Montreal has festivities taking place all through the year including concerts, festivals, fairs and sporting events.
The list below presents an overview of the major events in the Montreal area.
January
Montreal International Auto Show
New cars and trucks along with the latest accessories draw crowds of appreciative automotive fans. Call (514) 331-6571 for more information.
Fete des Neiges
Fete de Neiges, Montreal’s largest outdoor winter event with dog-sled rides, tube rides and more, attracts families and outdoors enthusiasts on weekends from late January through early February. Call (514) 872-6120 for more information.
Wildside Festival
Montreal’s first festival of the year starts at the Centaur Theatre with reasonably priced shows already winning a fair share of acclaim. Call (514) 288-3161 for more information.
February
Fete des Neiges
Fete de Neiges, Montreal’s largest outdoor winter event with participants dressed up in polar bear suits, dog-sled rides, tube rides, snow sculptures and more, attracts families and outdoors enthusiasts on weekends from late January through early February. Call (514) 872-6120 for more information.
Can-Fit-Pro Montreal Conference and Trade Show
Fairmont the Queen Elizabeth Hotel hosts the largest health and fitness trade convention in Quebec which includes exhibits and good deals on the latest in fitness equipment and gear, as well as lectures and workshops led by fitness industry leaders. Call (800) 667-5622 for more information.
Festival Montreal en Lumiere
In February and March, Montreal’s theaters, dance organizations, museums and restaurants team up for multimedia light shows and culinary extravaganzas. Nearly a dozen downtown buildings are lit up to add magic to the frosty air. Call (514) 288-9955 for more information.
Cottage and Country Home Show
In mid-February, over 400 exhibitors gather at Olympic Stadium (Stade Olympique) to present ideas for decorating, renovating, purchasing, and renting country homes. Call (514) 286-1522 for more information.
Festival Voix d’Ameriques
The seven-day Festival Voix d’Ameriques (FVA) is dedicated to oral literature, and to words brought to life with flair and outrageous experimentation. Poets, writers, singers and performers interpret the world in French, English, Spanish and Aboriginal languages. Call (514) 933-0878 for more information.
Highlights Festival Fine Dining
Montréal chefs tantalize tastebuds while sharing culinary secrets during the Fine Dining Series of the 11-day Montréal Highlights Festival. Activities include theme brunches, gastronomic evenings and culinary workshops in restaurants throughout town. Call (888) 477-9955 for more information.
Montreal International Children’s Film Festival
This film festival, running in late February through early March, is dedicated entirely to children. Call (514) 721-6060 for more information.
Red Weekend
Montreal’s gay / lesbian community celebrates Valentines as a four-day extravaganza patterned in colorful name after Philadelphia’s Blue Ball, and New York’s Black Party. Call (514) 790-1245 or (800) 361-4595 for more information.
March
Festivalissimo
Targeting a local, regional and international audience, Festivalissimo is regarded as the most important multidisciplinary cultural event in Montreal. Call (514) 935-0129 for more information.
International Festival of Films on Art
Art is perpetually reinventing itself and the International Festival of Films on Art (FIFA) in mid March chronicles this revolution from the front lines, presenting nearly 250 films from some 30 countries each year. Call (514) 874-1637 for more information.
St. Patrick’s Day
Thousands of celebrants head downtown each year to cheer on the annual Saint Patrick’s Day parade. Call (514) 932-1512 for more information.
Montreal Student Comedy Festival
Video comedy shorts and live standup are featured at this annual showcase of comedy talent, at La Sala Rosa Restaurant Espanol, 4848 boulevard St.-Laurent. Call (514) 844-4227 for more information.
April
Blue Metropolis
The Blue Met, Montreal’s international literary festival, gathers writers, actors, musicians, journalists and publishers from around the world for five days of literary indulgence in English, French, Spanish and other tongues. Call (514) 790-1245 for more information.
White Party Week
White Party Week hails arrival of spring with five days of music, dance, fashion and fun to bridge culture gaps. Call (514) 840-9164 for more information.
Montreal Salsa Convention
In mid-April, the largest salsa event of the year, featuring performers, instructors, DJs, workshops, dance competitions and shows is presented for four days at the Metropolis concert hall and Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Montreal. Call (514) 875-5476 for more information.
