(light entertainment) The winter nights light even brighter during the 14th Montréal en Lumière, a festival of food, free outdoor activities (a ferris wheel, an ice slide and more!), music, theatre and dance shows, and other entertainment. Gourmet cuisine comes in all shapes and sizes at the festival, from multi-course meals to cheese samplings – see our Top 5 food picks for ideas. Tango enthusiasts and the curious are in for a treat at tango-meets-cabaret-meets-circus show and milonga La Pista Tango, the art of singer Tonny Bennett is on display, French music star -M- plays February 22, theatre-dance show The Humanity Project provokes deep thoughts, Haitian-born Québécois artist Marie-Josée Lord sings February 25, singer and pianist Diana Krall entrances in a solo concert on February 26, and none other than The Zombies rock out on February 28.

(circus & butterflies) Add far more than a dash of bright colour to snowy days at the 34th Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain, a internationally touring circus show featuring some of the top circus acts from the Paris-based competition of the same name, including acrobats, trapeze artists, jugglers, clowns, contortionists and more, to March 2 at La Tohu. More brightness awaits at the Butterflies Go Free exhibition at the Montreal Botanical Gardens, where 2000 butterflies and moths from around the world take up residence until the end of April. Or step outside at the Old Port to see the astounding athlethics involved in the Ice Canoe Races on February 23.

(dance & theatre) For the first time in Canada, the National Ballet of China performs Raise the Red Lantern, a classical Western ballet interpretation of Zhang Yimou’s dramatic film of the same name – the director even added his creative voice to the production by writing the libretto, designing the lighting and signing the stage direction – on stage February 22-24 at Place des Arts, presented by Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal. Danse Danse presents Corps de Walk, a thoroughly cool, contemporary-culture show (in music, movement and style) by choreographers Gai Behar and Sharon Eyal and 12 dancers of The Norwegian National Company of Contemporary Dance, February 28 and March 1-2 at Place des Arts.

(travel with art) Take a different kind of walk around downtown’s happening Quartier des Spectacles to the tune of Luminothérapie: use your iPhone or mp3 player to interact with art project Le jour des 8 soleils by artist Pascal Grandmaison who tells a story through video projects video projections on buildings in the area, from Berri-UQAM metro station to Place des Festivals and points in between. Indoors, visit Peru through its art, history and culture, presented in stunning detail at the MMFA’s Peru: Kingdoms of the Sun and Moon. The Musee d’art Contemporain features intriguing large-scale colour photography by celebrated photographer Lynne Cohen and an immersive, mysterious multi-room installation called Uraniborg, by French multidisciplinary artist Laurent Grasso.

(live music) Old Montreal cultural hub the PHI Centre hosts Thus: Owls on Friday, February 22 and follows that up on Saturday, February 23 with amazing Haiti fundraiser party Kanaval Kanape, with performances by Arcade Fire with Haitian group Doody & Kami and a dancetastic afterparty – in partnership with Black History Month Montreal. Also on Friday, ska-rock the night away with The Planet Smashers at Club Soda, while Bosnian Rainbows play Cabaret du Mile End and the good folks at Passovah Productions throw a party with Young Galaxy, Valleys and many more (plus doughnuts from Chez Boris!) at Il Motore. On Saturday night, dance to the electronic music of Bordello, Vosper and Jealous Lovers at the SAT. On Sunday, the MSO hosts conductor Gennady Rozhdestvensky and pianist Viktoria Postnikova, while The Montreal New Music International Festival showcases some of the best in new classical and experimental works. On February 25, feel the Irish spirit with Celtic Woman, February 25 at Place des Arts. On February 26, indie-experimental-rock artist Eels  is at Theatre Corona, and on February 27, Swedish House Mafia makes the Bell Centre thump.

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(light up the town) The Telus Fire on Ice fireworks go off with a bang on Saturday night in the Old Port, while Noël sur l’avenue makes shopping and dining along Mont Royal Avenue all the more festive with concerts, family friendly activities and more all weekend. Downtown at the Quartier des Spectacles, play with outdoor interactive musical installation Iceberg, part of Luminothérapie exhibition. And the Olympic Parc celebrates the grand opening of their winter site on December 15: from 11:30-8 p.m., help decorate their 15-metre Christmas tree, visit with Santa, and partake of gourmet treats from some of the city’s best food trucks.

(circus lights) Cirque du Soleil’s colourful, musical Saltimbanco fits right in with the festive season and delights with all kinds of acrobatics, juggling, feats of strength and stamina, and, of course, tension-diffusing clowns. Cirque returns home this month to mark the final run for the company’s longest-running show – 20 years! – see it December 19-30 at the Bell Centre, with behind-the-scenes packages available for some shows. On another musical circus note, Cirque Alphonse’s Timber! takes place in a forest full of lumberjack acrobats, clowns and family-friendly comedy – December 18-31 at Montreal’s one-and-only circus centre, Tohu.

