It’s already the mid-point of October and Mother Nature is rewarding us by going full tilt on fall weather.
We’re slated for a gorgeous Friday day before getting cold again on Sunday so prep your best sweater-weather wardrobe for the start of the weekend and bundle up at the end of it as we’ve given you 27 things to check out in the city this weekend, October 19 to 21.
Friday, October 19
Blade Runner 2049 Screening
Celebrate Quebec-native’s Denis Villeneuve’s sequel to the classic science-fiction drama Blade Runner at the timeless Cinéma Moderne and take a peak into the future of 2049.
When: Friday, October 19
Time: 8:35 pm – 11:35 pm
Where: Cinéma Moderne, 5150 boulevard St-Laurent
Price: $15, 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.
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.
When: Friday, October 19
Time: 8:30 pm – 10 pm
Where: 1219 Boulevard Saint Laurent
Price: $26.50, available online
Malefycia’s Zone 4
If Montreal’s old Red Light District doesn’t creep you out enough, check out Zone 4 for some serious frights. Malefycia’s Zone 4 is a fuse between the traditional haunted house and interactive theatre.
The event uses custom-built scenarios with professional actors, props and settings to bring their guests’ worst nightmares into reality.
This year’s theme is called Zone 4 and it focuses on military experiments gone wrong and the event’s antagonist, as per the Malefycia website, is “the most dangerous of all demons: the man.”
When: October 19-21, 25-31
Time: 5 pm – 12 am
Where: 2085 rue Drummond
Price: $35 – $55, available online
MAPP_MTL Map Festival
MAPP_MTL is a non-profit organization with the mission of promoting and developing the boundless potential of projection mapping.
In collaboration with Moment Factory (known for illuminating the Jacques Cartier Bridge), the festival features music, visual arts and tons of you guess it, mapping.
Today is the festival’s last day and it’s definitely worthy of checking out.
When: Friday, October 19
Time: Various times
Where: Various neighbourhoods around Montreal
Price: Free
Au Contraire Film Festival
The Au Contraire Film Festival goes beyond just screening films. The festival engages the Montreal community to experience films that educate, challenge and entertain its audience.
The Au Contraire Film Festival strives to erase the stigma and dispel the myths surrounding mental illness. In partnership with the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, the ACFF is a signature initiative of Urban Pardes, a registered charity benefiting mental health initiatives.
When: Friday, October 19
Time: 1 pm, 3 pm, 7 pm and 10 pm
Where: Maxwell Cummings Auditorium, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
Price: Varies per film
Montreal Burlesque Festival
For two nights this weekends, two events will feature costumes, dancing, music and cabaret flaunting the best of male, female and non-binary performers on stage at the renowned Club Soda.
The weekend will feature sensuality, empowerment, education, fashion and after parties showered with cocktails, champagne and a whole lot of dancing for the city’s 10th annual Burlesque Festival.
When: October 19 and 20
Time: Doors at 7 pm, show at 8 pm
Where: Club Soda – 1225 Boulevard St. Laurent
Price: $42 – $179.25
The Braderie de Québécoise
With Halloween circled at the end of the month, nobody wants to spend even more money on clothes.
That’s where the Braderie comes in handy. The festival promotes high-end fashion for low-end prices.
Kollontai, Stefano, Ca va de soi, Veinage, Furlux, Myco Anna, Message Factory, Creation Encore, and many other familiar names will be offering discounts as well as popular accessories and jewellery.
When: From now until October 21
Time: 10 am – 6 pm
Where: Marché Bonsecours
Price: Free admission
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 always packed with people. It feels like a college party, except a comedian is speaking into a microphone.
This week’s headliner is Amanda McQueen and the show is hosted by the very funny Quinn McMorrow, along with featured acts Ernie Vicente, Joshua Clarke, Dominique Bottex, Romanelli Perso, Jacob Meza and Jason Celin.
There will be a DJ and snacks. BYOB and 420 friendly. Very 420 friendly.
When: Friday, October 19
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, October 20
Festival SPASM
Besides candy and costumes, Halloween is all about scaring people. And what’s a better way to scare people than with a horror movie festival?
Returning for its 17th edition, the SPASM film festival was created to encourage and explore the various horror genre films from Quebec cinema and international French films.
