Montreal City Guide - Special Events

This is just a selection of the special events and festivals that Montreal hosts every year. One of the best times to visit Montreal is during one of these innumerable festivals, especially in the summer when it seems that everyone is out on the streets.

La Fête des Neiges, late Jan-mid Feb, winter festival, Ile Ste-Hélène (website: www.fetedesneiges.com)
Montreal High Lights Festival, late Feb-early Mar, illuminations and performances, various venues in Downtown (website: www.montrealhighlights.com)
St Patrick's Day Parade, mid-Mar, rue Ste-Catherine (website: www.montrealirishparade.com)
Tour de l'Ile de Montréal, late May-early Jun, world's largest public bicycle race, part of the Montreal Bike Fest, around the island (website: www.velo.qc.ca/feria/index_e.lasso)
Mutek, late May-Jun, electronic music, sound and new technologies festival, various venues (website: www.mutek.ca)
Canadian Grand Prix, Jun, Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, Ile Notre-Dame (website: www.grandprix.ca)
Beer Mundial, early Jun, Windsor Station (website: www.festivalmondialbiere.qc.ca)
First Peoples' Festival, mid-Jun, film, art, music and dance celebrating native culture, various venues (website: www.nativelynx.qc.ca)
Montreal Fringe Festival, mid-Jun, fringe theatre, with some comedy, music and dance, various Plateau venues (website: www.montrealfringe.ca)
Fête Nationale du Québec, 24 Jun, parade and celebrations, throughout the city (website: www.cfn.org)
Montreal International Fireworks Competition, mid Jun-late Jul, La Ronde (website: www.internationaldesfeuxloto-quebec.com)
Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, late Jun-early Jul, Place des Arts and other venues (website: www.montrealjazzfest.com)
Just for Laughs Festival, mid-Jul, comedy festival rue St-Denis (Latin Quarter) and various venues (website: www.hahaha.com)
Festival International Nuits d'Afrique, mid Jul, African music festival, place Emile-Gamelin and various venues (website: www.festivalnuitsdafrique.com)
Divers/Cité, late Jul-early Aug, Montreal international gay and lesbian pride celebration, the Village (website: www.diverscite.org)
Rogers Cup/Tennis Masters Series, mid Aug, women's (even years) and men's (odd years) international tennis championships, Uniprix Stadium, Jarry Park (website: www.tenniscanada.com)
Montreal World Film Festival, late Aug-early Sep, Place des Arts and various cinemas in Downtown (website: www.ffm-montreal.org)
image+nation, late Sep, international gay and lesbian film festival, various cinemas (website: www.image-nation.org)
Black & Blue Festival, early-mid Oct, gay benefit party and cultural week, Olympic Stadium and around the Village (website: www.bbcm.org),
Cinemania Film Festival, early-mid Nov, French-language films screened with English subtitles, Museum of Fine Arts (website: www.cinemaniafilmfestival.com)