(gift giving) Sometimes it’s just easier to shop in a town that isn’t your own. Take some of the pressure off gift buying by stopping in at some of Montreal’s hot, variety-packed craft and artisanal fairs. The Pop Montreal music festival puts on hip and super cute Puces Pop DIY & Craft Fair December 14-16 with an opening party on Friday evening, at Église Saint-Enfant-Jésus (5035 St-Dominique). The biggest fair of its kind in Canada, Salon des métiers d’art continues to December 22 with over 400 Quebec artists and artisans selling clothing, toys, food and much more at Place Bonaventure – see Santa every Saturday afternoon. And the smaller Old Skool Crafts Holiday Fair sees local craftspeople bringing their quality handmade goods to L’Église St-Michel (105 St-Viateur W.) on Saturday and Sunday.

(sounds of Christmas) Classical music and traditional Christmas songs fill December’s days and nights. Notre-Dame Basilica hosts the Montreal Symphony Orchestra performing Hector Berlioz’s L’Enfance du Christ with Kent Nagano conducting, December 19-20, and on December 14-15 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., eight Quebecois singers sing traditional Christmas songs for the Les Stars chantent Noël. On December 16 at the Gesù hear the French 18th century organ music of Les douze Noëls pour orgue de Louis-Claude Daquin. Québec writer Bryan Perro tells a magical, Christmassy tale of two villages as the Montreal Symphony Orchestra accompanies, December 14-15 at Maison symphonique de Montréal. And at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts Bourgie Hall, soprano Suzie LeBlanc sings a traditional concert of Advent music, with violinist, organist and conductor on December 16 at 3 p.m.

(sights on stage) The traditional December run of Les Grands Ballets’ The Nutcracker continues to December 30 at Place des Arts, while there are only a few days left to catch Robin Hood, as staged by children’s theatre experts Geordie Productions, at the Centaur Theatre in Old Montreal (453 St-Francois-Xavier). If you’ve been waiting years for Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol to be turned into a 14-song musical, well, that dream is now a reality, at Theatre Rialto on December 14. And critically lauded play Red , about the life and art of Mark Rothko, continues at the Segal Centre to December 16.

(sports on ice) Get your hockey fix at CWHL fundraiser game Les Boys (NHL alumni and stars of the Les Boys television series) vs. Les Girls (Montreal’s national championship team The Stars, featuring Olympic players) on Saturday, December 15, 1 p.m. at Etienne Desmarteau arena (3430 Bellechasse). Canada’s other official sport takes over the Bell Centre this Saturday: National Lacrosse League teams Toronto Rock and Rochester Knighthawks face off. And ski and snowboard freestylers literally take to the street for Amnesia Shack Attack on December 15 starting at 7 p.m. – see tricks, jumps and more on St-Denis between Sherbrooke and Ontario.

(more music) Montreal’s live music scene is feeling the holiday party vibe this weekend. Get along with the locals on Friday night with Mac Demarco, Each Other, Freelove Fenner and DJ Cadence Weapon At Il Motore (179 Jean-Talon W.). On Saturday night, Swiss folk-metal band Eluveitie loudly zooms into town with Wintersun and Varg at Club Soda,  and rock-dance it up with Mark Sultan and Lunar Exile, at Casa Del Popolo (4873 St-Laurent). On December 16, get closer with indie-pop cool kids Tegan & Sara at Metropolis, while American hip hop artist Machine Gun Kelly brings his rapid-fire vocal ways to Club Soda. Artist centre Easter Bloc brings together international sound artists and experimental musicians to perform, record and discuss their work in Object Inusité, December 19-22, with opening night performances December 19 at 7 p.m. And on December 20, get into a little American country music with Drew Womack and his band Sons of the Desert at Sala Rossa.

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(hot shop) Shop for holiday gifts or yourself at the annual souk @ sat art and design fair – it’s hip, it’s cool, it’s very Montreal, with over 100 professional artists and designers selling unique clothing, jewellery, handbags, furniture, home accessories, toys, art and more. The sale happens November 30 to December 2 at the Société des Arts Technologiques downtown, where you can also stop for a bite at their FoodLab restaurant. Find more Quebec-made creations, from clothing to gourmet food, at Le Marché Casse Noisette, also known as The Nutcracker Market, a non-profit market co-organized by Les Grands Ballets Canadiens – it’s one of many of Montreal’s December craft and artisanal fairs. Environmentally conscious shopping meets eco-education and entertainment – including a Green Santa! – at the Recycling-Artists Eco Fair at the Biosphère ecological centre in Parc Jean-Drapeau, November 30-December 2. And in Mile End, check out Marché de Noël du Mile End at Ecole Lambert-Closse (5840 St-Urbain), November 30 until 9 p.m. and December 1, 10am-5pm., featuring food, gifts and more.

