September in Montreal is so much more than just the end of summer, the winding down of festival season, and the dreaded return to the school year. The city is still alive and full of lingering energy from the warmer months.
From festivals to comedy shows to rooftop parties, there are tons of fun activities left to do in Montreal this month and — just like in August — so many of them are completely free.
We've compiled a list of the best free things to do in Montreal this September so you can stay debt-free and entertained into the fall. Save your money and make the most of what's left of summer with these fun, free events.
Party in an alleyway at the Festival des arts de ruelle
When: Until Sunday, September 8
Address: Multiple locations
Why You Need To Go: In Montreal, alleyways aren't just for parking cars, drying clothes, or meeting stray cats. They're for dressing up, partying, and celebrating art in all its forms.
Spend the first week of September at the Festival des arts de ruelle (FAR), an artistic block party across alleyways throughout the city.
According to its website, Festival FAR features balcony shows, themed parades, wild performances, and over 250 multidisciplinary artists. If you’ve ever wanted to go to the circus, listen to live music, watch a play, march in a parade, dance in the street, and feast your eyes on street art, you don’t have to look much farther than your own backyard.
Indulge in fresh, local produce at a harvest festival
When: Saturday, September 7 and Sunday, September 8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Montreal’s Public Markets – Multiple locations
Why You Need To Go: With fall just around the corner, there’s no better time than now to feast on the bounty of the farming season. La Fête des Récoltes (harvest festival) is a celebration of our local farmers' crops with fresh produce and free activities for the whole family across Montreal’s public markets.
Highlights include a series of free cooking workshops, a free gardening workshop, and a tomato sauce competition. And be sure to swing by either Atwater Market or Jean-Talon Market early for a corn roast where a free ear of corn will be given to the first 600 people to arrive each day.
Marchés publics de Montréal Website
Appreciate the work of local artisans at the Montreal Makers Market
When: Saturday, September 7 and Sunday, September 8 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: 5945, rue Cartier
Why You Need To Go: Enjoy free entry to a market featuring over 75 local artisans and vendors. According to the Facebook event page, expect to find all different types of goods including art, clothing, ceramics, jewelry, accessories, stickers, home decor, plants, candles, skin care, herbalism, woodworking, textile art, food products, oddities, and more.
Get your groove on at the TEMPÉO Dance and Music Festival
When: September 10 to 15
Where: Place des Arts Esplanade – 175, rue Sainte-Catherine O.
Why You Need To Go: The sixth edition of the TEMPÉO Dance and Music festival showcases some of the city’s top musical artists from rising stars to renowned DJs. Enjoy world rhythms and beats and dance the night away on the outdoor dance floor in the Quartier des Spectacles. Each night features a new musical theme, so discover new artists and get down and groovy to the eclectic sounds of Bollywood, country, Brazil, boogie funk, Afro-pop, and salsa. Best of all, the entire festival is free of charge!
Network on a rooftop terrasse
When: Wednesday, September 11 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Where: möbel Rooftop Terrasse – 400, av. Atlantic
Why You Need To Go: Outremont furniture supplier, möbel, is putting on a free end-of-summer party and you're all invited. Enjoy refreshing cocktails, gourmet snacks, networking opportunities, and stunning views of Montreal atop möbel's new 2,000-square-foot rooftop terrasse. Although tickets to the event are free, they are limited, so RSVP and reserve your spot as soon as possible.
Watch skateboarding tricks at the Jackalope Festival
When: September 13 to 15
Where: Quai Jacques-Cartier – rue de la Commune Est
Why You Need To Go: Bringing together top athletes, industry professionals, and skateboarding enthusiasts alike, the Jackalope Festival has celebrated the best of the action sports community for the past 10 years. Watch world-class skateboarding and bouldering competitions, groove to all-day DJ sets, and dance your cares away at nightly after parties.
Although the festival is free to the public, if you want to elevate your experience, you can purchase passes starting at $25 for adults that give you access to special skateboarding ramps where you can show off your skills.
