The first weekend of the new month is expected to bring some warm and sunny weather with it as the city is bustling with worthwhile events to check out from May 3 to 5.
See also
- Drake praises Arya Stark during Billboard Music Awards speech (VIDEO)
- The Gay Village's iconic decorative balls have been set up for the last time (PHOTOS)
- Quebec woman shares devastating moments kayaking through her flooded home (VIDEO)
- Old Montreal's pirate ship obstacle course opens 7 days a week on May 17
Friday, May 3
Cirque Du Soleil: Alegria
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 3-5, 7-12, 15-19, 21-26, and 28-31
Time: 8 pm
Where: Big Top, Old Port – Jacques-Cartier Quay, de la Commune Street Est
Price: $150 – $412, available online
First Fridays
Les Premiers Vendredis/Facebook
It’s the first of the First Fridays as Montreal’s ‘Big O’ is about to turn into the Big “Oh My” as the city’s monthly food truck festival returns for its eighth annual season this weekend.
First Fridays is a special culinary event in which a variety of the city’s food trucks gather at the Olympic Stadium allowing Montrealers to gobble up dishes from dozens of local spots.
The festival, which calls itself “the largest street food fest in Canada,” is known to dish off everything from tacos and churros, to mac and cheese, burgers, and lobster rolls from over 40 participating eateries around Quebec.
The first First Friday kicks off on May 3, the festival is free to enter but unless you just plan on smelling everything, prices range per food truck.
When: Friday, May 3
Time: 4:30 pm – 11 pm
Where: Olympic Stadium
Price: Free admission
Becoming: An Intimate Conversation with Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama/Shutterstock
Former First Lady Michelle Obama is coming to Montreal this weekend.
Following a highly successful 2018 12-event arena tour across 10 cities, additional dates and cities have been added to Becoming: An Intimate Conversation with Michelle Obama.
This includes a stop in Montreal this at the Bell Centre.
As First Lady, and as the first African American to serve in that role, Obama helped create a welcoming and inclusive White House, while also establishing herself as a powerful advocate for women and girls everywhere.
When: Friday, May 3
Time: 8 pm
Where: Bell Centre, 1909 avenue des canadiens de Montreal
Price: $85 – $209.75, available online
Montreal Sketchfest
Things have gotten sketchy in Montreal – in a good way.
The 14th edition of Montreal Sketchfest has returned to the city for 10 days of live sketch comedy and laughs.
The Montreal Sketch Comedy Festival is an annual celebration of sketch comedy assembled by Le Nouveau International, a not-for-profit arts company that resides at Theatre Ste. Catherine.
Since its inception in 2006, the festival has welcomed over 300 troupes from all over the world.
When: From now until May 11
Time: Varying times
Where: Theatre Sainte-Catherine, Café Bar and Montreal Improv
Price: $15 – $65, available online
Salon de la Passion Médiévale
Shutterstock
A medieval convention is galloping its way towards Montreal this weekend, just in time for episode four of Game of Thrones.
Take it back to the 15th century as the Pierre-Charbonneau Center will be taken over by knights, queens, and kings as the Salon de la Passion Médiévale returns to our fair city.
This event will feature a plethora of medieval activities including combat sports, treasure and dragon hunting, and a masquerade costume competition.
The three-day event will be split up between outdoor and indoor activities, which will feature dozens of exhibitors.
When: May 3 – 5
Time: 5 pm – 10 pm (Friday), 10 am – 6 pm (Saturday), 10 am – 5 pm (Sunday)
Where: Pierre-Charbonneau Center
Price: $14 – $90, available online
Comedy at the Art Loft
comedyattheartloft/Facebook
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 week’s show is hosted by Quinn McMorrow and is headlined by the very funny Davis Heti. Featured acts include Aliya Kanani, Paul Baluyot, Jacy Lafontaine, Chris Sandiford, and Erickson Alisme.
The venue features a DJ and snacks. BYOB and it’s 420 friendly. Very 420 friendly.
When: Friday, May 3
Time: Doors open at 9 pm, show starts at 10:30 pm
Where: 4152 Boulevard Saint Laurent
Price: $10 at the door (cash only)
Saturday, May 4
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
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 4
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
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 4
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 4
Time: 10 am – 11 pm
Where: 362 rue de Commune Est
Price: $14.79 – $25
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: Saturday, May 4
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
Sunday, May 5
Tam-Tams
nadimsoued/Instagram
As if Montrealers needed any more indication that spring has sprung, Tam-Tams first official Sunday of 2019 kicks off on May’s first 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 5
Time: 12 pm until sunset
Where: Sir George-Etienne Cartier Monument
Price: Free
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 every episode of the final season 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 5
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 5
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 5
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 5
Time: 2pm – 10:30pm
Where: 3550 Rue St. Jacques
Price: $15-$30 depending on your chosen mission (per person). Make your reservation first online.
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 5
Time: 8 am – 3 am
Where: 6510 rue St-Jacques Ouest
Price: $5 per game plus $2.39 shoe rental (mandatory)
Follow Channels and Categories