(winter wonderlands) Montreal’s first snowfall has come and gone already, but more picturesque snow days are certainly on their way – and with them, winter sports! The huge outdoor skating rink in the Old Port opens December 1 – if you get there before 11 a.m., skate for free! If you get there afterwards, it’s only $6 anyway, with rentals available on site too. Later on December 1, the TELUS Fire on Ice fireworks show lights up the sky over the Old Port starting at 8 p.m. And over at the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts, wander through an indoor forest of Christmas trees, decorated in different styles with traditional and hand-painted decorations by local associations and cultural groups. Access to the museum’s permanent collections is free at all times, as are the museum’s weekend art workshops and tours for kids and families.

(comedy gold) Some big names in comedy come to Montreal this week, but while Jerry Seinfeld’s December 1 at Place des Arts is sold out, there’s still a chance to see Robin Williams in freewheeling conversation with fellow comedian (and director and author) David Steinberg on December 5 at Place des Arts. Not only is Williams’ career in television, film and on stage on the interview agenda, but so is his personal life – sure to be strange, hilarious and entertaining. On a smaller but just as funny scale, New York City veteran comic Al Lubel treads the Montreal Comedy Works stage November 30 and December 1. And family-friendly circus, musical and epic adventure show Loucho the Clown continues at Theatre Ste-Catherine to December 2.

(immersive art) Montreal lights up throughout the month with Luminotherapie, works of high-tech art located throughout the Quartier des Spectacles in the downtown core. Follow the story of an iceberg in interactive installation Iceberg – human movement actually transforms the physical structure and the sounds within, and look out for the many videos of Le Jour des 8 Soleils, projected on buildings throughout the Quartier. Create a professional self-portrait at the WonderWall collective art project at ArtLab (5524 St-Patrick), all day December 1 and 2 – you don’t need any art experience to be a participant and all materials will be supplied. And the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal holds its Giant Inventory Sale of Musée Publications – all publications are on sale for $2, cash only – December 4-5.

(film lands) At the end of Montreal’s film festival season, we find a celebration: Image+Nation has spent 25 years bringing LGBT films from around the world to Montreal, with plenty of good ones this year too, playing at Cinema du Parc until December 2 – feature length dramas this weekend include Joshua Tree, 1951: A Portrait of James Dean, Nicole Conn’s A Perfect Ending and more. Also at Cinema du Parc is Montreal’s Brazilian film festival, November 30-December 6, featuring premiers of new Brazilian films along with directors present for Q&A sessions after screenings.

(opera & theatre) Opera de Montreal holds its 17th annual Gala fundraiser with some of the companies most adored singers performing arias and ensembles from productions past and present – held at the beautiful new Maison symphonique de Montréal on Sunday, December 2 at 2 p.m. Meanwhile, in theatre, David Lindsay-Abaire’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play Good People, set in Boston’s working-class Irish “Southie” neighbourhood, continues at the Centaur to December 6. Contemporary painting gets the dramatic treatment in Red, based on the work and life of artist Mark Rothko, at the Segal Centre to December 16. And live it up with a night of vaudeville on December 6 at the Segal, with live music from Bad Uncle, comedians Mike Paterson, Tim Rabnet and Ryan Wilner, burlesque and circus acts, and  more.

(dancing days) The fairytale of Snow White is turned into an urban, dreamy, often funny dance odyssey in Où est Blanche-Neige?, choreographed by Manon Oligny as part of this winter’s Parcours Danse events – see a free performance at Espace culturel Georges-Émile-Lapalme at Place des Arts on December 4 at 5 p.m. and a free performance of Alors, Dansez Maintenant! on December 5 at 11:45 a.m. Persian music and contemporary dance combine in Śūnya, at the Segal Centre on December 1. Dance Cité presents Nancy Leduc’s Projet Harlequin, inspired by reading Harlequin romance novels as a teenager, to December 8 at Théâtre de Quat’sous (100 Pins W.). And up-and-coming dancers perform short pieces at the Bouge d’ici Mash Up, hosted by Miss Sugarpuss on November 30 at Shift Space (1190 St-Antoine W.).

