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Who does summer better than Montreal? Don’t answer that. We will. No one. No one does summer better than Montreal. Laid back, cool, sexy, grungy, anarchists, funky, sophisticated, global – we’ve got it all. With the sun shining in through the windows, the trees green, the birds singing, time to fall in love with someone, namely yourself. Treat yourself to a festival or five and live your best life ever.

Festival Accès Asie / Access Asia Festival

April 24 – June 4, 2024
Various Locations

Want to go to Asia but can’t afford plane tickets (or a ship). Not to worry. Art, music, dance, and theatre comes here for this annual festival. Enjoy a Dian Cha tea ceremony, watch a film, try Laotian and Cambodian cooking, listen to the new literature out of Asia. That’s just a small sampler. The opening cocktail is May 2. For details, click HERE.

Piknic Electronik

May 19 – October 6, 2024
Parc Jean Drapeau
Plaine des Jeux

Once upon a time, Piknic was just a loose collection of EDM fans with daytime glowsticks and rose coloured sunglasses. Now it’s as big as any of the major city summer festivals. Join the massive outdoor dance parties every Sunday featuring local and international DJs mixing beats on stage. Season tickets are available and student tickets are a merciful $100. Information HERE.

OFFTA

May 24 – June 2, 2024

While the FTA (Festival Transameriques) takes place, the OFFTA showcases local works that are within the scope and spirit of the festival. Some promising titles : Dead People are Liking Things on Facebook, I Have Such a Horrible Voice, and Slug Meal. Watch HERE for details.

Go Vélo / Go Bike Festival

May 26 – June 2, 2024
Various locations

The spring events of Go Bike invites riders to join large group events in different parts of Montreal and its environs. Tackle the metropolitan challenge off island starting in Terrebonne, bike through the Plateau and Rosemont during the Tour de Nuit, take it longer with the Tour de l’Île — up to 100 km if you dare, or even take on the bike to work challenge. Info HERE.

Montreal St. Ambroise Fringe Festival

May 27 – June 16, 2024

Don’t take our word for it. Find out for yourself why this is the most exciting theatre festival in the city. Local comedians, actors, dancers, magicians, clowns, improvisers, and performers join those from further afield (some of whom who do nothing but perform in Fringe Festivals around the world) to stage productions that clock in at around an hour or less. Many types of passes are available and the vibe is unbelievable in this happy mish-mash of crazy goodness and questionable weirdness. Art, music, and other events are generally part of this festival too. Information HERE. 

Jardins Gamelin

May 30 – Sept 2024
Place Émilie-Gamelin

The park and its cultural and citizen-driven activities is one of the nicest spots to chill in the city. Things to do include karaoke, concerts, dance parties. This year check out bands like Sarahmée, Salsas Salsafolie, and Empress Cissy Low. Open every day with something happening most of the time, be certain to find out more HERE.

Café Collectif : Festival de Café de Spécialité

May 31 – June 1, 2024
SAT
3487 St Laurent

While there may or may not be free coffee in the coffee shops featured, this is a chance to celebrate all the independent cafés and third wave coffee shops in Montreal and its surroundings. Head out to taste 30 specialty brews from places like Café Larue and fils, Melk, and Café Pista. $20 (which is about the price of 3 third-wave coffees). Info HERE.

Lebanese Film Festival

June 1 – 6, 2024
Concordia University Hall Building
1455 Maisonneuve O.
and other venues

This festival that aims to bring Lebanese cinema to Canada, hitting the big cities (so not Ft McMurray, sorry). Screenings, workshops, lectures, discussions, and interviews are promised. Guest of honour is actress Rita Hayek. Feature films being shown include Hardabacht about trafficking, Valley of Exile, Low Budget Heist, and Back to Alexandria. For details, check the website HERE.

BRÛLANCES : Radical Queer Festival

June 5 – 9, 2024
Georges Vanier Cultural Centre
2450 Rue Workman

Sexuality is still political. Falling outside acceptable norms – queerness – is often met with hostility, violence, and aggression from multiple communities. Transphobia and queerphobia is too often ignored. This festival aims to bring together activists and people who identify as queer, and offers revolutionary approaches towards those marginalized, especially rooted in multiple ideologies: feminism, anti-capitalism, decolonization, antiracism, and antifascism. The website also includes a wheat paste recipe, so ready that brush and go poster downtown. Get info about it HERE.

Festival Grand Prix Sur Crescent

June 6 – 9, 2024
Rue Crescent between Sherbrooke and St. Catherine

Most Montrealers stay far away from this bash that takes over Crescent for four days of bros and hoes and lambos (among othes). If vaping, Red Bull, getting pumped, and selfies with pricey sports cars and sexy gals is your thing, we know where to find you. TBQH, it’s kind of fun just to walk through even if your mind is screaming douchebags, douchebags, douchebags. Just once will satisfy for a lifetime. The race is fun, but the spandex clad bikers who lose the track or a few weeks are often in a snit. Info HERE.

