29 things to do in Montreal this September

Whether you’re heading back to school this month or looking forward to autumn and sweater weather, Montreal is boasting a great selection of stuff to check out this September as the last official month of summer rolls in.

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• A local’s guide to Montreal neighbourhoods

Stand Up Paddle Boarding – Parc Jean Drapeau

The St-Lawrence River is a gorgeous sight to look at and it’ll 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.

When: September 1 and 2
Time: 10 am – 7 pm
Where: 350 Circuit Gilles Villesneuve, Parc Jean-Drapeau
Price: $20 – $56.50, based on activity chosen

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 September early heat in style!

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

Gardens of Light

As it does every fall, the Botanical Garden will shine bright with thousands of lights as the annual Gardens of Light returns from September 6 to October 31.

Espace pour la vie invites everyone to discover the cultural riches of the three gardens along an illuminated pathway in its flagship autumn event.

The venue is split up into three gardens: The Chinese Garden, the First Nations Garden, and the Japanese Garden.

When: September 6 to October 31
Time: 9 am – 9 pm (Sunday – Thursday), 9 am – 10 pm (Friday – Sunday)
Where: Botanical Garden, 4101 rue Sherbrooke Est
Price: $8 – $16, available online

Egyptian Mummies: Exploring Ancient Lives

A handful of mummies will be continuing their world tour when they cozy up to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts for a few months, starting in September.

The exhibition, Egyptian Mummies: Exploring Ancient Lives, will be the mummies’ first North American exposition, following “tremendous success in Australia, Hong Kong and Taiwan,” according to the MMFA.

As per the press release, the British Museum has reconstructed the lives of six individuals who lived along the Nile from about 900 BC to AD 180.

If one of them gets up and starts haunting you, however, that’s NOT part of the exhibition.

When: September 14 to February 2, 2020
Time: TBA
Where: Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, 380, Sherbrooke Street O,
Price: TBA

PIZZA FEST Montreal

A pizza festival is on its way to Montreal this September, to cap off the summer with a slice.

From September 11 to 24, dozens of restaurants around the city will take part in the festival before one spot is crowned the tasty winner of Montreal’s PIZZA FEST.

If you’re into the classics, all-dressed, just cheese, pepperoni and cheese, or you like your pizza with a bit more spunk, Pizza Fest will have you covered.

Visit the PIZZA FEST website for a full list of participating spots.

When: September 11 – 24
Time: Varies per location
Where: Spread out throughout Montreal
Price: Varies per selected pizza

Carly Rae Jepsen – MTELUS

BC’s Carly Rae Jepsen has announced a new Canadian tour for this summer and she’s swinging by Montreal’s MTELUS on September 12.

In total, the Mission native will hit 12 cities across the country during the almost month-long tour.

Jepsen’s latest tour announcement comes on the heels of the release of Jepsen’s fourth album Dedicated, which includes the singles “Party For One,” “Now That I Found You,” “Julien,” and “Too Much.”

Jepsen is best known for her hit “Call Me Maybe,” which climbed to #1 on the iTunes Singles charts in over 47 countries, has sold over 20 million singles worldwide and is certified Diamond in the United States.

When: Thursday, September 12
Time: 8 pm
Where: MTEUS, 59 rue Ste. Catherine
Price: $43.75 – $200.90, available online

Art Tattoo Montreal

Mid-September is brining a whole bunch of ink with it to Montreal.

The 17th edition of the Art Tattoo Montreal convention is on its way to the Gare Windsor from September 13 to 15 featuring more than 200 artists of all styles from around the world.

Guests can also take this opportunity to add some ink to your tattoo collection as artists will be available on site.

When: September 13 to 15
Time: 6 pm – midnight (Friday), 12 pm – 11 pm (Saturday) and 12 pm – 7 pm (Sunday)
Where: Gare Windsor, Montreal
Price: $20 for one day entry and $50 for the entire weekend, available at the door

Comedy Crowd OFF

If you’ve ever sweated through a stand-up comedy show while sitting in the front row, the tables may have now turned in your favour.

Comedy Crowd OFF, a new comedy club in downtown Montreal, encourages audience members to heckle the comics, rewarding the best chirpers with a prize at the end of the night.

“Use all those comebacks you thought of in the shower and lead your table to victory,” reads the Comedy Crowd OFF Facebook page. The venue continues to describe ‘heckling’ as to interrupt or harass a stand-up comedian during a performance. Heckling is done through the means of yelling, jeering, and roasting.

When: September 5 and 19
Time: 8:30 pm
Where: Kenoh Bar, 1431B rue Bishop
Price: $5 admission

Nuit Blanche at La Ronde

As if amusement parks aren’t scary enough, La Ronde is hosting an all-night, after-hours party in September.

