44 things to do in Montreal this July

Montreal shines real bright in July. Sure, the sun helps, but the city is oozing with stuff to do. July is easily the main course of the Montreal summer feast.

From big festivals like Jazz Fest and JFL, Fantasia Film Festival and Comiccon, to the month dedicated to fireworks and everything in between, Montreal is an absolute gem in July.

There’s always something happening this month and we’ve assembled a guide to make sure your summer is rockin’. Here are 44 things to do in Montreal this July.

Kevin Hart at Just for Laughs

One of comedy’s biggest stars will be cracking up the Bell Centre at the end of the month.

Hart has been going non-stop since his career first began. Along with this year’s tour, Hart’s memoir I Can’t Make This Up debuted at Number One on the New York Times Bestseller list and remained on the list for ten consecutive weeks.

Hart went on his last tour in 2015. The WHAT NOW? TOUR and sold out large venues all over the globe. In fact, Hart became the first comedian to sell out an NFL stadium.

Check him out at Just for Laughs!

When: July 27, 2018
Where: Centre Bell
Time: Doors: 7 pm, show: 8 pm
Tickets: $68.75 – $166.25

Montreal’s International Fireworks Competition

Montreal’s International Fireworks Competition (known as L’International des Feux Loto-Québec) is the largest and most prestigious fireworks festival in the world. The fireworks display is visible from a variety of places around the island. Local hotspots include, the Jacques Cartier Bridge, the Old Port Pier, Mont Royal, Place Ville Marie Summit, and Parc Jean-Drapeau. Each showing represents a different theme. The shows go on rain or shine.

When: July 7, 11, 14, 18, 21 and 28
Time: 10 pm
Where: Various places around Montreal
Price: Free

La Ronde

When the weather is nice, you have to check out Quebec’s biggest amusement park. Obviously, the rides are great but it’s also the closest you can get to the fireworks show’s launch pad. Plus, the La Ronde bistro synchronizes music through their speakers for the fireworks. Battle the Goliath during the day and relax to first-hand fireworks at night.

When: Until October 28
Where: 22 Chemin Macdonald
When: 10:30 am – 8 pm (11:30 pm during the fireworks)
Price: Available online or at the box office

George Thorogood and The Destroyers at Montreal Jazz Fest

With over 15 million albums sold over the course of a 40-year career, the man behind Bad to the Bone rolls into Montreal and invites everyone to his Rock Party! An hour and a half of guitars, riffs and his energy boogie-blues.

When: Sunday, July 1
Time: 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Where: Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier
Price: $67.70 – $89.20

Haunted Red Light Ghost Walk

Local tour company, Secret Montreal, is giving guests a chance to learn about the city’s indecent past.

The tour is led by a professional actor and storyteller and the path leads to tales about the dark and lewd history of Montreal’s old Red Light District. Many of the sites are even said to be haunted.

When: Every Friday until Halloween
Time: 8:30 pm – 10 pm
Where: 1219 Boulevard Saint Laurent
Price: $26.50, available online

’77 Punk-Rock Music Festival

’77 specializes in ska, punk and rock music and boasts an impressive lineup of each genre. The Chicago-based band, Rise Against will headline the festival and will join AFI, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, Anti-Flag, No Policy, Iron Chic, L7, The Rezillos, and Montreal’s own, The Planet Smashers, among many others.

When: Friday, July 27
Time: 12:30 pm – 10 pm
Where: Parc Jean-Drapeau
Price: $70, passes available online

Montreal Comiccon

Montreal Comiccon’s lineup is completely stacked this summer.

Join hundreds of artists, celebrities, and actors at the localized genre festival for pictures, autographs, workshops and Q&As. Comiccon is headlined by Game of Thrones’ Jason Momoa, The X-Files’ David Duchovny, supermodel Pamela Anderson, and all around bad-ass Chuck Norris.