MURAL Festival

June 6 – 16, 2024
Rue St Laurent and more

The best of graffiti artists from around the globe as well as local talent come to Montreal to paint our buildings. This year, look out for Escif, Aryz, MIlu Correch and Jordan Bennett. It’s fun to take the walking tour, check out the free exhibitions, enjoy the street fair and the block party music. You can’t miss the music. Info HERE.

Les Premiers Vendredis : L’Aise du Sud Est Special

June 7 – 9 , 2024
4 – 11 p.m.
Esplanade du Parc Olympique
4545, avenue Pierre-De Coubertin

Get your food trucks here. Food trucks, food trucks, food trucks. And also always some good music. Every first Friday of the month, it’s your chance to sample what our trucks have to offer. If you love to eat, get ready to show up with your credit card and enjoy the spicy foods of South East Asia. There will be music. Details HERE.

Portugal Festival

June 7 – 10, 2024
Mission Santa Cruz
60 Rachel O
Corner of Saint-Laurent Blvd. and Marie-Anne Street

Do you like Portuguese chicken? What about a parade? Fado music? Montreal’s Portuguese community hosts its annual festival. For details and information, click HERE.

Formula 1 Grand Prix

June 7 – 9, 2024
Ile St. Helene

As the formula circuit goes around the world, it makes its annual stop here so that F1 cars can rocket 70 times around Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve at a max speed of 350 mph. Rumour goes that this is the best weekend to work in the sex industry in Montreal. Is there a connection? And, as mentioned above, anyone who enjoys cycling is glad when this festival ends and they can reclaim the track to loop around at 40 km/hr on their $17,000 Trek bikes. Info HERE.

MiniFest Hochelaga

June 13- 20, 2024
Various venues in Hochelaga

MiniFest returns to Hochelaga-Maisonneuve with over 200 comedians performing. Among the names of note are Catherine Ethier, Mike Paterson, and pretty much anyone who’s who in the franco comedy scene. Info HERE.

Francos de Montréal

June 14 – 22, 2024
Place des Festivals
1499 Rue Jeanne-Mance

Yes, the best of French music, with a special focus on our local talent takes over Place des Festivals with plenty of free stuff to check out as well as indoor programming of all sorts. The line up pulls in large crowds eager to enjoy some of our best. This year’s big free shows include The Quebec Redneck Bluegrass Project, Souldia, Pomme, an Homage to Jean-Pierre Ferland, Philippe Brach, and Karkwa. Info HERE.

Suoni Per Il Popolo

June 12 – 23, 2024
Sala Rossa, Casa del Popolo, La Sotterenea

Invited artists perform at indie venues Sala Rossa, Casa del Popolo, and La Sotterenea. The music leans towards experimental, jazz, and ambient, but includes local acts and people who go deep in their sound. Purchase the day pass or see independent shows. Start your own version of Pitchfork media after attending this one and rule music journalism for the next 10 years with your quirky but spot-on taste. For information on who is playing and tickets, details are HERE.

Montreal Baroque Festival

June 12 – 16, 2024

This year’s festival puts the focus on Parallel Universe. Expect to encounter the music of contrasts in the offered concerts – folk music, Scandinavian music, tragic baroque music, joyful music, music about crazy love affairs. Find out more HERE.

Yatai MTL : Japanese Food Festival

June 13 – 16, 2024
Les Bassins Peel
Peel and Wellington Streets

Japanese food is recognized as an intangible world treasure by UNESCO — and not many other countries can claim such a distinction. Chances are you’ve already had sushi and ramen. Now sample things like onigiri and tamagoyaki. 25 vendors on site. A shiba and akita costume contest, Japanese disco, and Studio Ghibli piano music plus more. $4 entry. Info HERE.

Image+Nation Queer Short Film Fest

June 13 – 16, 2024
Online and Cinema Imperial

The main festival takes place in November, but this is an adjacent fest for short films showcasing queer cinema and films featuring LGBTQA2+ themes and stories. Details HERE.

Festival sur le Canal

June 14 – 16, 2024
Esplanade du Centenaire, Lachine Canal

The Damn Truth, Calamine, Dawn Tyler Watson, and many others will be performing at this annual chillaxed family-friendly free event along the Lachine canal. No pets though. Bring some chairs and park yourself on the grass for some good music. There’s always some food available. For info click HERE.

Montreal Model Train Expo

June 15 – 16, 2024
Dorval Arena 
1450 Dawson Ave, Dorval

All aboard the Orient Express. Or maybe you prefer Hogwarts Express or Thomas the Tank Engine. People of all ages love model trains and this event brings together enthusiasts, vendors, and the curious to check out train models or purchase some of their own. Over 40 vendors and over 80 model railway lines will be on display. Info HERE.

Kizo Festival

June 19 – 24, 2024
Delta Hotel
475 Av. du Président-Kennedy

Afrohouse, Kizomba, Urbankiz, Semba, Tarraxinha — if this kind of music speaks to you, the Kizo festival is for you. Confirmed artists for 2024 include DWÉ & GABY and Carlos Camba and Ana, along with DJ Nice Life It’s an international lineup for people who party deep. Info HERE.

