28 FREE Montreal events worth checking out this April

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After a rough month of wintery March weather, Montrealers are happy to see the calendar flip to April which tends to bring warmer and greener weather. Warm temperatures are nice but warm temperatures with free things to do is even better.

Here are 28 things happening around the city this month that won’t cost you anything. Shove that wallet of yours into the closet with all that winter gear.

Honey Martin Trivia

Honey Martin/Facebook

Honey Martin is a cozy Irish Pub in NDG that hosts a phenomenal pub trivia every trivia. They do six rounds of ten questions and a winner is rewarded each round with either a round of drinks or a round of shots. A round for a round – solid deal.

The questions are all general knowledge and the trivia host is interactive and funny.

Buy him a shot and you just might get that European geography question right after all.

When: April 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30
Time: 9 pm – 1:30 am
Where: 5916 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest

McCord Museum

The McCord Museum is a public research and teaching centre that is dedicated to the preservation, study, diffusion, and appreciation of Canadian history. The museum features a variety of clothes, objects, and artifacts from dozens of different Canadian aspects.

The McCord Museum is offering free admission on the first Wednesday of April to get those intellectual juices flowing.

When: Wednesday, April 3
Time: 10 am – 9 pm
Where: 690 Rue Sherbrooke

Cabane à Sucre

It’s the end of winter and that means smiles AND sugar shacks.

Admission is free if you want to trek around the beautifully sapped forrest and meals at the Shack are available from $12 to $23. Plus, the venue lets guests bring in their own alcohol. (You know, for research purposes on the different tastes between syrup and booze).

When: Sunday, April 7
Time: 12 pm – 3 pm
Where: Cabane à sucre Osias, 3188 Rue Masson

21 Swings

grantalias/ Instagram

Spring won’t be the only thing in the air as Montreal’s musical swing exhibition returns to the Quartier des Spectacles next month.

The interactive, music art installation, 21 Swings, will have Montrealers feeling like kids again as guests can swing back and forth, creating musical melodies.

The 21 Swings (or Balançoires) installation was custom-made for the Promenade des Artistes in the Quartier des Spectacles. The work was created by Daily tous les jours, in collaboration with animal behaviourist Luc-Alain Giraldeau from UQAM and Radwan Ghazi Moumneh, the installation’s composer.

When: April 8 – May 28
Time: 10 am – 11 pm (Sunday to Wednesday), 10 am – 12 am (Thursday to Saturday)
Where: Promenade des Artistes, Quartier des spectacles

Comedy Village

Every Sunday night in April, Montreal’s MBar in the heart of the Gay Village is brining some of the funniest local comics to the stage.

The venue hosts cheap drinks, free snacks and a slew of great acts and headliners throughout the month.

When: April 7, 14, 21 and 28
Time: 8:45 pm – 10:30 pm
Where: M Montreal Hostel, 1245 rue Saint-André

Montreal ToyCon

ToyCon

If you’re looking for the newest, shiniest toys for your collection, Montreal’s ToyCon has got you covered. From GI-Joe to Marvel, DC, Transformers, Star Wars, Funko Pop and Lego, this toy convention has it all.

Guests are invited to dress up in cosplay where thousands of comic books and collectables will be available for purchase.

When: Sunday, April 7
Time: 10 am – 4 pm
Where: Courtyard by Marriott, 7000 Place Robert Joncas

Free Ice Cream Cone Day

Ben & Jerry’s/Facebook

Everyone knows it’s only really springtime when you can start eating ice cream.

On Tuesday, April 9 (how come it’s not celebrated on a ~~sundae~~ Sunday?) Ben & Jerry’s is giving away free ice cream cones at three of its locations in Montreal as part of the company’s annual Free Cone Day.

Ben & Jerry’s first started celebrating the free ice cream tradition in 1979 and today it’s celebrated around the world.

The cool deal is offered from noon to 8 pm and ice creamers have the chance to choose any flavour (one scoop) in a cup or a cone.

Ah, fudge! Start planning now, this is a big decision that could lead down a pretty rocky road.

When: Tuesday, April 9
Time: 12 pm – 8 pm
Where: Ben & Jerry’s – 433 Place Jaques Cartier, 1200 McGill College and 1316 de Maisonneuve Boulevard

Free Meditation Class

Meditation/Shutterstock

La clinique d’acupuncture familiale de Verdun is offering everyone over the age of 10-years-old a free meditation class. The class will go on for an hour, taught by a trained meditation expert.

All that organizers ask you bring is comfy clothes, sweet deal.

When: Tuesday, April 16
Time: 7 pm – 8 pm
Where: Clinique d’acupuncture familiale de Verdun, 5057 rue Wellington

Cité Mémoire

levieuxmontreal/Instagram

Head to Old Montreal to admire 25 of the world’s largest projection circuits. Montreal’s history is displayed on buildings and streets throughout the Old Port. Download the free “Montreal en Histoires” app for destinations, details and schedules.

