21 things to do in Montreal this weekend: April 26 to 28

Sure, there’s no off-day on Friday or Monday this weekend, but look at it this way, the city is still bustling with things to do AND none of the liquor stores will be closed.

So it’s still a win-win.

Here’s what’s happening around Montreal this weekend, April 26 to 28.

See also

• La Ronde to kick off upcoming season with wild new 7-storey loop roller coaster
• Google Earth releases timelapse of Montreal over the last 35 years (VIDEO)
• Quebec is changing when babies will be expected to receive vaccinations
• This is how much you need to make to buy a home in Montreal: report

Friday, April 26

The Empire Strips Back: A Star Wars Burlesque Parody

“The Empire Strips Back” has launched a Death Star-sized North American tour, which includes an astral arrival in Canada for the first time.

“Be prepared for some seriously sexy Stormtroopers, a dangerously seductive Boba Fett, some tantalising Twi’leks, a delightfully luke-warm Taun Taun, a lady-like Skywalker, the Droids you are looking for and much, much more!” reads the parody show’s website.

This adult-only take on Star Wars brings everything you know and love about the iconic franchise and strips its clothes off (and puts Yoda on the guitar).

When: Friday, April 26
Time: 8 pm
Where: Olympia Theatre, 1004 rue Ste. Catherine
Price: $54 – $99, available online

Tom Odell Concert

Thomas Peter Odell is an English singer-songwriter. He released his debut extended play, “Songs from Another Love,” in 2012 and won the BRITs Critics’ Choice Award in early 2013. His debut studio album, Long Way Down, was issued on 24 June 2013. His second studio album, Wrong Crowd, was released on 10 June 2016.

The busy and talented musician will be at Corona Theatre on Friday.

When: Friday, April 26
Time: 8 pm
Where: Corona Theatre, 2490 Notre-Dame
Price: $44 – $66, available online

21 Swings

Spring won’t be the only thing in the air as Montreal’s musical swing exhibition has returned to the Quartier des Spectacles.

The interactive, music art installation, 21 Swings, will have Montrealers feeling like kids again as guests can swing back and forth, creating musical melodies.

The 21 Swings (or Balançoires) installation was custom-made for the Promenade des Artistes in the Quartier des Spectacles. The work was created by Daily tous les jours, in collaboration with animal behaviourist Luc-Alain Giraldeau from UQAM and Radwan Ghazi Moumneh, the installation’s composer.

When: From now until May 28
Time: 10 am – 12 am
Where: Promenade des Artistes, Quartier des spectacles
Price: Free

Bonnie & Clyde Musical

The MainLine Theatre premiered the debut of their musical take about the bold and reckless love life of Bonnie and Clyde on Thursday and they’ll continue the original take on the infamous duo all weekend.

When: April 26 to 28
Time: 7:30 pm on Friday and Saturday, 2 pm on Saturday and Sunday
Where: MainLine Theatre, 3997 boulevard Saint-Laurent
Price: $24, available online

Saturday, April 27

Alice in Chains Concert

Alice in Chains is an American rock band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 1987 by guitarist and vocalist Jerry Cantrell and drummer Sean Kinney, who later recruited bassist Mike Starr and lead vocalist Layne Staley.

The popular band will be playing a relatively smaller venue and tickets will be a hot commodity.

When: Saturday, April 27
Time: 8 pm
Where: MTELUS, 59 rue Ste. Catherine
Price: $55.75 – $82, available online

Our DNA

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

Coup Sûr

With baseball/softball season right around the corner, head to the cages and get your swing timing down.

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.

Their pro shop, Baseball Town, is offering 25% on selected items on Saturday in preparation for the upcoming season.

When: Saturday, April 27
Time: 9 am – 10 pm
Where: 3835 Boulevard Curé-Labelle, Laval
Price: 1 token (20 pitches): $5.75/ 5 token special (100 pitches): $23.00

Yoko Ono’s Arising

Yoko Ono’s new art exhibition debut this past week.