(warm-up music) Back home after European tours, Montreal’s Jonas and the Massive Attraction show off their rock-pop stuff at Club Soda on Friday, November 30. On Saturday, December 1, Montreal musician Ariane Moffatt returns with her bilingual blend of jazz, electro and folk, with electro-pop makers Young Galaxy at the Corona Theatre, while jazz-blues entertainer Leon Redbone is at Sala Rossa – and on a different, but also Montreal-based note, Grim Skunk get their rock-punk-world-beat on at Club Soda. Sunday, December 2 is the right kind of day for the Gospel Celebration 30th Anniversary, featuring the wonderful Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir and special guests at Théâtre Maisonneuve at Place des Arts, 8 p.m. On Monday, December 3, get into the soulful, kind of jazzy, kind of rock music of Rachael Yamagata at Sala. On Tuesday, December 4, it’s NYC folk-pop group Pearl and the Beard at Sala. And on Thursday night, spend an evening with Loreena McKennitt at Place des Arts, or chill out with the Americana-style rock of Band of Horses at Metropolis, or dance to the electro-beat of Diamond Rings and Mozart’s Sister at Sala.

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Take a break in Montreal this week with days dedicated to amazingly affordable fine food, high-flying and inspiring on-stage entertainment, international film and art, family-friendly sounds of science, and lots of great live music…

(fantastic food) The food-centric week begins on Friday with an array of gourmet food trucks – from tacos to crepes to hamburgers – set up for your culinary pleasure at Montreal’s Olympic Park. For sit-down meals, check out Montreal’s TASTE MTL Restaurant Week, ongoing to November 11, with gourmet prix-fixe menus – from $19 to $39 – at some of Montreal’s best fine-dining restaurants. Choose by cuisine or discover new parts of the city by choosing by neighbourhood: spend an evening in Old Montreal, the next one at a restaurant downtown, in the Plateau or Mile End, Outremont, the Village or Griffintown.

(life on film) Film festival season continues in Montreal with the French-language – English subtitles usually included – Cinémania, to November 11, with features, shorts, retrospectives (including an extensive one on Sandrine Bonnaire’s films), presentations and Q&A sessions, and more. Among the many films, see Cinémania’s opener, an official Cannes competitor, Jacques Audiard’s Rust and Bone, starring Marion Cotillard and Matthias Schoenaerts in a story of a former boxer, his son and a woman coming to terms with a life-altering disability. And on November 7, doc film fest RIDM begins its reign of real life representations, with films from around the world, including Peter Mettler’s The End of Time, Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s Mekong Hotel, a series of 15 favourite docs chosen by 15 members of the film community, and much more.

(circus & theatre) Circus shows in Montreal are always an adventure of some kind, but that adventure is guaranteed to be thrilling and heartfelt with inventive and talented Montreal-based international circus troupe 7 Doigts de la Main – their latest show, Séquence 8, is chock full of stunning acrobatics and ensemble work, big laughs, great music and a love of circus arts and audience connection, at La Tohu circus centre to November 17. In theatre, Black Theatre Workshop extends its successful run of Harlem Duet, an award-winning play that spans Shakespeare’s Othello and the sentiments of Martin Luther King in a story of the struggle to gain true equality in North America. And Persephone Productions presents Shakespeare’s classic of classics Hamlet at the Calixa Lavallée Théâtre in Parc Lafontaine, November 1-10.

(beautiful bodies) International rock star choreographer Hofesh Shechter’s Political Mother is powerful, beautiful and moving – for dance fans or simply for anyone looking for a great show. With 10 extremely talented dancers and 7 musicians live on stage, Political Mother tells a story of hope in the face of tyranny – at Théâtre Maisonneuve at Place des Arts, November 1-3. In the same performative vein of dance-meets-music-meets-storytelling, Montreal choreographer Frédérick Gravel debuts his Usually Beauty Fails, November 7-10 and 14-17 at Cinquième Salle.

(east & west) The 13th Arab World Festival of Montreal entertains and informs, highlighting links between Arabic and Western cultures through music, performance, film, art and talks, to November 10. On Friday November 3, hear famed pianist Abdel Rahman El Bacha play works from Bach to Prokofiev and more, at Cinquième Salle. On November 4, hear the music of Algeria’s Hamdi Benani, at the Corona Theatre, while Zohreh Jooya and her Afghan dance ensemble captivate in a North American premier at Cinquième Salle at Place Des Arts, and up in the neighbourhood of Mile End at the beautiful Rialto Theatre, spend the evening at Goodbye To The Duels, Hello To The Duets, a concert for peace, featuring Moroccan singers Abderahim Souiri and Laila Gouchi. See the festival’s program online for full details and more.

(educational entertainment) The Montreal Science Centre gets kids and adults really listening with new exhibition Musik: From Sound to Emotion, a zone where science, creativity and entertainment meet. Learn how music affects different parts of the brain, how we experience music physically and emotionally, and get a chance to make music of your very own in the exhibition’s high-tech music lab. The exhibition is based on input from numerous scientists at Montreal universities as well as from musicians, including  Montreal-based pop-punk band Simple Plan.

