The name ‘April’ comes from the Latin meaning “to open” and we’re all hoping that the new month opens the door to a warm, gorgeous and blossoming spring.
As temperatures begin to heat up, so too do the city’s festivals, activities and events.
If you’re looking for a month-long guide of things to keep you busy, we’ve got you covered for April.
See also
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- 21 things you have to check off your Montreal bucket list
Ariana Grande – Bell Centre
Shutterstock
International pop star Ariana Grande is back on the road for her biggest tour yet and stops at the Bell Centre to kick off April.
Grande is on tour supporting her latest album Sweetener, marking her first time on the road since The Dangerous Woman Tour back in 2017.
The multi-platinum selling and Grammy-nominated artist released her first studio album Yours Truly back in 2013. That year, she was the opening act for Justin Bieber’s Believe Tour. Her 2014 album My Everything garnered a Grammy Award nomination for “Best Pop Vocal Album” and spawned her massive hit “Problem.”
If you want tickets, you’d better hop on them quickly as this will be a hot item.
When: Monday, April 1
Time: 8 pm
Where: Bell Centre, 1909-avenue-des-Canadiens-de-Montreal
Price: $87.75 – $318.70, available online
The Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre
NHL / Twitter
There are only two regular season games left at the Bell Centre and if the Canadiens hope to make the playoffs, they’re going to have to take down the Tampa Bay Lightning and their rivals, the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Here’s hoping the Habs slide into the NHL playoffs and can extend their good play on home ice deep into April, May and June.
When: April 2 and 6
Time: Varies from 7 pm and 7:30 pm
Where: Bell Centre, 1909 avenue des Canadiens de Montreal
Price: Varies per date and seat selection, available online
Canada-Wide Women’s Empowerment Tour
In partnership with Women Who Explore and Arcteryx, this Canada-Wide Women’s Empowerment Tour, “Actually, I Can” unites adventurers around Canada who are letting go of fear to create the life of their dreams..
The tour brings together local female speakers and Arc’teryx ambassadors to speak about self-love and confidence in adventure.
When: Wednesday, April 3
Time: 6:30 pm – 9 pm
Where: Arcteryx Montreal, 1515 rue Ste. Catherine Ouest
Price: $15
Earl Sweatshirt Concert
Thebe Neruda Kgositsile, known professionally as Earl Sweatshirt, is an American rapper, record producer and songwriter from Los Angeles, California.
He’ll be rocking out Corona Theatre at the beginning of April.
When: Thursday, April 4
Time: 8 pm
Where: Corona Theatre, 2490 Notre-Dame Ouest
Price:$48 (standing room only), available online
Monster Spectacular
Monster Truck Series/Facebook
Fresh off hosting a couple of Major League Baseball games, the ‘Big O’ is transforming itself into a monster truck course.
Talk about versatility.
Monster trucks, four-wheelers, and dirt bikes will be revving their engines and getting dirty in a stadium guzzling with people.
Things will get loud.
When: Saturday, April 6
Time: 6 pm – 9 pm
Where: Stade olympique de Montréal,4545, avenue Pierre-de-Coubertin
Price: $35.50 – $95.50, available online
Another Brick in the Wall 2019
When: Saturday, April 6
Time: 8 pm – 11 pm
Where: Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, 175 rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest
Price: $54.85 – $81.35 available online
The Shoplifters – Centaur Theatre
Centaur Theatre
At Montreal’s timeless Centaur Theatre, “The Shoplifters,” written by Morris Panych, follows the story of Alma, a feisty career shoplifter with serious street cred who spends her time helping her less fortunate neighbours, and sticking it to the man.
The dramedy stars Ellen David, Michel Perron, Marie-Ève Perron, and Laurent Pitre.
When: From now until April 7
Time: Varying times
Where: 453 rue St Francois Xavier
Price:$49, available online
Sucrerie de la Montagne
Maple Syrup/Shutterstock
It’s not really springtime until you’re sugar shacking.