As part of the Japanese multimedia artist’s ongoing installation called “Arising,” Ono is asking women to share stories of harm that has been brought on as a result of being a woman. Participants are asked to also send in a photo of their eyes as part of the project.

The installation will be shown accompanied by other interactive works by Ono in which specific instructions will be given to visitors.

When: From now to September 15
Time: 12 pm – 7 pm
Where: Fondation Phi pour l’art contemporain, 451 rue St-Jean
Price: Free

Thierry Mugler at the MMFA

The world premiere of the Thierry Mugler: Couturissime exhibition which was christened by Kim Kardashian is at Montreal’s Museum of Fine Arts.

Set against a spectacular backdrop, the exhibition brings together more than 140 garments made between 1973 and 2001, most of which have never been shown before.

When: Saturday, April 27
Time: 10 am – 5 pm
Where: Musée des beaux-arts de Montreal, 1380 rue Sherbrooke
Price: $16 – $24, available online

Musée Grévin Montreal

Say hello to this weekend by saying hello to some wax figurines.

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: Saturday, April 20
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

Sunday, April 28

Banque Scotia 21K de Montreal

Beginning at Parc Jean-Drapeau on île Notre-Dame, the half-marathon course completes a full loop of the island crossing over to île Ste-Helene before returning for the finish at the Complexe Aquatique.

The route is flat and fast and provides views of downtown Montreal. The event has 5K, 10K, and 21 K options.

When: Sunday, April 28
Time: 9 am – 12 pm
Where: Parc Jean-Drapeau
Price: $40 – $120, based on distance selected

Montreal Botanical Garden – Butterflies Go Free

iSaute Kirkland

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: Sunday, April 28
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

Volcanoes 3D – IMAX

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: Sunday, April 28
Time: Various times
Where: 2 de la Commune Ouest
Price: $10.50 – $12, available online

Fabuleux Chez Serge – Game of Thrones Viewing Party

“This last season should not be watched alone,” claims the popular Fabuleux Chez Serge, who will be screening every episode of the final season on all of their giant screens, with surround sound.

Chez Serge will be dishing out free popcorn and guests who bring their own chalice, stein, or drinking horn will get $1 off on all drinks.

Plus, the bar has that mechanical bull. If any of the episodes get too intense, that bull might be a good ride to let off some steam.

Chez Serge stresses that “your silence is golden” during the screening.

When: Sunday, April 28
Time: 8 pm
Where: Fabuleux Chez Serge, 4281 boulevard Saint-Laurent
Price: Free admission

Rose Bowl Bowling

The Rose Bowl is a Montreal landmark.

The 72-lane bowling alley offers both 10-pin and 5-pin bowling and opening hours that appeal to everyone.

The Rose also hosts a casse-croute, a bar and an arcade room.

Strike some bowling off the list for this weekend.

When: Sunday, April 28
Time: 8 am – 3 am
Where: 6510 rue St-Jacques Ouest
Price: $5 per game plus $2.39 shoe rental (mandatory)

Haunted Montreal Pub Crawl

If you thought this year’s winter was was scary, you’ve got another thing coming.

After doing studies in Savannah, Georgia (dubbed “America’s most haunted city”), the paranormal research crew has jumped over to Montreal for the first-ever Haunted Pub Crawl in the city.

Led by a professional ghost storyteller, the Haunted Montreal Pub Crawl will visit four of the city’s most haunted bars, because mixing ghosts and booze is the only smart way to deal with the paranormal. The tour will start at Charlie’s American Pub on Bishop Street before heading to the recently-burned down John Doe Pub, the historic McKibbin’s Irish Pub, the mysterious Sir Winston Churchill Pub, the frequently-visited (not just by the living) Club Le Cinq and, of course, Hurley’s Irish Pub, where a ghost known as the “Burning Lady” is said to still lurk on the grounds.

When: Sunday, April 28
Time: 3 pm for English, 4 pm for French
Where: The tour starts at Charlie’s American Pub, 1204 Bishop
Price: $20.87, available online