May in Montreal always gives us summer vibes, so why not get a head start on the fun with these events.
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- 26 mesmerizing photos of the rainbow balls on Saint Catherine Street
- Montreal's beachside village returns this summer
- Check out Vance Joy in Montreal this June at the Bell Centre
From food trucks and dance parties to La Ronde, and Piknic Electronik, there are plenty of ways to make this May fantastic.
Check out 26 things to do in Montreal this May.
Stars on Ice
From standing on top of the podiums with a pair of gold medals to announcing their lack of dating on Ellen, Canada’s favourite dynamic duo has had no shortage of unforgettable moments. Now, they’ll be bringing their jaw-dropping chemistry to Montreal. Canada’s very own Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir will be taking to the ice at the Bell Centre in Montreal as part of the Stars on Ice tour.
Where: Bell Centre, 1909 Avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal
When: May 2, doors open at 6 pm show begins at 7 pm
Tickets: Available online starting at $40
Montreal Sketchfest 2018
Montreal Sketchfest, the city’s biggest and longest celebration of sketch comedy, is returning for May 2018. In addition to over 60 groups and performers who call Montreal home, they’ll be joined by a handful of comedy groups from across the continent. Artists will be travelling from Seattle, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Toronto, New York, and Philadelphia to join a loaded roster of sketch comedy performances for the upcoming festival.
Where: Theatre Sainte-Catherine – 264 St. Catherine St. E, Montreal
When: May 3 to 12, 2018
Admission: Passes can be purchased online starting at $12.
Salon de la Passion Medievale
Take it way back to the 15h century because a huge medieval convention is coming to Montreal this May. From May 4 to 6, 2018, Pierre-Charbonneau Center will be taken over by knights, queens, and kings for the Salon de la Passion Medievale. This event will feature a plethora of Medieval activities including combat sports, treasure hunts, dragon hunting, and a masquerade costume competition.
Where: Centre Pierre Charbonneau, 3000 Viau St
When: May 4 to 6, 2018
Tickets: Available online
Food Truck Fridays
Olympic Stadium is known for their awesome events, with our personal favourite being The most glorious of days, First Fridays are a special kind of culinary event in which all of the city’s food trucks gather at Olympic Stadium.
Where: Olympic Stadium
When: Every Friday from May 4 to October 5, 2018
Time: 4 to 11 pm
Admission: Free
Tam-Tams
Grab your sangria kits and drum sets! Tam-Tams will be returning to our fair city and we couldn’t be more excited. After all, is there any better sign that summer has arrived? Taking place every Sunday during the summer months, Tam-Tams is one of the city’s best and most popular unofficial events.
Where: Sir George-Etienne Cartier Monument
When: Every Sunday from May 6, 2018, to September 30, 2018
Time: 12 pm until sunset
Sneakercon Montreal 2018
A massive sneaker convention will be taking to Montreal this coming May.
Sneakercon, affectionately dubbed “the greatest sneaker show on earth” will be taking its successful shows from New York, Cleveland, and Santa Clara to Palais des Congres on Saturday, May 12. The event is a widescale collection and collaboration of sneakerheads to browse, talk, purchase, sell, and trade their highly-coveted kicks.
Where: Palais des Congres – 1001 Jean-Paul Riopelle Pl, Montreal
When: Saturday, May 12, 2018
Time: 12 pm to 7 pm
Tickets: Available online for $32
Montreal spring Etsy Market
Need to do some spring decorating? The Creative Collective Etsy Montreal is hosting a special seasonal market on May 12 and 13. You’ll be able to get your hands on fantastic homemade and local goods. Hundreds of creators from Montreal and around the world will be on site with their products.
Where: Technopôle Angus, 2600 William-Tremblay Street
When: May 12 and 13, 2018
Time: May 12: from 10:00 am to 6 pm
May 13: 10 am to 5 pm
Invasion Cocktail 2018
May is set to be a great month for all things cocktails. Invasion Cocktail will be making its much-anticipated return to Montreal and Quebec City from Monday, May 14 to Sunday, May 20. Returning for its fifth year, the cocktail festival will be drawing huge crowds with more than 10,000 visitors expected for the event, many of whom are from outside the province.
Where: Participating bars and restaurants
When: May 14 to 20, 2018
Jardins Gamelin
Just in time for the surge in double-digit temperatures and spring weather, one of Montreal’s favourite summer past times makes its return. This coming May, Les Jardins Gamelin will re-open to the public until the end of September.
Where: Les Jardins Gamelin
When: May 17 and will remain open weeklong until September 30, 2018
Montreal Salsa Convention
Things are heating up in downtown Montreal. The Montreal Salsa Convention returns for another year this May. Starting May 17, this festival is sure to get Montrealers on their feet.
Where: Complexe Desjardins
When: May 17 to 21, 2018
Concordia Greenhouse Seedling Sale
Concordia’s annual seedling sale will be returning to Montreal in May. Whether you’re a gardening guru or just starting to discover your green thumb, the massive sale is a once-a-year chance to access more than 150 varieties of seeds. The sale offers a wide range of vegetables, herbs and flowers, house plants, organic seeds, and fruit trees.
Where: Concordia University – 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. W.
When: May 18 and May 19, 2018
Time: 11 am to 6 pm
La Ronde
Mark your calendars! Montreal’s resident amusement park, La Ronde, is officially scheduled to open on May 19. We suggest you start preparing for the upcoming season. What’s the best way to prepare, you may ask? We recommend taking advantage of the park’s incredible season pass deal!