(joys of music) Friday night begins a week of great music with Montreal’s Esmerine, celebrating 15 years of Constellation Records, at the Musee d’art contemporain. On the other end of the show spectrum is the laser-light-show spectacular The Australian Pink Floyd Show at the Bell Centre, while Designer Drugs and Beat Market electro-rock the SAT. Saturday night cranks the decibel level with Sonar Festival on Tour, featuring Die Antwoord, Azari & III, Seth Troxler, and  more dance-worthy acts, at Metropolis. Monday night sees Martha Wainwright pouring her heart out at the Corona Theatre, the sweet west-coast pop-rock sounds of Grass Widow at Il Motore, and a late night of dancing to the great Richie Hawtin, Loco Dice and more at the SAT. The week turns rock retro with Journey on November 5 and ZZ Top November 7, both at the Bell Centre. And Thursday night rules as Howl! Arts brings the great D’bi Young and Kalmunity Vibe Collective to Sala Rossa and NYC’s Yeasayer rocks Cabaret du Mile End.

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(movie magic) Montreal’s Festival du Nouveau Cinéma, October 10-21, rolls out the red carpet for new feature films, shorts and experimental media from around the world. See Ang Lee’s Life of Pi, based on Montreal author Yann Martel’s novel, Simon Galiero’s La Mise à l’aveugle, Martin Villeneuve’s sci-fi Mars et Avril, screenings of work by French singer Albin de la Simone, Sarah Polley’s new doc Stories We Tell, plus kid-friendly fare in the Little wolves (Les P’tits loups) section, experimental media art in the FNC Lab and a “waterfalls” exhibition at Place des Spectacles, free music shows (like The Hallicrafters and Ben Shemie on October 13 at Agora Hydro-Quebec), parties, and much more.

(high art renewed) Ballet isn’t what it used to be in choreographer Jiří Kylián’s Kaguyahime, The Moon, based on a culturally influential 10th-century Japanese folk tale of beauty, violence and worlds colliding, performed by dancers of Les Grands Ballet Canadiens, October 11-27. The Orchestre Métropolitain adds volume to great moments in cinematic history, from Psycho to Star Wars, playing works by several film composers, conducted by Simon Leclerc, on October 18 at the Maison symphonique de Montréal. Meanwhile, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra welcomes mezzo-soprano Susan Graham to sing Ernest Chausson’s Poème de l’amour et de la mer, on October 16 and 17.

(theatre scene) The play’s the thing this fall as Montreal theatres open the season with as much drama as fun. Old Montreal’s Centaur Theatre features two shows this month: Scapegoat Theatre’s version of Euripedes’ psycho-sexual, metaphysical tragedy The Bacchae, to October 20, and Quebecois playwright Jean Marc Dalpé’s family drama August, An Afternoon in the Country. Another Quebecois playwright Suzie Bastien dives deep with The Medea Effect, exploring universal fears and existential questions about the archetypal – and personal – role of the mother, at Theatre La Chapelle,  October 11-20. Meanwhile, it’s all song and dance with Broadway musical Guys and Dolls at the Segal Centre, to October 31, and, not quite theatre, but comedian Russell Peters is at the Bell Centre on October 15.

(art and history) The beauty and the history of art come together at the MMFA this fall in their exhibition A History of Impressionism: Great French Paintings from the Clark, featuring Impressionist masterpieces by Renoir, Bonnard, Corot, Cassatt, Degas, Gauguin, Manet, Millet, Monet, Morisot, Pissarro, Sisley and Toulouse-Lautrec. Down the street at the McCord Museum, see the city of Montreal and other cities around the world through the eyes of Italian photographer Mimmo Jodice, in his solo exhibition Sublime Cities. And the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal recently opened an amazing retrospective of the work of Montreal painter Pierre Dorion, along with high-Arctic video work by Brooklyn-based artist Janet Biggs.

(ska-tastic sounds) The Montreal Ska Fest packs a lot of punch into its fourth year, with horn-blowing, toe-tapping, body-skanking shows October 11-14, including a massive “All-Skanadian” (get it?) show at Club Soda on Saturday, October 13 with The Planet Smashers, The Johnstones, Illscarlett and more. On Friday night, it’s the New York City Showcase, with Victor Rice vs The M7, The Forthrights and more at Petit Campus, while Sunday morning closes the festival with a good greasy breakfast of eggs, toast, coffee and ska with Mitch Girio, at Ye Olde Orchard.

