22 things to do in Montreal this week: August 9 to 15

Aug 9 2021, 9:26 pm

We don’t need to start the “oh boy, summer is already almost over” conversation just yet, but we’re getting close.

As we inch towards the halfway point of August (ALREADY?!), here is a bunch of stuff worth checking out across Montreal from now until August 15.

From hot air balloons, sneakers, Pride, fireworks, and everything in between, keep this on your Montreal radar this week.

Just be sure to keep cool, as it’s supposed to get hot in town this week.

Pride March

The MontrĂ©al Pride Festival’s flagship event is returning in person this weekend.

On August 15, the Pride March will return to the city, a year after taking a hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

MontrĂ©al Pride Celebrations say the public is invited to assemble at 12 pm at Jeanne-Mance Park for “one of the first physical gatherings in support of the 2SLGBTQI+ communities since the beginning of the pandemic.”

The organization says participants will be marching along a new route this summer to adapt to the current health context in the city and follow all COVID-19 protocols.

Under the theme “Together for All,” this year’s Pride March will have no vehicles, floats, or contingents and will be focusing all the attention on “the voices and opinions of our sexually and gender-diverse communities,” says FiertĂ© MontrĂ©al Pride.

When: Sunday, August 15
Time:
1 pm – 4 pm
Where:
Parc Jeanne-Mance
Price:
Free

Ciel en FĂȘte

This weekend, look up at the sky. It won’t be a bird, nor a plane, and it won’t even be Superman. It’ll be dozens of hot air balloons.

Saint Jean-sur-Richelieu continues to host the Ciel en FĂȘte festival every weekend in August. The festival features dozens of hot air balloons from across Quebec, filling the skies with vibrant colours and mesmerizing sights.

When: August 14-15, 21-22, and 28-29
Time: Varies per weekend and event
Where: Parc du Centre-de-Plein-Air-Ronald-Beauregard: 93 Rue Towner, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu
Price: Free

Mini Fireworks

 

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Fireworks are usually synonymous with Montreal’s summer, but the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a bite out of the traditional summertime fest.

La Ronde is doing its best to light up the skies in some capacity though.

Every Saturday the amusement park is working with L’International des Feux Loto-QuĂ©bec to bring a “mini fireworks festival” to a different borough of the island.

You have to follow a La Ronde Six Flags social media channel to find out when and where this week’s display will take place, a decent trade-off for free fireworks.

When: Saturday, August 14
Time: TBD
Where: TBD
Price: Free

Go gorilla art hunting

There’s some monkey business going around in Verdun lately.

For the rest of the summer, the king of the jungle has moved into an alleyway on Wellington Street and it’s totally photo worthy.

When: From now until September 12
Time: 24/7
Where: Alleyway behind Bar Palco

Super Aqua Club

 

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With a name like that, you better believe that Super Aqua Club has it all. The park is headlined by the Tornado, a water slide higher than a seven-story building, and the Wipe Zone, a giant obstacle course that tries to knock you into the water.

With the heatwave looming, this week might be the perfect time to tackle the aqua club.

The super park also has a lazy river, a private beach, and a kids’ area.

Twenty of the park’s 24 attractions are open and the park has “implemented new hygiene, cleaning, and disinfection measures that meet those recommended by the National Institute of Public Health to ensure the safety of our visitors and employees.”

When: August 9 – 15
Time: 10 am – 6:30 pm
Where: 322, Montée de la Baie, Pointe-Calumet
Price: $25.22 – $41.75, rates vary depending on height

THE INFINITE

THE INFINITE is a new, groundbreaking virtual reality multi-sensory exhibition that takes guests on a journey aboard the International Space Station.

Freely explore a life-sized reproduction of the ISS in virtual reality as if you were there. Using several different mediums (VR, augmented reality, and projections), the exhibit offers “exceptional realism in an experience that lasts 60 minutes,” says the Centre PHI.

Go to space without having to leave Earth. Great deal.

When: From now until November 7
Times: Friday to Sunday, 10 am – 8 pm; Tuesday to Thursday, 10 am – 7 pm
Address: Arsenal Contemporary Art Montreal – 2020, rue William
Price: $10 – $40 (from Tuesday to Thursday), $12 – $50 (Friday to Sunday)

Aquazilla

 

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With the hot weather in line for this week, why not tackle some refreshing water?

Aquazilla is a 30-by-35 meters inflatable structure that’s made of slides, platforms, wiggle bridges, trampolines, monkey bars, and flip bags atop the water.

If the weather is too hot for you and you want a little more excitement than a traditional pool, give Aquazilla a try.

When: Every day until August 22
Time: 11 am – 6 pm
Where: Jean Doré Beach
Price: $12 to $15

The Canadian Railway Museum (Exporail)

 

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Did you know the largest railway museum is just outside of Montreal?

Featuring a collection of 188 vehicles and trains, this museum in Saint-Constant will be offering free admission this weekend, as they do on the first Sunday of every month.

Alllllllll aboard!

When: August 9 – 15
Times: 10 am – 5 pm
Address: 110 Rue St Pierre, Saint-Constant
Price: $12.75 – $21.20, available online and on-site

Sneakpeak

 

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Here’s some good news for the sole soul of shoe enthusiasts in Montreal: a giant sneaker convention is kicking off in the city this weekend.

Sneakpeak Universe says the event will be the biggest pop culture convention in Canada.

In an email shared with Daily Hive, Sneakpeak Founder Yohan Rebboh says attendees will be able to buy, sell, and trade items such as sneakers, apparel, and accessories.

When: Saturday, August 14
Time: 12 pm – 7 pm
Where: 8500 Boulevard Décarie

Barbie Expo

 

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Montreal is home to the Barbie Expo, the largest permanent collection of Barbie dolls in the world.

