21 things to do in Montreal today: Saturday, June 16

The sun will be shining long and strong today and it’s just as good too because there’s plenty of events and activities happening around Montreal today. So, don’t forget your sunblock, and enjoy a gorgeous Saturday, June 16.

Oka Beach

What a perfect day to lay on the beach.

Oka National Park boasts a gorgeous beach and a stunning view of Lake Deux Montagnes. They offer a variety of activities including canoeing, kayaking, biking and pedal boating or you can simply relax on the cozy sand.

The beach offers numerous picnic tables and several charcoal barbeques to use at your disposal. A lifeguard is always on duty.

When: From now until September 3
Time: 8 am – 7 pm
Where:  2020 Chemin d’Oka, Oka
Cost: Free

Afrotonik

If the beach is too far away, why not an urban beach?
Montreal’s Village a Pied-du-Courant is a beachside village that is set up along the Saint Lawrence River. This weekend, the urban park is hosting Afrotonik, a festival devoted to African music, DJs, dance and food.

Enjoy the sun in an African-themed beachside village.

When: Saturday June 16
Time: 4 pm – midnight
Where: 2100 rue Notre-Dame Est
Price: Free to enter

Mud Run Montreal

The Mud Run is a 6 km primal mud-based course that features over 18 obstacles. The course runs throughout Mount Saint Bruno’s forested land, open plains, and hills. A variety of mud-based obstacles are set up along the way as participants are encouraged to get as dirty as they want as they hunt for the finish line.

When: Saturday June 16
Time: 10 am – 4 pm
Where: 550 Rang des Ving-Cinq Est, Ski Saint-Bruno
Price: $41-$84, registration is done online

FrancoFolies

This is the last weekend of FrancoFolies! Headliners include Fred Fortin, Les Breastfeeders and Rapkeb Allstarz.

FrancoFolies de Montreal is the world’s largest French-speaking music festival. This weekend’s edition will be their 30th overall and will host 50 concerts on seven different venues across the city. You can expect to hear a variety of genres including hip-hop, rock, folk, and electro. The majority of these outdoor shows are also free.

When: From now until June 17
Time: 9 am – 5 pm
Where: Various venues in Montreal, check website for details
Price: Check out the free shows or paid shows online

Plantzy’s Cactus Sale

Plantzy’s shop will be offering a sale of cacti and succulents. Choose from a wide selection of plants to decorate your apartment, house, balcony, or windowsill to signify the start of summer. The shop has tropical plants and original creations for every budget.

When: Saturday June 16
Time: 12 pm – 5 pm
Where: 5445 av. de Gaspé

Island BBQ

If the Montreal roads aren’t inviting this weekend, stay on the island for a BBQ.

The Concordia Caribbean Student Union is hosting a BBQ at Don B Comber bar on Saint Laurent Street.

The Island BBQ  is an experience fusing the sound, taste & warmth of the Caribbean. The BBQ is offering ribs and jerk chicken along with DJs and a Caribbean surprise. Guests are asked to wear summer clothes.

When: Saturday June 16
Time: 3 pm – 9 pm
Where: 3616 Boulevard Saint Laurent
Price: $20

FolkFest sur le Canal

The 11th edition of the FolkFest sur le Canal is happening all weekend. A free music festival? By the water? Yes.

The festival is set up alongside the historic Lachine Canal and hosts an impressive list of folk genre music and artists from all over the world.

When: From now until June 17
Time: 12 pm – 8 pm
Where: 3653-3667 Rue Saint-Patrick, Centennial Esplanade
Price: Free

Montreal’s Mural Festival

When: From now until June 17
Time: 10 am – 7 pm
Where: Boulevard Saint Laurent between Sherbrooke and Mont Royal
Price: Free

Westmount Street Fest

Dozens of Westmount’s shops set up outlets alongside Sherbrooke Street and Father’s Day is the last day of the festival. Restaurant boutiques and bar kiosks are also set up outside and live bands and BBQs also join the party.

The shops all have sales on old items and showcase new items. Take a stroll around the gorgeous Westmount neighbourhood and maybe even bump into a good sale or two.

When: From now until June 17
Where: Sherbrooke Street from Claremont to Victoria
Time: 8 am – 5 pm

Montreal Science Centre

Check out how some of the animal kingdom’s most ferocious predators hunt and survive in 3D at the Montreal Science Centre.

Incredible Predators 3D is an immersive IMAX laser experience that gives the audience an opportunity to watch the polar bear, the cheetah, and the blue whale deploy their prowess in incredible detail with crystalline images and thundering sounds.

This is the last weekend of the exhibition so get in before it’s gone!

When: From now until June 18
Where: 2 rue de la Commune Ouest
Time: 10 am – 5 pm
Price: $10.50 – $12, available online

Montreal Beachclub

 

Montreal Beachclub is the host of North America’s biggest outdoor club. Located in Pointe-Calumet, an easy 45-minute drive from Montreal, Beachclub can host up to 10,000 guests. The club is beachside and forms an intriguing fuse of the beach and electric dance music.

