June can easily be the best time of the year in Montreal.
The weather is hot and sunny, there’s events, celebrations, and activities galore, patio season‘s in full stride, the bike path is rollin’ and it’s beach season!
What more could you want?
Since there’s so much happening in and around the city, we’ve compiled this list to give you a little bit of inspiration heading into June.
La Ronde
When the weather is nice, you have to check out Quebec’s biggest amusement park. La Ronde opened for the 2018 season last month and it was a blast. Test your bravery on the Goliath, Le Monstre, Ednör, or Le Demon. Check out this season’s newly expanded Splash area and the new ride, Le Tourbillon. Forget lunch and supper, fill up on popcorn and cotton candy – it’s cheat day.
- When: Until October 28
- Time: 10:30 am – 8 pm
- Where: 22 Chemin Macdonald
- Price: Available online or at the box office
Jean-Doré Beach
Jean-Doré Beach is situated on Parc Jean Drapeau and has nice golden sand and clear water. What makes it even more appealing is that it’s very close to downtown and easily accessible by bike or public transit.
With a wide swimming area of more than 15,000 square metres, both kids and grown-ups can enjoy a fun-filled day at the beach without going far.
- When: June 20 – August 26
- Time: 10 am – 7 pm
- Where: Parc Jean Drapeau
- Price: 3-13 years: $4.50, 14 years and over: $9
Bar Loïc
Loïc is an uber cool wine bar located in St. Henri. The decor is gorgeous (it’s located in an old bank) and the food is tasty enough to question if wine really is their specialty. They also make very tempting cocktails.
Their terrace is a must when the weather is hot. The 30-person patio is a perfect spot to grab prime time rays and it’s right in the middle of the St. Henri buzz. Grab some wine and try their mouthwatering cheeseburger.
- When: Loïc’s terrace is open from 5 pm to 11 pm
- Where: 5001 Rue Notre Dame Ouest
Comedy At The Art Loft
Comedy At The Art Loft is the hottest underground 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 always packed with people. It feels like a college party, except a comedian is speaking into a microphone and making you laugh. Every week features a variety of talented headliners, hosts and local comics. When the weather is toasty, they’ll even preform outside. There’s also a DJ and snacks. BYOB and 420 friendly. Very 420 friendly.
- When: Every Friday
- Time: Doors open at 9 pm, show starts at 10:30 pm
- Where: 4152 Boulevard Saint Laurent
- Price: $10 at the door (cash only)
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
The Notre Dame Basilica has teamed up with Moment Factory’s Multimedia & Entertainment Studio to light up the historic building in Montreal until the end of the year. The immersive showcase features lights and sounds to showcase one of Montreal’s most oft viewed pieces of architecture.
- When: From now until December 29
- Time: Varying times between 6, 7, 8, and 9 pm depending on the day
- Where: 110 Rue Notre Dame Ouest
- Price: Adults: $24.50, Seniors: $22.20, Kids:$14.80, Students: $18.75
Tam Tams
Sundays in Montreal in the summer is synonymous with Tam Tams. It’s a giant outdoor party with dancers, sports and drummers all gathered around the Sir George-Etienne Cartier monument. If the weather is nice on Sunday (still worth it even if it’s raining) head over to the mountain and enjoy a longstanding Montreal tradition and vibe. 420 friendly.
- When: Sundays until September 30
- Time: Noon
- Where: Mont Royal Park
Aquazilla
As if Parc Jean Drapeau isn’t cool enough already. They’ve launched an inflated, floating obstacle course this summer.
The 30-by-35 metre structure is combined with obstacles, slides, and platforms, and your job is to complete the course without falling into the Jean-Doré beach.
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: June 20 – August 26 and September 1 – 3
- 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
Fringe Festival
Montreal’s Fringe Festival features over 500 artists who will be delivering over 600 live productions across town in June.
A variety of acts headline the festival including live tarot reading, an immersive murder-mystery, an end-of-the-world drag comedy, a clown sex-ed class, and much more.
The best part – every show is only $10!
- When: From now until June 17
- Time: Varies according to show
- Where: Varies according to show
- Price: $10, available at the door or online
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 open for the season on June 1 and have an impressive lineup of DJs for the summer including Tiësto, Migos, Sean Paul, Rick Ross and more.
- When: June 1 – 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.