When: April 5, 12, 19, and 26
Time: From nightfall until 11 pm
Where: Old Montreal

Free Yoga Class by Lululemon

The Crew Collective & Cafe, in partnership with Lululemon is inviting guests to a free yoga class taught in Collective’s private space, by trained professionals.

The only thing organziers ask is to be on time, don’t ruin the zen!

When: Tuesday, April 23
Time: 8 am – 9 am
Where: Crew Collective & Cafe, 360 Rue Saint-Jacques

Hockey History Exhibit

The Hockey Cup History travelling exhibit has set up shop at the Dorval Museum of Local History and Heritage.

Hockey fans can take a look at trophies, rings, hockey sticks, archival footage and over 50 hockey-related artifacts. Visitors are also invited to play a hockey tabletop game as well as a ‘design your own goalie mask’ workshop.

When: From now until April 16
Time: 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm, Thursday to Sunday
Where: 1850 Lakeshore Drive, Dorval
Price: Free

McKibbin’s Pub Stumpers

Africa Studio/Shutterstock

Test your trivia knowledge at McKibbin’s Irish Pub every Monday.

The pub’s trivia has five rounds, general knowledge multiple choice, short answer, a picture round, and a music round. The winner of each round receives free drinks or a round of shots.

When: April 3, 10, 17, and 24
Time: 7:30 pm – 10 pm
Where: 1426 Rue Bishop
Price: Free to play (with purchase of a beverage)

R1-B1 at Le XVI XVI

robotbarevent/Instagram

Remember the old days when regular human bartenders would pour you drinks? That is so 2017. The world’s first interactive robot bartender serves up drinks at Le XVI XVI (Le 1616).

Le XVI XVI offers a Franco-Quebec culinary experience fused with technology as their robotic bartender, R1-B1, serves drinks at the restaurant’s first-floor lounge.

What makes R1-B1 stand out (besides the fact that it’s a robot) is that it doesn’t only serve drinks, it interacts with clients, making it the first of its kind in the world.

R1-B1 (no relation to R2-D2) understands drink orders, quantities and interacts with customers with a sense of humour, in French.

The drinks cost a few bucks but interacting with the robot is free and let’s be honest, how many times can you say that?

When: Every day in April, except Sundays
Time: 5 pm – 11 pm (Monday – Wednesday) 5 pm – 10 pm (Thursday – Saturday by reservation only)
Where: 1616 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest

Yoko Ono’s “Arising”

Reykjavik Art Museum/Facebook

As part of the Japanese multimedia artist’s ongoing installation called “Arising,” Yoko Ono is asking women to share stories of harm that has been brought on as a result of being a woman. Participants are asked to also send in a photo of their eyes as part of the project.

Both projects take an important stance about the condition of women, particularly in regards to the #MeToo movement.

Submissions can be made by email, regular mail or in person and will be accepted at any time before or during the exhibition. Every and all submissions will be displayed.

The display kicks off at the end of the month and will be on display until September.

When: April 25 to September 15
Time: 12 pm – 7 pm (Wednesday to Friday), 11 am 6 pm (Saturday and Sunday)
Where: Fondation Phi pour l’art contemporain, 451 rue St-Jean

Marché Créatif – Spring Edition

Etsy Market/ Submitted

The Collectif Créatif Etsy Montreal is bringing a giant market to Locoshop Angus, a 100-year-old building that has over 100,000 square feet of goodness.

From accessories, decorations, clothes and food, this market has tons of items available from purchase from local merchants.

When: April 27 and 28
Time: 10 am – 6 pm
Where: Technopole Angus, 2600 rue William-Tremblay

The Maisonneuve Bike Path

Bike season kicks into high gear in April.

The Maisonneuve bike path runs throughout Montreal and has a gorgeous path from NDG to the East End. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the city as the bike path runs parallel with all of it.

When: Every day in April
Time: 24/7
Where: Runs parallel with Boulevard Maisonneuve

Place Publique

Place Publique has nested itself on to Rue Ottawa every summer since 2007. The space is dedicated to the visual arts and its expanded audience. Site-specific artworks, performances and workshops enliven the space and transform it into an interactive platform by bringing together artists and citizens.

When: Every day in April
Time: 6 pm – 10 pm
Where: 745 Rue Ottawa

Casino de Montreal

Casino de Montreal/Shutterstock

It’s tough to associate casinos without money, but it’s true.

The Casino de Montreal is free to enter. If you don’t feel like blowing money at the blackjack table, head to the Casino de Montreal and simply take in the sights and sounds, it’s quite spectacular. The casino offers free refreshments and coffee, maybe you’ll find a loonie on the ground and even win big?

The Casino is decorated beautifully for the holidays and is worth the trek off-island just to marvel in its beauty.

