21 things to do in Montreal this weekend: August 23 to 25

The days in August have flown by as we enter the second-to-last weekend of the month. From a puppet festival, to Mont-Royal’s street fair, a book sale, and everything in between, here is what’s going on around town from August 23 to 25.

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Friday, August 23

RU – Mont Royal Street Fair

As the days in August start to dwindle down, Mont-Royal Avenue will be hosting an eventful, free urban street fair to remind Montrealers that summer isn’t yet over.

The annual open-air market, RU, will play host to a wide range of artists, murals, concerts, DJs, art installations, digital art, contemporary dance, and even a modern zoo.

During the four-day festival, RU will close Mont-Royal Avenue to vehicular traffic from Boulevard Saint- Laurent to Rue Fullum, giving Montrealers a 2 km of an outdoor street fair.

When: August 22- 25
Time: 10 am – 6 pm
Where: Avenue Mont-Royal
Price: Free

Concordia Community Bookstore: Eat. Sleep. Read. Book Sale

Digging into a stack of books just got a lot cheaper.

All weekend, the Concordia Community Solidarity Co-op Bookstore will be having their “Eat. Sleep. Read.” used book sale.

The co-op bookstore boasts a wide assortment of genres like classic literature, business, math, arts, philosophy, and gender studies, to name a few.

More than 600 books will be up for grabs at the event, including new, used, and free books.

All used books at the sale will be 50% off and newly priced books for a buck. New books will also be for sale at a discounted price.

When: August 23-25
Time: 10 am – 6 pm
Where: Concordia Community Solidarity Co-op Bookstore – 2150 Bishop Street

MUTEK Montreal

The 20th edition of MUTEK started on Tuesday and runs until Sunday. The festival promotes audiovisual performances, live electronic music, and a full theatre of experiences that “push the boundaries of digital art and engage you in the playground that is our city.”

When: From now until August 25
Time: 9 am – 3 am
Where: Various locations around Montreal
Price: online$27 – $320, available

Festival StreetFood Montreal

Peel Street is being transformed into a giant tasty Asian street food festival all weekend.

The first edition of Festival Streetfood Montreal will play host to 30 of the city’s Asian restaurants, aiming to “seamlessly blend the best qualities of food festivals and traditional Asian night markets.”

The theme of the inaugural event will be centred around South East Asian cuisine and will feature other delectable creations from Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and China.

“Our goal is to promote local Asian cuisine while offering our take on what a Montreal night market experience should be,” reads the festival’s Facebook page.

Check out all the tasty participating spots right here.

When; August 23-25
Time: 5 pm – 12 am (Friday), 11 am – 12 am (Saturday), 11 am – 10 pm (Sunday)
Where: 600 Peel Street
Price: $2 admission

Haunted Red Light Ghost Walk

Local tour company, Secret Montreal, is giving guests a chance to learn about the city’s indecent past.

Who knows, you might even see a ghost.

The tour is led by a professional actor and storyteller and the path leads to tales about the dark and lewd history of Montreal’s old Red Light District. Many of the sites are even said to be haunted.

The tour takes place at what is currently known as the Quartier des Spectacles, known for its festivals and entertainment. But Secret Montreal takes its guests on a historical journey of another form of entertainment.

When: Friday, August 23
Time: 8:30 pm – 10 pm
Where: 1219 Boulevard Saint Laurent
Price: $26.50, available online

Cité Mémoire

Head to Old Montreal to admire 25 of the world’s largest projection circuits. Montreal’s history is displayed on buildings and streets throughout the Old Port. Download the free “Montreal en Histoires” app for destinations, details, and schedules.

When: Friday, August 23
Time: From nightfall until 11 pm
Where: Old Montreal
Price: Free

Saturday, August 24

Psicobloc Open Series Montreal

A rock-climbing competition, the Psicobloc Open Series, is coming to Parc Jean-Drapeau this weekend to get your adrenaline pumping.

Psicobloc, or deep water soloing, is a form of climbing that involves scaling a giant wall, rope-less, above a deep body of water.

The competition will involve two climbers at a time racing up a 55-foot wall, overhanging a deep pool. Any mistake will result in a free fall into the water.

The climbing duel merges speed, agility, endurance, and bravery with an essence of the California beach-vibe culture.

It’s too late to qualify as a competitor but watching people fall into pools is more fun anyways.

When: August 24 – 25 (seeding/qualifying August 22-23)
Time: 10 am – 10 pm
Where: Complex Aquatic – Parc Jean-Drapeau
Price: $35 for spectators

Festival Marionnettes Plein la rue

Verdun’s Promenade Wellington is preparing for a giant puppet festival this weekend.

Please understand, the festival will be big, but the puppets will be giant.

The ninth edition of the Festival Marionnettes Plein la rue celebrates marionettes, street theatre, magic shows, stop motion animation, and human-sized puppets.

Seventeen companies from Quebec will perform on the promenade’s 1.3 km route and the festival will also include over 60 performances in places and parks across Verdun.

