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The students are back. The weather is warm. The days are still pretty long. Halloween candy is in the supermarket already, so it’ll be over two months old when you can finally eat what you don’t give away (or eat now and buy another bag before October). And, as always, Montreal has got festival upon festival upon festival layered up like your clothes will be in a few months. If your summer love has left you, it’s the perfect time to find yourself a new study buddy at an event that you checked out.

Piknic Electronik

May 22 – October 2, 2022
Plaine des Jeux, Parc Jean Drapeau

Everyone’s favourite outdoor dance party rages on every Sunday and a few other days here and there in conjunction with major summer events. Enjoy local and international DJs mixing beats on stage. This year the Boiler Room makes an appearance as well. Season tickets are available and student tickets are a merciful $100. Information HERE.

Jardins Gamelin

May 26 – Oct 02 , 2022
Place Émilie-Gamelin
1500 Rue Berri

The park and its cultural and citizen-driven activities is one of the nicest spots to chill in the city. Open every day with something happening most of the time, be certain to find out more HERE.

Marché des Possibles/Entrepôt 77

May 27 – Oct 2, 2022
77 Bernard Est

This weekend market that combines vendors with food with drink with performances and events run by the POP Montreal gang. The vibe is local and the offerings always delightful. Info HERE.

Festival Arts Ruelles

August 29 – September 11, 2022
Various Ruelles

An alleyway near you will be featuring music, dance, theatre, poetry, podcasts, or another form of art during this festival. France d’Amour, Kinkead, and Chines de Ruelles are among those playing. For information click HERE.

World Press Photo

August 31 – October 2, 2022
Marché Bonsecours
325 Rue de la Commune East

Challenge yourself with the gorgeous photojournalism on display at the World Press Photo exhibit. This prestigious exhibition features 150 prizewinning photographs on display. Some capture world news events, others make small events into world news. It never disappoints. More info HERE.

Montreal Trad Festival

August 31 – September 4, 2022
Maison de la Culture Ahuntsic
10300 Rue Lajeunesse

Bringing together chiefly musicians from Montreal and Quebec, this festival celebrates the tradition of trad music. If you’ve never heard it, it’s high spirited, lively music made with fiddles, guitars, tapping feet, singing, and sometimes more. It combines both old traditions and new innovations. Information HERE.

JOAT

Aug 31 – Sept 6, 2022
Club Soda and Place des Arts Esplanade
1225 St Laurent

Hip hop, break, and popping — urban dance styles that seem to defy all the rules — are at the heart of this dance competition. The breaking battles to secure the 16 competition slots in Club Soda takes place in Place des Arts. But only one will win in each category. Find out more HERE.

Estival du Nouveau Cinéma

September 1 – 4, 2022
Quartier des Spectacles, Esplanade Tranquille
1442 Rue Clarke

This event is tied with the Festival du Nouveau Cinema which takes place in October. This short, free event offers screenings at the Esplanade Tranquille Info HERE.

Montreal Fetish Weekend

September 1 – 5, 2022
Various locations

In the kink and fetish friendly city that is Montreal, Canada’s largest international gathering of sex positivity takes place. There is a Fetish pride parade, play parties, workshops, marketplaces, and more. Details can be found HERE. 

Les Premiers Vendredis: Festival Viet Montréal

September 2, 2022
Esplanade du Parc Olympique
4141 Pierre de Coubertin Ave
4 p.m. – 11 p.m.

Pho sho you won’t want to miss the monthly gathering of food trucks and restauranteurs as they offer a bounty of goodness for purchase alongside live performances. Lil Waterboi, Yenny Yka, Mando and more will be performing. Info HERE.

Gardens of Light

September 2 – October 31, 2022
Botanical Garden
4101 Sherbrooke E

The Botanic Gardens light up with hundreds of intricate lanterns shaped to look like animals, flowers, and objects. The lanterns come from Shanghai and take three months to mount in the Botanic Gardens. Every year there are about 200 new lanterns added to the group. This is one of the most beloved fall seasonal activities in Montreal and anyone can enjoy it. More info HERE.

Martinique Gourmande Festival

September 2 – 10, 2022
Various venues

Martinique means rum and you can get your share of food goodness at this annual festival. This year includes a Creole market at the Old Port. Information HERE.

Festival Distrix

September 2 – 4, 2022
Quartier des Spectacles

This festival celebrates urban sports and art. Among the things to catch are performances by Ragers, comedy featuring Punch Street, and DJs. Info HERE.

