33 events worth checking out in Montreal this May

What’s not to love about May?

It’s essentially the first course of summer and the dessert of springtime. Flowers are in full bloom, the weather gets toasty, and the city is oozing with great events to be part of.

From concerts, food, the circus, and amusement parks, MAY the new month be full of warm weather and sunny optimism.

Cirque Du Soleil: Alegria

Alegria by Cirque du Soleil

The world-renowned Cirque du Soleil production is returning home all May.

Alegria, which was first performed by Cirque in 1994, stole the eyes and ears of more than 14 million spectators. Performed under a traditional Big Top tent, the show made its way to 255 different cities over 19 years of touring, until its last performance in 2013.

The show mixes the high energy acrobatics which Cirque du Soleil is famous for with a “rallying theme for change, hope, and optimistic renewal.” The cast is made up of more than 50 performers and musicians, all renowned internationally for their craft.

When: May 1-5, 7-12, 15-19, 21-26, and 28-31
Time: 8 pm
Where: Big Top, Old Port – Jacques-Cartier Quay, de la Commune Street Est
Price: $150 – $412, available online

First Fridays

Les Premiers Vendredis/Facebook

Montreal’s ‘Big O’ is about to turn into the Big “Oh My” as the city’s monthly food truck festival returns for its eighth annual season this month.

First Fridays is a special culinary event in which a variety of the city’s food trucks gather at the Olympic Stadium allowing Montrealers to gobble up dishes from dozens of local spots.

The festival, which calls itself “the largest street food fest in Canada,” is known to dish off everything from tacos and churros, to mac and cheese, burgers, and lobster rolls from over 40 participating eateries around Quebec.

The first First Friday kicks off on May 3, the festival is free to enter but unless you just plan on smelling everything, prices range per food truck.

When: Friday, May 3
Time: 4:30 pm – 11 pm
Where: Olympic Stadium
Price: Free admission

Becoming: An Intimate Conversation with Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama/Shutterstock

Former First Lady Michelle Obama is coming to Montreal at the beginning of the month.

Following a highly successful 2018 12-event arena tour across 10 cities, additional dates and cities have been added to Becoming: An Intimate Conversation with Michelle Obama.

This includes a stop in Montreal this at the Bell Centre.

As First Lady, and as the first African American to serve in that role, Obama helped create a welcoming and inclusive White House, while also establishing herself as a powerful advocate for women and girls everywhere.

When: Friday, May 3, 2019
Time: 8 pm
Where: Bell Centre, 1909 avenue des canadiens de Montreal
Price: $85 – $209.75, available online

Montreal Sketchfest

Things are about to get sketchy in Montreal — in a good way.

The 14th edition of Montreal Sketchfest returns to the city at the beginning of May for 10 days of live sketch comedy and laughs.

The Montreal Sketch Comedy Festival is an annual celebration of sketch comedy assembled by Le Nouveau International, a not-for-profit arts company that resides at Theatre Ste. Catherine.

Since its inception in 2006, the festival has welcomed over 300 troupes from all over the world.

When: May 2 – 11
Time: Varying times
Where: Theatre Sainte-Catherine, Café Bar and Montreal Improv
Price: $15 – $65, available online

Salon de la Passion Médiévale

Shutterstock

A medieval convention is galloping its way towards Montreal this spring, just in time for the finale of Game of Thrones.

Take it back to the 15th century as the Pierre-Charbonneau Center will be taken over by knights, queens, and kings as the Salon de la Passion Médiévale returns to our fair city.

This event will feature a plethora of medieval activities including combat sports, treasure and dragon hunting, and a masquerade costume competition.

And, given that it’s tough to get your hands on fire-breathing dragons (literally), there will be a fire performance because it’s not really medieval without it.

The three-day event will be split up between outdoor and indoor activities, which will feature dozens of exhibitors.

