Montreal Festivals and Events Calendar for April 2024
Art Souterrain. Photo Rachel Levine
Sun. Robins. Tulips. Melting snow. Potholes. Orange cones. Crowds. Everything a bit damp, but shiny and new, unless you’re a car still dirty from a season plus of grime. We hope not. The big summer festivals have been announced, but that doesn’t make the events of spring any less fun.
Esplanade Tranquille Skating Rink
November 15 – April 7, 2024
Espace Tranquille
Quartier des Spectacles
Free to access and with skates to rent, take a few laps around the city’s calmest public space in the heart of the Quartier des Spectacles. Up to 400 skaters can skate at once around the Au bord du lac Tranquille by Mirari and Normal studio projected onto the ice. In addition, musical lunches and Saturday night disco make this a skate to remember. Details HERE.
Parc at Midnight
March 1-3, 8-10, 15-16, 22-24, 29031; April 5-7, 12-14,19-21, 26-28, 2024
Cinéma du Parc
3575 Av du Parc
How do you want to feel at midnight? Creepy? excited? horrified? The lineup of classic films that are best seen on a big screen will raise your pulse. These are cult favorites, including Possession, Daisies, Dune, Riddle of Fire, and Eyes Wide Shut in March. Info HERE.
Francouvertes
March 11 – May 13, 2024
Various Locations
Francouvertes features three competitors at each show to figure out who will win the audience choice. There’s often great music and a chance to catch the rising stars in Montreal’s music world. Check the website to see who is being featured in each round. The semi finals take place April 15, 16, and 17th. Info HERE.
Art Souterrain
March 16 – April 7, 2024
Underground Centre Ville
This annual festival brings together artists from many disciplines to place their works in the corridors leading from Victoria Metro Station to Place Bonaventure to PVM to other locations. It’s a fun way to get out and walk and delight your mind and senses. This year’s theme is Environement Entends-Tu? Well worth checking out. Plus it’s free. Info HERE.
Festival de la Voix
March 20 – April 13, 2024
Various Locations
Vox Aeterna presents concerts and workshops as a way to support music in the community. Among them are Karen Young and trio & Steel Rail, Martine St-Clair, and Connie Kaldor, Nadia Di Lauro & Rob Lutes. Some concerts are free. There are also master classes and workshops. More information can be found HERE.
Courts d’un Soir
April 5 – 12, 2024
L’Esplanade Tranquille
260 de Maisonneuve Ouest
If your attention span can best be described as TL;dr, perhaps you’ll enjoy this one. Short films and music clips for all those with short attention spans shown outdoors for free. In competition this year include shorts about hockey, holidays, friendship, disco, pornography, and summer love. Obviously not all in the same film. Info HERE.
The Odd Sound Festival : Jazz and Instrumental Music
April 10 – 30, 2024
Various
With 10 concerts taking place in different venues, the ODD SOUND festival promises a wide array of jazz and instrumental music in the city. This year, there’s a special Concours Étudiant as well. The featured pros to watch are Jacques Kuba Séguin, Philippe Côté et Olivier Hébert. Information HERE.
Le Braderie de Monde Québécoise
April 11 – 14, 2024
Bonsecours Market
350 St. Paul E
The annual fashion show features hot designers with one-of-a-kind and sample pieces. Between 60 – 100 designers participate. Brighten up your spring and summer wardrobe by checking out this fab event. I bought a skirt at one about 15 years ago and I still wear it to this day because it’s deligthfully one of a kind. You can get stuff by Rudsak, Second Yoga, Lady Dutch, Mackage, Atelier B, Bodybag, and so much more. Details HERE.
Vues D’Afrique
April 11 – 21, 2024
Cinema Guzzo Marché-Centrale
901 Boulevard Crémazie O, Montréal, QC H4N 3M5, Canada
Cinema from Africa takes central stage at Vues D’Afrique. This annual film festival aims to encourage both dialogue and public engagement as it showcases works from both Africa and Creole countries. There is also programming dedicated to films made in Quebec and Canada. Keep an eye HERE for details.
Plural
April 12 – 14, 2024
Grand Quay, Port of Montreal (200 de la Commune St W)
The annual festival to promote artworks done on paper is always a great gathering for collectors, professionals, and creators. There are plenty of paper goods to collect on some of the nicest paper you will ever touch. Check this art festival and enjoy how a simple medium can be the basis of a myriad of works. 39 galleries from 7 different Canadian cities will have booths. Info HERE.
Bixi Season
April 15 – Nov 15, 2024
The Bixis are back. 9,500 bikes. 800 stations. They’re easier than ever to use in the city with different pricing levels based on how far you go and how long you use the bike plus the usual annual membership and other types of memberships. Electric Bixis will change your life. Preseason rates are just $96 until April 15, and then seasonal membership is a merciful $107. Info about Bixis is HERE.
Montreal Electric and Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle Show and the Green Tech Festival
April 19 – 21, 2024
Olympic Stadium
4545 Pierre de Coubertin
So, gas is out, electric is in. Or is it hybrid now? Well, Quebec is going to ditch the all gas vehicles in a few years. If you’re thinking of making the switch, this is a chance to try out all the electric and hybrid cars. Well, some of them. You can just admire the rest. This is the largest EV gathering in all of Canada, with over 75 exhibitors and 30,000 attendees. For details, click HERE.