Anjou’s Free Outdoor Movies
The district of Anjou in Montreal-East will be hosting Movie in the Park this summer.Enjoy a variety of free family-friendly outdoor movies in the Talcy Park every Sunday.
Scheduled for 8:30 pm every week, get cozy, bring snacks and catch a flick in the open-air.
- When: Sunday from June 24 – August 5
- Time: 8:30 pm
- Where: 8151 Avenue Talcy, Parc de Talcy
- Price: Free
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: From June 22 – August 26 and September 1 – 3
- Time: 10 am to 6 pm
- Where: 11155 QC-335, Saint-Calixte
- Price: Varies depending on your selection, tickets available online
The Ormstown Fair
The Ormstown Expo is gearing up for its 104th anniversary and it’s a dandy of a time for city-slickers and country-folk alike.
Hosted on the ancient, Ormstown fairgrounds, the fair is a mixture of carnival rides, barn animals, derbies, tractor pulls, live music, and agriculture awareness.
- When: June 7 – 10
- Time: Gates open at 8 am, midway rides at 11 am and close at midnight.
- Where: 1 McBain Street, Ormstown
- Price: $5-$10, dependent on days and age. Passes available online
Bota Bota’s Drift Away After Dark
Montreal’s nautical spa, Bota Bota announced that they will be hosting “Drift Away After Dark,” an after-hours event which will take place on the first Friday of June and then every first friday until October. Sit in a hot tub, get a massage and listen to Bota Bota’s resident DJ.
- When: June 1
- Time: 11:30 pm – 2 am
- Where: Spa Bota Bota
- Price: $35 per person
The Montreal International Jazz Festival
The Montreal International Jazz Festival was named the largest jazz festival in the world in 2004 according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
The festival spans from June 28 to July 7 and will host over 150 shows, the majority of which are free outdoor concerts. The festival takes place at over 20 different venues located around the Quartier des Spectacles and will welcome more than two million spectators.
- When: June 28 – July 7
- Times: Times vary depending on the concert
- Where: Quartier des Spectacles
- Price: Varies per show, available online
Piknic Electronik
- When: Sundays until September 30
- Time: 9 am – 5:30 pm
- Where: Parc Jean Drapeau
- Price: Available online, starting at $14.50
Imagine Monkland Street Festival
Not exactly as “low-key” as they may have hoped, but it’s loads of fun.
- When: June 22 – 24
- Where: Avenue Monkland and Avenue Girouard – Avenue Harvard, NDG
- Time: 5 pm – 11 pm on Friday, 11 am – 11 pm on Saturday and 11 am – 7 pm on Sunday
- Price: The festival is free to enter
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: From now until October
- Time: 10 am – 1o pm
- Where: Place des Vestiges, Old Port
- Price: online Prices vary depending on selected activities, tickets available
Orange Julep Vintage Car Night
The Orange Julep is one of Montreal’s most well known structures and restaurants. It’s a giant orange that makes an incredible poutine and a very tasty orange juice (obviously). Every Wednesday, vintage cars, trucks and motorcycles park in the Julep’s lot and spectators vote on the winner. A classic Montreal tradition.
- When: Every Wednesday from now until October
- Time: 7 pm – 10 pm
- Where: 7700 Boulevard Decarie
- Price: Free
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 starting from June 1 to 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 to enter
Montreal’s Museum of Fine Arts Beach Party
In June, the Museum of Fine Arts launches its 5th annual Chiaroscuro soiree, turning the building into a “beach” party for the night.
Along with the museum’s regular programming of Archaeology & World Cultures, Decorative Arts & Design, and International Contemporary Art, the soiree will also offer an illustration workshop, dance performances and four DJs: Karim Ouellet, Honeydrip, Charles Cozy, and Andrew Pololos.
- When: Friday, June 8
- Time: 7 pm – midnight
- Where: 1380 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest
- Price: $12
Montreal Grand Prix
You really can’t mention Montreal in June without highlighting the Grand Prix.
Montreal is the Canadian Grand Prix’s only stop in Canada and the city responds by putting on four days worth of stunning spectacles.
There’s events, parties, cocktails and dinners that cost money or you can just peruse the library of gorgeous cars, both old and new, all over Montreal.
- When: June 7 – 10
- Time: Varies depending on chosen acitivty
- Where: Rue Peel, Rue Crescent, Gilles Villeneuve Circuit
- Price: Prices vary depending on chosen activity
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