Guests have the chance to see and snap pics of over 1,000 one-of-a-kind Barbie dolls, all dressed by the city’s leading fashion designers.

When: Daily
Time:
 Friday, 10 am to 9 pm; Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm; Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm
Where: 1455 Rue Peel
Price: Free admission

Musee Grevin

Musee Grevin is Montreal’s very own version of Madame Tussaud’s in London. A wax museum hidden inside Centre Eaton, Musee Grevin will have you snapping pics of all your favourite celebrities.

The museum has creepily similar figurines of George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Michael Jackson, Charlie Chaplin, and so many more.

With an SQDC location easily walkable, you could turn this excursion into a real trip.

When: Daily
Time:
Monday – Saturday, 10 am – 6 pm; Sunday, 11 am – 5 pm
Where: Centre Eaton de Montréal, 705 Rue Sainte-Catherine
Price: $13.60 – $1

Tonga Lumina

 

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Slumbering giants have awoken at the top of Mont Tremblant, and a mountainside tour will allow you to go search for them.

Featuring a night-time walk that’s lit up by Quebec’s Moment Factory, the tree is full of sights and sounds that will transport you to a mythical adventure.

When: From now until October 16
Time: 10 pm
Where: 1000 Chemin des Voyageurs, Mont-Tremblant
Price:
Starts at $12.50, available online

ECOSYSTEM

We’ve spent a lot of time inside over the past 15 months, and now you can spend it underwater.

Sort of.

A new exhibition at the Society for Arts & Technology (SAT) offers guests a calming and trippy dive into a seabed, offering a soundscape we don’t often get to hear from the immersive venue of the Satosphere — a 360-degree dome with a spherical panoramic projection screen 13 metres high.

It’s like a movie theatre on steroids.

When: From now until August 21
Time: 5 pm – 6:30 pm – 8 pm
Where: Satosphere, SAT – 1201 St Laurent Boulevard
Price: $20, available online

CosmodĂŽme

 

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CosmodĂŽme is a space science museum and education centre in Laval. If you want to learn about the infinitely expanding universe, give it a go.

When: Daily
Time: 10 am – 5 pm
Where: 2150 Laurentian Autoroute, Lava
Price: $5 (free for children under 6)

DodgeBow Archery

Have you ever felt like shooting a friend with a bow and arrow? Because you totally can (completely safely).

DodgeBow, the only one of its kind in Montreal, is exactly what it sounds like — dodgeball fused with bow and arrows. They have a wide variety of activities, all of which include running around with a bow and arrow. Accuracy and agility put to the test!

When: Daily
Time: 9 am – 9 pm
Where: 4767 Dagenais Street
Price: Starts at $25.95, available online

iSaute

iSaute is a massive venue that has over 30 giant trampolines, trampoline basketball, wall climbing, and a trampoline jungle gym. You pay by the hour and literally jump around. It’s actually a fantastic workout and a soaring good time for the kids.

It’s fun for all ages.

When: Daily
Time: Monday – Thursday, 9 am – 9 pm, ; Friday – Saturday, 9 am – 11 pm; Sunday, 9 am – 8 pm
Where: 3220 Jean Yves, Kirkland
Price: $18 – $25, available online and in-person

BiodĂŽme Montreal

 

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After being closed for more than two years for renovations (and a pandemic), the BiodÎme de Montréal is finally reopened.

Using some elements from Biodîme’s original 1976 design, guests can now observe the birds in the Tropical Rainforest from treetop level, enter a beaver lodge, and really experience what subpolar cold feels like – just like the penguins.

Walk through replicas of four ecosystems found in the Americas without even leaving the island.

When: Daily
Time: 9 am – 6 pm
Where: 4777 Pierre-de Coubertin Avenue
Price: $16.50 – $21.50, available online

Voiles en Voiles

 

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Ahoy matey!

Channel your inner Jack Sparrow and climb through giant pirate ships in Old Montreal as part of a high-flying obstacle course.

When: Every day until September
Time: 10 am – 6 pm
Where: Place des Vestiges, Old Montreal
Price: $19 to $54 per person, depending on the type of swashbuckling adventure you choose.

Clock Tower Beach

 

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If the weather bodes well this week, check out Old Montreal’s free beach. Parasols, beach chairs, and a gorgeous view of Montreal — you can’t go wrong.

When: Every day this summer
Time: 11 am – 7 pm
Where: 1 Clock Tower Quay
Price: Free

Parc Safari

 

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Lions, tigers, and bears — oh my!

Parc Safari is up and running for the spring and summer season for anyone looking to get off-island and check out a slew of exotic animals, including zebras, elephants, big cats, hyenas, deer, and more.

They also have live shows and amusement park rides.

When: From now until September
Time: 10 am – 6:30 pm
Where: 242, Rang, Roxham Road, Lacolle
Price:
$16 to $41, available online

Tyrolienne MTL Zipline

 

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Take a zip across Old Montreal.

For a smooth $19.99, zip across the Old Port and take in seriously breathtaking views of the Montreal skyline.

When: Every day until September
Time: 11 am – 9 pm
Where: Hangar 16, 363 Rue de la Commune Est
Price:
$19.99

Stand Up Paddleboarding

 

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Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) literally puts you on top of the Saint Lawrence River. You can surf, trek down the river, do yoga or workouts, fish, and much more.

SUP is a full-body workout and a great way to soak up the summer and the refreshing river.

When: From now until September
Time: Varies per selection
Where: KSF LaSalle & KSF Parc Jean-Drapeau
Price: $45 – $70, varies per selection

DH Montreal StaffDH Montreal Staff

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