When: July 6 – July 8
Time: Friday, 1 to 8 pm; Saturday, 10 am to 7 pm; Sunday: 10 am to 5 pm
Where: 1001 Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle, Palais des Congrés
Tickets: Available online, starting at $25

Marché des Éclusiers du Vieux-Port

Set up by the water in the Old Port, the mission of Marché des Éclusiers (Farmers’ Market) is simple: showcase Quebec products. There is no middleman. The quaint market gives producers the chance to sell their organic products directly to the public.

Though offerings at the market are seasonal, you’ll typically be able to find vegetables, bread, pastries, organic juices, breakfast, beef, pork, sauces, and cheese – all locally made.

When: From now until mid-October
Time: Thursdays, 2 pm – 7 pm; Saturdays, 9 am – 2 pm
Where: 400 Rue de la Commune Ouest
Price: Free admission

Fantasia International Film Festival

Fantasia works primarily as a film screening festival, showcasing a variety of programming, both independent and commercial, while focusing on the imaginative cinema of Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

The festival also welcomes guests from across of the cinema community, including actors, directors, producers, studio reps, and distributors.

When: July 12 – August 1
Time: Varies according to screening
Where: Concordia University – 1455 Boulevard de Maisonneuve Ouest
Price: Varies according to screening

The Montreal Metropolitan Orchestra at the Mont Royal Summit

The Montreal Metropolitan Orchestra will be performing an outdoor concert at the Mont Royal Summit.

Imagine having Mont Royal’s spectacular sights and the orchestra’s magical sounds together at the same time?

The concert will be conducted by Montreal native, Yannick Nézet-Séguin as he directs his 47-person orchestra to three of Russian composer, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s pieces.

When: Friday, July 27
Time:  8 pm – 10:15 pm
Where: Mont Royal Chalet
Price: Free

Russell Peters at Just for Laughs

Russell Peters returns to live touring after taking time off to film his hit CTV/Netflix series, The Indian Detective. As part of his The Deported World Tour, Peters stops off in Montreal to bring his hilarious crowd play set to Just for Laughs

He travelled to over 26 countries, did over 200 performances and welcomed more than 300,000 fans during his last tour.

When: July 26 – 27
Time: 7 pm
Where: Maison Symphonique
Price: $74 – $103

HOLI’s Festival of Colours

This outdoor festival promotes the Indian community all around the world.

The party is hosted by Miss Universe delegate Megha Sandhu and features music by Mr. Bolly, Jaya Sangha, and DJ Neerav as well as a choreographed Bollywood blast dance and bhangra style dancing.

As if that’s not enough to entice you, the crowd will be sprayed with dry paint powder throughout the day.

When: Saturday, July 28
Time: 12 pm – 10 pm
Where: Clock Tower Beach
Price: $14, kids 12 and under are granted free admission

Bota Bota Classic Movies

Montreal’s waterside spa, Bota Bota, Beaubien Cinema and Cinema du Parc have teamed up to bring guests a relaxing mix – movies at the spa.

The Bota Bota Gardens will have a giant, inflated, water-proof screen showing three movies for three dates this summer.

The screen will be viewable from the Garden’s supplied Adirondack chairs, sun loungers, bean bag chairs, swimming pool, or spa.

When: July 15 and July 20
Time: 8 pm – 10:30 pm
Where: Corner of McGill Street and Rue De la Commune 
Price: $45 – $80 based on selected spa service, available online

Ben Harper & Charlie Musselwhite at Jazz Fest

The American singer/songwriter, Ben Harper has teamed up with living blues legend and harmonica wizard, Charlie Musselwhite for this year’s Jazz Fest. The two blues brothers fuse their folk, soul, and reggae in forming a savvy blend of electric and acoustic blues.

When: July 3
Time: 7:30 pm – 10 pm
Where: Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Place des Arts
Price: $88-$113

Carifesta Caribbean Festival

Like it has every year in Montreal since 1975, Carifiesta returns this summer to honour its Caribbean community in the city.

The festival’s main attraction is the parade. The parade features vibrant colours and exciting costumes dancing to the sounds of Caribbean music. It starts at the corner of Saint-Catherine Street Ouest and ends at Le Square Phillips.