Sucrerie de la Montagne lets guests experience real Quebec traditions. Maple syrup is produced the old-fashioned way on site – the tree is tapped with a spout, the sap is collected in a pail and transported to a traditional wood-fired evaporator, where it is transformed into maple syrup.
And guess what? You can have it.
There’s also horse-drawn sleighs, wagons, and an all-you-can-eat sugaring-off feast.
When: From now until April 22
Time: 10 am – 7:30 pm
Where: 300, Chemin St-Georges, Rigaud
Price:$14 – $34, available online
Scotiabank Cheapie Tuesday Movie Night
Scotiabank offers $7 general admission tickers every Tuesday at their downtown location.
April’s a great month for movies, especially for under $10. Check out Captain Marvel, Dumbo, Us, Pet Sematary, Alita: Battle Angel and plenty of other choices for real cheap.
They also have deals on snack combos. Can you honestly say no to that popcorn smell?
When: April 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30
Time: Varies depending on selection
Where: 977 Rue Saint-Catherine Ouest
Price: General admission starts at $7
GEEK-IT Con
geekitcon/Instagram
The first-ever GEEK-IT convention is on its way to Old Montreal at the beginning of the new month.
The convention aims to promote video games, anime, comic books, eSports, cosplay, K-Pop and general “geek culture” to a wider public, according to a press release.
GEEK-IT will be hosted across 40,000-sq-ft at the Old Port’s Grand Quai. The main stage will feature “geek community” activities such as a Cosplay Contest, eSport
Tournaments and two headlining K-pop dance groups: 2K Squad and East2West.
When: April 6 and 7
Time: 10 am – 10 pm (until 7 pm on Sunday)
Where: Grand Quai, Old Montreal
Price: $20 – $65, available online
Our DNA
Quartier des Spectacles
A centrepiece of Montreal’s architectural heritage, this spiral staircase, created by local artist, Patrick Pérubé embodies “neighbourly culture and friendly back alleys.”
Suspended in mid-air, the double helix of a DNA molecule aims to remind on-lookers that our differences, put together, make up our collective identity.
When: April 8 – May 28
Time: 24/7
Where: Quartier des Spectacles
Price: Free
Bowling – Forum Sports Bar
Cozy up inside the Forum and strike some bowling off your list this month.
The Forum Sports Bar hosts 16 lanes of 10-pin bowling for $5 a game every Tuesday and Wednesday (tax and shoes included).
You also can’t go wrong with the giant square bar, arcade games, and TV screens.
When: April 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 29 and 30
Time: 11 am – 1 am
Where: 2313 rue Ste. Catherine
Price: $5 per game, shoe rental included
Comedy at the Art Loft
Comedy at the Art Loft/Facebook
Comedy at the Art Loft is the hottest underground comedy show in Montreal. It’s the city’s only weekly bilingual show and is run out of a private loft on rue Saint-Laurent and is usually packed with people. It feels like a college part, except a comedian is slinging jokes into a microphone.
The hosts, headliners, and featured acts change weekly and we’ll be sure to keep you up to date.
The venue features a DJ and snacks. BYOB and it’s 420 friendly. Very 420 friendly.
When: April 5, 12, 19, 26
Time: Doors open at 9 pm, show starts at 10:30 pm
Where: 4152 Boulevard Saint Laurent
Price: $10 at the door (cash only)
Gerry Dee
Evenko
Gerry Dee is a Canadian actor and stand-up comedian. He placed third on the fifth season of Last Comic Standing, and he wrote and starred in the sitcom Mr. D, which aired on CBC,
He’ll be making a room full of people laugh at the Corona Theatre with his wit and dry sense of humour on April 11.
When: Thursday, April 11
Time: 7 pm
Where: Corona Theatre
Price: $78.50 – $88.50, available online
Vivaldi’s Four Seasons & Fauré’s Requiem
The OPCM welcomes guests to their spring concert featuring Fauré’s Requiem and Vivaldi’s Four Seasons performed by Axel Strauss. The concert will be held at the gorgeous church of St. Andrew and St. Paul.
