Please complete your profile to unlock commenting and other important features.

Please select your date of birth for special perks on your birthday. Your username will be your unique profile link and will be publicly used in comments.
MTL Blog Pro

This is a Pro feature.

Time to level up your local game with MTL Blog Pro.

Pro

$5/month

$40/year

  • Everything in the Free plan
  • Ad-free reading and browsing
  • Unlimited access to all content including AI summaries
  • Directly support our local and national reporting and become a Patron
  • Cancel anytime.
For Pro members only Pro
Summary

11 Exciting Free Things To Do In Montreal This May

There are tons of free exhibitions to explore around the city!
Contributing Writer

If you're wondering about free things to do in Montreal this May, we've got you covered.

There's nothing quite like the month of May — the weather starts to get warmer, flowers start to bloom, and everyone seems to be just a little bit happier.

Editor's Choice: Quebec Gained 105K High-Paying Jobs During The Pandemic Despite Huge Job Losses

Go See The Flower & Plant Stands At Montreal Public Markets

When: All items should be out by Friday, May 7

Address: Atwater Market, 138, avenue Atwater, Montreal, QC
& Jean-Talon Market, 7070, avenue Henri-Julien, Montreal QC

Why you should go: These stands are probably some of the most colourful spots in town and a little stroll through them makes for a lovely day.

Find out more

Visit Montreal's Barbie Expo 

Address: Les Cours Mont-Royal, 1455, rue Peel suite 206, Montreal, QC

Why you should go: Barbies aren't just for kids. This exhibition, the largest of its kind in the entire world, lets you see all kinds of unique "haute-couture" dolls.

Instagram

Free Flower Distribution In Some Neighbourhoods

When: Registration on May 17, event on May 29

Address: St. Viateur, between de l'Esplanade and Waverly; Duluth, between Coloniale and De Bullion; Garnier, between St. Joseph and Gilford

Why you should go: You could receive free plants, potting soil and more in several Montreal neighbourhoods, including Mile End, Jeanne Mance and de Lorimier.

There will also be a distribution in the Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie and Côte-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grâce.

Facebook event

Go To Tam-Tams

When: Every Sunday from May 3 to September 26

Address: Sir George-Étienne Cartier Monument, Mount Royal Park, Montreal, QC

Why you should go: To enjoy the atmosphere of the lunchtime drummers and dancers. Or, just to spend the day at the park when it's nice out.

Find out more

Check Out The Public Installations Of "Dans ma cour, ç'a du chien!"

When: Until May 30

Address: rue Sainte-Catherine, between rue de Bleury and rue Saint-Urbain

Why you should go: In order to add some colour to the Quartier des Spectacles, several scenes imagining wacky backyards have been installed on Sainte-Catherine and they're definitely Instagram-worthy.

Website

Take The "Cuisine Ta Ville" Open-Air Course

When: May 13–16

Address: Place des Festivals, 1499, rue Jeanne-Mance, Montreal, QC

Why you should go: For the third year in a row, this event organized by Quand l'Art passe à l'Action (ATSA) will take place in the Quartier des spectacles with several small installations and open-air exhibitions under the theme of means of transportation, real and imaginary.

Website

Have A Picnic 

Where: Any park in the city

Why you should go: We all need to get out of the house sometimes, and what better way to do that than to enjoy a little picnic in the fresh air?

Check out these parks

See The "Tes Mots, Mes Mains" Exhibition

When: Wednesday to Sunday until August 15

Address: Parc-Extension Broadcasting Hall, 421, rue St-Roch, Montreal, QC

Why you should go: Artist Karine Demers presents her work inspired by origami in the form of an exhibition near Jarry Park, which creates a beautiful mix between paintings and sculptures.

Website

Get A Free Donut & Coffee On Mondays

When: Every Monday until May 24

Where: All participating Canadian Krispy Kreme locations

Why you should go: To start the week off right, you can get one of Krispy Kreme's famous original glazed donuts and a medium coffee for free. No purchase necessary!

Find out more

Explore The Village's Outdoor Exhibit

Address: Galerie Blanc, 1114, rue Sainte-Catherine E., Montreal, QC

Why you should go: All the different works have a way of drawing you in, so it's the perfect spot to spend some time walking through. And it's accessible to everyone.

* Galerie Blanc closed mid-May in order to prepare its new exhibition, which will open early June.

Website

Go On A Tulip Walk Around The City

Address: All over Montreal

Why you should go: May is prime tulip time and we should make the most of it! These lovely flowers are blooming all across the city — so keep your eyes peeled for them.

Check out these flowery spots

* This article has been updated.

  • Alanna Moore
  • Contributing Writer

    Alanna Moore is a Contributing Writer for MTL Blog. She completed a Bachelor of Arts in religious studies & cultural studies from McGill University in 2019. With over three years experience in editing and writing, she has developed a real passion for words and the people who speak them. You can contact her at alanna@mtlblog.com.

Montreal Jobs New

Post jobView more jobs

Montreal's downtown Hudson's Bay store may be turned into a $400M cultural landmark

"This building represents much more than a commercial acquisition."

I visited this cozy small town just 2 hours from Montreal and it's the perfect fall getaway

Is there anywhere more perfect to soak up the season?! 😍🍂

Quebecers can receive up to $200 this week with this new federal benefit

The next payment is expected to go out on Thursday.

This Montreal supermarket was just fined over $4,000 by MAPAQ for food safety violations

Despite the fines, the place maintains a 4.1-star average on Google.