12 things to do in Montreal today: Sunday, June 30

This Sunday has some extra weight behind it. Because, it’s still technically a Saturday and there’s enough events going on in the city today, June 30, to make it feel that way.

See also

• 44 FREE things worth checking out in Montreal this July
• Montreal's massive sidewalk sale returns to Ste. Catherine Street from July 12 to 14
• What to watch on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Crave and CBC Gem in July
• DAVIDsTEA is giving out FREE tea over Canada Day weekend

Tam-Tams

Tam-Tams returned to the city this 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, June 30
Time: 12 pm until sunset
Where: Sir George-Etienne Cartier Monument
Price: Free

Piknic Electronik

Piknic Electronik returns for its eighth 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, June 30
Time: 2 pm – 9:30 pm
Where: Parc Jean Drapeau
Tickets: $16, available online

Mamma Mia!

Just For Laughs invites guests to travel under Greece’s hot sun with the international musical sensation Mamma Mia!

The enchanting tale brings together the biggest hits of ABBA at the timeless Theatre St-Denis.

When: Sunday, June 30
Time: 2 pm and 7 pm
Where: Theatre St-Denis
Price: $52.50, available online

Mtl en Arts

Entering its 20th edition, Mtl en Art targets Montrealers and tourists in what they call “the largest open-air exhibition in Eastern Canada.”

The art fest will extend through a one-kilometre stretch of Montreal’s famous Ste-Catherine Street which will be completely closed off to vehicular traffic.

The festival aims to further promote and develop the concept of art in the street and in public spaces.

When: From now until July 1
Time: 11 am – 8:30 pm (Monday until 6 pm)
Where: 576 Rue St-Catherine Est
Price: Ste-Catherine between St-Hubert and Papineau

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.

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, June 30
Time: 10 am – 6 pm
Where: Place des Vestiges, Old Port
Price: Prices vary depending on selected activities, tickets online

Leonard Cohen Mural

Crescent Street’s iconic Leonard Cohen mural is lit.

Actually.

On Wednesday, 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, June 30
Time: 24/7
Where: Crescent Street
Price: Free

PY1 – Through the Echoes

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, June 30
Time: Varies
Where: Montreal’s Old Port
Price: $28.50 – $51, available online

La Ronde

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

When: Sunday, June 30
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

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, June 30
Time: 9 am – 10 pm
Where: Quai de l’Horloge, Old Montreal
Price: Free

Give Peace A Chance – The Exhibition

From May 26 to June 2 of 1969, The Queen Elizabeth Hotel welcomed John Lennon and Yoko Ono for their famous Bed-in for Peace.

In honour of the couple’s 50th anniversary of the famous bed-in, the hotel’s lobby will transform into a showroom that showcases photos and guest testimonials pulled from the book, “Give Peace a Chance: John and Yoko’s Bed-in for Peace” by Joan Athey and photographer Gerry Deiter.

Deiter was the only photojournalist covering the 1969 event.

The free exhibition will be on display until October 9, Lennon’s birthday. Visitors are encouraged to share peace vows on their social networks with the hashtags #bedin50 and #givepeaceachance.

When: From now until October 9
Time: 8 am – 10 pm
Where: Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth Hotel, 900 René-Lévesque Boulevard Ouest
Price: Free

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 and it’s only gotten bigger since.

The 39th edition of the festival features over 500 artists from all over the world who will perform over 150 shows during a three-week span.

The streets are completely closed off to traffic and the festival is full of music-hungry fans. Some specific shows cost money to enter but the majority of the shows, both indoor and outdoor, are free.

When: From now until July 6
Time: Varying times
Where: Quartier des Specatcles
Price: Free admission to the site

Bal en Blanc

Bal en Blanc, the huge all-nighter rave party returned this weekend where guests are asked to completely get decked out in white. The three-day party concluded today, featuring thousands of people and world-renowned DJs spinning tunes.

When: Sunday, June 30
Time: 9 pm – 5 am
Where: New City Gas
Price: $49- $179, available online