by an Urban Arts street fair from July 17 to July 25 complete with parades of twins (some 1,000 pairs), triplets and multiple birth children from around the world! The laughs will be on tap 24/7 with a program where the spectacular meets the emotional.

The largest humor festival in the world, the Just For Laughs Festival features scores of stand-up comedy events, concerts, plays, skits, street theatre, parades and more fun than a barrel of monkeys. Headliners include John Leguizamo, Latin King of comedy and Emmy-award winning actor, who’ll present his new, uncensored one-man show, “Klass Klown”. Not to be missed are Cheech & Chong, the world’s favorite stoners who are back for a night of smokin’ hot comedy, hosting their own Videotron Just For Laughs Gala, Then there’s Pamela Anderson, the most downloaded woman in the world, who’ll host an hilariously high-concept evening with her Dancing with the Stars partner Damian Whitewood.  For tickets, call 514-845-4069.

The free Urban Arts program that follows the Festival is quirkiness at its best – chockablock with every variety of passion, talent and licensed madness…all brought together into major events in public spaces.  Beyond the Parade of Twins are majestic parades of fantastical characters who leave a mysterious impression in their wake; a huge outdoor dance party; wandering stilt troupes; Rock Band and Guitar Hero contests: a procession of tumblers, acrobats and other masters of imagination; light shows and pyrotechnics; face-painting and clowns, mimes and harlequins; and, if all this isn’t enough — Live-on-the-Street, the story of a musician wandering with his double bass, an instrument that thinks it’s a dog and socializes with the audience!

If your sides hurt from laughing, you can always explore the fabulous city of Montréal, Discover the Ice Age at the Montréal Science Center; run the Lachine Rapids in a jet boat; amble through the Montreal Botanical Gardens; or rocket up to 68 mph on the new Goliath roller coaster at La Ronde. In Old Montreal (the town was founded in 1642) are narrow streets lined with 19th-century buildings, many transformed into art galleries and cafés.

As for the culinary arts, Montreal is jam-packed with wonderful food and wine establishments (mwah!) and there are plenty of family-fare eateries as well. No fewer than five different Just For Laughs packages are available — from a one-night VIP Gala Evening to a five-night Laugh ‘n Pass package that includes a souvenir swag bag, three main floor tickets to one of the Videotron Just For Laughs galas, five tickets per person to a Club Series themed show, and more. Plus, there are a dozen hotels to choose among.

Check out the Just For Laughs Festival presented by Videotron web site:  www.hahaha.com. For more information: Call 514-845-4069 or for reservations call 1 877 484-4242.