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If you walked on Crescent or St. Laurent on a Friday night, you’d know the students are back in force. Get your ass vaccinated if you haven’t, because no one wants a repeat of last year’s festival-less city, except maybe those two super introverted antisocial misanthropes who live next door. September seems like things are back in full swing — from concerts (yes, those things) to bars to restaurants to dating. Enjoy it!

Marché Asiatique de Montréal

August 12 – October 3, 2032
Thursdays (17-23), Fridays(17-23), Saturdays(12-23), and Sundays (12-23)
Place des Souhaits, Chinatown

Food market with inexpensive food fills the streets of Chinatown for a small feast of tiny bites. This is always worth checking out and a chance to get some yummy stuff. Info HERE.

Piknic Electronik

September 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26

Mind blown when word got out that Piknic Electronik was back. DJs are back so get your tickets and go dance the afternoon or evening away at Parc Jean Drapeau. A few performing in the coming weeks include the beloved Mistress Barbara, MSTRKRFT, X-Coast, Carl Craig, and yes, many more. $20. Check it out HERE.

Mutek

August 24 – Sept 5

Montreal’s celebration of electronic music, along with related subjects like XR, AI, immersive creativity, and crypto art get their annual festival at Mutek. For information, keep an eye on the Mutek website HERE.

Festival Courts d’Un Soir

September 1 – 6, 2021
La Place de la Paix

Wander around and enjoy short films, music videos, and series as a way to celebrate and democratize the art form. Info HERE.

Estival du Nouveau Cinema de Montréal

September 2 – 5, 2021
Sainte Catherine et Clark

The FNC presents four nights of outdoor films in the Quartier des Spectacles. The first night is shorts connected to the Festival Courts (above), but then showcases Alcootest (Another Round), Sin La Habana, and Mandibules on subsequent nights. Info HERE.

Festival Zéro Déchet / Zero Waste

September 3 – 5, 2021
Parc LaFontaine

Celebrate the end of plastic and disposable goods and focus instead of the reduce, recycle, and reuse manta. Stores throughout Montreal have gone to zero waste where you can bring your own bags. This even brings together 40 businesses and non profits that focus on zero waste. Workshops, panels, conferences are all included. Info HERE.

Festival Distrix

September 3 – 5 2021
Place des Festivals, Quartier des Spectacles

A festival to celebrate the urban culture of Montreal. Music, arts, and urban sports (y’know skateboarding and biking) are on display. Info HERE.

Gardens of Light : An Ode to the Moon

Sept 3 – October 31, 2021

From 7:30 – 10 p.m. in the fall, take a walk around the Jardin Botanique and enjoy lanterns and light displays. The tradition returns with 500 people allowed in every half hour. Information can be found HERE. 

Montreal Electric Groove (MEG)

September 4 – September 6, 2021
Parc Jean Drapeau

Get your dance shoes and glowsticks on at the MEG festival. Check out Adrian Voglen, Charlie Shulz, Emma Beko, and Dope.GNG. For more information click HERE.

Artch

Sept 8 – 19, 2021
Square Dorchester

The public is invited to check out this contemporary art exhibition outdoors. 22 artists will showcase their work in this village like atmosphere. Among those showcased, expect to see paintings, textile work, installation work, photography, and sculpture. Info HERE. 

Quartiers Danses

September 8 – 12, 2021

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 and tickets, click HERE.

Les Francos de Montréal

Sept 9 – 12, 2021
Place des Arts

Beloved Montreal music festival featuring French-language performers that takes place downtown around Place des Arts. Those performing include Larry Kidd, Andréanne A. Malette, Klo Pelgang, Bleu Jeans Bleu, Coeur de Pirate and Clay and Friends. You need to reserve your place in advance for free shows. Info HERE. 

The Montreal Stop Motion Film Festival

September 10 – 19, 2021
Online edition for 2021

Montreal’s annual festival dedicated to this special form of animation includes master classes, guest speakers, and film screenings. The festival is online, so easily accessible to all. More info HERE.

Expozine Extra / Grande 2021

September 11 – 12 , 2021
L’Entrepot77 (77 Bernard E)

If you want an early opportunity to pick up zines, self-published works, indie press works, buttons, posters, and all sorts of alt culture goodies, the Expozine Extra/Grande has your back. This year the event will be held outdoors and the regular Expozine will take place in November. For more information click HERE.

Montreal International Jazz Festival

Sept 15 – 19, 2021

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. Tickets and schedules HERE. 

POP Montreal

September 22 – 26, 2021
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 International Black Film Festival

September 22 – October 3, 2021

The annual festival celebrating films by, starring, and about black creators and related issues, brings films from all around the world to the city. Opening film, With Drawn Arms, looks at the raised fist gesture first popularized by Tommie Smith in 1968, while closing film, Under the Stars of Paris, is a fictional work about a woman who helps a Burkinabe boy search for his mother. In between are a wide variety of films, industry events, and lectures online. Details HERE.

Grève Mondiale Pour le Climat / Climate Strike 2021

September 24, 2021
George Étienne Cartier monument

If you haven’t noticed, the world is on fire? No one would time travel to 2021 given the option. But, somehow we keep on keeping on. Come out and lend your voice and your presence to saving the planet. Info HERE.

Île Soniq

September 24 – 26, 2021
Parc Jean Drapeau

All that infrastructure at Parc Jean-Drapeau serves several major festivals. EDM your heart out for two days of dancing on the little island that can. Deadmau5 vs Testpilot, Paul KalkBrenner, Rezz, Zeds Dead, and just wow some crazy headliners. More info HERE.

Les journées de la culture

September 24 – 26, 2021
various

Immerse yourself in the variety of cultural offerings from the city of Montreal. Activities are specially designed for primary and secondary school students, while other activites are soon to be shared. More info HERE.

FIL (Festival International de la Litérature)

September 24 – October 3, 2021
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 25, 2021
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.

Upcoming and Announced

Osheaga Les Retrouvailles / Get Together

October 1 – 4, 2021
Parc Jean Drapeau

If you’re missing Osheaga, well, everyone is. Fortunately, the gang is getting together to offer a limited capacity mini-Festival at Parc Jean Drapeau that includes Charlotte Cardin, Jessie Reyez, and Half Moon Run. Osheaga sponsored events are taking place throughout the summer at places like L’Astral and MTELUS. Info HERE.

Mondial de la bière

October 7 – 10, 2021
Rio Tinto Courtyard, Gare Windsor

The Montreal beer festival gives everyone a chance to check out over 100 different beers on site. There also will be food like cheese, cold cuts, pretzels, and nuts. You can even check out the mini brunch on Saturday and Sunday. For more information, check out the website HERE.

Cinemania

November 2 -21, 2021

Bringing French films to an English speaking audience is the goal of this film festival. Among the ones to check out include Catherine Therrien’s Une Révision, France by Bruno Dumont which features Léa Seydoux of Blue is the Warmest Colour. Info about the festival available 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, after parties, a photo walk, workshops, marketplaces, and more. Details can be found HERE. 

Monthly Festival Links

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

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]