Worlds of different, intriguing entertainment are ready to be stepped into this week in Montreal: the high-speed ways of the Canadian Grand Prix; pairings of fashion and music; incredible circus acts; avant-garde and independent theatre and dance; and nights packed with live music…

(revved up) Fast cars, race fans and parties populate Grand Prix weekend, June 7-9, though the main event, the Canadian Grand Prix Formula 1 races on the Gilles-Villeneuve circuit at Parc Jean-Drapeau are the focal point. Right downtown, however, it’s all about the party: the Crescent Street Grand Prix Festival sees the street closed to traffic all day until 11 pm, featuring driver autograph sessions, a Pit Stop Challenge, live music, DJs and more; the nearby Peel Paddock is open and rocking (check out the #F1MTL hashtag for all the info) while a little further east, main drag Saint-Laurent Boulevard is closed to traffic as well, with restaurants setting up patios on the pavement, stores having street sales and a stage set up for live music. The party’s also on at New City Gas in Griffintown on June 7, with DJs Bob Sinclar, Sebastian Ingrosso and more. Or replace fossil fuel with raw, human energy and you get a rowsing championship match between light heavyweights Chad Dawson and Adonis Stevenson, boxing for the title on June 8 at the Bell Centre.

(fashionable art) Fashion, art and music combine in The 8-Day Week by Renata Morales, June 5-12, at the Phi Centre in Old Montreal. See arty fashion every day as a pop-up shop displays new sets of clothing and accessories for sale by different Montreal designers such as Complex Geometries, Denis Gagnon, Andrew Floyd Jewelry and more. At the same time, see an exhibition of work by faux-Flemish-historical painter Joe Becker, catch a film screening, and stay late for a series of music shows from Young Paris, The Salivation Army, Tenderness, Prison Garde, Tonstartssbandht and more made-in-Montreal greatness. Over at the MMFA, the biggest name in glass art, American artist Dale Chihuly, shows new glass sculptures designed for the Museum’s own architecture.

(circus know-how) Two fantastic, fun, family-friendly shows featuring new graduates of Montreal’s acclaimed National Circus School continue their runs with great enthusiasm: “La vie en swing (Swing Life)” – about youth, freedom and dancing in the 1940s – and “Pour le meilleur et pour le pire (For Better or For Worse)” – about all the highs and lows of a wedding ceremony and reception – on until June 9 at La Tohu. Young and talented circus performers show the fruit of their years of training in trapeze, tight-wire, clowning, juggling, cyr and many other circus arts, before they’re off to join Canadian and international circus troupes.

(performance space) The final days of Festival Transamériques continue with cutting-edge theatre and dance performances from Canada and around the world. Until June 8, see: Ainsi Parlait…, a rock n’ roll theatrical dance show from choreographer Frédérick Gravel and writer Étienne Lepage; So Blue, dancer-choreographer Louise Lecavalier’s fast-paced collaboration with Fou Glorieux; and Joël Pommerat’s French-language play La Grande et Fabuleuse Histoire du Commerce, weaving the tales of five travelling salesmen from the 1960s with the 2000s. The festival concludes with the closing night Animal Ball, a free event that encourages attendees to unleash their inner beasts.

(indie theatre) The 23rd edition of Montreal’s St-Ambroise Montreal Fringe Festival brings small-scale, affordable theatre, dance, stand-up comedy and music shows to myriad venues in the Plateau neighbourhood, June 4-24. This week: Glam Gam Burlesque stays sexy, strange and hilarious in The Little Beau Peep Show at famed strip-cabaret club Cafe Cléopâtre, June 8-10; fairytale-esque dance and punk rock show The Elephant in the Room reveals itself on June 7 at Fuchsia; burlesque performer Cherry Typhoon pairs up with clown-comedian Shoshinz in physical comedy Annoying Visitor starting June 13;  Dan Bingham cuts to the romantic chase in Now That I Have Your Attention, and stand-up comedienne DeAnne Smith and musician Leighland Beckman get together to tell us about Horrible Things, June 13 at Montreal Improv. And foodie Fringe fan will absolutely want to check out the Beatport and Lunch Beat collaboration.