(more music) The OFF Jazz Festival comes to a close Friday, October 12 with bassist-composer William Parker conducting Fragrances of Compassion for Lawrence D. Butch Morris, a piece for 15 musicians, at La Sala Rossa. Also on Friday, LA-based electronic music producer Flying Lotus gets our bodies moving at SAT. On Saturday night, enjoy the sweet singer-songwriter sounds of Montreal talents Mark Berube and Katie Moore at Cabaret du Mile End, while blues-rock rocks on with Colin James at Metropolis. Monday night is one big party with rumba-rooted Congolese band Staff Benda Bilili at the Rialto Theatre. On October 16, none other than Barbra Streisand is at the Bell Centre, or if Babs isn’t your thing, maybe Alanis Morissette is – she’s at Metropolis, or get down and dance at OohLaLA! Festival, at the SAT. Public Image Limited rocks the Corona Theatre on October 17 and The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion follows  the next night. Also on October 18, the three great men of might Rush bring their Clockwork Angels Tour to the Bell Centre.

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(pride weekend) The weekend is looking fabulous for Montreal Pride, going on all weekend, with events downtown and in the Gay Village. The highlight, of course, is Sunday’s big Montreal Pride Parade, starting at 1 p.m. from René-Lévesque between Guy and Sanguinet, and ending at Place Emilie-Gamelin with a closing show. On Saturday, feel the local, community love at LGBTA Community Day, along Sainte-Catherine Street in the Gay Village. For events – from Saturday’s 3 p.m. Yoga Jam at Place Émilie Gamelin to late-night parties – see the Pride site.(fast n’ loud) It’s not as flashy as the Grand Prix, but race fans and their families will be flocking to NASCAR’s NAPA Auto Parts 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series, August 17-18 at Montreal’s sunny, breezy Parc Jean Drapeau. Watch a full two days of races, including the Canadian Touring Car Championship and the Canadian Tire Series, featuring drivers from Montreal and around North America, check out the cars up close and get autographs signed by drivers and their teams.

(reggae time) Montreal’s popular Reggae Fest celebrates Jamaica’s 50th birthday this year, pulling out all the stops with big stars like Jamaican musician Jimmy Cliff, dancehall great Khago,  Assassin (aka Agent Sasco), Popcaan, Konshens, Cham, Montreal DJ Poirier and many more – all takin place August 17-19 at the Quays of the Old Port, on the waterfront in Old Montreal.

(fantastic food) Food lovers fall in love all over again at the Omnivore Festival, August 17-20, with food cooked up by top chefs from Montreal and around the world, including La Gazzetta’s Petter Nilson. Founded and organized by French food writer Luc Dubanchet, the festival runs the foodie gamut, with presentations and meals take place at the SAT – including an Omnivorious Party on August 18 – and restaurants around town throughout the festival.

(free pop parties) Music festival Pop Montreal is coming up September 19-23, but the build-up has been happening all summer – and it’s only getting bigger. This Saturday night, August 18, check out Pop Montreal’s Peel Basin Pier Party, with DJs Poirier, Prison Garde, Seb Diamond and Kaytradamus, all starting at 6 p.m. at Parks Canada’s Peel Basin, just west of Old Montreal – and it’s free! Back in the neighbourhood of Mile End, the fest’s headquarters, Espace POP (5587 Parc), hosts an Open House August 18-19, that coincides with the Parc Ave Street Fair, which sees restaurants and stores hosting special events and sales all weekend along Parc Ave.

(neighbourhood fun) Get out of the downtown core this weekend and see what Montreal’s communities are all about. On Saturday, August 18, NDG Arts Week starts up with Samedi in the Park at Girouard Park, just a 10 minute walk from the Vendome Metro station. The family-friendly evening, co-run by youth organization Head & Hands, features live music from genre-blending Elage Diouf, hip-hop collective Nomadic Massive, Shane Murphy, Chris Velan and some of the community’s young musicians, starting at 6 p.m. – and it’s free! And Montreal Italian Week shares the spirit of Montreal’s tight-knit, family-friendly Italian community, with events – music, food, comedy, tours and more – taking place in Little Italy, August 17-19.

(live on stage) Scottish tragedy is the name of The Montreal Shakespeare Theatre Company’s game as they breathe yet another life into Macbeth, playing now until August 25 at Monument National. More witches can be found in Grammy and Tony award-winning musical Wicked busts its way out of New York City and comes to Montreal’s Place des Arts to August 26. And The Beatles 31-song review Rain also returns to Montreal until August 19 at Theatre Maisonneuve at Place des Arts. On another theatrical plane, Dreamworks’ live show How to Train Your Dragon, flies over 20 massive, robotic dragons into the Bell Centre August 17-19.

