22 things to do in Montreal this weekend: August 9 to 11

As Montreal Pride preps for its first full weekend, the city also welcomes in a poutine festival, an Italian festival, some great stand-up comedy, and everything in between. Here is what’s happening around town this weekend, August 9 to 11.

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Friday, August 9

Montreal Pride

Montreal will welcome over 225 artists, 250 activities, and 20 free large-scale productions as the city celebrates the Montréal Pride (Fierté Montreal) for 11 days, which started Thursday.

The festival is the “largest gathering of the sexual and gender diversity (SGD) communities in the Francophone world and in Canada,” reads the festival’s press release.

This year’s fest comes with a little bit more weight as Montréal prepares to compete to host the WorldPride event in 2023, according to event organizers.

When: From now until August 18
Time: Varies
Where: Montreal’s Gay Village
Price: Varies per selection

îleSoniq 2019

Osheaga may be over but Parc Jean-Drapeau will still be bustling on Friday and Saturday with live outdoor music, food, and bar kiosks.

Featired acts include: marshmello, Above & Beyond, Kaskade, Bad Bunny, Alesso, Excision, Adventure Club, Alan Walker, Claptone, KSHMR, and many more.

Visit the event’s website for more information.

When: August 9 and 10
Time: 12 pm – 11 pm
Where: Île Saint-Hélène, Parc Jean-Drapeau
Price: $210 – $360, available online

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 9
Time: 8:30 pm – 10 pm
Where: 1219 Boulevard Saint Laurent
Price: $26.50, available online

Italian Week

Montreal’s well-represented Italian community will be celebrating it’s 26th annual Italian Week, starting this weekend.

The week-long festival will be celebrated throughout the island, promoting the Italian culture through music, fashion, cars, shops, and obviously, food.

Anchored primarily in Little Italy, the festival also branches out to Montreal-Nord, Laval, Lasalle, NDG, and St-Léonard.

When: August 9 to 18
Time: Times vary according to the day, visit the website for exact festival times
Where: Various locations throughout Montreal
Price: Free admission

Comedy at the Art Loft – Nick Nemeroff

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.

This week’s headliner is the very funny Nick Nemeroff who just finished doing a set on Conan. Featured acts include Ian Sirota, Bruno Ly, Preston Gitlin, and Michelle Dominique and the show is hosted by Quinn McMorrow.

The venue features a DJ and snacks. BYOB and it’s 420 friendly. Very 420 friendly.

When: Friday, August 9
Time: Doors open at 9 pm, show starts at 10:30 pm
Where: 4152 Boulevard Saint Laurent
Price: $10 at the door (cash only)

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 9
Time: From nightfall until 11 pm
Where: Old Montreal
Price: Free

Coupe Rogers Montreal

The 2019 Rogers Cup is returning to Montreal for a week in August for the 139th edition of the tournament and the 128th of the Canadian Open.

When: From now until August 11
Time: Varies
Where: IGA Stadium, 285 Rue Gary-Carter
Price: Varies, available online

Saturday, August 10

Tinder Tales – Pride Edition

After a sold-out show at Just for Laughs OFF-JFL, Tinder Tales is back for Pride in Montreal.

Featuring true dating stories and comedy from Montreal’s LGBTQ+ comics and storytellers, Tranna Wintour will host a slew of hilarious guests telling stories of the hilarity that ensues the internet dating world.

When: Saturday, August 10
Time: 9:30 pm – 11 pm
Where: Le Ministère, 4521 Boul Saint-Laurent
Price: $20, available at the door and online

Le Grand Poutinefest

It seems like all that hard work to maintain your summer body is about to go down the tubes.

The Old Port’s week-long poutine festival, Le Grand Poutinefest, made a greasy return this week and sticks around until Sunday.

More than 45 different types of the Quebec specialty dish will be on-site, ranging from the traditional (obviously) to a gourmet foie gras dish, a duck confit poutine, a decadent macaroni and cheese combo, vegan options, and dozens of other takes on the popular trifecta.

When: From now until August 11
Time: 5 pm – 11 pm (on August 6), 11 am – 11 pm (August 7-11)
Where: Jacques-Cartier Pier, Old Port of Montreal
Price: Free admission, poutines have varying prices

International Balloon Festival

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

The International Balloon Festival of Saint Jean-sur-Richelieu is the largest gathering of balloons in Canada. The week-long event caters to the entire family and is an easy 40-minute drive off the island of Montreal.

In what started off as a balloon festival, has grown to host food vendors, bar outlets, live bands, theatre performances, activities, and has garnered a reputation on an international scale.

This year’s outdoor party will feature hot air balloons from Canada, the United States, France, and Brazil.

When: August 10-18
Time: Weekdays from 2:30 pm – the end of the show, weekends from 12 pm – the end of the show
Where: 5 Chemin de l’Aéroport, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu
Price: $30 – $50, available online

First Peoples’ Festival

As the Just for Laughs festival summed up at the end of July, the Quartier des Spectacles has swapped out comedians for culture with the First Peoples’ Festival.

One of the oldest and most storied communities in all of the Americas will be celebrating their joyous culture for a week-long festival from August 6 to 14.

The festival will host a vast array of food, cinematography, poetry reading, electro concerts, and dance, connecting the city to the Kahnesetake pine forest, in honouring the history of Canada’s First People.

When: From now until August 14
Time: 11 am – 5 pm
Where: Place des Festivals, Quartier des Spectacles
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: Saturday, August 10
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

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