Your 2015 Montréal summer festival guide

With every major summer festival and event in Montréal comes the impetus for a holiday getaway in our great city. The F1 Grand Prix du Canada, MONTRÉAL COMPLÈTEMENT CiRQUE, the Jazz Festival and Osheaga, for example, are but drops in a whole bucket of fun awaiting all ages and tastes in the coming weeks and months.

Blue Metropolis Montréal International Literary Festival (April 20-26) The theme at Blue Met this year is “The Power of Words,” and this large-scale celebration of reading and writing across cultures once again brings in a raft of heavy hitter authors and literary-minded figures for readings, discussions and other special events.

ELEKTRA (May 13-17) ELEKTRA is a yearly digital arts festival showcasing new creations in electronic music, video, cinema, performance, design, gaming and interactive installation in combination with the innovative use of new technologies, and, in particular, those of the digital kind.

Festival TransAmériques (FTA) (May 21 to June 4) The Festival TransAmériques (FTA) celebrates new works in contemporary dance and theatre. Showcasing both established and emerging artists, choreographers, writers and directors, this ninth edition of the FTA also aims to foster dialogue through a stimulating range of workshops, debates and roundtable discussions.

Chromatic (May 23-30) Chromatic is an eight-day celebration of Montréal imagination situated at the summit of the city’s iconic Mount Royal. The program features an eclectic range of arts – visual, digital, performance, interactive and more – from over 150 artists at events including concerts, exhibitions, screenings, workshops, parties and activities for all ages.

MUTEK (May 27-31) Over 150 multi-sensory events and adventures are scheduled at this year’s world-renowned MUTEK festival. For five days, MUTEK will again be promoting artists and innovators at the forefront of electronic music, digital creativity, technology and live performance.

MURAL Festival (June 4-14) Eye-catching doesn’t even begin to describe the work this celebration of urban art and graffiti produces each year. For its third year, the MURAL Festival has invited 20 new artists to create large-scale art on the sides of many Plateau Mont-Royal buildings. Block parties, film screenings, installations and other performance and festive events are also part of the fun.

Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada (June 5-7) Montréal revs up for the fastest fun in the country when hundreds of thousands show up for this top-tier racing event. And the good times roll off-track as well: numerous neighbourhood streets are closed for special family-friendly F1 events, restaurants shift kitchens into high gear and nights are alive with celeb-studded parties.

Les FrancoFolies de Montréal (June 11-20) Les Francos celebrate the diversity and quality of musical offerings from the international Francophonie. With close to 70 indoor shows and 180 free outdoor performances, the wide world of French pop, rock, blues, jazz, world music and more can be yours.

The Montréal International Jazz Festival (June 26 to July 5) The Steve Miller Band, Chris Botti, Dee Dee Bridgewater… it’s the one and only Montréal Jazz Festival, which will once again inhabit the downtown Quartier des spectacles with hundreds of concerts (including some 300 free outdoor shows)  representing numerous genres.

L’International des Feux Loto-Québec (July 1-Aug. 1) World-class pyrotechnicians representing their respective countries are invited to participate in this competition. The best spot to watch the fireworks is from the grandstands at La Ronde. You’ll see them take off from Lac des Dauphins and illuminate the night sky.

MONTRÉAL COMPLÈTEMENT CiRQUE (July 2-12) Montréal shows off at the major, multidisciplinary circus arts festival, COMPLÈTEMENT CiRQUE. The 11-day indoor/outdoor fest unites the city’s key circus companies as they highlight world-class local talent alongside ground breaking international guests.

Festival International Nuits D’Afrique (July 7-19) Montréal’s much-loved Nuits D’Afrique world music festival brings the best of African and African-influenced music from some of the biggest names in the game at numerous indoor and free outdoor shows. Past performers have included Youssou N’Dour, Angelique Kidjo, Omar Sosa and Papa Wemba.

Just For Laughs Comedy Festival (July 8-26) Just For Laughs (the world’s largest comedy fest) and its associated industry conference brings both A-List comedians and next-generation up-and-comers to its galas and club shows. Its sprawling outdoor site in the Quartier des spectacles is also a daily hive of family-friendly entertainment activities.

Osheaga Music and Arts Festival (July 31 to Aug. 2) Osheaga is an exceptional, world-class outdoor music and arts experience that takes place in picturesque Parc Jean-Drapeau on Ile Ste-Hélène across from Montréal’s Old Port. This year’s special 10^th anniversary edition promises the best in rock, pop, indie music and more.

Heavy Montréal (Aug. 7-9) And why not close out the summer music festival season on a heavy note? Heavy Montréal is unconditional in its love of heavy music: death metal, hair metal, black metal, hard rock and hardcore all enjoy equal attention. And this year’s lineup is (head)banging with the likes of Slipknot, Faith No More, Korn, Iggy Pop, NOFX and more.

Île Soniq (Aug. 14-15) And a completely different kind of Parc life will spring into action at the second edition of new electronic dance and urban music festival ÎleSoniq, which in only its first year brought out nearly 35,000 beat-happy partiers. Spectacular, state-of-the-art special effects will overload your circuits to the sounds of Deadmau5, Die Antwoord, Azealia Banks and many, many more.