When: August 24 and 25
Time: 11 am – 5 pm
Where: Promenade Wellington
Price Free admission

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: August 23 – 25
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: Saturday, August 24
Time: Various times
Where: 2 de la Commune Ouest
Price: $10.50 – $12, available online

Through the Echoes

The first-of-its-kind pyramid-shaped entertainment venue, PY1, created by Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté continues its showing all month.

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 made its worldwide debut with Through the Echoes, a show produced exclusively for the pyramid last month, located near the Clock Tower grounds in the Old Port.

When: Saturday, August 24
Time: Varies
Where: Montreal’s Old Port
Price: $28.50 – $51, available online

Sunday, August 25

Tam-Tams

Tam-Tams returned to the city last 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, August 25
Time: 12 pm until sunset
Where: Sir George-Etienne Cartier Monument
Price: Free

Tonga Lumino

Mont-Tremblant wants to make sure you have giant plans this weekend. Literally.

The renowned ski mountain has transformed into an enchanted hiking trail where participants embark on a quest to find the last sleeping giant of its kind.

Uh. Yes, please.

The adventure, Tonga Lumina, is produced by Moment Factory, the same company known for their illuminations of the Jacques-Cartier Bridge.

This summer’s Mont-Tremblant trail will be illuminated with light projections and mythical storytelling as giant-seekers must trek through a 1.5 km nocturnal hike to find the slumbering giant.

When: Sunday, August 25
Time: Every 15 minutes from 9:15 pm – 10:45 pm
Where: 1000 Chemin des Voyageurs, Mont-Tremblant
Price: $11.99 – $27.99, available online

Piknic Electronik

Piknic Electronik returns for its fifteeth edition 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. 11est of all – the show goes on rain or shine.

This weekend’s lineup includes Octave One Live, Mike Shannon, Danielle, Aleksandir, Bamboo Hermann, Massyl, and so much more.

When: Sunday, August 25
Time: 2 pm – 9:30 pm
Where: Parc Jean Drapeau
Tickets: $16, available online

HUM(AIN) – We Could Be Human: A Learning Machine

It seems like Siri has some SIRIous competition as a new art exhibition in Montreal features an AI robot that learns from visitors the more it interacts with them.

As part of musician David Usher’s Hum(ai)n exhibition, a digital character named Ophelia will be speaking with humans all summer. This interaction will help to evolve her cognitive state.

When: From now until September 15
Time: 10 am – 8 pm
Where: Phi Centre, 407 Saint-Pierre
Price:$21.97 – $25.50, available online

Parc Safari

Sneak away from the busy city life and head to the country for some zoo fun this weekend.

Parc Safari has over 500 animals, exciting rides, and fun activities to keep you going back all season long.

The park starts off with the “Safari Adventure” where guests can get close to exotic animals like never before. While driving to the main park entrance, the optional adventure path allows for the more docile but equally large animals to check you out in your car.

Oh, how the tables have turned.

Animals on the “Safari Adventure” include buffalo, zebras, llamas, gazelles, ostriches, deer, peacocks, and camels. You’re encouraged to feed and pet the animals during the low-speed trek and you’ll always want to keep your windshield wipers handy. Your car might get dirty but it’s worth it.

It’s not often you get to brag about llama saliva on your windshield.

When: Sunday, August 25
Time: 10 am – 5 pm
Where: 280 Rang Roxham, Hemmingford
Price: Prices vary depending on age. Tickets available at the entrance or online

Stand Up Paddle Boarding – Parc Jean Drapeau

The St-Lawrence River is a gorgeous sight to look at and this summer, it could be a gorgeous sight to stand on as well.

Lasalle KSF is a store that specializes in surfing, kayak, and paddleboarding and they are teaming up with Parc Jean-Drapeau to get you stand-up paddleboarding this summer.

This great way to stay active, and to be part of the historic River is offered in three different varieties: SUP (stand-up paddleboarding), SUP Yoga, and SUP Fitness.

When: Sunday, August 25
Time: 10 am – 7 pm
Where: 350 Circuit Gilles Villesneuve, Parc Jean-Drapeau
Price: $20 – $56.50, based on activity chosen

La Ronde

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

When: Sunday, August 25
Where: 22 Chemin Macdonald
When: 10:30 am – 8 pm (11:30 pm during the fireworks)
Price: Available online or at the box office

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, August 25
Time: 10 am – 6 pm
Where: Place des Vestiges, Old Port
Price: Prices vary depending on selected activities, tickets online

Aquazilla

Parc Jean Drapeau is bringing Montrealers another challenge this summer: staying afloat.

Aquazilla, the floating obstacle course on water, is returning to the man-made island again this summer.

The 30-by-35 metre inflatable structure is combined with obstacles, slides, and platforms. Your job is to complete the course without falling into the Jean-Doré beach.

When: Sunday, August 25
Time: 10 am – 7 pm
Where: Parc Jean Drapeau
Price: 6 – 13 years: $13 for an hour/$25 unlimited, 14 and over: $15 for an hour/$28 unlimited, family deal: $50 f0r an hour, $98 unlimited (tickets available on-site)