Things To Do in Montréal: July 31 to August 6

Montréal is on island time this week – Île Ste-Hélène time, to be exact, where Osheaga brings some of the world’s top musical acts to play in a beautiful park setting. That’s just the weekend though, and the fun doesn’t stop there: how about getting heebie-jeebies at Fantasia? Or shopping at Marché des Possibles? In Montréal in the summer, everything is possible.

Sounds and sunshine

A bucolic music and arts festival in beautiful Parc Jean-Drapeau, across the St. Lawrence from downtown Montréal on Île Ste-Hélène, Osheaga rocks the island from July 31 to August 2 with open-air shows by Florence + The Machine, The Black Keys, NAS, Interpol, Kendrick Lamar, St. Vincent, The Kills, Run the Jewels, First Aid Kit, A Tribe Called Red, Young Fathers, Sza, Milk Bone and Cri – for starters. With stages every few feet and programming so richly packed there are always two acts you want to see at the same time, it’s a frenzy – especially on this, its 10^th anniversary. So check out your survival guide here. Meanwhile, MEG Montréal lights up our days and nights with hip hop, electro and indie rock at venues until August 2, along the Main, on outdoor stages and on the infamous MEG Boat in the Old Port. Montréal’s First Nations festival Présence Authochtone brings films, live music, performances and more to Quartier des Spectacles until August 5, including shows by Moe Clark accompanied by 22 musicians, and DJ Madeskimo and DJ Psychorigid. On Thursdays, don’t miss Dômesicles until August 13 at SAT, where dance beats rule both the Satosphere dome and the Foodlab terrasse – this Thursday it’s Van Did, Rafa Pineda, Chiino and SinoniM. And for classical music lovers, you’re in luck: the 2015 edition of Virée Classique brings Chopin, Respighi, Mozart and Wagner to life at Quartier des Spectacles from August 5 to 8 with a celebration filled with live concerts and free activities. Have you ever wanted to join a percussion group, play the recorder to conduct an orchestra?

Free and fresh-air fun

There’s never any difficulty finding things to do in Montréal, but there might be a time when all that world-class culture puts a dampener on your pocketbook. That’s when you need this master list of free fun in the summer – you’ll never be left bored. One easy way to have a good time is to park it at one of Montréal’s plentiful green spaces. Cool down at one of the city’s many amazing beaches, where water sports galore await. In the mood to shop? The Marché des Possibles continues until August 9 in Mile End, bringing together creations by both local artisans and cooks. Food trucks are on site at noon every Friday, plus there’s a barbecue every Saturday evening. Take in the free activities starting at 11 am on the weekend, including yoga, hip-hop classes and circus workshops. There are other outdoor markets for unique souvenirs, and once night falls, choose one of these perfect spots to spy the grand finale of the spectacular feats of pyrotechnic creativity of L’international des Feux Loto-Québec, on Saturday August 1.

Culture calls

Fantasia International Film Festival continues to brings thrills, spills and creeps until August 4 with hordes of new and old horror, outsider, international and animated films.  From the bizarre to the bloody and the funny to the horrific, you’ll find it all here. Want fresh air with your popcorn? Check out all the outdoor movie screenings you can catch in Montréal right here. Indoor cultural attractions comes courtesy of the city’s museums, including the Museum of Fine Arts, where Rodin continues to draw the crowds, and, a few blocks away the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, which features the amazing works of Montréal artists David Altmejd and Jon Rafman. Read about more art to see here. For those of us who are bemoaning the end of this year’s Just For Laughs festival, you can still catch the last drops of Zoofest, until August 1, which offers a focus on Canadian comedians and some saucy burlesque in the mix, plus get your local comedy fix year-round thanks to this guide to the city’s English comedy clubs.

Art Department plays New City Gas on Saturday, August 1, while Technical Kidman plays Divan Orange and, at Sala Rossa, New York’s La Misma and Toronto’s S.H.I.T. play alongside local bands Institute, Green Beret, Farang and Ursula. Keep the weekend spirit going through Sunday night with Marciano and Sian at Stereo, while Sumac and Thantifaxath play Bar Le Ritz PDB up in Mile Ex. On August 3, catch Old Haunt at Casa del Popolo, and on Tuesday, Antique Granger play Quai des Brumes on St-Denis. Between the Buried and Me bring the heavy to Club Soda on Wednesday, August 5, while Le R shares his flavourful rapped poetry at Club Balattou. Finally, get your donuts licked by Ariana Grande at Bell Centre on August 6, with opener Prince Royce.