12 FREE Montreal events to check out on Canada Day this year

With Canada Day in Montreal right around the corner, we want to make sure you can still celebrate all things Canadian without breaking the bank.

This July 1, come and celebrate our nation’s 151st birthday in style at one of the many free events taking place in the city.

These are the top free Canada Day 151 events and celebrations happening in Montreal.

Montreal International Jazz Festival

Thursday marks the first day of Montreal’s International Jazz Festival’s 39th edition. The renowned festival hosts a bevy of free outdoor shows on Canada Day. Some of the free concerts include Deva Mahal, The Suffers, Kalmunity, Big Band Intersection, The Mighty Swells, Urban Science Brass Band, Streetnix and so many more.

Visit the Festival International de Jazz de Montreal website for a full list of programming.

Time: 11 am – 11:59 pm
Where: Various locations across the Quartier des Spectacles

Montreal Canada Day Parade

The Canada Day Parade in Montreal has been expanding every year since its inauguration in 1977. The parade aims to highlight our country’s diversity by showcasing all of the world’s colours. The parade features floats, music, dancing, costumes and a whole lot of Canadian pride.

Time: 11 am – 1:30 pm
Where: Begins at Rue St. Catherine and Rue Fort and ends at Place du Canada

Canada Day Cake

Place du Canada serves a huge Canada Day cake that measures 4″ by 8″. Get there quick, there are only 2,000 pieces of cake! Even if you don’t want a slice, it’s impressive to see a cake of that size. But let’s be real, who wouldn’t want a slice of free cake?

Time: 2 pm
Where: Place du Canada

21-Gun Salute

After a traditional raising of the Canadian flag, a 21-gun salute is fired in honour of our nation’s birthday. A cannon shot will go off every 21 minutes from noon onwards at Montreal’s historic Old Port.

Time: 11 am to 11 pm
Where: Old Port

Mtl en Arts

Mtl en Arts is Montreal’s largest open-air art exhibition. The festival aims to further promote and develop the concept of art in the street and in public spaces and closes off a portion of the famous Rue Saint Catherine to vehicular traffic.

The one-kilometre stretch of art welcomes painters, photographers, sculptors, illustrators, ceramists, and glassmakers.

Time: 9 am – 8 pm
Where: 576 Rue St-Catherine Est

Floor Hockey Competition

Even if it’s summer, there still has to be some sort of hockey on Canada Day, they go hand-in-hand. Sticks and jerseys are provided to participants who want to play a friendly game of shiny in an enclosed rink with nets.

Time: 1 pm – 4 pm
Where: Old Port

Yoga on the Canal

Moksha Yoga Griffintown is bringing guests yoga on the canal for Canada Day. The session is open to everyone from any (or no) yoga background. Two courses are offered on Canada Day, a hot booty ballet and family yoga.

Time: 9 am – 10 am (hot booty ballet) and 10 am – 11 am (family yoga)
Where: Madeleine-Parent Park

Canada Day Fireworks

It’s not officially Canada Day without fireworks. There are so many great vantage points to see the sky light up in colours. If you’re not already in the Old Port, try any other free lookouts, the Jacques Cartier Bridge, Place Ville Marie Summit, Mont Royal Summit or Parc Jean Drapeau.

Where: Various place around Montreal
Time: 10 pm

Tam Tams

Tam Tams is a Montreal landmark. If things are too hectic in the city this weekend with all the Canada Day activities, go and relax on Mont Royal.

Tam Tams is a giant outdoor party with dancers, sports and drummers all gathered around the Sir George-Etienne Cartier monument. When the weather is nice this weekend, head over to the mountain and enjoy a longstanding Montreal tradition and vibe.

Time: 12 pm
Where: Mont Royal Park

The Loons

Westmount will host a citizenship ceremony and a barbeque, followed by the launch of an art project called The Loons. The Loons is an interactive light show that consists of 15 floating, luminous sphere loons that each represent one decade from Canada’s history as a country.

Time: 8 pm
Where: Westmount Park, Westmount

Village au Pied-du-Courant

Montreal’s urban beachside village is a trendy and entertaining spot to enjoy Canada Day. It offers a breathtaking view of the Jacques Cartier Bridge and the fireworks and sits on part of the Saint Lawrence River. Head to the man-made beach town and enjoy the river, an art gallery or just lounge around in the garden’s hammocks.

The site features live DJs, food trucks and bar kiosks.

Time: 3 pm – 12 am
Where: 2100 Rue Notre-Dame Est

Marché des Possibles

The Marché des Possibles (The Market of Possibilities) is a massive market that hosts food, musicians, boutiques, restaurant kiosks, yoga workshops, and shopping outlets in the Mile End’s Plateau. All companies taking part in the street festival are from Quebec.

Canada Day activities include live bands, DJs, face painting and caricatures, a water gun fight and balloon animals in honour of our nation’s birthday.

Time: 11 am – 9 pm
Where: 5635 Rue St. Dominique