(live music) Friday night is packed with music options this week, beginning with a huge outdoor show by The xx and Grizzly Bear at Esplanade Du Centenaire Du Canal Lachine, part of Osheaga’s pre-festival outdoor concert series. Prolific and charming singer-songwriter Jonathan Richman performs with Tommy Larkins on drums at Sala Rossa, country star Travis Tritt croons at Metropolis and young British pop star Conor Maynard sings at Théâtre Corona. Meanwhile, the Nocturnes series at the MACM hosts an audiovisual electronic experience with Montreal’s Le Révélateur and San Fran’s Jefre Cantu-Ledesma and Paul Clipson, in collaboration with the jazz and experimental music festival Suoni Per il Popolo. Sunday marks the long-awaited return of The Rolling Stones, still going strong on their 50 & Counting Tour, at the Bell Centre, while Supersuckers rock out with opener Lydia Loveless at Sala Rossa. On June 11, genre-bending indie-country-rock band Calexico at Théâtre Corona returns with a new album, Algiers. June 12 brings Belgian singer-songwriter Milow to Montreal on his North American tour, at Lion D’or, while Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros have a rollicking good time at Metropolis, and Roger McGuinn of The Byrds kicks off the Montreal Folk Fest  And Thursday, June 13 sees two big outdoor concerts: The National and The Barr Brothers both play at the pre-Osheaga show series and Ariane Moffatt opens the FrancoFolies festival.

The post Things to Do in Montreal: June 7–13 appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

Summer in Montreal is meant for being outdoors, one of the reasons Piknic Electronik started up in the first place 11 years ago: the weekly event, held every Sunday afternoon from May 19 to September 22, combines the natural setting of Parc Jean-Drapeau, complete with a summer breeze coming off the St-Laurent River, with electronic dance music from some of the world’s top DJs and hundreds of happy, dancing people….

This year, the highly anticipated Piknic Electronik starts once more on a long weekend, meaning not one but two days of fun on two stages, one centrally located under the massive Calder sculpture and the other a little further into the park among the trees.

On the main stage on May 19, hear house-label Leftroom producers Jay London and Laura Jones and UK disco and house master Matt Tolfrey, and livening up our holiday Monday afternoon is Montreal’s Casbour Records showcase on the Guru stage while the main Moog stage begins the afternoon with Creatures of Habit and ends the day with none other than Detroit house legend Carl Craig.

Holiday long weekends continue to get the celebratory Piknic treatment: on St. Jean-Baptiste Day (Quebec’s national celebration and always a party), Jun 23, get a glimpse of what Montreal 90s afterhours clubs were like – an inspiration to Piknic and definitely part of its success – with a Sona Nightclub-themed party, and on Labour Day weekend, August 31-September 2, get in on three days of music, with Misstress Barbara, Eats Everything, Dusky, Dave Allison and more.

Every weekend brings a new musical vibe and international stars to Piknic Electronik: on May 26, UK techno pioneer Dave Clarke, on July 7, Israeli DJ Guy Gerber, on July 14, French disco-edit man Pilooski, on August 25, it’s Berlin’s M.A.N.D.Y. And on September 8, Terminal M tech-house DJ Monika Kruse, followed by Radio Slave on September 22.

Montreal is known for its innovations in electronic music, so each weekend features music made by talents living right here in the city, as well as music makers from the U.S. and elsewhere in Canada. Festival season aligns with Piknic too: cutting-edge electronic music festival Mutek is on board on June 2 with Sweden’s Axel Boman, the Netherlands’ San Proper and Germany’s DeWalta, plus surprise guests); the Sound In Motion Festival comes to Piknic on June 30, as does Osheaga, MEG and Pop Montreal.

