24 things to do in Montreal this weekend: July 12 to 14

As July continues to chug along, here’s a slew of great stuff happening around Montreal this weekend, July 12 to 14.

See also

• You can ride these fully automated buses for FREE in Montreal until August
• Kevin Hart is returning to Montreal for Just For Laughs on July 27
• 10 places to watch the fireworks in Montreal this weekend
• Montreal ranks as one of the most bike-friendly cities in the world

Friday, July 12

Ste-Catherine Sidewalk Sale

The Ste-Catherine Sidewalk Sale calls itself “the largest open sky gathering of merchants in Canada” and judging by the size of it, it’d be tough to compete.

More than 300,000 visitors ramble onto the street over the three-day event and the famous street is completely closed down to traffic between Rue Guy and Rue Mansfield.

More than 250 boutiques, stores, and restaurants set up outlets outside for Montrealers to browse and enjoy. Plus there’s a parade, dancers, inflatable castles, and free samples!

When: July 12-14
Time: Friday: 12 pm – 12 pm, Saturday: 10 am – 10 pm, Sunday: 10 am – 7 pm
Where: Rue Ste-Catherine from Rue Guy to Rue Mansfield
Price: Free admission

LA RUE COMPLÈTEMENT CiRQUE

Some of Montreal’s streets have been turned into an open-air circus ring.

Entering its final weekend, The Montreal Circus Festival, known as LA RUE COMPLÈTEMENT CiRQUE, will use the streets, parks, and sidewalks of the Quartier des Spectacles as stages to showcase colourful, high-flying performances.

The festival includes tightrope walkers, trapeze art, balancing and trampoline acts, fire art, jugglers, gymnastics, live music, human pyramids, and participatory activities for all ages as these master street performers use the urban landscape as their stages.

When: From now until July 14
Time: Varying times
Where: Quartier de Spectacles
Price: Free admission

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: June 5, 12, 19, 26
Time: From nightfall until 11 pm
Where: Old Montreal
Price: Free

Comedy at the Art Loft

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

When: Friday, July 12
Time: Doors open at 9 pm, show starts at 10:30 pm
Where: 4152 Boulevard Saint Laurent
Price: $10 at the door (cash only)

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, July 12
Time: 8:30 pm – 10 pm
Where: 1219 Boulevard Saint Laurent
Price: $26.50, available online

Saturday, July 13

Fantasia International Film Festival

Fantasia works primarily as a film screening festival, showcasing a variety of programming, both independent and commercial, while focusing on the imaginative cinema of Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

The festival also welcomes guests from across the cinema community, including actors, directors, producers, studio reps, and distributors.

When: Friday, July 13
Time: Varies according to screening
Where: Concordia University – 1455 Boulevard de Maisonneuve Ouest
Price: Varies according to screening

Kahnawake Pow Wow

The Kahnawake Pow Wow returns this weekend for its 29th annual event. This unique opportunity is a chance to discover Native dancing, music, food, and arts and crafts as you celebrate with the Mohawks of Kahnawake and take part in the Echoes of a Proud Nation Pow Wow.

The Pow Wow features tribal and smoke dancing, all-native craft booths, prizes and native cuisine food sampling.

When: July 13 and 14
Time: Saturday: 9 am – 10 pm, Sunday: 9 am – 5 pm
Where: Kahnawake Pow Wow Grounds
Price: $8

Shakespeare in the Park

The untraditional rendition of Shakespeare returned on July 11 and will run until August 11.

The long-running outdoor theatre event is celebrating its 31st year and takes on a Shakespearean classic this summer in the form of Measure for Measure. It’s a contemporary, gender-bent take on the classic love story.

When: From now until July 31
Time:  7 pm – 10 pm
Where: Various outdoor venues across Montreal
Price: Free

The Ethnic Show – Just For Laughs

One of Just For Laughs’ most celebrated series, The Ethnic Show returned this summer, totalling 19 shows.

The Ethnic Show is hosted by the hilarious Latina comedian, Cristela Alonzo, who recently became the first Latina woman to create, produce, write and star in her own US primetime comedy, Cristela, according to Just for Laughs.

She’ll be joined by Gina Yashere and Lebanese-Canadian comedian Dave Merheje.

When: From now until July 25
Time: 7 pm and 9:30 pm
Where: Club Soda
Price:$59.61, available online

Montreal Beachclub

Located in Pointe-Calumet, an easy 45-minute drive from Montreal, Beachclub is exactly what its name implies — a club on the beach.

The outdoor beach site can host up to 10,000 guests at a time, making it the largest outdoor club in North America.

This weekend’s headliner is none other than Shaggy. “It wasn’t me.”

When: Saturday, July 13
Time: 12 pm – 7 pm
Where: 701 Rue 38, Pointe-Calumet
Price: Prices for DJ events vary, tickets are available online

Sunday, July 14

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, July 14
Time: 12 pm until sunset
Where: Sir George-Etienne Cartier Monument
Price: Free

Piknic Electronik

Piknic Electronik returns for its tenth edition of 2019 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. Best of all – the show goes on rain or shine.

When: Sunday, July 14
Time: 2 pm – 9:30 pm
Where: Parc Jean Drapeau
Tickets: $16, available online

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, July 14
Time: 10 am – 6 pm
Where: Place des Vestiges, Old Port
Price: Prices vary depending on selected activities, tickets online

PY1 – Through the Echoes

The first-of-its-kind pyramid-shaped entertainment venue, PY1, created by Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté opened to the public this month and will continue its strong showing this weekend as well.

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 is slated to make its worldwide debut with Through the Echoes, a show produced exclusively for the pyramid, on June 1, located near the Clock Tower grounds in the Old Port.

When: Sunday, July 14
Time: Varies
Where: Montreal’s Old Port
Price: $28.50 – $51, available online

La Ronde

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

When: Sunday, July 14
Where: 22 Chemin Macdonald
When: 10:30 am – 8 pm (11:30 pm during the fireworks)
Price: Available online or at the box office

Montreal Clock Tower

The Montreal Clock Tower (Tour de l’Horloge) is now open to the general public so get ready to climb some steps to get your Instagram game buzzing.

The 45-metre-high tower, built in 1922, marks the entrance to the Old Port and pays tribute to the sailors lost at sea in wartime.

According to the Vieux-Port de Montreal website, the clock mechanism was made in England and is a replica of London’s Big Ben. “Like Big Ben,” reads the page, “its accuracy is legendary, and sailors would set their own timepieces by it.”

When: Sunday, July 14
Time: 9 am – 10 pm
Where: Quai de l’Horloge, Old Montreal
Price: Free

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

Le Lave-Auto

MURAL Fest may be done, but this art installation is here for keeps.

A Montreal car wash has undergone a complete transformation as part of the seventh edition of the street art festival.

World-renowned urban artist Joshua Vides, who is known for making real-life 3D objects appear as simple 2D black and white sketches, applied his signature treatment to a Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Lave-Auto Laurier, 40-year-old car wash at the corner of Saint-Urbain and Laurier.

It’s totally Instagram worthy.

When: Sunday, July 14
Where: 85 Avenue Laurier Ouest
Time: 8 am – 6 pm (until 7 pm on Thursday – Sunday)
Price: Free