Regardless if you celebrate today, September 22, as the official end of summer or as the start of fall, we’ve put together a list of 15 fun things happening in Montreal today.
See you in 2019, summer.
Gardens of Light
Montreal’s botanical gardens has finally lit up the magical Gardens of Light Festival for the season.
The lantern festival includes a lighted path through the Botanical Garden’s three cultural gardens, The Chinese, Japanese and First Nations Gardens, all looking at nature from a different perspective.
When: From now until October 31
Time: 6 pm – 9 pm (until 10 pm on Fridays and Saturdays)
Where: Montreal’s Botanical Gardens
Price: $10.25 – $20.50
Gothfest
The biggest gothic festival in the province returns for its 3rd edition today. Headliners include Ashbreather, The Braineaters, Projekt F, Toxic Aeon and Sanguine Glacialis.
The two-day festival takes place at the COOP KATACOMBES, how fitting.
When: September 22 and 23
Time: 6:30 pm
Where: COOP KATACOMBES – 1635 Boulevard Saint Laurent
Price: $20, available at the door
Pizza Fest
Grab a slice of everyone’s favourite comfort food as 50 participating restaurants in Montreal will create their own, unique take on the dish.
At the end of the 13-day festival, one place will be crowned the tasty winner of Montreal’s Pizza Fest.
Visit the Pizza Fest for a full list of participating restaurants.
When: From now until September 24
Time: Varies per location
Where: Spread out throughout Montreal
Price: Varies per selected pizza
The Good Times Writing Workshop
Playwright and filmmaker Alain Mercieca is hosting a writer’s workshop today where students create, produce, and dissect the ancient literary form. All types of writing are welcome as the workshop is a great way to finish a project or start a new one.
When: Saturday, September 22
Time: 2 pm – 5 pm
Where: Le Nouveau Studio – 137 Rue St. Ferdinand
Price: Free
Oktoberfest Montreal
A traditional Oktoberfest evening is coming to the Old Port on Saturday. The evening will be set in a giant tent that will include Schuhplattler dancers, a Bavarian band, authentic German grub, dancing and oh right, beer.
A portion of the proceeds will go to the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation.
When: Saturday, September 22
Time: 6 pm – 1 am
Where: Old Port – Jetée Alexandra
Price: $35
World Press Photo Exhibition
The 13th annual World Press Photo Exhibition in Montreal showcases some of the most prestigious photographs from around the world. This year, 73,500 photos from 125 different countries will headline the exhibition.
When: Saturday, September 22
Time: 10 am – 12 am
Where: Marché Bonsecours – 325 de la Commune East
Price: $11 for students, $14 general admission, free for kids under 12
Red Bull Music Festival
Continuing their tradition from New York, Paris and Tokyo, coupled with the success of last year’s music school, the Red Bull Music Festival is coming to Montreal this weekend.
The festival will offer diverse programming, unique shows and live performances in unconventional venues and tonight’s headlining show is ’10 Years of Arbutus Records.
When: From now until September 27
Time: Various times
Where: Various venues around Montreal
Price: $10-$25
Buddha Bazaar
The Buddha Bazaar invites guest to slip away into a zen atmosphere through a metaphysical indoor market with over 30 spiritual artists.
Events include Reiki massages, sound healing, yoga, crystals, and tarot readings.
When: Saturday, September 22
Time: 10 am – 8 pm
Where: Nutopia Holistic Centre Holistique – 7378 Rue Lajeunesse
Price: Free
Oasis International Marathon
Why not burn off some of this summer’s unwanted burgers?
The Oasis International Marathon is the largest running event in Quebec. Registration is open for a marathon, a half marathon, and the 1 km, 5 km and 10km races. A little something for everyone.
When: September 22 and 23
Time: Varies per course
Where: Varies per course
Price: $33.99 – $143.99 depending on selected course
Streetlight Manifesto Concert
Streetlight Manifesto is an American Brass Rock band from New Jersey formed in 2002. They released their first album, Everything Goes Numb in 2003.
Streetlight is a reiteration of the 90s ska band, Catch 22 and they will be bringing the punk, ska and rock to Olympia on Saturday.
When: Saturday, September 22
Time: 8 pm – 11 pm
Where: Olympia – 1004 Ste. Catherine Est
Price: $32.75 online or $35.25 at the door
Shuttle Bus to Yamaska National Park
Parkbus is offering free shuttle services from downtown Montreal to Yamaska National Park on Saturday.
Yamaska is located in La Haute in the Montérégie region of Quebec, northeast of Granby. Its hilly landscape hosts creeks, mountain trails, and breathtaking open spaces. The majority of the land is forested and boasts over 40 tree species including maple, fir, eastern hemlock, grey birch, and basswood. Not to mention a library of wildlife and birds.
The shuttle will depart every Saturday from the Montreal Tourism Info Centre on Rue Metcalfe. It leaves twice in the morning with two returns in the afternoon.
When: Saturday, September 22
Time: 8 am and 6 pm
Where: Montreal Tourism Info Centre
Price: Free
What the Pop!
What the Pop! is a festival that spotlights over 50 emerging artists from all over Quebec from a variety of different art forms.
Along with live musical performances, the festival hosts original art pieces, dance troops, ceramics, jewellery, clothing shops and writing and painting workshops.
Visit What the Pop! website for a full list of scheduled events.
When: September 22 and 23
Time: 6 pm – 10 pm
Where: Eastern Bloc – 7240 Rue Clark
Price: Varies per artist
SERVE Beach Volleyball Tournament
McGill Students for DueNORTH are hosting their second annual SERVE Volleyball Tournament on Saturday.
Jeanne-Mance Park will feature music, food, refreshments, frisbee, football and the big tournament.
A maximum of 16 teams are registered for the tournament, all games are 6 versus 6 in a round robin format.
Prizes will be rewarded to winning teams as well as random guests. The event is to raise money to provide hot breakfast for hundreds of students in Nunavut.
Hopeful teams can sign up here and free agents, here.
When: Saturday, September 22
Time: 12 pm – 5 pm
Where: Jeanne-Mance Park
Price: Free to watch, $150 per team to play
Haunted Mountain
Haunted Montreal conducts Ghost Walks and carries out research into ghost sightings, paranormal activities, historic hauntings, unexplained mysteries, and strange legends from Mont Royal.
Join a tour conducted by professional actors and storytellers and learn about the mountain’s frightening past.
When: Saturday, September 22
Time: 8:30 pm
Where: Fletcher’s Field – Jeanne Mance Park
Price: $23
Dance Party 2000
DJs Thomas Leblanc and David Rancourt are bringing all the best 2000 hits to Bar Le Ritz on Saturday. Expect all the classics from Fall Out Boy, Panic! at the Disco, Sugar Ray, Dr. Dre, OutKast, Smash Mouth, Avril Lavigne, The Hives, Eminem, Ja Rule, The White Stripes and so many more.
Organizers advise to show up early as their last Dance Party 2000 sold out within an hour. Everybody loves nostalgic dancing.
When: Saturday, September 22
Time: 11 pm – 3 am
Where: Bar Le Ritz PDB
Price: $5 before midnight, $10 after
See also
- A frightening Zombie Walk takes over the streets of Montreal next month (PHOTOS)
- Montreal marathon and Champlain Bridge closure will cause woeful weekend driving
- 22 pictures of Paul McCartney rocking a sold-out Bell Centre last night
- A non-tech guy's review: I've been using the new iPhone XS for the past 48 hours