Labels also celebrate their success: on June 24, Turbo Records’ puts on a show for its 15th anniversary, with Tiga, Bordello, Thomas Von Party, and Mike Mind, while Microzoo Records’ Nathan Burns, Elio Krass and Smash TV play on August 18.

Piknic also collaborates on free events too! The Piknics on July 6 and 13 are part of Parc Jean-Drapeau’s Weekends du Monde, weekend-long celebrations of cultural diversity, featuring performances, food, artisanal fairs and more. Of course, there’s always food and drink every Sunday, with more added to the snack bar this year, including food from Pas de cochon dans mon salon and vegetarian restaurant Chu Chai. And yes, as long as there are smiles on Piknic people’s faces, rain or shine, the bar is always open.

A

THE DETAILS

Piknic Electronik, May 19-September 22, 2013, at Parc Jean-Drapeau

Photos by Susan Moss

The post Sunny Sundays at Piknic Electronik 2013 appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

Festivals and outdoor activities spring forth this week with a bout of beautiful weather just in time for the long weekend: celebrate La Fête de Montréal with street entertainment and food; be inspired by the art of Festival Transamériques and Chromatic; fall under the spell of the Montreal Opera, the Chamber Music Festival, and live music from electro-dance to glam rock…

(outdoor life) The fun starts outdoors on Friday, May 17 with free, all-day party La Fête de Montréal in the heart of the Quartier des Spectacles. The day celebrates Montreal’s 371st anniversary with performances from circus troupe Les 7 Doigts de la Main, folk-rock band Irreverend James and the Critical Mass Choir, choreographer-dancers Jocelyne Montpetit and Manon Oligny, artist Armand Vaillancourt and more. Food is also front and centre at the festivities with a variety of gourmet food trucks and a happy hour cocktail party at 4:30 p.m., followed by DJ sets by Vincent Lemieux and a multimedia musical event at 9:30 p.m. Sundays are for relaxing in the open air, chilling with drummers and dancers at the Tam Tams on Mont Royal or at this summer’s first weekend of Piknic Electronik (pictured above) at Parc Jean-Drapeau, starting its 11th season off right with two days and two stages of music to dance to: on May 19, hear house-label Leftroom producers Jay London and Laura Jones and the UK’s Matt Tolfrey, while on Monday, Detroit house legend Carl Craig headlines. And thrill-seekers flock to the sunny opening weekend of La Ronde amusement park.

(daring performance) Some of the highest caliber multidisciplinary theatre, dance and performance art comes to Festival Transamériques, May 22-June 8, featuring international and Canadian talents, including German director Thomas Ostermeier’s not-to-be-missed modern interpretation of Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People on May 22-24, and South African artist-choreographer Robyn Orlin’s Beauty Remained For Just A Moment Then Returned Gently To Her Starting Position…, an engaging, humorous critique of South African society – and society in general, for that matter, dressed in elaborate costumes made of recycled materials.

(art & the street) Multidisciplinary art festival Chromatic, May 18-22 at art gallery and studio space The Darling Foundry puts on a long weekend of all kinds of avant-garde art, film screenings, music and more, indoors and outdoors – there’s even an art party on Saturday night with music by Capitaine Soldat, Aroara, Memoryhouse, TEEN, Rock Forest, High Klassified and Toast Dawg. On May 19, bring the family for a picnic on Ottawa Street outside the gallery, complete with free art workshops for kids. May 22 closes the show with an Art Affaire party. Catch two art exhibitions at the PHI Centre: Philomène Longpré’s interactive video system Cereus Queen of the Night, and Gabriel Coutu-Dumont’s multidisciplinary Wonders of a Transient Universe. And experimental Sight and Sound Festival continues to blend art and technology, with performances at Eastern Bloc to May 29. And make music outside just by swinging on  music-art installation 21 Swings, outside along de Maisonneuve Avenue in the Quartier des Spectacles.