(more music) While there’s plenty of music going on at the Reggae Festival, with Pop Montreal and in Montreal’s neighbourhoods, there’s still even more to be heard around town this week. On August 18, sing and dance along with The Unsettlers and The Irreverend James & the Critical Mass Choir at brewery-based Terrasse St-Ambroise, 7 p.m. Local indie-pop-rock promotors Passovah Productions hold a super fun Summer Fest, with dozens of local bands August 17-18 at Il Motore, pay what you can. The famous Piknic Electronik keeps Sunday afternoon hopping at Parc Jean-Drapeau with DJs Blondish, Julian Prince and Paul Rowland starting at 2 p.m. On August 20, awesome Chicago psych-rock band Russian Circles are joined by Chelsea Wolfe and Marriages at Il Motore, while on August 21, Sebadoh, still going strong, comes to Sala Rossa.

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(Quebec love) Quebec’s own national holiday, akin to Canada Day and Independence Day, is always a party – and a BBQ and a spectacle and even a parade. St-Jean Baptiste, a.k.a. Fête Nationale du Québec celebrations happen all weekend, June 23-24. The family-friendly Grand Spectacle comes on June 24 at Parc Maisonneuve, with music from Ariane Moffatt, Adam Cohen, Misteur Valaire and more. The Olympic Park also gets in on the celebrations on June 23 at 8 p.m. when the Quebec National Holiday bonfire returns, while Sir Wilfrid’s Beautiful Sundays with the orchestra Union musicale d’Iberville plays June 24.

(all that jazz) Yes, it’s officially that time of year: The 33rd Montreal International Jazz Festival starts at the end of this week and fills Montreal’s Quartier des Spectacles with jazz, blues, rock, art and people, locals and tourists alike, until July 8. The incomparable Janelle Monae, in her own style, starts the fest a day early on June 27 at Metropolis, while James Taylor plays Place des Arts. On June 28, Ziggy Marley brings his Wild and Free Tour to the same venue and guitarist Bill Frisell at Club Soda. Outdoors, the many free-for-the-listening stages hop with local and international jazz, dixie, dance DJs and more. For all the details on artists and tickets, see the Jazz Fest site.

(theatrics and musics) The Montreal St-Ambroise Fringe Festival heads into its last weekend of theatre and music with hundreds of local and international theatrical, comedy, circus and dance productions. Listen to music at Fringe Park Friday night, 5-9 p.m. with Teen Sleuth, while Saturday afternoon gets electro-dancey at a Fringe-sized Piknic Electronik, and Pop Montreal takes over on Saturday and Sunday evenings, with Caroline Keating, Elgin-Skye, Freelove Fenner and more. In other theatre news, Music Theatre Montreal stages Cabaret, June 22-30 at D.B. Clarke Theatre; Tableau d’Hôte Theatre puts on Timothy Findley’s Elizabeth Rex at the Segal Centre to July 1; and in comedy, Eman headlines a night of stand-up and cheap beer at Cabaret Playhouse Cabaret.

(go for baroque) It’s only in its 10th year, but the inspiration for Montreal Baroque Festival is from much further back in history. Transformation and revelation abound at the music fest, on until June 24 at various venues, including a King’s Carrousel (Carrousel du Roy) – a French-court-dress equestrian ballet to the tune of an orchestra – and parade at 1:30 p.m. on June 23 at the Old Port. The concert series includes works on the themes of apocalypse (Biber, Schmelzer, Vejvanovsy, Graupner, Georg Philipp Telemann), transformation (including an attic storytelling of Beowulf and works by Haydn), and revelations (troubadour songs, songs from the 16th century about the end of the world – good times – and works by Bach, Corelli, Palestrina, Satie and Beethoven).

(dance party) With a pretty much perfect-looking weather forecast for Sunday, June 24, everyone inclined to dance should be heading to Piknic Electronik – and not only because it’s the outdoor dance party’s official 10th anniversary! On the main Moog stage starting at 2 p.m., DJs Maus and Soundshaper tag team until after 9 p.m. while on the Guru stage, listen to MacGuffin and The Gulf Stream. The 10th anniversary celebrations continue all summer, including a Friday, June 29 gig with Major Lazer! Speaking of dancing, or at least watching people dance, Montreal’s young, hip contemporary dance community rallies around the Piss in the Pool event, taking place at (empty) swimming pool Bain St-Mathieu, June 22 and 24.

(music makers) Grammy-Award winning Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan and guest Ani DiFranco let their voices into the light outdoors at Mondial Loto-Québec de Laval on June 23. The underground sounds of the Suoni per Il Popolo festival ends with a bang with Institutional Prostitution, Dreamcatch and Nimalan Youganathan on June 22 at Casa del Popolo, drummer extraordinaire Chris Corsano with Bill Nace and Steve Bacczkowski at Casa del Popolo on June 23 while across the street at La Sala Rossa, Marc Ribot does his great jazz solo thing. For more alt-jazz-folk-noise, see Hexen Trio at La Sala Rossa on June 26 and Land of Kush on June 27. Chill out in country style on June 24 at Divan Orange with Sunfields, Mike O’Brien and Dave MacLeod. Swedish garage rockers The Hives buzz about Metropolis on June 25, while Vancouver’s Japandroids and Cadence Weapon get down at Il Motore. And witness the spectacle of Roger Waters: The Wall Live at the Bell Centre on June 26.

