28 things to do in Montreal this weekend: July 19 to 21

Just For Laughs

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Just For Laughs

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Parc Jean-Drapeau

Just For Laughs

Alegria by Cirque du Soleil

The world-renowned Cirque du Soleil production will be at the Big Top all weekend.

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: Saturday, July 20
Time: 8 pm
Where: Big Top, Old Port – Jacques-Cartier Quay, de la Commune Street Est
Price: $150 – $412, available online

This Light Never Goes Out – Jim Carrey Exhibition

JimCarrey/Twitter

A new art exhibition featuring works from Jim Carrey is will be on display in Montreal all summer and this steamy weekend might be a good time to check out some art (and you know, air conditioning).

As part of the Phi Centre’s commitment to celebrating technology-based media, the arts centre will present the world premiere of This Light Never Goes Out, featuring over 50 of the actor’s works in an exhibition that will run from June 20 to September 1.

“Jim Carrey is known to most people as a comedic genius on the silver screen, but since 2016, his Twitter feed has been the canvas for a series of satirical and subversive cartoons, penned in response to headlining news,” reads the Phi Centre’s description.

Carrey’s cartoons weigh in on the American political right, focusing on many who are abusing their power in the United States.

When: Saturday, July 20
Time: 10 am – 10 pm
Where: Phi Centre, 315 St-Paul Ouest
Price: $12.40, available online

Stand Up Paddle Boarding – Parc Jean Drapeau

The St-Lawrence River is a gorgeous sight to look at and this weekend, 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.

Paddleboard rentals start at $20 an hour and $10 for each additional hour. They also offer wetsuits to rent for $7 as well as a group 10-rental deal for $150.

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

Rachelle Elie: Lady Rash

Just For Laughs

Award-winning comedian, Rachelle Elie performs an hour of stand-up comedy. Her act fuses sex, drugs, and teenage boys while “she tackles it all with comedy magic and glitter.”

The Show Score from New York City claims, “Elie could easily have been the love child of Carol Burnett and Lenny Bruce.”

High praise.

When: Saturday, July 20
Time: 9 pm
Where: Scene Bell Zoofest Outdoor Stage
Price: Free

Parc Safari

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Parc Safari opened its gates daily to their 47th season last month.

The park 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: Saturday, July 20
Time: 10 am – 5 pm
Where: 280 Rang Roxham, Hemmingford
Price: Prices vary depending on age. Tickets available at the entrance or online

Horos – A Virtual Voyage

HOROS by PHENOMENA VR Escape Game in Montreal from Phenomena on Vimeo.

Regular ‘real-life’ escape rooms are so 2018.

The Old Port is hosting “Horos” all summer, a free-roam virtual reality escape room that “blurs the lines between what is real and what is imaginary.”

Produced by AR/VR company Phenomena, the escape room blends interactive development with content creation and scenography, giving guests a “turnkey location-based experience.”

The VR voyage of Horos is a two-player immersive game that allows users to simultaneously walk freely in a virtual world which is synchronized to physical space.

When: Saturday, July 20
Time: 10 am – 10 pm
Where:  Old Montreal (in front of the Science Center)
Price: $15, available online

Sunday, July 21

Montreal ToyCon

Eventbrite

From Funko pop, action figures, statues, plush toys, high-end collectibles, comics, and video games, the Courtyard by Marriott is hosting a giant toy festival for everyone to enjoy.

When: Sunday, July 21
Time: 10 am – 4 pm
Where: Courtyard by Marriott Montreal Airport
Price: Free admission

Figure It Out with Mike Carrozza

Mike Carrozza/Facebook

Figure It Out is part stand-up show, part late night chat as Montreal comedian Mike Carrozza injects his trademark silliness into his show, as he riffs with a variety of different guests.

When: Sunday, July 21
Time: 9 pm
Where: Scene Bell Zoofest Outdoor Stage
Price: Free

Tam-Tams

nadimsoued/Instagram

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 21
Time: 12 pm until sunset
Where: Sir George-Etienne Cartier Monument
Price: Free

Piknic Electronik

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 21
Time: 2 pm – 9:30 pm
Where: Parc Jean Drapeau
Tickets: $16, 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: Sunday, July 21
Time: 10 am – 6 pm
Where: Place des Vestiges, Old Port
Price: Prices vary depending on selected activities, tickets online

Leonard Cohen Mural

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Crescent Street’s iconic Leonard Cohen mural is lit.

Actually.

Last week, the 8,500-square-metre mural, Tower of Songs, that pays tribute to the late singer-songwriter was lit up with four projectors.

Though the newly lit mural is expected to be a mainstay on Crescent Street, head over to snap some pictures before everyone else does.

When: Sunday, July 21
Time: 24/7
Where: Crescent Street
Price: Free

PY1 – Through the Echoes

py1_experience/Instagram

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 21
Time: Varies
Where: Montreal’s Old Port
Price: $28.50 – $51, available online

La Ronde

La Ronde – PAGE OFFICIELLE/Facebook

Quebec’s biggest amusement park opened last month and it’s sure to be busy this weekend as well.

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

When: Sunday, July 21
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

Old Port of Montreal

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 21
Time: 9 am – 10 pm
Where: Quai de l’Horloge, Old Montreal
Price: Free

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

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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

CNW Group/Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc.

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 21
Where: 85 Avenue Laurier Ouest
Time: 8 am – 6 pm (until 7 pm on Thursday – Sunday)
Price: Free

Aquazilla

Parc Jean Drapeau

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

Aquazilla, the floating obstacle course on water, is returning to the man-made island again this summer as it preps to launch (maybe literally) on June 19.

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.

Aquazilla features a wiggle bridge (every obstacle course needs a wiggle bridge), trampoline, climbing towers, a variety of slides, monkey bars, a giant swing, a plank, flip bags, and an infinite loop.

When: From now until August 25
Time: 10 am – 7 pm
Where: Parc Jean Drapeau
Price: Ages six to 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)