Vues d’Afrique African & Creole Film Festival
Vues d’Afrique is North America’s biggest film festival devoted to African and Creole countries. Call (514) 721-6060 for more information.
Puck’s Easter Egg Hunt
Puck’s Farm near Schomberg, Ontario hosts an egg hunt, egg scrambles, and egg races, combining with a showcase of newborn animals, pony rides, and horse-drawn hayrides for a memorable family outing. Call (905) 939-7036 for more information.
May
Music and People Festival
Working to foster creative links among talent from a variety of cultural backgrounds, the festival promotes up-and-coming artists. Call (514) 856-3787 for more information.
Festival Acces Asie
Centered in Montreal during Asian Heritage Month, but in a variety of venues throughout Canada, the month of May is devoted to a celebration of Asian culture featuring the dance, art, music, theatre, poetry, comedy, videography and more from 23 Asian countries, sponsored by Foreign Ghosts Society, Inc., as part of the Festival du Patrimonie Asiatique de Montreal. Call (514) 523-1047 for more information.
Montreal Jewish Film Festival
The Montreal Jewish Film Festival celebrates the diversity of the Jewish experience around the world. Call (514) 987-9795 for more information.
Hot & Dry Weekend
Hot & Dry Metropolis in mid May is the second largest event organized by the BBCM Foundation. Call (800) 667-8549 for more information.
June
Cajun Festival of Quebec
Acadian heritage and culture is celebrated through song, dance, story-telling, arts and crafts, foods and genealogy. Call (514) 748-7816 for more information.
Montreal Bike Fest
The Montreal Bike Fest is an ideal way to kick off the cycling season. Call (514) 521-8356 for more information.
Montreal International Jazz Festival
For a quarter century, the Montreal International Jazz Festival has featured concerts and much more. Call (514) 790-1245 or (800) 361-4595 for more information.
St. Ambroise Montreal Fringe Festival
Dance, music and theater from companies across Canada add to this cutting-edge entertainment showcase. Call (514) 849-3378 for more information.
July
The Ride To Conquer Cancer
Early in July, cyclists of all levels gather to ride from Montreal to Quebec City in two days. Bring a bike, helmet and determination to tackle this strenuous ride. Call (866) 996-8356 for more information.
Carifiesta
Calypso musicians and dancers in elaborate costumes parade down the Boulevard Rene Levesque. Call (514) 735-2232 for more information.
Fantasia Film Festival
Mostly a fantasy/action/horror festival, the nearly month-long Fantasia also welcomes sheer individuality in separate genres. Film lovers revel in cinema fantasy and horror marginalia. Call (514) 790-1245 or (800) 361-4595 for more information.
Mondail Fireworks Competition
The Montreal International Fireworks Competition was founded in 1985 at La Ronde, Québec's largest amusement park, created for Expo '67. From the start, the fireworks competition was a smash, since becoming an annual extravaganza. Call (514) 790-1245 or (800) 361-4595 for more information.
Just For Laughs Festival
Two decades ago Gilbert Rozon wanted to gather together people with funny bones, and now Just For Laughs is a multiple-venue, four-day affair drawing some 1.7 million spectators every summer. Call (514) 790-HAHA for more information.
MEG Montreal Festival
Over the last weekend of July, or first weekend in August, the downtown clubs of Montreal and the MEG Boat on the river host parties and new music by promising artists. Call (514) 223-8415 for more information.
August
Segal Cancer Centre's Underwear Affair
On the first weekend in August, runners can compete in their boxers, briefs, or tracksuits in a 10k run / 5k walk to benefit research in fatal cancers that typically occur below the waist. Call (514) 287-2873 for more information.
Mr. Christie International Balloon Festival
Quebec’s mostly family-oriented summer festival with decorated hot air balloons and much more. Call (450) 347-9555 for more information.
World Film Festival
Late August and early September bring Canada’s highly attended World Film Festival featuring well-known and emerging filmmakers from more than 70 countries. Call (514) 848-3883 for more information.
Molson Indy
The cars and stars of the champion car world series return. Call (866) 670-INDY for more information.
