Scaled-down version of Osheaga festival kicks off, and music lovers will take what they can get

After a long absence, the Osheaga music festival kicked off on Friday, but it's a much more subtle affair this year due to pandemic restrictions.

The annual festival, which is normally held in August, was cancelled in 2020 and postponed this year. The three-day event, which ends on Sunday, is called Osheaga Get Together.

With a much smaller crowd and chillier-than-usual weather, the vibe at Parc Jean-Drapeau is sure to pale in comparison to pre-COVID editions.

But fans in attendance are just happy the event is back, even if it means dealing with public health restrictions.

For starters, there can't be more than 15,000 people at the site. The space usually accommodates up to 65,000 festival-goers.

This year, people from different households must maintain a one-metre distance from each other, and when that's not possible, masks are required.

And of course, vaccination passports are mandatory for entry.