Sure, Hocus Pocus and Casper were scary when you were a kid, but SPASM aims to showcase all films that are gruesome, quirky, terrifying, thrilling and edge-of-your-seat enjoyable.
When: October 19 – 27
Time: Varying times
Where: 1225 Boulevard Saint Laurent – Club Soda
Price: $20.25, available online
Le Salon du Disque Vinyl Expo
Aux 33 Tours and Disques Beatnick are bringing a massive record convention to Montreal on Saturday.
More than 40 stands filled with vinyl, CDs, cassettes, magazines and everything music-related. There will be DJ sets during the convention and entrance is free to all from 10:00 am.
Guests who want a first crack at the rarest items will be charged $20 from 8 am to 10 am.
When: Saturday, October 21st
Time: 8 am – 8 pm
Where: 5035 Rue St-Dominique
Price: Free – $20, available at the door
IF3 Festival
The International IF3 Festival returns to Montreal this weekend. IF3 is dedicated to screening and rewarding freeskiing and snowboarding movies. Held annually at the end of October in Montreal, IF3 was created in 2007 by Félix Rioux, Doug Bishop and Jean-Francis Durocher.
When: October 19 and 20
Time: 10 am – 8 pm (12 pm on Friday)
Where: 8931 Avenue Papineau
Price: $4 – $15
Montreal Vegan Festival
This two-day festival is headlined by Quebec-native Jean-Philippe Cyr, known as “The Buddhist Chef.” Cyr is a classically trained chef who specializes in vegan and cruelty-free recipes and cooking.
Besides offering a variety of vegan-based dishes for purchase, the festival will host a culinary demonstration where guests can witness a collection of renowned, local, chefs cooking up tasty vegan meals.
When: October 20 – 21
Time: 10 am – 6 pm (until 5 pm on Sunday)
Where: Palais de congrès
Price: Free admission
Quebec Deathfest
Deathfest aims to bring Montreal the best and most extreme bands the underground has to offer. They claim to never conform to trends, or being limited by genre restrictions, Deathfest wants to showcase what extreme music, both old and new is capable of.
Expect to hear a variety of death metal, grindcore, doom trash, hardcore, black metal and experimental bands from all over the world.
It’s going to be really loud.
When: October 19 and 20
Time: 9 pm – 3 am
Where: Foufounes Electriques and The Katacombes
Price: $20 – $140, available online
Pumpkinferno
Pumpkinferno (besides having a great name) showcases over 7,000 handcrafted pumpkins which are lit up at night along a one-kilometre path set against a 19th-century backdrop. Some are individual pumpkins and some are fused together to make some outstanding art.
When: October 19 – 21 and 25 – 28
Time: 7 pm – 10 pm
Where: Upper Canada Village – County Road 2
Price: $12 – $16
Haunted Mountain
Haunted Montreal conducts Ghost Walks and carries out research into ghost sightings, paranormal activities, historic hauntings, unexplained mysteries, and strange legends from Mont Royal.
Join a tour conducted by professional actors and storytellers and learn about the mountain’s frightening past.
When: Saturday, October 20
Time: 8:30 pm
Where: Fletcher’s Field – Jeanne Mance Park
Price: $23
La Ronde’s Fright Fest
As if La Ronde’s wild rides aren’t scary enough, they’ve added some ghouls, zombies and witches to the park this month to give thrill-seekers some added jolts at Quebec’s biggest amusement park.
Fright Fest returns for select days in October, it’s a spooky time as costumed monsters take over the park at night.
The park will offer a wide variety of places to get your scare on including new haunted houses, scare zones, frightening mazes and themed rides.
When: October 20 and 21
Time: 11 am – 10 pm
Where: La Ronde – 22 Chemin Macdonald
Price: Varying prices
The Exorcist Screening
Is it even Halloween without a screening of arguably the scariest movie of all time?
Cinema du Parc will be screening midnight showings of the frightening film that launched a new era of horror films. The 1973 film directed by William Friedkin may be dated but it still holds up. You won’t be able to get the sight of Linda Blair’s backwards head out of your mind.
The film will be screened in English. Screaming will happen in any language.
When: Saturday, October 20
Time: 11:30 pm
Where: Cinema du Parc, 3575 avenue Parc
Price: $13, available online
Pumpkin Picking at Petch Orchards
Just 45 minutes from the city, Petch Orchards gives Montrealers the chance to pick pumpkins, pears, and plums at their quaint farm in the gorgeous area of Hemmingford.