When: Sunday, April 14
Time: 7 pm – 9 pm
Where: The Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul, 3415 rue Redpath
Price: $20 – $35
Montreal Cat Expo
Alena Ozerova/Shutterstock
For the first time ever, Montreal is getting its very own Cat Expo, very exciting mews news.
Presented by Humane Canada and the Montreal SPCA, the inaugural event claims to be the “biggest cat event in eastern Canada.”
Jackson Galaxy, aka The Cat Daddy, will be headlining the event. Galaxy is the star of the TV show My Cat from Hell and the author of several books including, “Total Cat Mojo,” “Catify to Satisfy” and “Catification.”
When: Sunday, April 14
Time: 5:45 pm – 9:30 pm
Where: Hotel Bonaventure
Price: $25, available online starting February 1
WWE – Bell Centre
The world of World Wrestling Entertainment returns to Montreal in mid-April for both a Monday Night Raw show and a Smackdown show in front of a crowd of screaming fans at the Bell Centre.
When: April 15 and 16
Time: 7:30 pm
Where: Centre Bell, 1909-avenue-des-Canadiens-de-Montreal
Price: $41.50 – $144.75, available online
Cirque Du Soleil: Alegria
Alegria by Cirque du Soleil
The world-renowned Cirque du Soleil production is returning home this April.
Alegria, which was first performed by Cirque in 1994, stole the eyes and ears of more than 14 million spectators. Performed under a traditional Big Top tent, the show made its way to 255 different cities over 19 years of touring, until its last performance in 2013.
The show mixes the high energy acrobatics which Cirque du Soleil is famous for with a “rallying theme for change, hope, and optimistic renewal.” The cast is made up of more than 50 performers and musicians, all renowned internationally for their craft.
When: Thursday, April 18
Time: 8 pm
Where: Big Top, Old Port – Jacques-Cartier Quay, de la Commune Street Est
Price: $150 – $412, available online
Star Wars: A New Hope – In Concert
rogue0310/Instagram
A galaxy far, far away is coming to Place des Arts.
The Quebec entertainment company, GFN Productions, has announced that the world tour of Star Wars: A New Hope – In Concert is coming to Salle Wifrid-Pelletier for two dates this month.
Montreal’s Orchestre FILMharmonique will be performing the 1977’s film iconic soundtrack, bringing John William’s Oscar-winning score to life as the original film plays on the big screen.
Experience the power of the force like never before.
When: April 19 and 20
Time: 7:30 pm
Where: Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier
Price:, $63.24 – $143.27, available online
California Wine Fair
Shutterstock
The California Wine Fair is coming to Montreal for a day at the timeless Bonsecours Market. The event will provide a platform to enjoy a unique opportunity to sample a wide selection of more than 400 premium wines from 150 of California’s top producers.
When: Tuesday, April 23
Time: 12 pm – 8 pm
Where: Bonesecours Market
Price: TBA
Montréal.AI Academy: AI for Artists
When it comes to technology, we’ve arrived at a pretty historic turning point where AI is capable of profoundly reshaping entire industries.
Opening the doors to the AI art movement, Artificial Intelligence for Artists is a blending of art, culture, and science in the spirit of Leonardo da Vinci – fusing a little bit of old with the new.
When: Wednesday, April 24
Time: 6 pm – 8:30 pm
Where: NRH Salle du Parc, 3625 avenue du Parc
Price:, $120, available online
The Empire Strips Back: A Star Wars Burlesque Parody
theempirestripsback/Instagram
Star Wars is a phenomenon that spans intergalactic galaxies from far, far away. But this month it will be getting up close and personal in Montreal — at least for the 18+ crowd.
“The Empire Strips Back” has launched a Death Star-sized North American tour, which includes an astral arrival in Canada for the first time.
“Be prepared for some seriously sexy Stormtroopers, a dangerously seductive Boba Fett, some tantalising Twi’leks, a delightfully luke-warm Taun Taun, a lady-like Skywalker, the Droids you are looking for and much, much more!” reads the parody show’s website.
