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Jardins Gamelin

May 17 to September 30 2018

Jardins Gamelin

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.

Piknic Electronik

Sundays, Through September 2018

Parc Jean Drapeau

DJs from around the world perform for the Sunday crowds who want to bliss out in the sunshine and on into the evening. July DJ headliners and support include Rampa, Brodinski, Mija, Palms trax, and Bicep. Not bad for a way to party your way into Monday. Click HERE for details.

The Gay Village Pedestrian Street

April – September

St. Catherine Street

The Gay Village closes to cars and stays open for foot traffic. Enjoy the terraces, free art exhibits, street sales, and street performers.

Marché des Possibles

June 22 – July 29 2018

5635 St Dominique

The Marché des Possibles is a weekend market that combines local artistic vendors, food, and performances run by the POP Montreal crowd. The vibe is local and the offerings always delightful. Some weekends its yoga, some it is music. Info HERE.

Mtl en Arts

June 27 to July 1 2018

Multidisciplinary arts festival offers an open air art gallery along St. Catherine St. It includes film, installations, live demonstrations, and much more. Details can be found HERE. 

Elektra

June 26 – July 1 2018

The international digital art festival showcases artists and works that utilize new technologies. The festival has a Montreal focus, but an international vision. For more information, clickHERE. 

Montreal International Jazz Festival

June 28 to July 7 2018

It’s not exclusively jazz but it’s an anything goes kind of event with free programming and paid events that blow people away year after year. The main attractions this year are Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Bonobo, Boz Scaggs, GoGo Penguin, Jann Arden, Seal, Jacques Kuba Seguin, Holly Cole, and on and on and on. Tickets and schedules HERE. 

Biennial Digital Art Festival

June 29 – Aug 5 2018

This biannual festival has vernissages and other art events around the theme of Automata: Sing the Body Electric. Exhibits are located throughout the city For more information, click HERE. 

 

Canada Day

July 1 2018
Old Port

Sir Wilfrid Laurier is celebrating yet another birthday and the old port is the site of the celebration. All day, activities take place, including dancing and virtual reality workshops.  Come see the swearing in of new Canadians at 1 p.m., and stay the rest of the night for musical performances and a 21-cannon salute, and fireworks at 10 p.m. Information HERE.

L’International des Feux Loto-Québec/Fireworks Festival

Saturdays and Wednesdays, 10 p.m., July 7 to August 8 2018

While Parc Jean-Drapeau is one of the go-to places to see the international fireworks festival, you can also hang out at the Old Port or make your way to the Jacques Cartier Bridge. Each week features a different country — Australia, the USA, the Philippines, Canada, China, and Austria — setting off fireworks to music. Things culminate in a finale with For Your Eyes Only, a tribute to James Bond. Information HERE.

Festival International de Lanaudière

July 5 to August 5, 2018

If you need to get out of Montreal, the Festival de Lanaudière provides the opportunity to listen to orchestral and classical music in Joliette. It’s only about 45 minutes away from the city (by car). Bernstein, Shostakovich, and even gospel are a few enticements. Find out more HERE. 

Montréal Complètement Cirque/International Festival of Circus Arts

July 5 – 15, 2018

Since we can’t all just run off to join the circus, we can at least go and watch one. With one of the only circus training schools in the country here in Montreal, we get outstanding performers. Some shows to catch are Sisters, Scotch & Soda, Un Poyo Rojo, Truck Stop, and Phénix. There are free shows on St. Denis where you can catch some daring performances on building rooftops, or perhaps try out some circus performance yourself. The circus also travels to different neighbourhoods too. Details HERE.

Zoofest and Off JFL

July 5 – 28, 2018

Anytime is a good time to laugh. In order to get the belly muscles ready for all the haha of Just for Laughs, start out with Zoofest and Off JFL, with its local focus. Comedy, theatre, spectacle, and random randomness make this festival up. Among the things to check out are Godfrey, Mike Ward, the El-Salomons, and Ladyfest. Click here for the schedule.

 

Festival Musical Independent Diapason

July 5 to 7, 2018
La Berge des Baigneurs, Sainte-Rose

Laval adds itself to the festival map with its 8th annual Diapason Independent Music festival. Urban camping is the way to go! This year has a fantastic line up planned with Fouki, Keith Kouna, Chad VanGaalen, Plants and Animals, Les Trois Accords, and Kandle. For information, click HERE.

Montreal Comiccon

Palais de Congres
July 6 – 8, 2018

Get your costume out, your wallet out, and attend workshops, panels, and have a blast at the annual Comiccon. Nerds, geeks, trekkies, Buffy buffs, Muggles, Dr. Whosters, and fans of Firefly have reason to go to meet the guests. Among them Val Kilmer, Chuck Norris, David Duchovny, Jason Momoa, and Pamela Anderson. Details HERE.

AIM — Electronic Music Festival

July 6 -8, 2018

Parc Carillon

Get ready for all the electronic music you can handle, including a 24 hour non-stop dance party from Saturday to Sunday noon. Highlights include a 6 hour set with Ben Gold. Camping is available at the site. Info HERE.

Dragon Boat Challenge and Cultural Festival

July 6 to 8, 2018

2000 athletes from Quebec, the US, Ontario, and the Maritimes come in their boats to compete in the Olympic basin’s annual Dragon Boat Challenge. Competition is fierce as this is part of the “triple crown circuit,” a racing event of three events in the Montreal area. There are recreational and competitive teams. Details HERE.