Treat your ears to an outdoor concert featuring Ayrad
When: Friday, September 13 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Where: Parc Goncourt – 7130, av. Goncourt
Why You Need To Go: Established in 2005, local band Ayrad is one part rock, one part pop, one part electronica, one part brass and string orchestra, and all parts awesome. Their free outdoor show promises to attract adventurous listeners and world music lovers alike with a unique blend of electro, Gypsy funk, desert rock, raï, Reggada, chaabi, and Latin sounds, the event page says.
City of Montreal Website
Experience the flavours of Martinique at The Creole Market
The Creole Market logo.
When: Saturday, September 14 from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, September 15 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: Pavillon d’Iberville, Grand Quai du Port de Montreal – 200, rue de la Commune O.
Why You Need To Go: If a trip to the Caribbean isn’t in your budget this fall, Martinique Gourmande’s got you covered with its free Creole Market. A short trip to Montreal’s Old Port is all you need to experience the charm, spirit, and flavours of the Caribbean.
For two days, the Creole Market promises to (metaphorically) transport you to the island of Martinique where you can feast on Martinican food, take cooking workshops with Martinican chefs, and listen to the sounds of island DJs and musicians.
Update your library at a sidewalk book sale
When: Saturday, September 21 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, September 22 from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Where: Mordecai Richler Library – 5434, av. du Parc
Why You Need To Go: As the days grow shorter and colder, you’ll find yourself spending increasing time indoors. Why not update your book and DVD collection to make downtime a little more interesting for you this fall and winter?
Mile End’s Mordecai Richler Library is hosting a sidewalk book sale to mark the beginning of fall and to let you revamp your entertainment collection on the cheap. Admission to the sale is free, and you can purchase books, magazines, and DVDs for prices ranging from $0.25 to $5. In case of rain, the sidewalk sale will be moved indoors.
City of Montreal Website
Change your perspective at the Montreal International Projection Mapping Festival
When: September 24 to 28
Where: Multiple locations
Why You Need To Go: Returning for its ninth edition, the Montreal International Projection Mapping (MAPP_MTL) Festival features video projections, electronic music, food stalls, digital murals, creative and screen-printing workshops, and a new skateboarding initiative.
This year’s theme is Perspectives, which MAPP_MTL festival founder and artistic director, Thien Vu Dang, describes as "an invitation to delve into the complex intricacies of multiple perceptions of reality, in a world where advances in artificial intelligence are overturning our paradigms." But mostly, it’s just a damn good (and free) time with a neighbourhood party vibe.
MAPP_MTL Festival Website
Get inspired at the PHI Centre's Embodied Spaces
When: Saturday, September 28 and Sunday, September 29
Where: PHI Centre – 407, rue Saint-Pierre
Why You Need To Go: Embodied Spaces, a free monthly performance series, invites contemporary performance artists to interpret the public spaces of the PHI Centre and engage with audiences in unexpected and creative ways. This month’s edition features Guelph performance artist Tess Martens and her presentation of PVA (polyvinyl acetate) GLUE ME!
Martens is known for using humour in her performances, so expect to laugh as much as you are inspired.
Explore Montreal on a guided walking tour
When: Saturdays at 4 p.m. until September 29
Where: Quartier des Spectacles
Why You Need To Go: Just because your summer vacation may be over, doesn't mean your staycation has to be. Put on your comfiest walking shoes and play tourist for a day on this free two-hour walking tour.
Led by a guide certified by the Institut de tourisme et d’hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ), this tour takes you on an exploration of the Quartier des Spectacles, where you'll learn all about its history from its Red Light-era past to its recent transformation into an outdoor theatre.
Quartier des Spectacles Website
Laugh at a comedy show in Girouard Park
Comedy in Girouard Park.
When: Saturdays at 8 p.m.
Where: Baseball diamond outfield, Girouard Park – 3500, av. Girouard
Why You Need To Go: For the past four years, local comedian and JFL recording artist, Zak Kik, has brought laughs to Notre-Dame-de-Grâce with this free outdoor stand-up comedy show.
Featuring performances by both amateur and professional comics, this show has quickly become a community staple and favourite of NDG residents and comedy fans across the city.
September 28 is the last show of the season, so be sure to come out this month before the nights get cold when stand up is reserved for dark comedy clubs and Netflix marathon sessions.
This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.
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