Montreal Electric Groove (MEG)

Sept 4 – 6, 2022
Various locations

Get your dance shoes and glowsticks on at the MEG festival. With a line up of DJs that will keep you moving. Look for MIsstress Barbara, Chrlie Shulz, Adrian Voglen, and plenty more.  For more information click HERE.

Montreal Grand Comedy Competition

September 5 – October 11, 2022
Diving Bell Social Club
3956 St Laurent

Throughout September and October, watch the preliminary rounds of the Montreal Grand comedy competition as local comics strive to be the best. It’s a chance to see who among the up and coming is destined for their own Netflix Special. Info HERE.

Festival de films féministes de Montréal | Montreal Feminist Film Festival

September 7 – 11, 2022
Casa del Popolo
4873 St Laurent Blvd

One hopes this is self explanatory. A series of films focused on feminism being showcased at the beloved venue of Casa del Popolo. For tickets, click HERE.

La Grande Rentrée du Quartier Latin

September 8 – 10, 2022
Rue St. Denis dans le Quartier des Spectacles

An outdoor festival in the Quartier des Spectacles up to Rue Saint Denis with visual art, food, drink, cinema, literature, performances, and lots of music as a way to welcome back the students. A few bars will be open until 6 a.m. if that’s your thing. More info HERE.

Shoni Market

September 8 – 11, 2022
St. Catherine Ouest

Shaughnessy Village already is packed with delicious noodle and dumpling shops. Vendors set up bbqs on the streets and offer all manner of pan-Asian cuisine. Last year there was also a corgi appreciation event. Keep an eye on the Instagram page HERE.

Quartiers Danses

September 8 – 18, 2022

Dance isn’t just for snobby folks and it doesn’t come in one form. Quartiers Danses seeks to democratize contemporary dance and make it available for everyone. With a diversity of artists at different skill levels, dance is made accessible to all. This year expect to see ballet, urban, contemporary dance, and all the rest of the movement arts. More info on locations, free shows, and tickets, click HERE.

Ukrainian Festival

September 10, 2022
Parc Maisonneuve
4601 Sherbrooke St E

Since Russia decided to invade, everyone is Ukrainian now. Listen to traditional music, eat delicious food (we all now know Ukraine is the breadbasket of Europe), dancing, performances, exhibitions are all on offer. There’s a solid lineup of performers. Slava Ukraini! More info HERE.

No Hay Banda Festival

November 13-15, 2022
Conservatoire de Musiuqe de Montreal (4650 Henri Julien)

A bit hard to describe, No Hay Banda focuses on avant garde performance and music events with no single genre leading the way. Every month is a segment of the Festival. September is all about Pierluigi Billone. Information HERE.

Ladyfest

September 14-16, 2022
Various venues

Femme and non-binary talent in stand up, improv, and sketch gets a festival with Ladyfest. It’s a one love, no jerks party. There’s even a dance party! For information about the shows and further details, click HERE.

Festival L’Art en Soi

September 15- 24, 2022
Quartier des Spectacles

Get ready to dance as six nights of dancing will be on offer at Place des Arts’ Esplanade. Learn different styles and then show off all your moves. Info HERE.

Art Tattoo Show

September 16-18, 2022
Gare Windsor
1160 Ave des Canadiens de Montreal

Thinking about inking. Well, a great place to see what you can do as well as what you might not want to do will be on display at the Art Tattoo show. Over 200 gifted tattoo artists from around the world (principally Canada and the US) will showcase their talents and offer their services. Some even compete. There are also seminars and lectures on the art of tattooing and its history. More info HERE. 

The Montreal Stop Motion Film Festival

September 16 – 18, 2022
J.A. de Sève Cinema, Concordia University

Montreal’s annual festival dedicated to this special form of animation includes master classes, guest speakers, and film screenings. There are plenty of opportunities to schmooze and meet the filmmakers too. More info HERE.

Porchfest – Balconfête NDG

Sept 17, 2022
NDG Various locations

The sweet, sweet sounds of acoustic guitars and singer-songwriters not to mention rock, reggae, roots, and more fill the streets of NDG as one of the loveliest arts festivals of the city takes place. From their front lawns, balconies, and porches, residents of NDG play or host musicians and groups. Keep an eye out for a map and times. Info HERE.