Once the parade anchors at its final stop in the square, the partying, music and dancing continues well on into the night joined by a variety of food trucks, all serving traditional Caribbean food.

When: July 7
Time: 12 pm
Where: Starts at Saint Catherine Street Ouest and Rue Forty and ends at Square Phillips
Price: Free

Parc Jean-Drapeau Aquatic Complex

Parc Jean Drapeau’s Aquatic Complex features three massive Olympic-sized pools, trampolines, diving boards and towers, a shaded area, sprinklers and water sports. Beat the July heat in style!

When: Every day until September 3
Time: 10 am to 8 pm
Where: Parc Jean-Drapeau
Price: $3.50-$9

Kahnawake Pow Wow

The Kahnawake Pow Wow is readying for its 28th annual event. This unique opportunity is a chance to discover Native dancing, music, food and arts and crafts as you celebrate with the Mohawks of Kahnawake and take part in the Echoes of a Proud Nation Pow Wow.

The Pow Wow features tribal and smoke dancing, all-native craft booths, prizes and native cuisine food sampling.

When: July 14, 15
Time: Saturday: 9 am – 10 pm, Sunday: 9 am – 5 pm
Where: Kahnawake Pow Wow Grounds
Price: $8

Jean-Doré Beach

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.

When: Until July 2
Time: 9 am – 8 pm
Where: 576 Rue St-Catherine Est

Howie Mandel at Just for Laughs

Howie Mandel brings his own gala to the Just for Laughs festival which he now co-owns. Mandel continues to push the creative boundaries of the comedy industry as he returns to the festival for his fourth gala as he brings a lineup of stand-up superstars with him.

When: Thursday, July 26
Time: 6:30 pm
Where: Salle Wifrid Pelletier
Price: $40 – $112

First Fridays

The largest food truck festival in the province happens the first Friday of every month. The Olympic Stadium is known for a lot of things but First Fridays have got to be high on the list. The city’s food trucks gather at Olympic Stadium showcasing an array of mouthwatering local food allowing Montrealers to sample dishes from over 50 food trucks. You can expect to find everything from tacos and churros, to mac and cheese and lobster rolls.

When: Friday, July 6
Time: 4 pm – 11 pm
Where: Olympic Stadium
Price: Free admission

Radiohead at the Bell Centre

Radiohead has been together since 1985 and they are on their way to Montreal. The English rock band have amassed a massive following among alternative rock and electronic rock music fans. Imagine hearing Creep and Karma Police at the Bell Centre?

When: July 16 and 17
Time: 7:30 pm – 11 pm
Where: Bell Centre – 1909, avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal
Price: $90.50 – $112.50

Pointe-Calumet Beach

Pointe-Calumet Beach gets too much of a “party vibe” because it hosts the famous Beachclub parties in the summer. But it offers a secluded, quiet alternative for beach-goers who just want to relax in front of the Lake Deux Montagnes.

When: Every day in July
Time: Monday to Friday: 10 am – 6 pm, Saturdays and Sundays: 12 pm – 7 pm
Where: 701 Rue Pointe-Calumet
Price: Monday to Friday: $12, Saturday and Sunday: $15

Heavy MTL

Heavy MTL is a two-day, outdoor heavy metal and hard rock music festival. If you want to jump into a mosh pit and bang your head, Parc Jean Drapeau’s Heavy MTL has got you covered.

This year’s festival is headlined by Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie, Underoath, Avenged Sevenfold, and Warbringer

When: July 27, 28 and 29
Time: 12 pm – 11 pm
Where: Parc Jean Drapeau
Price: $95

Festival of India

Aquazilla

Try to stay afloat on top of Jean-Doré beach this July.

The 30-by-35 metre inflatable structure is combined with obstacles, slides and platforms and your job is to not fall off.

Aquazilla features a wiggle bridge (every obstacle course needs a wiggle bridge), a trampoline, climbing towers, a variety of slides, monkey bars, a giant swing, a plank and a flip bag.