In addition to the fruit and veg, the farm produces some of the best apple cider and apple juice in the province. Be warned: Their donuts are as delicious as they are addictive.
When: Saturday, October 20
Where: 431 Route 202, Hemmingford
Time: 9 am – 6 pm
Price: Prices vary
Sunday, October 21
Gardens of Light
October means it’s that time of year when Montreal’s botanical gardens light up for the
magical Gardens of Light Festival. The festival started last month but coupled with the fall foliage, now is the perfect time to go.
The lantern festival includes a lighted path through the Botanical Garden’s three cultural gardens, The Chinese, Japanese and First Nations Gardens, all looking at nature from a different perspective.
When: Sunday, October 21
Time: 6 pm – 9 pm (until 10 pm on Fridays and Saturdays)
Where: Montreal’s Botanical Gardens
Price: $10.25 – $20.50
Steve Martin and Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget
The legendary, comedic duo of Steve Martin and Martin Short will be recalling their iconic careers, creative influences and memorable encounters presented in a blend of stand-up comedy, musical sets and conversations about their lives in show business.
When: Sunday, October 21
Time: 8 pm
Where: Place des Arts, 175 rue Ste. Catherine
Price: $133.75 – $192.25, available online
Parc Safari Zoo
Get your animal fix by heading to Parc Safari, an easy 40-minute drive off the island. The park offers an optional Safari Adventure upon entering, you can drive up and see a variety of exotic animals from your car including zebras, ostriches, buffalo, llamas, and camels.
Inside the park, take a walk down the Forest Trail where you have an amazing vantage point view of monkeys, hyenas, and bears. Don’t forget the lions, but we didn’t have to tell you that.
When: Weekends in October
Time: 10 am – 5 pm
Where: 280 Rang Roxham, Hemmingford
Price: Prices vary depending on age. Tickets available at the entrance or online
Andrea Bocelli at the Bell Centre
Andrea Bocelli is a worldwide treasure.
He has one of the most recognizable voices in the entire world and his singing ability triggers so much passion and emotion in listeners.
The people of Montreal will have a chance to hear Bocelli live on Sunday when the legendary opera singer stops by the Bell Centre as part of his Andrea Bocelli in Concert Tour.
When: Sunday, October 21
Time: 7:30 pm
Where: Bell Centre – 1909 avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal
Price: $154.25 – $414.25
The MTL Grand Open Round 7
The sixth round (of 10) features nine of Montreal’s funniest comedians battling out for their chance to win a $1000 grand prize.
Grand… prize… get it?
Round 7 includes an impressive slate of comedians, hosted by Troy Stark: Michael Friedman, Daniel Carin, Inés P. Anaya, Nazeer Khan, Darragh Mondoux, Tatyana Olal
Dan Kestler- D’Amours, and Travis Cannon.
When: Sunday, October 21
Time: Doors at 7:30 pm, show at 8 pm
Where: Mckibbin’s Irish Pub – 1426 Bishop Street
Price: $5
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), before the cold weather hits you. They are over 100 feet in length and range from two feet high for the young pirates to 35 feet for Peter Pan wannabes.
The obstacle course features 61 different activities between the Royal Ship and the Pirate Ship. Activities include zip lining, rock climbing, and bouncy castles.
When: From now until October 26
Time: 10 am – 6 pm
Where: Place des Vestiges, Old Port
Price: Online Prices vary depending on selected activities, tickets
Gad Elmaleh: The Dream Tour
Whoa, there’s a lot of star power in town on Sunday.
When: Sunday, October 21
Time: 8 pm – 11 pm
Where: Olympia, 1004 rue Ste. Catherine Est
Price: $65.84 – $89.43, available online
Notre-Dame Basilica
Celebrate Sunday mass at Montreal’s most viewed structure at 11 am and hear a 25-person choir accompanied by the organ. Or, take a walking tour of the basilica which is an absolutely gorgeous spectacle. It is filled with hundreds of wooden carvings, several religious statues, and gigantic stained glass windows.
When: Sunday, October 21
Time: 12:30 pm – 4 pm on Sundays (mass starts at 11 am)
Where: 110 Rue Notre Dame Ouest
Price: Free