Afro-Végane Festival

September 18, 2022
Jamaica Pavillion, Parc Jean Drapeau

Workshops and cooking demonstrations take place at this festival along with stalls offering vegan food that ties back to the African Diaspora. Black-owned, plant-based vendors will be selling various products. YUM! Info HERE.

Montreal International Black Film Festival

September 20 – 25, 2022
Various venues

This festival celebrates black participation in the film industry as well as films that look at international black realities. Awards are given to documentaries, shorts, and feature films. Ground-breaking cinema, some of which will never have commercial release on the big screen, is shown. More info HERE.

Le Tout Petit Festival de Salon

September 22-24, 2022
Le Salon (5415 4e Ave)

Three nights of events brought to you by the Collectif Creatif. Performers include Maggie Lennon, Rau Ze, La Carotte Polaire, Sorai, Virginie B, and Georgette. Info and details HERE.

MAPP MTL Festival

Sept 22, 2022
Skatepark Van Horne

Bringing a digital block party to the Van Horne Skatepark, 60 second digital projections will be featured from different creators. Information HERE.

Defund La Police Festival

Sept 22, 2022
Parc NDG
noon – 11 p.m.

This festival features talks and workshops on the theme of taking funds away from the police and reinvesting into the community to create a safer city for all. Free food and art exhibits are part of the festival. Info HERE.

A Varning From MTL Fest

September 22 – 24, 2022

With punk and experimental music at its heart, the A Varning festival attracts those who really like it loud and wild. This three day festival might require a few earplugs. Just saying. Tickets HERE.

Beneva Marathon

September 23 – 25, 2022

One of the biggest running events in the city, this is a race worth participating in or watching. Try anything from the 1K to the full marathon. Training usually helps. You can always watch and cheer the runners on. More info HERE.

FIL (Festival International de la Litérature)

September 23 – October 2, 2022
Various locations

Montreal celebrates the world of French writers, writing, and literature at the FIL. Readings and a pop up bookstore make this a delight for those into all things literary. More info HERE.

100 Thousand Poets for Change Festival

September 24, 2022
TBD

This global event brings together poets with the intent of demonstrating and celebrating as a way to promote peace, sustainability, and to promote social, environmental, and political change. Global website can be found HERE.

POP Montreal

September 28 – October 2, 2022
Various Venues

The folks at POP Montreal deliver on the musical culture and culture more generally year round in the city, but their big moment is the diverse and challenging music festival, POP Montreal. The festival brings together both no-names and big-names for a mash-up of concerts, symposiums, art, film, and of course, parties. It’s the Eton Mess of music festivals — spontaneous or chaotic, depending on your sense of random. More info HERE.

Montreal Clown Festival

September 29 – October 2, 2022
Mainline Theatre (3997 St Laurent)

Who are you calling a clown? Get ready to laugh and laugh and laugh as performers of all sorts show you the variety that clowning can be. Workshops as well as performances. Send ’em in! Details  HERE. 

Les Journées de la Culture

Sept. 30 – October 2, 2022

Province-wide Québec’s culture gets its spotlight with the Journées de la Culture. The people of Montreal will be out in full force showing their talents in public spaces. This is a voluntary activity and artists and performers register their activities. Expect everything from performance to workshop to conference. More info HERE.

Upcoming Events

Montreal Vegan Festival

October 8 – 9, 2022
Palais des Congres (1001 Place Jean-Paul Riopelle)

Eat and taste your way through aisles of animal-free products. There is plenty of food, but also booths for activists and more. All totally free too. Click HERE for more info.

Ramen Ramen Festival

October 11 – 16, 2022

Whether you slurp or daintily sip, ramen prepared in as many ways as you can imagine is the focus of this delicious festival. Info HERE.

Festival Japania

October 15 – 16, 2022
Marche Bonsecours

Lovers of Japanese anime and pop culture have another festival to delight in — Japania. Martial arts, food, music, fashion, mangas, and video games are all available. Info HERE.

Montreal Burlesque Festival 2022

October 14-15, 2022
Club Soda

Scarlett James hosts the annual burlesque festival where taking it off is what it’s all about. Although, burlesque is so much about the journey AND the destination. New Zealander Chris Oh! headlines. Enjoy some of the best performers in the city and those from elsewhere. Info HERE.

Monthly Festival Links

September

October

November

December

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

For Montreal Rampage’s daily events calendar, click HERE. If you have an event you would like to include, send an email to [email protected]