14 things to do in Montreal today: Sunday, July 7

From a circus festival, comiccon, a food festival, the usual Tams, and everything in between, here is what’s happening around town today, July 7.

See also

• Montrealer who speaks 19 languages dubbed Canada's 'most multilingual' student
• Feds announce $1.3B investment towards Montreal's Blue line metro expansion
• A hashtag has been set up to say goodbye to the old Champlain Bridge (PHOTOS)
• Parc Jean Drapeau's Aquatic Complex is now open every day for the summer

Tam-Tams

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Tam-Tams returned to the city last month and the iconic party keeps up its weekly trek on Sunday.

Tams, the weekly outdoor party at the base of the mountain, is a perfect summary of Montreal, open to both locals and tourists.

The magical outdoor bash is where Montrealers from far and wide, gather in Parc Mont Royal for an afternoon of food, vendors, fun, music, and maybe even a couple of beers and some smoking (shhh, don’t tell anyone).

When: Sunday, July 7
Time: 12 pm until sunset
Where: Sir George-Etienne Cartier Monument
Price: Free

Piknic Electronik

Piknic Electronik

Piknic Electronik returns for its ninth edition of 2019 this weekend.

Piknic is an outdoor electric music dance festival featuring DJs and artists from all over the world. There are obviously good tunes, but there’s also good food, good drinks, and plenty of activities to keep you going. Best of all – the show goes on rain or shine.

When: Sunday, July 7
Time: 2 pm – 9:30 pm
Where: Parc Jean Drapeau
Tickets: $16, available online

Montreal Comiccon

Comiccon/Shutterstock

Join hundreds of artists, celebrities, and actors at the localized genre festival for pictures, autographs, workshops and Q&As. Comiccon is headlined by Harry Potter’s Tom Felton, Elijah Wood, George St-Pierre, William Shatner, Robert Sheehan, and so many more.

When: Sunday, July 7
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 $69 – $229

LA RUE COMPLÈTEMENT CiRQUE

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Some of Montreal’s streets are about to turn into an open-air circus ring.

Entering its first weekend, The Montreal Circus Festival, known as LA RUE COMPLÈTEMENT CiRQUE, will use the streets, parks, and sidewalks of the Quartier des Spectacles as stages to showcase colourful, high-flying performances.

The festival includes tightrope walkers, trapeze art, balancing and trampoline acts, fire art, jugglers, gymnastics, live music, human pyramids, and participatory activities for all ages as these master street performers use the urban landscape as their stages.

When: From now until July 14
Time: Varying times
Where: Quartier de Spectacles
Price: Free admission

Voiles en Voiles

Voiles en Voiles/Facebook

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.

As the obstacle course gears up for its final stretch run, check out the 61 different activities between the Royal Ship and the Pirate Ship. Activities include zip lining, rock climbing, and bouncy castles.

When: Sunday, July 7
Time: 10 am – 6 pm
Where: Place des Vestiges, Old Port
Price: Prices vary depending on selected activities, tickets online

Leonard Cohen Mural

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Crescent Street’s iconic Leonard Cohen mural is lit.

Actually.

Last week, the 8,500-square-metre mural, Tower of Songs, that pays tribute to the late singer-songwriter was lit up with four projectors.

Though the newly lit mural is expected to be a mainstay on Crescent Street, head over to snap some pictures before everyone else does.

When: Sunday, July 7
Time: 24/7
Where: Crescent Street
Price: Free

PY1 – Through the Echoes

py1_experience/Instagram

The first-of-its-kind pyramid-shaped entertainment venue, PY1, created by Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté opened to the public this month and will continue its strong showing this weekend as well.

The innovative venue will offer a multi-sensory experience, state-of-the-art technology and “a unique playground” for multimedia entertainment combining high tech with the talent of the greatest digital creators.

The PY1 experience is slated to make its worldwide debut with Through the Echoes, a show produced exclusively for the pyramid, on June 1, located near the Clock Tower grounds in the Old Port.

When: Sunday, July 7
Time: Varies
Where: Montreal’s Old Port
Price: $28.50 – $51, available online

Festival of India

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La Ronde

La Ronde – PAGE OFFICIELLE/Facebook

Quebec’s biggest amusement park opened last month and it’s sure to be busy this weekend as well.

Try battling The Goliath, get rocked on Le Ednor or check out the park’s newest ride, Chaos.

When: Sunday, July 7
Where: 22 Chemin Macdonald
When: 10:30 am – 8 pm (11:30 pm during the fireworks)
Price: Available online or at the box office

Montreal Clock Tower

Old Port of Montreal

The Montreal Clock Tower (Tour de l’Horloge) is now open to the general public so get ready to climb some steps to get your Instagram game buzzing.

The 45-metre-high tower, built in 1922, marks the entrance to the Old Port and pays tribute to the sailors lost at sea in wartime.

According to the Vieux-Port de Montreal website, the clock mechanism was made in England and is a replica of London’s Big Ben. “Like Big Ben,” reads the page, “its accuracy is legendary, and sailors would set their own timepieces by it.”

When: Sunday, July 7
Time: 9 am – 10 pm
Where: Quai de l’Horloge, Old Montreal
Price: Free

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

julienhuon/Instagram

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

Le Lave-Auto

CNW Group/Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc.

MURAL Fest may be done, but this art installation is here for keeps.

A Montreal car wash has undergone a complete transformation as part of the seventh edition of the street art festival.

World-renowned urban artist Joshua Vides, who is known for making real-life 3D objects appear as simple 2D black and white sketches, applied his signature treatment to a Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Lave-Auto Laurier, 40-year-old car wash at the corner of Saint-Urbain and Laurier.

It’s totally Instagram worthy.

When: Sunday, July 7
Where: 85 Avenue Laurier Ouest
Time: 8 am – 6 pm (until 7 pm on Thursday – Sunday)
Price: Free

Aquazilla

Parc Jean Drapeau

Parc Jean Drapeau is brining Montrealers another challenge this summer: staying afloat.

Aquazilla, the floating obstacle course on water, is returning to the man-made island again this summer as it preps to launch (maybe literally) on June 19.

The 30-by-35 metre inflatable structure is combined with obstacles, slides, and platforms. 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), trampoline, climbing towers, a variety of slides, monkey bars, a giant swing, a plank, flip bags, and an infinite loop.

When: From now until August 25
Time: 10 am – 7 pm
Where: Parc Jean Drapeau
Price: Ages six to 13 years: $13 for an hour/$25 unlimited, 14 and over: $15 for an hour/$28 unlimited, family deal: $50 f0r an hour, $98 unlimited (tickets available on-site)

Parc Safari

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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: Sunday, July 7
Time: 10 am – 5 pm
Where: 280 Rang Roxham, Hemmingford
Price: Prices vary depending on age. Tickets available at the entrance or online