34 things to do in Montreal this long weekend: May 17 to 20

P!nk

Alegria by Cirque du Soleil

The world-renowned Cirque du Soleil production is returning home all May.

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: May 17 – 19
Time: 8 pm
Where: Big Top, Old Port – Jacques-Cartier Quay, de la Commune Street Est
Price: $150 – $412, available online

Gary Vider at the Comedy Nest

As seen on Conan and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Vider is one of only four comedians ever to make it to the Final 10 on America’s Got Talent.

Vider uses his laid back style to open up about his annual income, having a roommate, and dating.

Check him out this weekend at one of Montreal’s most renowned comedy clubs, the Comedy Nest.

When: May 17 and 18
Time: 8 pm
Where: 2312 Rue Saint Catherine
Price: $12 general, $6 students. Tickets available at the door or online

Metro Metro Festival

Festival Metro Metro/Facebook

Montreal is getting a brand new music festival and it will be headlined by Cardi B and Snoop Dogg – a nice start.

The inaugural Metro Metro music festival is being labelled as the country’s “biggest urban music fest” and will feature over 45 local and international artists across two stages for two days this weekend at the Olympic Stadium.

When: May 18 and 19
Time: TBA
Where: l’Esplanade Financière Sun Life, Olympic Stadium
Price: $170, available

21 Swings

grantalias/ Instagram

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

Party like Gatsby

Get ready to party like Gatsby, old sport.

Guests are asked to dress in their finest attire and feel the vibrant pulse of the Golden Twenties.

When: Friday, May 17
Time: 9 pm – 3 am
Where: Realto Theatre, 5723 avenue du Parc
Price: Available online

Festival Wes Anderson

Marché Noir is hosting a Wes Anderson film festival all weekend. Each film costs $2 to watch and will be presented in English with French subtitles.

The impressive schedule is lined up like so:

Friday, May 17:
3 pm: Bottle Rocket
5 pm: Rushmore
7 pm: Royal Tenenbaums

Saturday, May 18:
3 pm: The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
5 pm: The Darjeeling Limited
7 pm: Fantastic Mr. Fox

Sunday, May 19:
3 pm: Moonrise Kingdom
5 pm: The Grand Budapest Hotel
7 pm: Isle of Dogs

When: May 17 – 19
Time: 2:45 pm – 9:45 pm
Where: Le Marché Noir, 1358 rue Ontario
Price: $2 per film

Pouzza 9 Festival

Pouzza 9/Facebook

Over 175 bands will be at the Quartier des Spectacles this weekend, all playing throughout the weekend at various prices (some of which are free).

Here’s a little taste of who’s performing: Against Me!, Andrew W.K., Strung Out, The Planet Smashers, Subb, Samiam, Big D and the Kids Table, Ogikubo Station, Guerilla Poubelle, The Smoking Popes, Night Birds, and Sincere Engineer.

Check out the website for a full list of bands and details.

When: May 17 – 19
Time: 10 am – 2 am
Where: Quartier des Spectacles
Price: Various prices, tickets available online

Saturday, May 18

La Ronde

La Ronde – PAGE OFFICIELLE/Facebook

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

Though the weather forecast may not be on our side, try battling The Goliath, get rocked on Le Ednor or check out the park’s newest ride, Chaos.

When: Saturday, May 18
Where: 22 Chemin Macdonald
When: 10:30 am – 8 pm (11:30 pm during the fireworks)
Price: Available online or at the box office

The Planet Smashers Concert

Channel the early 2000s with a free concert headlined by The Planet Smashers who will be joined by a slew of other great local bands.

Featured acts include: Strung Out, Big D and the Kids Table, DIRECT HIT!, Ogikubo Station, The Doped Up Dollies, Alex Brown and The Hepcats, and The Anti-Queens.

When: Saturday, May 18
Time: 10 am – 10:30 pm
Where: Quartier des Spectacles
Price: Free

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: Saturday, May 18
Time: 10 am – 6 pm
Where: Place des Vestiges, Old Port
Price: Prices vary depending on selected activities, tickets online

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, May 18
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

Jeux d’échecs géants

Gary Burke/Flickr

Montreal is going to be enlarging a classic hobby this month for you to check(mate) out.

Four giant, playable, chess sets are returning to the Quartier des Spectacles from now until May 31 and it’s free to play.

The giant boards consist of all the required pieces to play an official game and each piece is made out of a light plastic that’s easily moveable.

Sure, it might be a little more difficult to strike your opponent’s queen emphatically, but that’s all part of the fun.

The outdoor chess sets will work on a first come, first served basis as there’s no registration or sign-up required.

When: From now until May 31
Time: 10 am – 8 pm
Where: Corner of Ste. Catherine and rue Jeanne Mance
Price: Free

Lil Jon – New City Gas

New City Gas/Facebook

What? Yeah!

Lil Jon is going to be spinning beats at New City Gas, as a special guest to the Festival Metro Metro after party.

When: Saturday, May 18
Time: 10 pm – 3 am
Where: New City Gas, 950 rue Ottawa
Price: online$16 – $36, available

Our DNA

Quartier des Spectacles

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

Yoko Ono’s Arising

Vigfus Birgisson/Reykjavik Art Museum

Yoko Ono’s new art exhibition debut in Montreal at the end of April.

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

mbamtl/Instagram

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, May 18
Time: 10 am – 5 pm
Where: Musée des beaux-arts de Montreal, 1380 rue Sherbrooke
Price: $16 – $24, available online

La Grande Roue de Montréal

http://www.lagranderouedemontreal.com

Hit up Canada’s largest observational wheel and take in some absolutely breathtaking views of the city, during the weekend. Not to mention, some primetime photo ops that’ll make your Instagram crowd jealous.

