School, schmool. Montreal’s summer party atmosphere will continue for as long as there are leaves on the trees and the grass grows green. Put on a hoodie and get your butt out to some of these awesome events taking place in Montreal this September.
World Press Photo
Aug. 26-Sept. 27 2015
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. Marché Bonsecours (325 rue de la commune East) $13/10. More info HERE.
Our review of the 2014 edition can be seen here.
The Montreal World Film Festival
Aug. 27-Sept. 7 2015
Diversity is the buzz word of this international high-quality film festival. Over 750 films, both long and short, are screened and come from every country. Most films will never open commercially (though some surely do), so this is a chance to see some hard-to-find films that won’t make it to the theatres or Netflix. China gets a special nod this year. Tickets go on sale August 22. Package tickets include the passport ($120) and cinephile ($250) packages. Single film tickets cost $10. More info: HERE.
Le Burger Week
Sept 1-7
The mighty burger gets its moment in the spotlight among Montreal’s many food weeks during Le Burger Week. Multiple restaurants create special burger week burgers, but really it’s just an excuse to put meat in your mouth (or mushrooms, if you’re more vegetarian).
Fetish Weekend
Sept. 2-8 2015
Weekend isn’t really the right word for this festival that has six days and nights of sexploration in every sense of the word. In addition to workshops, performances, a street fair, a fashion show, there are after parties and then after-after-parties if you know or meet the right folks. Consenting adults only. Tickets for individual events are available, as are passes for all six days for $200, or a weekend for $90. More info: HERE.
Produktworld Festival
September 3-6
New City Gas hosts four days of music and arts to celebrate the 11th anniversary of Produkt. Different headliners who are on tour are jetting in to Montreal to play for all your listening pleasure. Check out Bassjackers, ZAXX, BOTNEK, Dyro, Bro Safari, FIGURE, Dash Berlin, and more.
Ladyfest
September 4-6
Theatre St. Catherine will be packed from the cafe to the second level when the ladies take to the stage to showcase comedy with a little more XX chromosome attitude. An unbelievably kick ass lineup includes Eman, Tranna Wintour, Sandi Armstrong, Katie Leggitt, Lar Vi, and many many others. $12.
Gardens of Light
Sept. 4- Nov. 1 2015
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. This year, the Chinese garden will have lanterns related to the Chinese New Year. The park is open from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. daily and tickets range from $11.50 for a Quebec student to $19.25 for a non-resident adult. More info HERE.
Our coverage of the 2014 edition can be found HERE.
Les Escales Improbables Montréal
Sept. 5-12 2015
The 12th edition of the Escales Improbables focuses on performing arts. Many events free and take place in public spaces. Others are reasonably priced. More info HERE.
Quartiers Danses
Sept. 9-20 2015
Dance isn’t just for snobby folks and it doesn’t come in one form. Quartiers Danses wants 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 much more. Spain gets the focus this year. More info on locations and tickets, click HERE.
Psych Fest
Sept 10-12 2015
If trippy psychedelic music gets you excited, this is a festival you won’t want to miss. With Demon’s Claws, PyPy, and Human Eye headlining, it promises to be fun. Check it out HERE.
OUMF
Sept. 10-12 2015
An outdoor arts festival with visual art, cinema, literature, music, and knowledge, the OUMF is one of those cheery festivals that are always worth checking out. More info: HERE.
Villa Paradizo
Sept. 11-12 2015
Who doesn’t like EDM? This free festival gets Crescent Street moving. Headliners are Dannic and David Tort on Sept 11 and Cash Cash and Helena Legend on Sept 12. Music begins around 11 a.m. and continues until 11 p.m. More info: HERE
Ukrainian Festival
Sept. 11-13 2015
Okay, if you don’t like EDM and prefer your music more traditional, as well as a bowl of borscht, come to the Uke Festival instead. And by Uke, we mean Ukrainian. Crafts, folk dancing, music, singing, exhibitions, and of course food are all there for the taking. The Uke festival takes place in Rosemont Place Patrie at Parc de l’Ukraine. Free. More info HERE.
Art Tattoo Show
Sept. 11-13 2015
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. Gifted tattoo artists from around the world 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. Tickets are $20 for one day, $50 for all three. Place Bonaventure. More info HERE.
Our coverage of the 2014 edition can be found HERE.
PORTES OUVERTES for the FERMES DU QUÉBEC (Open Door Days for Quebec Farms)
Sept 13 2015
This free event invites the public to visit Quebec’s agricultural powerhouses. There are little farms, organic farms, even big farms that have open doors. Find out where the food comes from and meet the farmers who make it happen.
POP Montreal
Sept. 16-20 2015
The folks at POP Montreal deliver on the musical culture 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. Tickets for POP montreal are $175 for the week, $45 for the day, or can be purchased for individual shows. More info HERE.
Our coverage of what to see in 2014 is HERE.
Oasis Rock n’ Roll Montréal Marathon
Sept. 20 2015
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. More info HERE.
FIL (Festival International de la Litérature)
Sept. 24- Oct. 4 2015
Montreal celebrates the world of French writers, writing, and literature at the FIL. Now in its 20th year, the festival is even larger than ever. More info HERE.
The Montreal Stop Motion Film Festival
Sept. 25-27
Montreal’s annual festival dedicated to animation and stop motion technique is picking up a brand new one in the repertoire of acceptable films: pixilation. Master classes, guest speakers, and film screenings are all part of this one. More info HERE.
Les Journées de la Culture
Sept. 25-27 2015
Québec’s culture gets its spotlight with the Journées de la Culture. This year, cinema is the theme and 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.
48 Hour Ride with Make a Wish
Sept. 25-27 2015
Support the Make a Wish foundation by bike by participating in the 48-hour bike ride. Anyone over age 14 can participate and there is no “fee” though a team needs to raise $3600 to participate. Teams of six people must always have a team member on the track at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. More info is HERE.
MRCY Festival
Sept. 26
It doesn’t take much more than a metropass or some creativity to get to Laval for this all day music festival. With some rather well known bands, Laval shows that it can rock too. Tickets are $60 and you can see July Talk, Alabama Shakes, Kodaline, Safia Nolin, and more. Info HERE.
Montreal International Black film Festival
Sept. 29-Oct. 4 2015
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 the big screen, is shown. More info HERE.
Our coverage of the 2014 edition can be found HERE.
Piknic Electronik
A Sunday wouldn’t be a Sunday without the weekly dance parties on Ile Drapeau. Check out the best of Quebec DJs along with those from abroad on September 7, September 13, September 20, and September 27. Details can be found HERE.