(love & mystery) The Opera de Montreal, alongside the Orchestre Métropolitain reach new heights with Massenet’s opera of love and poverty, Manon, directed by Fabien Gabel and featuring soprano Marianne Fiset, Canadian baritone Gordon Bintner and Portuguese tenor Bruno Ribeiro. Dream Away, the latest work by award-winning choreographer Stephan Thoss, is a surreal exploration of movement and gesture, presented by Les Grands Ballets to May 25. Thoroughbred and highly trained horses make up the magic of Odysseo, a theatrical new show from the makers of Cavalia, to June 9 in Laval. And Greg Kramer’s adaptation of Sherlock Holmes, starring Jay Baruchel, unravels mysteries of man and nature at the Segal Centre until May 28.

(chamber & classical music) The Montreal Chamber Music Festival mixes traditional quartets with chamber-inspired jazz, to June 1: on May 17, hear Brazilian guitarist Chico Pinheiro and his ensemble perform music from their new album There’s a Storm Inside; on May 18, it’s the Swingle Singers 50th Anniversary Celebration at Église St-George, singing tunes from The Beatles to Bach; and on May 22, hear solo performances of Bach played on impressive instruments from the Canada Council Musical Instrument Bank. Meanwhile, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra plays out its spring season with the family fare of the Magic Horn, a story of a genie told through the sounds of exotic musical instruments. On May 21, the Orchestra tackles surrealist music of the early 20th century, and on May 22-23, David Zinman conducts Mahler’s Fifth.

(may music fests) Pop-punk is the name of the Pouzza Fest game, as are Pabst and poutine, all a part of the fests take over of 10 downtown Montreal venues by 150 bands – there’s even a Sunday breakfast show at Foufounes and BBQ dinners at Katacombes. Among the headliners: Me First & the Gimmie Gimmies, New Found Glory, A Wilhelm Scream, The Planet Smashers, Saves the Day, and man, many more, including free outdoors shows at the Quartier des Spectacles (at the corner of Clark and Ste-Catherine) on Saturday and Sunday starting at 11 a.m. Later in the week, catch a variety of great solo acts at the One Man Band Festival, May 23-26: on Thursday night, see Bloodshot Bill, Danny Lutz, André Daneau and more.

(more live music) Friday night is alright for an electro-groove party with RJD2 at the SAT. On Saturday night, the man behind The Twist performs the kind of rock and roll that inspired a generation: Chubby Checker gets the crowd dancing at the Rialto Theatre, in the Mile End neighbourhood. On May 19, glam-rock band The Darkness prove they still believe in a thing called love, with Free Energy opening, at the Corona Theatre, while Connecticut-based rapper Chris Webby  rhymes to the beat at L’Astral (305 Ste-Catherine E.). Listen to the sweet and sometimes sad music of Montreal’s Folly And The Hunter and Aidan Knight at Cabaret Du Mile End on May 22. And on May 23, UK indie post-rockers The Boxer Rebellion bring their big sound to Petit Campus (57 Prince-Arthur E.), while The Shins get mildly happy, with openers Ra Ra Riot, at Metropolis.

The post Things to Do in Montreal: May 17-23 appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

This year, over the weekend of August 2-4, Osheaga turns beautiful Parc Jean-Drapeau, a quick metro ride away from downtown Montreal, into one big three-day party, headlined by Grammy winners Mumford & Sons, French pop-rock band Phoenix, stylish indie-rockers Vampire Weekend, and, in keeping with Osheaga’s penchant for bringing genuine legends of the 80s and 90s back to the music fest stage, none other than The Cure and New Order. Whoa.
The Osheaga site sprawls across the park, with two giant main stages at its open-air heart and smaller stages – usually set to a theme, from folk-rock to electronic dance music; yes, there’s something for everyone – surrounded by trees and views of the St-Laurent river and the city. Among the big names hitting the main stages are folk-revivalist act The Lumineers, British electro-pop makers Hot Chip, Canadian danceparty makers Tegan and Sara, and hip-hop’s latest and greatest, Kendrick Lamar, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, plus Big Boi and Azealia Banks.