When: Saturday, May 18
Time: 10 am – 11 pm
Where: 362 rue de Commune Est
Price: $14.79 – $25

Sunday, May 19

Tam-Tams

nadimsoued/Instagram

Tam-Tams returned to the city last week 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, May 19
Time: 12 pm until sunset
Where: Sir George-Etienne Cartier Monument
Price: Free

Piknic Electronik

Piknic Electronik

The first Piknic Electronik party of 2019 kicks off 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, May 19
Time: 2 pm – 9:30 pm
Where: Parc Jean Drapeau
Tickets: $16, available online

Fabuleux Chez Serge – Game of Thrones Viewing Party

Fabuleux Chez Serge/Facebook

“This last season should not be watched alone,” claims the popular Fabuleux Chez Serge, who will be screening the series final 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, May 19
Time: 8 pm
Where: Fabuleux Chez Serge, 4281 boulevard Saint-Laurent
Price: Free admission

iSaute Kirkland

ISaute/Facebook

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, May 19
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

Old Port of Montreal

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, May 19
Time: Various times
Where: 2 de la Commune Ouest
Price: $10.50 – $12, available online

Amaze Escape Room

You escaped the winter’s cold, now try to get out of an escape room.

Try your luck at escaping from a prison, military facility, lost temple, or laboratory. Make a reservation, choose your adventure and then you have anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to get out of any respective room. Each mission is reserved solely for your group and you’re given a walkie-talkie in case you need hints/get scared.

When: Sunday, May 19
Time: 2pm – 10:30pm
Where: 3550 Rue St. Jacques
Price: $15-$30 depending on your chosen mission (per person). Make your reservation first online.

Musée Grévin Montreal

Grévin Wax Museum/ Facebook

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: Sunday, May 19
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

Rose Bowl Bowling

Bowling / Shutterstock

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, May 19
Time: 8 am – 3 am
Where: 6510 rue St-Jacques Ouest
Price: $5 per game plus $2.39 shoe rental (mandatory)

Monday, May 20

Invasion Cocktail

Invasion Cocktail

Returning for its sixth edition, Invasion Cocktail will take place in over 30 bars and restaurants across Montreal and Quebec City. Throughout the week, more than 250 cocktails will be crafted by the province’s greatest bartenders and mixologists.

The festival’s goal is to “allow cocktail lovers to discover new spirits, brands and establishments,” reads the Invasion Cocktail website. “The festival also aims to promote education to industry professionals by introducing Pro Days, a series of seminars hosted by the biggest names in international mixology.”

When: May 20 – 31
Time: Varies per location
Where: Various locations around Montreal
Time: Varies per location

May The Force Be With You

Join FCConnect at Force Academy for a legendary light saber battle tournament. They sabers might not be real, but the pride is.

When: Monday May 20
Time: 5:45 pm – 7 pm
Where: 4767 rue Dagenais
Price: Free

Nous Pour Vous – Stand Up Show

Olympia de Montreal/Facebook

Rachid Badouri is hosting a stand-up gala with event proceeds going towards the province’s flood victims. The French comedy show features a slew of great Quebecois comedians at the timeless Olympia Theatre.

When: Monday, May 20
Time: 8 pm – 11 pm
Where: Olympia de Montreal, 1004 Ste. Catherine Est
Price: $61.24, available online

The World’s Smallest Open Mic

From big-time comics to the more localized scene, comedians Walter J Lyng and Vance Michel host what they call “the smallest open mic show in the world.” The acts aren’t small, the venue is.

The weekly show features some veteran comics sprinkled in with newbies.

The event organizers warn that only 20 seats are available. Cozy, intimate stand-up comedy is the best kind.

When: Monday, May 20
Time: 8 pm – 10 pm
Where: Hurley’s Irish Pub, 1225 rue Crescent
Price: $5

McKibbin’s Pub Stumpers

Africa Studio/Shutterstock

Test your trivia knowledge at McKibbin’s Irish Pub. The pub’s trivia has 5 rounds; general knowledge multiple choice, short answer, a picture round and a music round. The winner of each round receives free drinks or a round of shots. A round for a round – good trade.

When: Monday, May 20
Time: 7:30 pm – 10 pm
Where: 1426 rue Bishop
Price: Free to play (with purchase of a beverage)

Encore Books & Records

Encore Books & Records is a cozy, family-run bookshop that sells and buys used books and records.

It’s primetime park and reading time, and the store is crammed from the floor-to-ceiling and their prices are just as good as the selection.

Head into Encore and grab yourself a cheap book, find a nice park (Girouard Park is right out front of the shop) or patio, and get lost in a little bit of literature.

When: Encore Books is open year round
Time: 11 am to 9 pm
Where: 5670 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest

London Pub’s Industry Night

If you want to keep the long weekend party going on Monday night, head to London Pub.

They offer industry nights on Mondays. It’s designed to offer inexpensive drinks to bar, pub, and restaurant staff from around the city but it’s slowly morphed into drink deals for everybody. Grab a $4 single or a $3 shot of Jameson. Plus they have a free dart board and an in-house jukebox.

When: Monday, May 20
Time: 7 pm – 3 am
Where: 1337 Boulevard Maisonneuve Ouest
Price: Free to enter, drink deals vary.

Putting Edge Mini-Putt

Putting Edge

With golf season quickly approaching, you might want to hone your putting skills.

Putting Edge is an indoor mini-putt course that (besides having a great name), glows in the dark. Every hole has Canadian-based trivia questions plus the venue has an arcade and they serve alcohol. Need we say more?

When: Monday, May 20
Time: 10 am – 1 am
Where: 1259 rue Guy
Price: $11.99