Even amidst what’s expected to be an absolute scorcher today, Saturday, July 20, the city is bustling with events to keep you busy (and hopefully air-conditioned).
See also
- A giant hand has taken over the top of this building in Montreal (PHOTOS)
- 14 regions in Quebec are currently under heat warnings
- Montreal announces details for next month's Pride Parade
Montreal Beachclub
beachclubmtl/Instagram
Beat the heat at what’s dubbed the largest outdoor club in North America,
Located in Pointe-Calumet, an easy 45-minute drive from Montreal, Beachclub is exactly what its name implies — a club on the beach.
The outdoor beach site can host up to 10,000 guests at a time, making it the largest outdoor club in North America.
When: Saturday, July 20
Time: 12 pm – 7 pm
Where: 701 38e Rue, Pointe-Calumet
Price: Varying prices
L’International des Feux Loto-Québec
Parc Jean-Drapeau
The world’s largest fireworks festival returned to La belle province last weekend for its 35th edition and the International Fireworks Competition, known officially as L’International des Feux Loto-Québec, will keep the skyline lit this weekend as well.
When: Saturday, July 20
Time: 10 pm
Where: Old Montreal
Price: Free
Choir! Choir! Choir!
Just For Laughs
A community choir established in 2011, Toronto’s Choir! Choir! Choir! brings together an eclectic mix of baristas and suburban moms and dads for stirring, frequently viral performances – for free at Just For Laughs.
Nobu Adilman and Daveed Goldman, the founders, take a non-traditional approach; there are no auditions, and the audience is the choir.
It’s interactive theatre like you’ve never seen before.
When: Saturday, July 20
Time: 10 pm
Where: Loto-Quebec Stage
Price: Free
Cirque Du Soleil: Alegria
Alegria by Cirque du Soleil
The world-renowned Cirque du Soleil production will be at the Big Top all weekend.
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: Saturday, July 20
Time: 8 pm
Where: Big Top, Old Port – Jacques-Cartier Quay, de la Commune Street Est
Price: $150 – $412, available online
This Light Never Goes Out – Jim Carrey Exhibition
JimCarrey/Twitter
A new art exhibition featuring works from Jim Carrey is will be on display in Montreal all summer and this steamy weekend might be a good time to check out some art (and you know, air conditioning).
As part of the Phi Centre’s commitment to celebrating technology-based media, the arts centre will present the world premiere of This Light Never Goes Out, featuring over 50 of the actor’s works in an exhibition that will run from June 20 to September 1.
“Jim Carrey is known to most people as a comedic genius on the silver screen, but since 2016, his Twitter feed has been the canvas for a series of satirical and subversive cartoons, penned in response to headlining news,” reads the Phi Centre’s description.
Carrey’s cartoons weigh in on the American political right, focusing on many who are abusing their power in the United States.
When: Saturday, July 20
Time: 10 am – 10 pm
Where: Phi Centre, 315 St-Paul Ouest
Price: $12.40, available online
Stand Up Paddle Boarding – Parc Jean Drapeau
The St-Lawrence River is a gorgeous sight to look at and this weekend, it could be a gorgeous sight to stand on as well.
Lasalle KSF is a store that specializes in surfing, kayak, and paddleboarding and they are teaming up with Parc Jean-Drapeau to get you stand-up paddleboarding this summer.
This great way to stay active, and to be part of the historic River is offered in three different varieties: SUP (stand-up paddleboarding), SUP Yoga, and SUP Fitness.
Paddleboard rentals start at $20 an hour and $10 for each additional hour. They also offer wetsuits to rent for $7 as well as a group 10-rental deal for $150.
When: Saturday, July 20
Time: 10 am – 7 pm
Where: 350 Circuit Gilles Villesneuve, Parc Jean-Drapeau
Price: $20 – $56.50, based on activity chosen
Rachelle Elie: Lady Rash
Just For Laughs
Award-winning comedian, Rachelle Elie performs an hour of stand-up comedy. Her act fuses sex, drugs, and teenage boys while “she tackles it all with comedy magic and glitter.”
The Show Score from New York City claims, “Elie could easily have been the love child of Carol Burnett and Lenny Bruce.”
High praise.
When: Saturday, July 20
Time: 9 pm
Where: Scene Bell Zoofest Outdoor Stage
Price: Free
Parc Safari
Zoo/Shutterstock
Parc Safari opened its gates daily to their 47th season last month.
The park has over 500 animals, exciting rides, and fun activities to keep you going back all season long.
The park starts off with the “Safari Adventure” where guests can get close to exotic animals like never before. While driving to the main park entrance, the optional adventure path allows for the more docile but equally large animals to check you out in your car.
Oh, how the tables have turned.
Animals on the “Safari Adventure” include buffalo, zebras, llamas, gazelles, ostriches, deer, peacocks, and camels. You’re encouraged to feed and pet the animals during the low-speed trek and you’ll always want to keep your windshield wipers handy. Your car might get dirty but it’s worth it.
It’s not often you get to brag about llama saliva on your windshield.
When: Saturday, July 20
Time: 10 am – 5 pm
Where: 280 Rang Roxham, Hemmingford
Price: Prices vary depending on age. Tickets available at the entrance or online
Horos – A Virtual Voyage
HOROS by PHENOMENA VR Escape Game in Montreal from Phenomena on Vimeo.
Regular ‘real-life’ escape rooms are so 2018.
The Old Port is hosting “Horos” all summer, a free-roam virtual reality escape room that “blurs the lines between what is real and what is imaginary.”
Produced by AR/VR company Phenomena, the escape room blends interactive development with content creation and scenography, giving guests a “turnkey location-based experience.”
The VR voyage of Horos is a two-player immersive game that allows users to simultaneously walk freely in a virtual world which is synchronized to physical space.
When: Saturday, July 20
Time: 10 am – 10 pm
Where: Old Montreal (in front of the Science Center)
Price: $15, available online
Festival International Nuits d’Afrique
The 33rd 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 three-week festival, which sums up this weekend, hosts both indoor and outdoor shows of dancing and live music.
When: From now until July 22
Time: Various times through the month
Where: Parterre du Quartier des Spectacles
Price: Free admission
Fantasia International Film Festival
fantasiafestival/Instagram
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 the cinema community, including actors, directors, producers, studio reps, and distributors.
When: Saturday, July 20
Time: Varies according to screening
Where: Concordia University – 1455 Boulevard de Maisonneuve Ouest
Price: Varies according to screening
Shakespeare in the Park
Shakespeare by the Bow/Facebook
The untraditional rendition of Shakespeare returned at the beginning of the month and will run until August 11.
The long-running outdoor theatre event is celebrating its 31st year and takes on a Shakespearean classic this summer in the form of Measure for Measure.
When: Saturday, July 20
Time: 7 pm – 10 pm
Where: Park Extension, Jarry Park
Price: Free
The Ethnic Show – Just For Laughs
Just For Laughs
One of Just For Laughs’ most celebrated series, The Ethnic Show returned this summer, totalling 19 shows.
The Ethnic Show is hosted by the hilarious Latina comedian, Cristela Alonzo, who recently became the first Latina woman to create, produce, write and star in her own US primetime comedy, Cristela, according to Just for Laughs.
She’ll be joined by Gina Yashere and Lebanese-Canadian comedian Dave Merheje.
When: From now until July 25
Time: 7 pm and 9:30 pm
Where: Club Soda
Price:$59.61, available online
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