The latest across-the-pond sounds of pop sweetness and light comes with 2012 Mercury Prize winners Alt-J, pop singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding, Jessie Ware and Ireland’s Two Door Cinema Club, sharing stages with American bands like Beach House, Explosions in the Sky, Jimmy Eat World and The Head and the Heart, along with Canadian faves like Diamond Rings, Misteur Valaire and A Tribe Called Red. Dozens more bands play the festival, with many acts still to be announced – see Osheaga’s site for the most up-to-date info.

August truly does seem far away right now, so in the long lead-up to the Osheaga weekend, the festival presents some big-name, not-to-miss shows in Montreal: on May 24, see Iceland’s Of Monsters and Men, a huge hit at last year’s festival; The XX and Grizzly Bear on June 7; The National and The Barr Brothers on June 13; and The Tragically Hip and Sam Roberts Band on June 22. In the spirit of the fest, all show are happening outdoors during what we all hope will be sunny days at the Esplanade Du Centenaire du Canal Lachine – also a good reason to explore Atwater Market and the neighbourhood of St-Henri, just south of downtown Montreal. Now let’s get summer started early!

A

THE DETAILS
Osheaga, August 2-4, 2013

Photos by Susan Moss

The post Osheaga 2013: Mumford & Sons, The Cure, New Order, Vampire Weekend and much Macklemore appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

After celebrating its 10th year last summer, the now-infamous Piknic Electronik returns on Sunday, May 19 and continues its inclusive, happy-times, electronic dance party tradition every Sunday to September 22 in Parc Jean-Drapeau, located on an (easily accessible by public transit) island in the middle of the St-Laurent river, where there’s always a breeze and a view of downtown Montreal and the Mountain.

Piknic creates a new kind of dance club every week, always with a friendly, welcoming vibe, bringing in DJs from around the world and boosting up some of the best producers in Montreal and across Canada. Last year’s DJs included Major Lazer, Squarepusher, Nicolas Jaar and many, many more – we’ll hear in a couple of weeks what this year’s line-up has in store. What better way to hear the latest electronic dance sounds of all kinds, on a sound system built to match, than outside on a sunny day, surrounded by fellow dance music lovers?

A

THE DETAILS
Piknic Electronik, Every Sunday, May 19-September 22, at Parc Jean-Drapeau

The post Piknic Electronik 2013: DJs and Dancing outdoors appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

If you’re not sure what to do with the kids this season, why not whisk them away to the Fête des Neiges festival for some outdoor winter fun and tube sliding. This year, the slide features 11 sliding lanes with two “extreme sliding areas” that have a 12-foot high departure platform…

For those of you with a devil-may-care attitude, try the thrilling zip line where you can pretend you’re a superhero and fly down one of the four downhill ropes that are more than 300 feet long and 24 feet high. If you’re more athletic (I won’t judge) why not try a game of pick up hockey in the beautiful scenic ice rink over looking the frosted city of Montreal. Then, wind down with a horse and carriage jaunt or a nice relaxing dog sled through Parc Jean Drapeau.

For the fiscally conservative, there are lots of free things to take advantage of. Namely Human Foosball, which, of course, is priceless. Then delight in ice rinks, downhill skiing hills and a giant trampoline. What’s that you say? You need to cut loose? You feel like dancing? Fete des Neiges has the answer to your dancin’ prayers at their Boulatheque- which is like a discotheque but colder. All this fun stuff with a backdrop of artfully crafted snow sculptures in the picturesque park. There’s even inflatable games at the great Polar Circus or check out the Tiny Fingers workshop where children are taught the subtle art of snow sculpting.

If all that activity is making you hungry, explore the Skater’s Bistro for some hot toddies and hot (or iced) ciders. The Skater’s Bistro is known for their delicious smoked salmon, so it’s the perfect meal to complete the experience. If you have a sweet tooth, order the crepes. With all the fun things to do this winter at Parc Jean-Drapeau, all you need is to paint the town red to get rid of your winter blues.