When: May 3 – 5
Time: 5 pm – 10 pm (Friday), 10 am – 6 pm (Saturday), 10 am – 5 pm (Sunday)
Where: Pierre-Charbonneau Center
Price: $14 – $90, available online

Comedy at the Art Loft

Comedy at the Art Loft/Facebook

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: May 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31
Time: Doors open at 9 pm, show starts at 10:30 pm
Where: 4152 Boulevard Saint Laurent
Price: $10 at the door (cash only)

Kinton Ramen 50% Off Day

Kinton Ramen / Instagram

One of Montreal’s favourite spots to slurp noodles, Kinton Ramen, will be offering meals for 50% all day long, next month.

The restaurant is opening a new spot in Montreal on May 10 and will be offering the meal deal in celebration of its grand opening.

When: Friday, May 10
Time: 11:30 am – 11:30 pm
Where: 1202 avenue Union

Tam-Tams

nadimsoued/Instagram

As if Montrealers needed any more indication that spring has sprung, Tam-Tams first official Sunday of 2019 kicks off on May’s first 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, May 5
Time: 12 pm until sunset
Where: Sir George-Etienne Cartier Monument
Price: Free

Bowling – Forum Sports Bar

Bowling / Shutterstock

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: May 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, and 29
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.

May is a great month for movies, especially for under $10. Check out Avengers: Endgame, Pokémon: Detective Pikachu, Captain Marvel, Dumbo, Us, Pet Sematary, Alita: Battle Angel and plenty of other choices for real cheap.

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

When: May 7, 14, 21, and 28
Time: Varies depending on selection
Where: 977 Rue Saint-Catherine Ouest
Price: General admission starts at $7

Damso – Place Bell

William Kalubi, better known by his stage name Damso, is a Belgian-Congolese rapper, singer, and songwriter.

The 26-year-old will be rocking out a packed Place Bell this month.

When: Friday, May 10
Time: 8 pm
Where: Place Bell, 1950 rue Claude-Gagné, Laval
Price: $57 – $73, available online

Plum Secret Society Game Night

edeleino/Instagram

The Westmount Public Library is bringing guests after-hours board games to make sure you’re not bored on May 11.

The event will be hosted by Randolph Pub Ludique and feature a variety of classic and popular board games, with a 90s twist, for members to challenge friends and newcomers.

Westmount’s Library will host snacks, music, a 90s-themed photo booth, and a cash bar (one drink included per ticket). Since it’s an after-hours event and alcohol will be included, the event will be open to people aged 18 and older only.

When: Saturday, May 11
Time: 7 pm – 10:30 pm
Where: Westmount Public Library – 4574 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest
Price: $5, available online

$1 coffee day in Montreal

Le Café Fest is returning to Montreal in mid-May and it’s celebrating a trio of great things: coffee, things that cost a buck, and independent businesses.

On Saturday, May 11, participating coffee shops at over 50 independent spots around Montreal will be offering coffee without milk for a loonie and coffee with milk for a toonie.

The event aims to highlight the craftsmanship of Montreal’s baristas who serve up some of the city’s best java.

For the full list of participants click here.

When: Saturday, May 11
Time: Varies per location
Where: Various participating spots around Montreal
Price: $1 – $2

La Ronde

La Ronde – PAGE OFFICIELLE/Facebook

Since the weather gets toasty in May, you have to check out Quebec’s biggest amusement park.

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

When: The park opens on Saturday, May 11
Where: 22 Chemin Macdonald
When: 10:30 am – 8 pm (11:30 pm during the fireworks)
Price: Available online or at the box office

Metro Metro Festival

Festival Metro Metro/Facebook

Montreal is getting a brand new music festival and it will be headlined by Cardi B and Snoop Dogg – a nice start.

The inaugural Metro Metro music festival is being labelled as the country’s “biggest urban music fest” and will feature over 45 local and international artists across two stages for two days at the Olympic Stadium.

When: May 18 and 19
Time: TBA
Where: l’Esplanade Financière Sun Life, Olympic Stadium
Price: $170, available

P!NK Beautiful Trauma Tour

Fans were more than upset after pop star P!NK announced that her Montreal concert would have to be postponed.