When: Every day in July
Time: 10 am – 7 pm
Where: Parc Jean Drapeau
Price: 6 – 13 years: $13 for an hour/$25 unlimited, 14 and over: $15 for an hour/$28 unlimited, tickets available on-site

Mac & Cheese Festival

The Mac & Cheese Fest is exactly what it sounds like. 15 food trucks and restaurant outlets from all over Montreal will fill up guests with their take on everybody’s favourite comfort food. Five days worth of Mac & Cheese? So long, summer body!

When: July 24-29
Time: Tuesday the 24: 5 pm – 11 pm, rest of the fest: 11 am – 10 pm
Where: Quai Jacques-Cartier, Old Port
Price: Free admission, $13 for food vouchers

Shane Murphy at Jazz Fest

Shane Murphy is a popular musician from NDG. He’s got  a silky smooth voice and deep, soulful tunes. He’s bringing his prominent presence to the Bistro à Jojo. If you want to listen to some real, strong jazz but don’t want to cough up too many bucks, keep Shane Murphy on your radar.

When: July 5 and 6
Time: 10:30 pm
Where: Bistro à Jojo – 1627 Rue St. Denis
Price: $20

Parc Safari Zoo

Get your animal fix by heading to Parc Safari, an easy 40-minute drive off the island. The park offers an optional Safari Adventure upon entering, you can drive up and see a variety of exotic animals from your car including zebras, ostriches, buffalo, llamas, and camels. Inside the park, take a walk down the Forest Trail where you have an amazing vantage point view of monkeys, cheetahs, hyenas, and bears. Don’t forget the lions, but we didn’t have to tell you that.

When: From now until October 8
Time: 10 am – 5 pm
Where: 280 Rang Roxham, Hemmingford
Price: Prices vary depending on age. Tickets available at the entrance or online

LA RUE COMPLÈTEMENT CiRQUE

The circus comes to the streets of Montreal!

LA RUE COMPLÈTEMENT CiRQUE is a circus festival that includes tightrope walkers, trapeze art, balancing and trampoline acts, fire art, jugglers, gymnastics, live music, and human pyramids, all using the the urban landscape of Montreal as their stages.

When: July 5 – 15 (off day on July 9)
Time: 5:30 pm – 11 pm
Where: Spread out among the Quartier des Spectacles
Price: Free

Montreal Beachclub

Montreal Beachclub is the host of North America’s biggest outdoor club. Located in Pointe-Calumet, an easy 45-minute drive from Montreal, Beachclub can host up to 10,000 guests. The club is beachside and forms an intriguing fuse of the beach and electric dance music.

They boast n impressive lineup of DJs throughout July: Migos, Sean Paul, Daddy Yankee, Rick Ross and more.

When: From now until September 15
Time: Monday to Friday: 10 am – 6 pm, Saturdays and Sundays: Noon – 7 pm
Where: 701 Rue 38, Pointe-Calumet
Price: Monday to Friday: $12, Saturday and Sunday: $15 (subject to change when special events are held) Prices for DJ events vary, tickets are available online.

Dave Chappelle and John Mayer at Just for Laughs

 

The two pals have formed an unlikely albeit hilarious duo for this year’s Just for Laughs festival. Remember that classic 2004 episode of Chappelle’s Show, where Chappelle and Mayer team up to explore different culture’s dance moves? It’ll sort of be like, but live.

When: Saturday July 28
Time: 8 pm
Where: The Bell Centre
Tickets: Starting at $69.25, available online 

Complexe Atlantide

Complexe Atlantide is a huge amusement park fused with water slides, mini putt, a wave pool and animals located in Saint-Calixte, an hour outside of Montreal. It’s situated right in the middle of a camp ground and guests are encouraged to stay for as long as they wish.

Complexe Atlantide also hosts a petting zoo, a haunted house, a variety of restaurants, and an ice cream parlour. You can’t really call yourself a family oriented park until you have an ice cream parlour on site.