Concours Musical International de Montréal : Piano
April 22 – May 4, 2023
24 musicians (this year, pianists) from around the globe compete before a prestigious jury to compete for cash prizes and awards. They represent musicians at the start of their career, aged between 17 and 27. There’s not a slacker in the bunch. If you want to feel even less accomplished in life, check out the event featuring child prodigies. Information HERE.
Metropolis Bleu
April 25 – 28. 2024
Hotel 10
10 Sherbrooke St W, Montreal, Quebec H2X 4C9
Annual literary festival brings together writers, thinkers, and creatives for all things related to the written word. You can take a literary walking tour of the city, attend writing workshops, listen to authors read from and talk about their latest work. This year includes a podcast about the English language literary world in Quebec, virtual programming, and of course, in person events. Expect visits by Monique Polak, Diana Bélice, Paul Tom, Indigenous Storytelling with Marco Collin and Tara Mc Gowan-Ross, and more. Details HERE.
Montreal Clown Festival
April 25 – 28, 2024
Various venues
With four days of events, and especially shows, the Montreal clown festival features performers who evoke pathos and joy using their bodies, their props, their situations, and creativity. Whether mime, boffon, character, or situational, it’s here. Lay down your Stephen King nightmares of Pennyworth (or perhaps if you have a strange affection for them, keep them?), and check this fest out. Info HERE.
Bagel Burlesque Expo
April 26 – 27, 2024
Studio TD
305 Rue St Catherine O
This neo-burlesque extravaganza features acts that dare to go where no acts have gone before. Think Marvel universe, great geekery, absurdist humour, and more. Mecav, Cherry Typhoon, Mina Minou headlining, and Miss Sugar Puss as hostess Friday and Umad and Selma Gahd hosting on Saturday. Get ready for the most fun you can have watching other people take their clothes off. Information HERE.
Loser Jamboree : Montreal Punk Rock Flea Market
April 28, 2024 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Foufounes Electriques (87 St Catherine E)
What’s on offer? Drinks, laughs, dumb jokes, stuff, and coffee. With indie labels and self-promoting artisans, all things punk and weird will be on sale. Check out Young Pup lingerie, Slime City Toys, Stomp Records, and more. Info HERE
Oi! Fest
April 26 – 27, 2024
Foufounes Électriques
87 St. Cathrine E
So, two nights of international punk/ska music at Foufs. Where else would it take place? Bands from France, Germany, Ireland, and Canada will make sure your plaid little heart gets moshed properly. Among those coming are Bishops Green, The Partisans, MESS, Fuerza Bruta, Empire Down, Lion’s Law, The Oppressed, Ultra Sect, and others. Tickets HERE.
OFF Montréal Oi! Fest
April 28, 2024
Traxide
123, Aska Ponk
If there is festival, there should be an off festival for the ones that didn’t fit. Check out Mess, La Gachette, The Enforcers, and Molotov MTL if you want to keep on moshing on. Details HERE.
Announced and Upcoming
Jamais Lu
May 3 – 11, 2024
You can say you read it here first at the Jamais Lu festival. Well, saw it, is more likely, because this is a theatre festival where new pieces are highlighted. Check it out HERE.
FIFEQ / Festival International du Film Ethnographique du Québec et Montréal
May 7 – 11, 2024
Various venues
Ethnography is immersion in an environment to understand variations of the human condition. Free of charge almost every night, check out the only ethnographic film festival in Canada. This year, in multiple venues in the city, catch films that want you to understand the human experience. It includes all genres of film: documentary, fiction, and experimental. Details can be found HERE.
Festival d’Histoire de Montreal
May 10 – 12, 2024
Various venues
Find out about Montreal’s present by looking at the past. In this fourth edition of the History of Montreal Festival, museums around the city join forces to offer programming. This year, you can take walking tours, listen to podcast, or attend events such as listen to Jocelyn Sioui talk about the Morning Star (Wenta’yeh’Tichion). Information HERE.
South Asian Film Festival of Montreal
May 24 – June 2, 2024
Cinématheque Québécoise
This festival showcases new artistic work that focus on South Asia and its diaspora. 58 films, including many premieres and award-winning features, will be showcased in theatres. Full length features, documentaries, and shorts are all part of the offerings. There is also an online portion available. Info HERE.
Montreal International Jazz Festival
June 27 – July 6, 2024
Place des Arts
Every year, the downtown core thrums with music from Montreal’s jazz fest. Although jazz is more like one of the many dishes on offer — blues, experimental, international rhythms, beats, and classic rock are all there too. It’s a great party and one of the summer highlights. The 2024 line up has started to get posted : Kurt Vile and the Violators, Laufey, Kid Koala, Elisape, Geoffroy, Helena Deland. Many more to come. Information and tickets HERE.
Osheaga
August 2 – 4, 2024
Parc Jean Drapeau
MUSIC. 3 DAYS OF MUSIC! And art. The line up is up. SZA, Smashing Pumpkins, Green Day, Noah Kahan, Melanie Martinez are the big names. But also expect bands you need to hear and a mix of rising stars and well established acts too: Sleater Kinney, Blonde Readhead, Amyl and teh Sniffers, CRI, Mochakk, Two Door CInema Club, and more. Info HERE.
Monthly Festival Links
April
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]