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The post THINGS TO DO IN MONTREAL: JUNE 22-28 appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

1. Patio hop the Gay Village during Aires Libres

Every single bar, restaurant, café, has a patio outside on the pedestrianized St. Catherine this summer. Literally HOP between them. Jump over one and onto the other. Must order something, and enjoy it, at each one. First one to Papineau wins a prize I just made up.

2. Bixi through the Gay Village

Exercise, pick up guys, and look fabulous all at the same time? Y’all must be bixing through the Gay Village.

3. Shop until you drop

With the St. Catherine’s closed to automotive traffic, shopping could not be easier! You work out those muscles like crazy, time to let your wallet do the heavy lifting. See my guide to Shopping in the Gay Village.

4. Go see DJ Shawn Riker spin at Parking

Saturday June 4^th, 2011 @ Parking Nightclub.

5. Go to the new Gay night at Pure Nightclub

Located on the edge of the Village, this was never actually a gay club. However, now they’re launching a new Gay night every Sunday called “Festivity!” DJ Kidd Mike on Sunday June 5^th, 2011.

6. Go see the “Blanc de Mémoire” exhibition

An emotional, evocative exhibit about HIV/AIDS by photographer Marc-André Goulet featuring many artists including Jean-Pierre Pérusse and Kat Coric, at L’ecomusée du fier monde (2050 Amherst, Montreal)

7.   Gay out on Fashion at the Jean Paul Gaultier exhibit “From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk”

From June 17 to October 2, the work of l’enfant terrible Jean Paul Gaultier will be featured at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. From his first ready-to-wear collection in 1976 to his haute-couture line launching in 1997, JPG has been pushing the limits and ignoring status quo, all while creating breathtaking, wearable art.

8. Go see Rihanna in Concert

After fumbling a bit in her “Rated R” days, she’s back to Princess RiRi form with her new album and tour “LOUD”. Gone is the solemn, sad material and back with a vengeance is the spunky Barbados pop princess we all know and love. Two dates in Montreal: June 10 & 11 @ the Bell Center.

9.  Go to the 9^th Birthday Party of Club Unity

On Saturday June 18^, it will be the glamorous 9^th anniversary of Village institution Club Unity. It is being called the “POPLIFE Party”, and details are scarce at the moment, but I’m sure they will throw a massive bash. No cover before 11PM.

10. Attempt to do 5 shots/5 bars, 5 beers/5 bars, and 5 cocktails/5 bars all in 5 hours

I’m not saying it’s a good idea. I’m just saying it is an idea. I’m putting it out there just as a possible thing someone going on a bender could attempt. I’ve seen the gays drink, and I know a few of them have the stamina for it. This mission, should you choose to accept it, would most certainly guarantee you a cookie that I will personally bake. Get inspired below:

11.  Go for brunch on Amherst

After completing task #10, you might want to eat brunch to make you feel a little less close to death. Try “De Farine et D’eau Fraiche” (1701 Amherst) or l’Ouefrier (1441 Amherst) for some delicious mid-afternoon food. If they’re crowded, just peruse the street for a few hidden gems! Or maybe all you’ll be able to stomach is Liquid Nutrition…

12. Check out the views of the Gay Village

Seeing some cool rooftop terraces of the Gay Village is a must. Drugstore, Sky and Unity all have incredible rooftop views of the Village, the Jacques Cartier Bridge and down into the Old Port. Hint: The rooftop of Sky has a hot tub and a pitcher of Sangria called “Le Girafe”. It’s about as large as my entire torso.

13.  Go Outside the Village and party like it’s 2012

In the poetic verse of Britney Spears: Keep on dancing till the world ends. If Britney says it, we must obey. So take in one of the many outside-the-village gay parties! Will update with dates when they become available.

14. Get your Fringe on

Anything and everything can happen at Montreal’s Fringe Fest from May 30 to June 19. The gays love the diverse performances, the accepting atmosphere, the kinky, the sweaty, the sweety, the dirty, the funny, the whatever Fringe can throw at us. With over 500 performers this year, Fringe is all about discovery. So, what will you find?

15. Submit your Application to be Queer of the Year

The deadline for Queer of the Year has been extended until June 17! They have people from all over the world applying! Why? Because you get a free trip to Montreal (all expenses paid) and you get to compete against fellow queers for the crown and 5000 dollars!

DETAILS

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