Festival International Expo Art Montreal
More than 100 Canadian and international galleries representing some 700 established and emerging artists exhibit their drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, and more. Call (514) 907-3566 for more information.
Censored Festival
Early in August, Montreal celebrates the alternative lifestyle with a week of events, workshops and other activities, sponsored by Cirque de Boudoir, Club Montreal Fetish and Monde Osé, where people of all sexual orientations and identities are welcome. A portion of the proceeds are donated to Amnesty International. Call (514) 789-9068 for more information.
September
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League’s rough and tumble world packs a motherlode of milestones, from 1917’s NHL opener, to when Maurice Richard was first to score 50 goals in one season in 1944-45, to when Clint Benedict was the first goalie to put on a mask after a shot knocked him unconscious, to when Manon Rheaume made headlines in 1992 as the first woman playing in one of the four major sports leagues, goaltending for the Tampa Bay Lightning against the St. Louis Blues. From October on, it’s non-stop action in the world of hat tricks -- three goals in a game by a player -- and sudden death overtime.
In September and October, Montreal Botanical Gardens hosts the Magic of Lanterns with varying annual themes. Call (514) 872-1400 for more information.
Festival Les Escales Improbables de Montreal
In early to mid-September, Quays of the Old Port of Montreal hosts a festival of the arts featuring live entertainment, theatrical performances, and exhibits of arts along the walkways and in and around the shops and restaurants of the Quays. Call (514) 313-6667 for more information.
La Biennale de Montreal
From late September through October, the annual Biennal de Montreal places focus on public space development, urban planning and public art at locations throughout the city.
Osheaga Music and Arts Festival
Montreal celebrates its diverse musical heritage with 50 bands playing on 5 stages on St-Helene Island in the Parc Jean-Drapeau. Call (514) 925-2005 for more information.
International Video and Electronic Arts Festival
Drawing architects, urban planners, video artists, and more, festival events unfold in various venues. Call (514) 393-3937 for more information.
POP Montreal
During the last week in September, a number of nightclubs, performance venues, and restaurants in downtown Montreal host live music as part of the annual week-long music festival which attracts critics, representatives of the recording industry, and consumers interested in reviewing the latest talent. Call (514) 842-1919 for more information.
Orgue et Couleurs
Since 1999, Orgue et couleurs has presented varied musical activities showcasing the organ. Autumn Festival, its main event, has grown to some 25 activities (including concerts, talks and an exhibition) in this 10-day affair featuring organists, ensembles and other performers. Call (514) 899-0644 for more information.
October
Black & Blue
The Black & Blue is a multimedia major show and party and bills itself as one of the most important gay and gay-friendly events on the planet. Call (514) 875-7026 for more information.
Pop Montreal
Young, vibrant, relevant, this festival provides a great time for the young at heart. Call (514) 842-1919 for more information.
Montreal Festival of Nouveau Cinema
Devoted to fostering and promoting alternative approaches to film and new media, the Montreal Festival of Nouveau Cinema serves as a springboard for unknown artists, original works and their creators. Emphasis is on digital creations and auteur-driven cinema. Call (514) 847-9272 for more information.
November
Coup de Coeur Francophone
Coup de Coeur Francophone is a festival promoting French music. Call (514) 253-3024 for more information.
Cinemania Film Festival
At the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Cinemania Film Festival celebrates contemporary independent French films with English subtitles. Call (514) 878-0082 for more information.
Salsa Crystal Ball - Winter Latin Dance Gala
In mid to late November, the San Tropez dance school hosts a dance festival at the Olympia Theatre featuring dancers, musicians, instructors and choreographers specializing in salsa from all over the world, workshops, live performances by professional troupes and San Tropez students. Call (514) 374-7486 for more information.
Unite Against AIDS Concert
Towards the end of November, the Bell Centre hosts a concert to benefit UNICEF's Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS campaign, presented by Aldo Fights AIDS. Call (514) 790-1245 for more information.
December
Boxing Day
Dec. 26 is Boxing Day, a public holiday.
Bal des Boys
This big, romping New Year’s Eve party celebrates the forthcoming year. Call (514) 875-7026 for more information.