Initially scheduled for last March, P!Nk will be at the Bell Centre on May 19.

When: Friday, May 19
Time: 8 to 11 pm
Where: Bell Centre – 1909, avenue des Canadiens-de-Montreal
Price: $115 – $295, available online

Piknic Electronik

The first Piknic Electronik party of 2019 kicks off this month.

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: Friday, May 19
Time: 2 pm – 9:30 pm
Where: Parc Jean Drapeau
Tickets: $16, available online

Invasion Cocktail

Invasion Cocktail

Returning for its sixth edition, Invasion Cocktail will take place in over 30 bars and restaurants across Montreal and Quebec City. Throughout the week, more than 250 cocktails will be crafted by the province’s greatest bartenders and mixologists.

The festival’s goal is to “allow cocktail lovers to discover new spirits, brands and establishments,” reads the Invasion Cocktail website. “The festival also aims to promote education to industry professionals by introducing Pro Days, a series of seminars hosted by the biggest names in international mixology.”

When: May 20 – 31
Time: Varies per location
Where: Various locations around Montreal
Time: Varies per location

Twenty One Pilots – The Bandito Tour

twentyonepilots/Instagram

“Wish we could turn back time, to the good old days.”

Those ‘good old days’ are on their way to Montreal this spring as Twenty One Pilots is bringing their The Bandito Tour to the Bell Centre at the end of the month.

The American musical duo of Tyler Jospeh and drummer Josh Dun have embarked on a massive, 93-city world tour that will now include a stop at Montreal’s Bell Centre on May 22 (The 21st would have been more fitting).

When: Tuesday, May 22
Time: 7 pm
Where: Bell Centre
Price: $71.35 – $114.85, available online

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in Concert

rosy__posy__/Instagram

It’s time to freshen up on your spell books, muggles. A live Harry Potter concert is coming to Montreal.

The cultural phenomena that is the Potter series has delighted fans all over the world, and now, the magic is set to take over Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier for two dates at the end of the month.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix will play on a giant screen while a full symphony performs Nicholas Hooper’s magical score from the movie. The film will be played in English with French subtitles.

Be sure to remember that even Dumbledore called music, “a magic beyond all we do here.”

When: May 24 and 25
Time: 7:30 pm
Where: Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Place des Arts
Tickets: $62.09 – $121.08, available online

La Fête du Croissant

poitevin_kevin/Instagram

At the end of the month, foodies searching for a cheap, tasty croissant (or several) will be in luck.

The province’s event celebrating the buttery and flaky pastry returns to over 100 spots around Quebec for one day, dishing out the delicious treat for just under a buck.

Essentially, it’s not a lot of dough for a lot of dough.

Pastry fans can also visit the event’s website to specifically search which local shop is boasting the stellar deal, as well as the event’s European participants in case you want to take this one-day deal real seriously.

When: Saturday, May 25
Time: Various hours per location
Where: Various locations
Price: $1.25 per

F lorence + The Machine – High as Hope Tour

rubyboland/Instagram

As part of Florence + the Machine’s massive world tour, the English indie rock band will touch down in Montreal at the end of the month.

The tour is promoting Florence + the Machine’s new critically-acclaimed album, High as Hope from 2018.

In total, the band’s “High as Hope” tour will span across 38 cities all over the world.
When: Tuesday, May 28
Time: 7:30 pm
Where: Bell Centre, 1909-avenue-des-Canadiens-de-Montreal
Price: $69.75 – $135.25, available online

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: Every day in May
Time: 10 am – 6 pm
Where: Place des Vestiges, Old Port
Price: Prices vary depending on selected activities, tickets online

Our DNA

Quartier des Spectacles

A centrepiece of Montreal’s architectural heritage, this spiral staircase, created by local artist, Patrick Pérubé embodies “neighbourly culture and friendly back alleys.”

Suspended in mid-air, the double helix of a DNA molecule aims to remind on-lookers that our differences, put together, make up our collective identity.