A

THE DETAILS

Fête des Neiges, January 21 to February 5, 2012

The post FAMILY FRIENDLY FUN AT FETE DES NEIGES appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

Until March 31, Parc Jean Drapeau will be home to Montreal’s most wonderfully wintery attraction, the Snow Village. In fact, the Snow Village is an hommage to the city itself, boasting icy reproductions of Montreal’s building and monuments, not to mention a hotel, restaurant, bar, convention centre, chapel and, fittingly, a whole bunch of igloos. An obvious must-see for locals and tourists alike. To make reservations, visit the Snow Village website or call (514) 788-2181.

The post MONTREAL’S SNOW VILLAGE TAKES OVER PARC JEAN-DRAPEAU appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

Since construction won’t be completed until December, the images and video you see below are from the original Snow Village in Finland. Which is fitting, as it was the inspiration for Montreal’s newest winter attraction.

“We fell in love with the original project and decided to import it to Montreal,” says Carl Fugère, one of the project’s promoters. “In fact, the Montreal version of Snow Village will be much more elaborate and have more features than the Finnish version. What’s more, the Village will depict a different city each year, particularly through its sculptures, design and activities. For our first year, it seemed only natural to showcase Montreal.”

Let’s start with what must be your first question: how cold does it get? Due to snow’s insulating properties, warmer than you’d think- the interior temperature ranges from -2 to -5°C (23° to 28°F). So absolutely nothing some decent outerwear and nice warm drink or two can’t handle. Boasting heated outdoor spas under the stars, a 60-seat restaurant, a 250-seat bar, a huge conference centre, maze, slide and even a chapel, you probably won’t even have time to be cold.

Like all good hotels, the Snow Village offers a range of options. At the Snow Village, you’ve got standard rooms, prestige suites and, clearly coolest (pun sort of intended), igloos. All the rooms come with thermal sleeping bags for the night, welcome cocktails, continental breakfast and much more. (TIP: book before January 6 to take advantage of their promotional deal.)

If you’re not ready to take the full plunge, why not just spend a couple hours in their restaurant, a 100 square meter igloo decorated with illuminated ice and snow. The menu details haven’t been released yet, but you can check out the Snow Village’s Facebook and Twitter pages to keep track of any new announcements.

The Snow Village’s bar, aka The Kube, is sure to be one of Montreal’s new winter hotspots. And if you’re still not convinced about how much fun can be had in the cold Montreal months, check out our video from last year’s Igloofest, which is held on other side of the Saint Lawrence River in Old Montreal. Pack something warm… and stylish.

THE DETAILS

Snow Village at Parc Jean Drapeau, January 6 to March 31, 2011

Reservations: 1 (855) 788-2181

The post SLEEK WINTER CHIC IN MONTREAL’S SNOW VILLAGE appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

(world wide film) The 35th Montreal World Film Festival is upon us this week and next (August 18–28), with hundreds of feature films from over 70 countries. Among its many offerings, this year’s fest pays tribute both to French cinema, with a focus on actress Catherine Deneuve and talks by filmmakers Claude Lelouch and Bertrand Tavernier, and to Bollywood, with free outdoor screenings of classic and contemporary musicals from India, showing at Place des Festivals right next to the Musee d’art Contemporain. Other films to take note of at the quite affordable festival: Quebec filmmaker André Forcier’s funny and poignant Coteau Rouge, Michel Hazanavicius’s The Artist, the Fuica brothers’ La Run, and Zhao Tianyu’s romantic drama The Law of Attraction.

(relax with reggae) Spend the weekend in the sun, swaying to the many beats of the 8th annual Montreal International Reggae Festival, with live shows featuring everything from classic reggae to hip hop and dubstep – like Gyptian, Montreal reggae star Jah Cutta, Exco Levi, Jahvinci, Wayne Wonder and the U.K.’s Third World. Head down to the Quays of the Old Port for music, food, activities for the kids, and more, August 20–21.