When: Every day in July
Time: 10 am to 6 pm
Where: 11155 QC-335, Saint-Calixte
Price: Varies depending on your selection, tickets available online

Demolition Derby

Calixa-Lavallée in Montreal North brings the heat with a massive and explosive demolition derby. Over 150 cars lineup and mash each other throughout the day. The venue hosts food outlets and lots of beer.

When: Sunday, July 8
Time: 12:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Where: 602 Chemin de la Beauce, Calixa-Lavallée
 Price: $25 to sign up and join the derby, $12 to watch

Steve Hill at Jazz Fest

Hailed as the best young blues guitarist in North America by Real Blues magazine, Steve Hill is a one-man wrecking crew who plays various instruments, sometimes at the same time. The 2015 Juno Award winner plays the guitar, harmonica, percussion, and the cymbals

Plus he’s got great hair.

When: July 4
Time: 9 pm and 11 pm
Where: Hyundai / CBC/Radio-Canada Stage
Price: Free

Bouffons MTL

Bouffons Montreal call themselves “an open-air gastronomy village.” A variety of restaurants from around the city have food trucks and outlets plus they give out free samples. Free fois gras sandwich samples? Sign us up!

The outlets vary in price, but it’s absolutely mouth-watering!

When: July 18-29
Time: 12 pm – 11 pm
Where: Corner of Rue Ste-Catherine and Rue De Bleury
Price: Free

High Score Con

You can’t have a month with Comiccon and not include a video game convention. Thankfully, High Score Con has Montreal covered this July. The convention features tons of video games and related merchandise. Indie game companies will be on site showcasing their latest creations and there will be a Q&A with video game testers and developers.

When: Sunday, July 22
Time: 10 am – 5 pm
Where: Hotel Ruby Foo’s – 7655 Boulevard Decarie
Price: $5

Festival International Nuits d’Afrique

The 32nd edition of the festival assembles a massive collection of talent from here to Timbuktu, across great oceans to Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America. The 3-week festival hosts both indoor and outdoors shows of dancing and live music.

When: July 10 – 22
Time: Various times through the month
Where: Parterre du Quartier des Spectacles
Price: Varies according to selection

Voiles en Voiles

Climb aboard life-size replicas of both royal and pirate ships from the 18th century in Montreal’s Old Port (how fitting). They are over 100 feet in length and range from two feet high for the young pirates to 35 feet for Peter Pan wannabes.

The obstacle course features 61 different activities between the Royal Ship and the Pirate Ship. Activities include ziplining, rock climbing, and bouncy castles.

When: Every day in July
Time: 10 am – 1o pm
Where: Place des Vestiges, Old Port
Price: online Prices vary depending on selected activities, tickets

Festival des Bieres

85 bar outlets and 40 microbreweries converge for the 4th annual Laval Beer Festival. Besides the litres of beer, the festival hosts food trucks from local Laval restaurants and a family zone where your kids can get away from you trying way too many beers.

When: July 13-15
Time: 1 pm – 7 pm
Where: Centre de la Nature – 901 Avenue du Parc, Laval
Price: $7.25 admission, $3 drink coupons

Village au Pied-du-Courant

Dozens of collaborators and designers have teamed up together to create a man-made beach village under the Jacques Cartier Bridge. The village hosts bar kiosks, restaurant outlets and a performing stage where Montrealers and tourists can fuse their urban love and beach style together.

When: Every Thursday to Sunday until September 15
Time: 4 pm – 9 pm on Thursdays, 5 pm – midnight on Fridays, 3 pm – midnight on Saturdays and 3 pm – 11 pm on Sundays
Where: 2100 Rue Notre-Dame Est
Price: Free admission

Le Grand PoutineFest

Le Grand PoutineFest starts up on the last day in July!

All sorts of poutine will be available from a variety of Montreal spots. Try out every poutine imaginable from a gourmet foie gras poutine, duck confit poutine to decadent macaroni and cheese poutine. The beach body can wait.

When: July 31
Time: 11 am – 9 pm
Where: Quai Jacques-Cartier, Old Port
Price: Free admission, $13 for food vouchers

See also

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• 11 gorgeous beaches you can day trip to from Montreal