When: Every day in April
Time: The Casino de Montreal is open 24/7
Where: 1 Avenue du Casino

Notre-Dame Basilica

A G Baxter (Shutterstock)

One of Montreal’s most-viewed structures is filled with hundreds of wooden carvings, several religious statues, and gigantic stained glass windows. Take a self-guided walking tour or visit the church every Sunday at 11 am to hear a 25-person choir accompanied by the organ.

When: Every day in April
Time: 8 am – 4:30 pm on weekdays, 8 am – 4 pm on Saturdays and 12:30 pm – 4 pm on Sundays (mass starts at 11 am)
Where: 110 Rue Notre Dame Ouest

Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

If you want to expand your knowledge this April, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts has got you covered. The MMFA offers free admission to all of their Collections and Discovery exhibitions to people under 30-years-old.

When: Every day in April
Time: 10 am – 6 pm
Where: 1380 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest

Jean Talon Market

Songquan Deng/Shutterstock

The highlight of Little Italy is undoubtedly the Jean Talon Market. The Jean Talon market has been supplying Montreal with fresh Quebec products and specialty items from around the world since 1934.

The market is free to enter and is open every day. Visitors can find a wide variety of produce, flowers, fish, meat and specialty ice cream for sale, the area is also a great destination for lunch. Barbeque lamb, pork, and chicken sandwiches, as well as bison on a stick, are all available for a few bucks.

It’s a Montreal landmark.

When: The Jean Talon Market is open every day in April
Time: 7 am – 6 pm from Monday – Wednesday and Saturday, 7 am – 8 pm on Thursdays and Fridays and 7 am – 5 pm on Sundays
Where: 7070 Avenue Henri Julien

Barbie Exhibition

joshuajacobs81/instagram

The world’s largest permanent exhibit of Barbies is happening at Montreal’s Cours Mont-Royal. The upscale mall hosts over 1,000 entertainment industry Barbie dolls, all dressed by leading fashion houses.

When: Every day in April
Time: 10 am – 7 pm
Where: Cours Mont-Royal, 1445 Rue Peel

Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral

Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral is a 19th-century church modelled after the famous St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

The church opened in 1894 and is an absolutely stunning visual.

When: Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral is open year round
Time: 8 am – 4 pm
Where: 1085 Rue Cathedrale

Grande Bibliothèque

BAnQ, Bernard Fougères

The Grande Bibliothèque is a Montreal’s biggest public library. Its collection is part of Bibliothèque et Archives Nationales du Québec (BAnQ), Quebec’s national library.

The Grande Bibliothèque is an absolute spectacle to see. Its winding staircases will make you feel like you’re at Hogwarts and it hosts an unbelievably impressive collection of books, magazines, records, CDs, and film.

It’s one of the most visited libraries in North America.

Membership is free to all Quebec residents.

When: The Grande Bibliothèque is open year round
Time: 10 am to 5 pm
Where: 475 Boulevard de Maisonneuve Est

Mont Royal Belvédère Kondiaronk Park

Hiking Mont Royal has its rewards besides the view. The winter’s snow fused with the skyline are totally Instagram-worthy and Mont Royal’s chalet has some nice historical elements as well.

You get to see the entire city lit up – especially in April’s springtime weather. A 15-minute hike is totally worth it.

When: Mont Royal is accessible year round
Time: 6 am – 12 am
Where: 1196 Voie Camillien-Houde

Atwater Market

Jean Gagnon

The Atwater Market is a massive farmers’ market located in Saint-Henri that’s been running since 1933. The market features both indoor and outdoor vendors from a vast variety of local options: meat, bread, cheese, fruit, vegetables, flowers, candy, pizza and ice cream.

The market is free to enter and a lot of outlets hand out free samples. Take a stroll through the market, it’s lovely.

When: Every day in April
Time: 7 am – 8 pm
Where: 138 Avenue Atwater

Promenade Fleuve-Montagne

You can experience two of Montreal’s most stunning landmarks in one trek: the St. Lawrence River and Mont Royal Park. Stroll from one to the other on a beautiful 3.8-km promenade that features wide sidewalks, pedestrian crosswalks, rest areas, greenery and access to various restaurants along the route. The multimillion-dollar investment from the city’s 375th birthday celebrations is a site and a sight to see.

When: Every day in April
Time: The path is open 24/7
Where: Rue de la Commune Ouest and Place Royale to Avenue des Pins and Rue McTavish

Redpath Museum

Musée Redpath Museum/Facebook

Founded in 1882 at McGill University, the Redpath Museum’s aims to further the understanding and appreciation of biological, geological, and cultural heritage.

The comfortable, little museum has a variety of ancient Canadian artifacts.

When: Every day in April
Time: 9 am – 5 pm during the week, 1 pm – 5 pm on Saturdays and Sundays
Where: 859 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest

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