Where: La Ronde, 22 Chemin Macdonald
When: Opens May 29, 2018
Piknic Electronik 2018
Montreal’s favourite Sunday EDM festival, Piknic Electronik, is back for summer 2018! Kicking off on May 20 in Jean Drapeau, this outdoor electronic music festival is a true sign that summer has returned to the city. This year marks the 16th edition of Piknic Electronik, so you can bet this year’s lineup is going to be a particularly good one.
Where: Parc Jean Drapeau
When: May 20 to September 30, 2018
Mouvements libres
On May 25, you can be one of the 300 people taking part in Mouvements libres, a glow-in-the-dark artistic bike ride taking place at Quartier des spectacles. At this event, your bike will transform into a platform of expression and will light up with glowing words thanks to a device called an AgitPOV. Using your mobile device, you can program the AgitPOV to display the words of your choice.
Where: Place Émilie-Gamelin
When: May 25, 2018
Time: 6:30 pm
Tickets: Register online. Tickets $20 for one participant, $35 for two participants.
The Montreal Comic Arts Festival
Calling all comic lovers! The Montreal Comic Arts Festival is happening in Parc Lafontaine. This year marks the 7th edition of the Montreal Comic Arts Festival, which will be taking place over the course of a weekend, beginning on Friday, May 25 and ending on Sunday, May 27.
Where: Espace La Fontaine
When: May 25 to 27, 2018
Lobster Clam Jam
This event is a lobster lover’s paradise. The beloved Lobster Clam Jam food festival is taking up residence beside the Lachine Canal this Sunday, May 27 for a whole day of foodie fun!
Where: Centennial Esplanade near the Atwater Market
When: May 27, 2018
Time: 12 pm to 9 pm
Tickets: Available online, starting at $40
21 Swings
Montreal’s beloved 21 Swings (or 21 Balancoires) is returning to Promenade des Artistes this spring! Officially scheduled to open April 9, is there any better sign that spring has arrived?
Where: Promenade des Artistes
When: Until May 27, 2018
Montreal Museum Day
Be sure to mark this day on your calendar. Montreal Museums Day is taking place on May 27, 2018. The event is hosted by the Montreal Museums Society and will see many of the city’s museums opening their doors and waiving all admission fees for one day only.
Where: Full list of museums TBA. Check website for details.
When: May 27, 2018
Bixi Bikes
Bixi season has begun and we couldn’t be more excited. Given the chilly winter we’ve had, it’s about time our favourite bike sharing program is brought back to the streets of Montreal.
Where: Various locations
Danser Dans l’Noir
If you love to dance but don’t like people watching, this is the dance party for you. Danser Dans l’Noir is hosting weekly dance parties that take place in pitch back so you can let loose and let the music take control.
Where: Association Récréative Milton-Parc, 3555 St Urbain Street
When: Tuesdays -see the full schedule on the event page
Time: 7:30 to 9 pm
Price: $5 at the door (If your budget is tight, email the organizers: [email protected])
Particles of Existence
The Phi Centre is hosting an out-of-this-world exhibit that you definitely do not want to miss. Particles of Existence explores new dimensions of how science and technology have brought us closer to understanding our universe and beyond.
Where: The Phi Centre, 407 Rue Saint-Pierre
When: Until August 12, 2018. Closed on Monday.
Time: Various time slots. Check website for details.
Tickets: Available online
Montreal Digital Spring
Quartier des Spectacles is hosting a unique digital art festival all season long. Throughout the months of May and June, Quartier des Spectacles will see all sorts of events pertaining to the digital arts. These include a media lab, live musical performances, and sculptures. Be sure to check out what’s going on in Quartier des Spectacles every weekend in the spring.
Where: Quartier des Spectacles
When: From now to June 21, 2018
Almahatta Sitta meteorite
There’s always an element of mystery and wonder when it comes to all things space. From the thousands of millions of stars, every planet of the solar system, and the countless asteroids and comets, there are entire worlds that are still yet to be discovered. Until July 20, 2018, Montrealers will be able to see the Almahata Sitta meteorite at the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium.
Where: Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium – 4801 Pierre-De Coubertin Ave
When: Until July 20, 2018
Time: All day
Walk up Mount Royal
The weather has finally turned so why not take advantage? Go for your first spring walk up Mount Royal! Explore the flora and fauna, wander a new trail, or even have a picnic at Beaver Lake. There is so much to explore at this Montreal landmark.
Where: Mount Royal
When: Anytime
Check out cherry blossoms in Montreal
Is there any sign of spring more beautiful than the cherry blossom tree? We think not. Luckily, cherry blossom trees aren’t exclusively reserved for Washington D.C. and Vancouver. Nope, Montreal is home to some pretty stunning pink flora and it’s only a matter of time until those buds begin to blossom (typically the beginning of May).
For all those on the hunt for the first sign of spring (and those who just want a cute pic to post on their Instagram page), check out 6 places to find cherry blossom trees in Montreal.
Where: Check out our handy list!
When: Until mid-May
Visit Montreal’s free museum
Montreal is filled with amazing museums but there is one you can visit for free anytime. The Redpath Museum is located in downtown Montreal on the McGill University campus and you can visit it anytime at no cost. The museum features exhibits focusing on natural history, biology, geology, and cultural heritage. Completed in 1882, Redpath Museum is the oldest building in Canada built as a museum.
Where: 859 Sherbrooke Street West
Hours: Monday to Friday: 9 am – 5 pm
Saturdays and public holidays: CLOSED (But open for spring/ summer starting April 7)
Sunday (September through May): 11 am – 5 pm
Sunday (June, July, August): 1 – 5:00 pm
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