Festival des Couleurs

June 22, 2024
Clocktower Quai, Old Port

In the spirit of the Indian Holi festival, get yourself spattered with coloured pigments as you dance to Bollywood, Indie, House, Regaetton, Kirtan, and Latin music. Lineup TBA. Totally kid friendly. Food. Details HERE.

Cinéma sous les Étoiles

June 26 – tbd, 2024
Various places/parks

If you like watching a film outdoors on a beautiful summer evening, the Cinéma sous les Étoiles will allow you to catch documentaries in parks around the city. For schedule and offerings , check out the website HERE.

Fireworks : L’International des Feux Loto-Québec 

Thursdays and Sundays alternate weeks
June 27 – August 1, 2024
10 p.m.

Fireworks just make the sky pretty. For about 45 minutes at a go, check out what every country has to offer in terms of display. You can get tickets to see it, or just hang out in the old port and watch for free. The opener is an homage to Boy and Girl Bands and the closer is an homage to Coldplay. Info HERE.

Mtl en Arts

June 27 – July 1, 2024
Rue St Catherine

Multidisciplinary arts festival offers an open air art gallery along St. Catherine St with the intent of making art inclusive, accessible, and free. It has of course grown to include film, installations, live demonstrations, and much more. Over 150 artists will be participating and there are at least 20 interactive activities. Details can be found 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 lineup includes Norah Jones, Laufey, Andre 3000, Pink Martini, Alexandra Stelinski, and many others. Get your tickets now. Information and tickets HERE.

Bloomsday Festival Montreal

TBD, usually June
Various

James Joyce is a literary giant whether it’s his short stories about Dublin or his epic creation Ulysses. Fans of Joyce can celebrate him with music, pubs, lectures, and get togethers. For information on this annual event, click HERE.

Announced and Upcoming

Annual Dragon Boat Challenge

July 6 – 7 , 2024 8 a.m..
Parc Jean Drapeau

Row, row, row the dragon boat. 150 teams from Canada and the US compete. If that sounds like fun, find out info HERE. 

Montréal complétement cirque / Circus Festival

July 4 – 14, 2024

Send in the clowns. I think so. But also the aerial artisans, the acrobats, the jugglers, the magicians, and the other performers of the circus. St. Denis becomes an open air circus while beloved groups will perform in venues. Info HERE.

Festival International Nuits d’Afrique 

July 9 – 21, 2024
Various venues

36 years of music, workshops, and events tied to the African diaspora. Performers from Africa, the US, the Caribbean, and Latin America make this an international delight. Info on festival HERE.

Cho Dem MTL : Vietnamese Food Festival

July 18 – 21, 2024
Bassin Peel
1049 De la Commune St W

Fans of Pho, the spring rolls, papaya salads, and lemongrass scented chicken will be delighted to know that Montreal is having a Vietnamese Food Festival. If you’ve never tried Vietnamese… are you a human? So yummy. Check it out HERE.

Comiccon 

July 5 – 7, 2024
Palais des congrès de Montréal

Are you a Marvel superhero or a DC one? Star Wars or Star Trek? Maybe you just want to dress up like you’re in Bridgerton. Whatever pop culture gets your motor running, Comiccon invites creators, authors, artists, producers, writers, and fans together for a multi-day bonanza. Info HERE.

Festival Fantasia 

July 18 – Aug 4, 2024
Concordia University

Chills, thrills, spills, action sequences, hauntings, zombies, martial arts, horror. Pretty much anything that falls under the banner of genre cinema finds its home at the coolest film festival I’ve ever been to. The audience meows in anticipation. Literally. Info HERE.

Osheaga

Aug 2 – 4, 2024
Parc Jean Drapeau

MUSIC. 3 DAYS OF MUSIC! And art. Green Day, Smashing Pumpkins, SZA, Hozier, Lil TJAY, Noah Kahan, Skepta, and many others are headlining. Info HERE.

The Montréal Highland Games 

August 4, 2024
Douglas Hospital, Verdun

If you’ve never seen a big man toss a big log, you haven’t lived. And he’ll do it in a kilt. Aside from caber tossing, there’s stone tossing and putting the stone. Also medieval combat, pipe bands, tug of war, and highland dancing. For all things Scotland (and a bit o’ Ireland too), come check it out. Info HERE.

Île Soniq

Aug 9 – 11, 2024
Parc Jean Drapeau

If you didn’t get enough of your dance on at OSHEAGA or you’re happy to skip anything you can’t dance to, Île Soniq was made for you. Two straight days of the fabulous EDM and DJs. Headliners include Zedd, Ben Böhmer, Paul Kalkbrenner, Tiesto, Masterhand. You get the point. Info HERE.

Palomosa

September 5, 6-7 2024
Parc Jean Drapeau

Don’t head back to school without a weekend of music. The free block party starts Septemer 5th, but then things move to Parc Jean Drapeau where you can see Kali Uchis, BADBADNOTGOOD, Yung Lean, SHYGIRL, and others. Make sure the school year starts with feet moving, festival dress, and a good party. Info HERE.

Monthly Festival Links

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

January

February

March

April

May

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