(start your engines) This weekend’s Napa Auto Parts 200 puts the meaning of going for a Sunday drive in perspective… Leave the leisurely pace at home and head to Jean Drapeau Park this Friday and Saturday (August 19–20) for NASCAR machines doing what they do best: lookin’ hot and going fast. On top of the race, Jacques Villeneuve, driver of the #22 Penske Dodge, and some of his family members will meet and greet NASCAR fans on Saturday.

(set your sails) Ahoy, boat lovers and sea captains! And everyone who loves the pleasant lap of waves upon the hull (not a euphemism)! The Montreal Classic Boat Festival docks at Montreal’s Old Port this weekend (August 19–21). See all kinds of classic boats, stroll through the nautical market area for all things boat-related, sit a spell and watch a film or ten, learn more about boating lore, and tap your toes to sea shanties – who knew a boat festival would be such a cultural experience! Impressive.

(green city) Montreal hosts the Ecocity World Summit, August 22–26, at the Palais des Congrès, bringing together over 1000 people from around the world who are involved in making the world’s cities more sustainable and environmentally sound. With plenty of free activities open to the public, the conference itself acts as a model for a more environmentally aware world – the whole event is zero-waste and carbon-neutral. Also check out the Carrot City exhibition at Les Galeries du Palais, an interactive inquiry into the place of food in the city that looks at the relationship between urban design and our food systems, present, past and future.

(of kings and queens) Whether or not the British royals are relevant to our daily lives remains questionable, but if this summer’s highly publicized royal wedding and subsequent royal tour is anything to go by, it would seem the free world is still fascinated by the aristocracy. They make for good theatrics anyway: Repercussion Theatre’s outdoor performances of Macbeth end their summer run this weekend in Westmount Park with performance on August 20 and 21 at 8 p.m., free of charge even! And the reign of Disney’s movie-to-stage musical The Lion King continues at Place des Arts to September 4.

(good art neighbours) Mosey over to the neighbourhood of Notre-Dame de Grace for NDG Arts Week, August 19–28, just a few blocks west of Westmount’s fashionable shopping-and-dining district. Saturday’s barbeque and street party, starting at 6 p.m., raises money for the NDG Food Depot, and features music from hip-hop band Groundsoul and rock band Resojets. On Sunday all day, Coop la Maison Verte (5785 Sherbrooke W.) hosts a craft fair showcasing local art, jewellery, clothing and more.

(music to our ears) Dance in the sunshine on Sunday, August 21, at summer electronic-dance-music staple Piknic Electronik, featuring DJs Black Tiger Sex Machine, Kraddy and more. Or take it slow at the Montreal Midsummer Slowdance – yes, all slow tunes all night, with plenty of partners to choose from and an honest-to-goodness dancecard to fill, at Royal Phoenix Bar (5788 St-Laurent) in the Mile End neighbourhood, 8 p.m. ‘til late. On Tuesday, August 23, see The War on Drugs, with Caveman and Porcelain Raft at Casa Del Popolo and on Wednesday, August 24, sing along with Irreverend James and the Critical Mass Choir at Divan Orange, for free! And on Thursday, August 25, head down to the Darling Foundry art space for an outdoor block party, 5–10 p.m., with great local DJs and a barbeque, record sale, art exhibitions and more.

The post THINGS TO DO IN MONTREAL (AUGUST 19-25) appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

(pride and parties) The Montreal Pride celebrations continue to August 14, as the city’s LGBTA community shows its stuff with music, art, theatre, dance, a parade and, of course, hot parties late into the night. As always, Pride is open to everyone – a celebration of diversity and community especially obvious on Saturday, August 13, when Montreal community organizations take to the streets with all kinds of info for Community Day on Ste-Catherine E. (between Berri and Papineau), and during the big parade on Sunday, August 14 on René-Lévesque W., all the way from Guy to Place Émilie-Gamelin in the Village. And, for those who need to calm among the frenzy, take part in the huge (and free!) yoga class on August 13 at 3 p.m. at the TD Stage.