This weekend’s headliners are Eve and Carl Cox.

When: June 15, 16, and 17
Time: Friday: 10 am – 6 pm, Saturdays and Sundays: Noon – 7 pm
Where: 701 Rue 38, Pointe-Calumet
Price: Friday: $12, Saturday and Sunday: $15 (subject to change when special events are held) Prices for DJ events vary, tickets are available online

Kirkland Day

The South Shore’s district, Kirkland is celebrating the arrival of summer with a day that involves a BBQ, drinks, games for kids, live music, rides and fireworks, all for free!

When: Saturday June 16
Time: 12 pm – 10:30 pm
Where: Parc des Bénévoles, Kirkland
Price: Free

Street Paella

Street Paella runs concurrently with Mural Fest. Montreal-based chef Luis “Tigretón” Leon, of Libreria Española restaurant is set up along Boulevard Saint Laurents in a tiny tent, cooking fresh mussels and black rice, shrimp, chicken, and chorizo paella in a giant wok, right in front of Mural Fest’s hundreds of daily visitors.

When: From now until June 17
Time: 12 pm – 8 pm
Where: 3811 Boulevard Saint Laurent
Price: $3 – $12

SkatePark Père-Marquette

SkatePark Père-Marquette is Montreal’s newest outdoor skatepark.  The skatepark was designed by local skaters with the help of Groupe BC2 and Spectrum Skateparks. The park’s opening schedule features workshops, a skills competition, free skate and group contests. There’s also a built-in sound system so skaters can blast some tunes.

When: Saturday June 16 is the park’s launch
Time: 10 am – 7 pm
Where: Parc Père-Marquette, Boulevard Rosemont and Rue Garnier
Price: Free

Aquazilla

Beat today’s heat by staying afloat on an inflatable obstacle course at Parc Jean Drapeau.

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

When: From now until August 26 and September 1-3
Time: 10 am – 7 pm
Where: Parc Jean Drapeau
Cost: 6 – 13 years: $13 for an hour/$25 unlimited, 14 and over: $15 for an hour/$28 unlimited, tickets available on-site

Saint-Henri Pop Up Sale

Saint Henri’s Pop Up Sale will feature a collection of shops, boutiques and outlets selling a summer sale of clothes, vintage records, old books and jewelry. There will also be a food truck on site and local DJs spinning beats.

When: Saturday June 16
Time: 10 am – 6 p
Where: 175 Rose-de-Lima
Price: Free to enter

NDG’s Colourful Saturdays

Swing by NDG’s Benny Library and de-stress by colouring and/or painting a variety of different scenes. The library provides coloured markers, pencils, crayons and colouring canvas, and books. Just show up and let your creativity run wild the rest of your afternoon.

When: Saturdays
Time: 11 am to 1 pm
Where: Benny’s Library, 6400 Avenue de Monkland
Price: Free

Shane Torres at the Comedy Nest

Shane Torres is a big, long haired, hilarious comedian. And he’s not afraid to let you know it. You may recognize Torres from Conan, he engages his audience with very out-there humour . The show also features two funny locals, Matt Shury and Paul Baluyot as well as Just for Laughs vet Derek Supple. Check out all the comic’s improvisational wit tonight at the Comedy Nest.

The shows are 18+ and last 90 minutes.

When: Saturday June 16
Time: 8 pm & 10:30
Where: 2312 Rue Saint Catherine
Price: $15, tickets available at the door or online

RoboCup 2018

RoboCup helps promote innovation and learning in the field of robotics through Primary, Secondary and Post-Graduate levels. The exhibit shows an array of different technological techniques used in robotics.

Just the RoboCup’s pun name alone should make you interested.

When: From now until June 22
Time: 8 am – 7 pm
Where: Palais des Congrès
Price: $23, available online

Old Port Carriage Ride

The city of Montreal officially announced this past week that Montreal’s tradition of horse-drawn carriages will be put to an end by 2020. Take a soothing stroll through the antique part of Montreal while you still can on this gorgeous Saturday.

When: Every day until October
Time: 8 am – 11 pm
Where: Various locations in Montreal’s Old Port
Price: $15 – $40 depending on length of trip

Billy Bubbles Waffle Shop

Billy Bubbles is a Hong-Kong based waffle shop that is newly opened.

The shop specializes in a variety of gourmet toppings inside a freshly fried, crispy waffle cone. Beat the heat by checking out the new shop in the ever-popular Mile End.

When: Billy Bubbles is now open, year round
Time: 5 pm – 9 pm (temporary hours) 12:30 pm – 9 pm (eventual hours)
Where: 152 Rue Napoleon
Price: $3 – $8

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