This adult-only take on Star Wars brings everything you know and love about the iconic franchise and strips its clothes off (and puts Yoda on the guitar).
When: Friday, April 26
Time: 8 pm
Where: Olympia Theatre, 1004 rue Ste. Catherine
Price: $54 – $99, available online
Tom Odell Concert
Thomas Peter Odell is an English singer-songwriter. He released his debut extended play, “Songs from Another Love,” in 2012 and won the BRITs Critics’ Choice Award in early 2013. His debut studio album, Long Way Down, was issued on 24 June 2013. His second studio album, Wrong Crowd, was released on 10 June 2016.
The busy and talented musician will be at Corona Theatre at the end of the month.
When: Friday, April 26
Time: 8 pm
Where: Corona Theatre, 2490 Notre-Dame
Price: $44 – $66, available online
Alice in Chains Concert
Alice in Chains is an American rock band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 1987 by guitarist and vocalist Jerry Cantrell and drummer Sean Kinney, who later recruited bassist Mike Starr and lead vocalist Layne Staley.
The popular band will be playing a relatively smaller venue and tickets will be a hot commodity.
When: Saturday, April 27
Time: 8 pm
Where: MTELUS, 59 rue Ste. Catherine
Price: $55.75 – $82, available online
Banque Scotia 21K de Montreal
RaceGuide.ca
Part of the Canada Running Series, the 21k Montreal is a springtime favourite for runners.
Beginning at Parc Jean-Drapeau on île Notre-Dame, the half-marathon course completes a full loop of the island crossing over to île Ste-Helene before returning for the finish at the Complexe Aquatique.
The route is flat and fast and provides views of downtown Montreal. The event has 5K, 10K, and 21 K options.
When: Sunday, April 28
Time: 9 am – 12 pm
Where: Parc Jean-Drapeau
Price: $40 – $120, based on distance selected
Haunted Montreal Pub Crawl
jhof8888/Instagram
If you thought Montreal’s weather this winter was scary, you’ve got another thing coming.
After doing studies in Savannah, Georgia (dubbed “America’s most haunted city”), the paranormal research crew has jumped over to Montreal for the first-ever Haunted Pub Crawl in the city.
Led by a professional ghost storyteller, the Haunted Montreal Pub Crawl will visit four of the city’s most haunted bars, because mixing ghosts and booze is the only smart way to deal with the paranormal. The tour will start at Charlie’s American Pub on Bishop Street before heading to the recently-burned down John Doe Pub, the historic McKibbin’s Irish Pub, the mysterious Sir Winston Churchill Pub, the frequently-visited (not just by the living) Club Le Cinq and, of course, Hurley’s Irish Pub, where a ghost known as the “Burning Lady” is said to still lurk on the grounds.
When: April 7, 14, 21, and 28
Time: 3 pm for English, 4 pm for French
Where: The tour starts at Charlie’s American Pub, 1204 Bishop
Price: $20.87, available online
Montreal Botanical Garden – Butterflies Go Free
Montreal Botanical Garden (alice.tsybenko/Instagram)
It may not all be butterflies and rainbows in Montreal right now, but(terfly) it will be soon.
The Montreal Botanical Garden’s annual “Butterflies Go Free” exhibit is back for another year, starting on February 28.
The 22nd edition of the butterfly festival features “thousands of multicoloured butterflies who will be flitting about in an exceptionally lush natural setting,” as per the Montreal Botanical Garden.
Get a chance to see butterfly’s shimmering colours up close in a humid, tropical oasis, not to mention ample gorgeous photo opportunities.
When: From now until April 28
Time: 9 am – 5 pm
Where: Montreal Botanical Garden, 4101 rue Sherbrooke Est
Price: $10.25 – $20.50, available online
Volcanoes 3D – IMAX
Old Port of Montreal
The IMAX Telus Theatre at the Montreal Science Centre invites guests to a “very hot immersive experience.” Volcanoes 3D will take patrons where few humans dare to venture: into the heart of a volcano.