Instead of its usual daytime hours, La Ronde will be open from 9 pm to 5 am so you can scream, ride, and party without that pesky sun in celebration of La Nuit Blanche.

La Ronde’s concession stands and arcade games will remain open and the site will host a variety of DJs that include: Prince Paris, Poirier, Domeno, Miss Shelton, Tizi, Kleancut, Carl Muren, Marshalls, Castnowski, and Forrest.

When: Friday, September 20
Time: 9 pm – 5 am
Where: La Ronde
Price:  $46.99, available online

Oktoberfest Montreal

Old Montreal is about to welcome a whole lot of Oktober in September.

A “traditional Oktoberfest evening” in a giant Bavarian-style tent is on its way to The Quai Alexandra for a night of Schuhplattler dancing, authentic German eats, and of course steins full of beer on September 20 as part of Oktoberfest Montreal.

When: September 20
Time: 5 pm – 11 pm
Where: Quai Alexandra, Old Montreal
Price: $65 – $2,500, available online

Céline Dion – Bell Centre

Céline Dion is coming home.

For the first time in over a decade, the Quebecois superstar’s heart will go on tour across North America.

The 51-year-old singer will play more than 50 cities across Canada and the United States, starting in Quebec City on September 18 and 20.

Dion will then head to Montreal for a few shows, including stops on September 26, 27, and 30.

The tour will coincide with the release of her new album “Courage” later in 2019.

When: September 26, 27 and 30
Time: 7:30 pm
Where: Bell Centre, 1909-avenue-des-Canadiens-de-Montreal
Price: $175.50 – $300.75, available online

Comedy at the Art Loft

Comedy at the Art Loft is the hottest underground comedy 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 is usually packed with people. It feels like a college part, except a comedian is slinging jokes into a microphone.

The hosts, headliners, and featured acts change weekly and we’ll be sure to keep you up to date.

The venue features a DJ and snacks. BYOB and it’s 420 friendly. Very 420 friendly.

When: September 6, 13, 20 and 27
Time: Doors open at 9 pm, show starts at 10:30 pm
Where: 4152 Boulevard Saint Laurent
Price: $10 at the door (cash only)

Bowling – Forum Sports Bar

Strike some bowling off your list this month.

The Forum Sports Bar hosts 16 lanes of 10-pin bowling for $5 a game every Tuesday and Wednesday (tax and shoes included).

You also can’t go wrong with the giant square bar, arcade games, and TV screens.

When: September 3,4,10,11,17,18,24, and 25
Time: 11 am – 1 am
Where: 2313 rue Ste. Catherine
Price: $5 per game, shoe rental included

Scotiabank Cheapie Tuesday Movie Night

Scotiabank offers $7 general admission tickers every Tuesday at their downtown location.

September is a great month for movies, especially for under $10. Check out Spider-Man: Far From Home, The Lion King, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Night Hunter, Ad Astra, Rambo: Last Blood, and so much more.

They also have deals on snack combos. Can you honestly say no to that popcorn smell?

When: September 3, 10, 17, and 24
Time: Varies depending on selection
Where: 977 Rue Saint-Catherine Ouest
Price: General admission starts at $7

Haunted Red Light Ghost Walk

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

Who knows, you might even see a ghost.

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.

The tour takes place at what is currently known as the Quartier des Spectacles, known for its festivals and entertainment. But Secret Montreal takes its guests on a historical journey of another form of entertainment.

When: September 6, 13, 20, and 27
Time: 8:30 pm – 10 pm
Where: 1219 Boulevard Saint Laurent
Price: $26.50, available online

This Light Never Goes Out

Jim Carrey’s art exhibition, which has been on display all summer, concludes this month.

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.

His work combines the Ontario native’s artistic talent with strong social messages, demonstrating how creative civic engagement can influence political debates, as per the Phi Centre.

When: From now until September 8
Time: 10 am – 9 pm (Tuesday – Thursday), 10 am – 10 pm (Friday & Saturday), 10 am – 7 pm (Sundays)
Where: Phi Centre, 315 St-Paul Ouest
Price: $12.40, available online

HUM(AIN) – We Could Be Human: A Learning Machine

It seems like Siri has some SIRIous competition as a new art exhibition in Montreal features an AI robot that learns from visitors the more it interacts with them.

As part of musician David Usher’s Hum(ai)n exhibition, a digital character named Ophelia will be speaking with humans all summer. This interaction will help to evolve her cognitive state.

When: From now until September 15
Time: 10 am – 8 pm
Where: Phi Centre, 407 Saint-Pierre
Price:$21.97 – $25.50, available online