When: From now until May 28
Time: 24/7
Where: Quartier des Spectacles
Price: Free

Volcanoes 3D – IMAX

Old Port of Montreal

The IMAX Telus Theatre at the Montreal Science Centre invites guests to a “very hot immersive experience.” Volcanoes 3D will take patrons where few humans dare to venture: into the heart of a volcano.

Using state-of-the-art 3D technology, Volcanoes 3D will offer viewers a thrilling experience, exposing them to the lava erupting at over 700ºC.

The documentary will plunge daringly into the heart of various volcanoes from around the globe, exploiting IMAX with new laser technology.

When: Every day in May
Time: Various times
Where: 2 de la Commune Ouest
Price: $10.50 – $12, available online

Amaze Escape Room

You escaped the winter’s cold, now try to get out of an escape room.

Try your luck at escaping from a prison, military facility, lost temple, or laboratory. Make a reservation, choose your adventure and then you have anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to get out of any respective room. Each mission is reserved solely for your group and you’re given a walkie-talkie in case you need hints/get scared.

When: Every day in May
Time: 2pm – 10:30pm
Where: 3550 Rue St. Jacques
Price: $15-$30 depending on your chosen mission (per person). Make your reservation first online.

Atrium Le 1000

anulka77/Instagram

Since May’s weather means the end to outdoor rinks, lace up and check out The Atrium, inside one of Montreal’s tallest buildings, if you’re in the mood to skate still.

The rink is covered under an immense glass dome so you can feel like you’re outside while you’re racing down the ice.

When: Every day in May
Time: 12:30 pm – 9 pm
Where: 1000 De La Gauchetière
Price: $5 – $7.50 (equipment rentals range from $1 – $7)

La Grande Roue de Montréal

http://www.lagranderouedemontreal.com

Hit up Canada’s largest observational wheel and take in some absolutely breathtaking views of the city, during spring. Not to mention, some primetime photo ops that’ll make your Instagram crowd jealous.

When: Every day in May
Time: 10 am – 11 pm
Where: 362 rue de Commune Est
Price: $14.79 – $25

Musée Grévin Montreal

If you want to cool down in an air-conditioned museum while staring at wax celebrity figures, Musée Grévin is for you.

Check out your favourite actors, athletes, and artists in wax form. The figurines are displayed beautifully through the four-floor museum that also features optical illusions and interactive displays. It’s admittedly pretty creepy staring into Elvis’ eyes, especially if he starts blinking.

When: Every day in May
Time: 10 am to 6 pm
Where: 705 Rue Saint Catherine (4th floor of the Eaton Centre)
Price: $19.50 for adult, $13.50 for children, $15.50 for youth and students and $18 for seniors

iSaute Kirkland

ISaute/Facebook

Take your kids to iSaute Kirkland and pretend it’s for them (when it’s really for you).

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, there’s a lot to do and it’s actually a fantastic workout. Fun for all ages (and a great workout).

When: Every day in May
Time: 10:00 am – 9:00 pm
Where: 3220 Jean Yves, Kirkland
Price: $16 for the first hour, $10 for the second. Tickets are sold at the door

Coup Sûr

With baseball season right around the corner, why not take a couple cuts at the batting cage?

Coup Sûr has six pitching machines all throwing at various speeds and each machine throws either baseballs or softballs. They have a closed off radar section too if you want to practice pitching.

They supply bats and helmets and boast an impressive Baseball Town store if you’re looking for some gear for the quickly approaching ball season.

When: Every day in May
Tim: 9 am – 10 pm
Where: 3835 Boulevard Curé-Labelle, Laval
Price: 1 token (20 pitches): $5.75/ 5 token special (100 pitches): $23.00

Putting Edge Mini-Putt

Putting Edge/Facebook

With golf season quickly approaching, you might want to hone your putting skills.

Putting Edge is an indoor mini-putt course that (besides having a great name), glows in the dark. Every hole has Canadian-based trivia questions plus the venue has an arcade and they serve alcohol. Need we say more?

When: Every day in May
Time: 10 am – 1 am
Where: 1259 rue Guy
Price: $11.99

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