Using state-of-the-art 3D technology, Volcanoes 3D will offer viewers a thrilling experience, exposing them to the lava erupting at over 700ºC.
The documentary will plunge daringly into the heart of various volcanoes from around the globe, exploiting IMAX with new laser technology.
When: Every day in April
Time: Various times
Where: 2 de la Commune Ouest
Price: $10.50 – $12, available online
Amaze Escape Room
You escaped the winter’s cold, now try to get out of an escape room.
Try your luck at escaping from a prison, military facility, lost temple, or laboratory. Make a reservation, choose your adventure and then you have anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to get out of any respective room. Each mission is reserved solely for your group and you’re given a walkie-talkie in case you need hints/get scared.
When: Every day in April
Time: 2pm – 10:30pm
Where: 3550 Rue St. Jacques
Price: $15-$30 depending on your chosen mission (per person). Make your reservation first online.
Atrium Le 1000
anulka77/Instagram
When the April weather gets going, so too will the outdoor ice rinks.
If you’re in the mood to lace up, hit the giant, gorgeous sheet at the Atrium where inside one of the city’s tallest buildings.
The rink is covered under an immense glass dome so you can feel like you’re outside without having to deal with you know, actually going outside.
When: Every day in April
Time: 12:30 pm – 9 pm
Where: 1000 De La Gauchetière
Price: $5 – $7.50 (equipment rentals range from $1 – $7)
La Grande Roue de Montréal
gcgd.1/Instagram
Hit up Canada’s largest observational wheel and take in some absolutely breathtaking views of the city, during the start of spring. Not to mention, some primetime photo ops that’ll make your Instagram crowd jealous.
When: Every day in April
Time: 10 am – 11 pm
Where: 362 rue de Commune Est
Price: $14.79 – $25
Musée Grévin Montreal
Sneak away from the winter cold and spend a few hours in a warm room while staring at wax celebrity figures.
Check out your favourite actors, athletes, and artists in wax form. The figurines are displayed beautifully through the four-floor museum that also features optical illusions and interactive displays. It’s admittedly pretty creepy staring into Elvis’ eyes, especially if he starts blinking.
When: Every day in April
Time: 10 am to 6 pm
Where: 705 Rue Saint Catherine (4th floor of the Eaton Centre)
Price: $19.50 for adult, $13.50 for children, $15.50 for youth and students and $18 for seniors
iSaute Kirkland
ISaute/Facebook
Take your kids to iSaute Kirkland and pretend it’s for them when it’s really for you.
iSaute is a massive venue that has over 30 giant trampolines, trampoline basketball, wall climbing and a trampoline jungle gym. You pay by the hour, there’s a lot to do and it’s actually a fantastic workout. Fun for all ages (and a great workout).
When: Every day in April
Time: 10:00 am – 9:00 pm
Where: 3220 Jean Yves, Kirkland
Price: $16 for the first hour, $10 for the second. Tickets are sold at the door
Coup Sûr
With baseball season right around the corner, why not take a couple cuts at the batting cage?
Coup Sûr has six pitching machines all throwing at various speeds and each machine throws either baseballs or softballs. They have a closed off radar section too if you want to practice pitching.
They supply bats and helmets and boast an impressive Baseball Town store if you’re looking for some gear for the quickly approaching ball season.
When: Every day in April
Tim: 9 am – 10 pm
Where: 3835 Boulevard Curé-Labelle, Laval
Price: 1 token (20 pitches): $5.75/ 5 token special (100 pitches): $23.00
Putting Edge Mini-Putt
Putting Edge/Facebook
With golf season quickly approaching, you might want to hone your putting skills.
Putting Edge is an indoor mini-putt course that (besides having a great name), glows in the dark. Every hole has Canadian-based trivia questions plus the venue has an arcade and they serve alcohol. Need we say more?
When: Every day in April
Time: 10 am – 1 am
Where: 1259 rue Guy
Price: $11.99
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