Weekends du Modne au Parc Jean Drapeau

July 7, 8, 14, and 15

Parc Jean Drapeau

Every weekend, Parc Jean Drapeau adopts a different country and provides both music and food, as well as cultural activities. This year includes Jamaica Day, an homage to Mexico, a Salvadorian festival, as well as a cultural festival for China. Info HERE.   

Festival Zone Homa

July 11 to August 18

Hochelega Maisonneuve… you haven’t been yet? It’s booming. With arts and culture, food and dance, this festival celebrates the quartier. Details HERE. 

Festival de la Bieres de Laval

July 13 to 15 2018

There’s more to Laval than strip malls. There’s also beer. Well, a beer festival. Information HERE. 

Echoes of a Proud Nation  Pow Wow

July 14-15, 2018

Kahnawake

The Mohawk nation welcomes other nations (including Canada) to its territory for its annual pow wow. See magnificent hoop dances, join in the singing and dancing, and make friends. More information can be found HERE. 

Nuits d’Afrique

July 10 to 22, 2018

Like the cool cousin to Jazz Fest, Nuits d’Afrique follows on Jazzfest’s heels and brings out more world beat, jazz, afrofunk, and other soulful rhythms to Montreal. Free music is available on the stages, while indoor shows this year include Sabry Mosbah, Tété, Femi Kuti and the Positive Force, and Meklit. Information HERE. 

Just for Laughs/Off-JFL/ZoofestJuly 4 to 29, 2018

Comedians from all around the world descend on Montreal venues and clubs in one of the most beloved Montreal festivals. This year, see Tig Notaro, Dave Chappelle, Howie Mandel, Ken Jeong, Russell Peters, David Cross, and more. There are always favorite staples like The Nasty Show, Brit(ish), The Ethnic Show, as well as new club shows. Even a tour of the street festival is usually fun. Check out information about passes HERE.

 

Fantasia Film Festival

July 12 to August 1, 2018

Fantasia is a chance for horror, fantasy, foreign, comic, and oddball films to air on a big screen before enthusiastic audiences. This international film festival attracts large, dedicated crowds. More information HERE.

 

Slut Island Festival

July 19 to 29, 2018

Queer, trans, gender fluid and others with underrepresented identities are the focus of this DIY music festival. Empowerment is the theme and good music is how this is disseminated. Some of the bands playing are Jupiter Brown, Debby Friday, and Eliza Kavtion. Keep an eye on their Facebook page HERE.

 

Heavy Montreal

July 28 – 29, 2018

Parc Jean Drapeau

If you like to rock, and we know you all do, this festival is for you. Rob Zombie and Avenged SEvenfold headline, but also get ready for Marilyn Manson, Gojira, Hollywood Undead and more. Details about the festival are HERE. 

Haiti en Folie

July 25 to 29, 2018c

Parc Lafontaine

Montreal enjoys a special relationship with the French speaking island. Of course there are arts, theatre, and dancing. This festival also invites performers including Emeline Michel, Beethova Obas, and Dany Laferriere. For more information click HERE. 

Outdoor Cinemas

 

It seems like every night of the week, there’s a place to catch a free film during the month of July. Cinema can be seen in many public parks on different nights of the week thanks Cinema Sous Les Etoiles, with the schedule HERE.  Also, you can catch RIDM en plein air at different spots through August 28. Details are HERE.  Cinemania (French films subtitled in English) also tour different parks. Details HERE. Another spot to watch is NDG, at NDG Park and Jean Brilliant Park. Details HERE. 

Here are some regularly recurring outdoor cinema spots worth mentioning:

Sunday Nights

Film Noir Au Canal. Information HERE.

Parc de Talcy. Information HERE.

Wednesday Nights

Dante Park for Italian themed films. Schedule HERE. 

Thursday Nights

Cinema en Plein Air on Mt Royal. Information HERE. 

 

Upcoming in August

Osheaga Music and Arts Festival

August 3-5, 2018

The music festival that everyone loves to attend takes over Jean Drapeau. We publish an annual survival guide HERE. There is an art fest, food trucks, and best of all… music: . Not bad, not bad at all. Information HERE.

Rogers Cup

August 3 to 12 2018

Uniprix Stadium

The annual tennis tournament alternates between men and women’s. This year, the men are in Montreal. While there’s no telling who will play in the event, usually a few of the big names appear. Information HERE. 

 

Montreal Highland Games

August 5, 2018

Douglas Hopsital, Verdun

This summer tradition combines highland dancing, pipe music, with the coolest athletics you will ever see.  56 and 28 pound weight tosses and hammer tosses might sound familiar. The Sheaf Toss entails throwing sheaves of hay. And the highlight: the Caber toss — throwing an 18 foot log. More information HERE. 

Montreal Electric Groove (MEG)

August 30 to Sept 3, 2018

Get your dance shoes and glowsticks on at the MEG festival. With a line up of bands that bring music electronically, this festival keeps it going all night long at small and large venues like the SAT, Sala Rossa, Divan Orange, and Le Belmont. Check out top performers like The AVener, Fonkynson, Kris Tin, and more. For more information click HERE.