(art in the street) Graffiti art in Montreal is nothing new – you’ll see it around town in all its legal and not-so-legal forms – but, as in most big urban centers, it’s still not considered mainstream. But does that really matter? Going on 16 years old now, Under Pressure- an independent, welcoming event that brings together graffiti artists, skateboarders, hip-hop artists and those who love them- fills the streets around at Ste-Catherine and Hotel-de-Ville, August 13–14. The weekend features street artists, live painting, 50 different DJs and musicians, skateboard demos, and a two art installation from 123Klan.

(Franco-blues) Legends of Quebecois blues, country and rock as well as bands new to the scene fill the Festiblues roster, to August 14 at Ahuntsic Park. Take an easy Metro ride up north for this truly unique experience of Quebecois arts and culture, featuring Roch Voisine, Marjo, Les Trois Accords and many, many more.

(theatre bloody theatre) August isn’t known as prime time for theatre in Montreal, but in a city that bursts with creativity, the theatre arts are no exception – you just can’t keep an actor down (oh, I’ve tried). Disney’s big-budget classic The Lion King sings of Simba and the circle of life at Place des Arts starting this week and running to September 4. And, continuing to August 13, The Montreal Shakespeare Theatre Company stages what is considered the Bard’s most violent play: the bloody and bawdy Titus Andronicus, a Roman-Empire tale of revenge. Playing at Monument-National’s Studio Hydro-Québec.

(walk the walk) Get to know the creative side of downtown Montreal on a free walking tour of the Quartier des Spectacles, this Friday, August 12 at 10:30 a.m., starting at La Patrie building (182 Ste-Catherine E.). See historical sites, entertainment meccas and street art and hear tales of red-light-district lore as you walk the streets of the downtown core as well as its labyrinthine underground.

(children at play) Over at Jean-Drapeau Park, kids rule the roost at the 13th Fête des Enfants de Montréal, August 13–14. It’s a weekend full of free activities for the kids, from song and dance to music shows, arts and crafts, sports, games and all kinds of entertainment and edutainment, including sand castle building and giant marionnettes. Faces will be painted, hot dogs will be consumed, fun will be had. Montreal’s museums also get in on the act, with free activities at the Biodome, Botanical Gardens, Insectarium, Planetarium, Biosphere, Pointe-à-Callière and others on Saturday and Sunday. Wow.

(comedy fun and games) Sure, the Just For Laughs festival is over, but the comedy goes on in Montreal. On Wednesday, August 17, stand-up comedian Tig Notaro and her witty and weird sense of humor, employed on Comedy Central and The Sarah Silverman Program, fly in from L.A. to La Sala Rossa (4848 St Laurent), 9 p.m., with local absurdist improv duo Venezuela.
(music sounds better with you) On Friday, August 12, swing to the jazzy blues of Carolyn Fe as she and her band launch their new album at Le Bistro à Jojo (1627 St-Denis). On August 13, Swedish Viking metal band Amon Amarth brings the thunder of the gods to Metropolis. Or you could spend the day eating ice cream at the Atwater Market and dancing along the Lachine Canal with Piknic Electronik, starting at 1 p.m. and ending the day with a screening of the awesome Quebec film C.R.A.Z.Y. at 8 p.m. On Sunday at Metropolis, the Germans are coming! Digitalism brings the techno-house beats. While over at Club Soda (1225 St-Laurent), shake your azz like you’ve never shook it before with Big Freedia and friends. On August 16, bubblegum-punk band Blink 182 is at the Bell Centre and then – and then! – on Wednesday, August 17, Lil Wayne is at the Bell Center, with Rick Ross, Keri Hilson and Far East Movement. Mmmm.

The post THINGS TO DO IN MONTREAL (AUGUST 11-18) appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.