8 free things to do in Montreal this week
Leave the wallet at home!
The Montreal fireworks. Right: People dancing outside of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.
Hey Montreal. While Mondays are often a rough one, a new week means new free things to do in Montreal.
While the city is blossoming with festival after festival, newly opened restaurants, and so many rooftop terrasses, you just might be holding to have a little fun without breaking the bank. Luckily, we've compiled a list of free activities in Montreal this week.
From free film festivals, poutine fests, and the Montreal fireworks, all the way to free music concerts at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and the Just For Laughs festival, there's a little bit of everything for everyone.
Here are eight free things to do in Montreal this week (July 15 to 19):
Festival RU
When: July 11 to 21
Where: Parc des Compagnons de Saint-Laurent (at Mont-Royal and Cartier)
Why You Need To Go: RU Festival will return to Mont-Royal Avenue in its pre-pandemic format. The event will occur from Thursday to Sunday over two weekends at Parc des Compagnons de Saint-Laurent (Mont-Royal and Cartier). It aims to offer a diverse and high-quality music, visual arts, theatre, slam poetry, and dance program, featuring established and emerging artists. The festival will also provide participatory creative activities for the public, with over 35 performances scheduled this year.
Free electro rock performance at the MMFA
When: Wednesday, July 17, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m
Where: Montreal Museum of Fine Arts — 1380, rue Sherbrooke O.
Why You Need To Go: The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts offers a variety of exciting activities during the summer months, both indoors and outdoors. This week you can catch Ben Shemie and DJ Raven. Alongside his role as vocalist and guitarist with the electro-post-rock group SUUNS, Ben Shemie also embarks on a solo journey through the unexplored territories of synth, navigating the fringes of avant-garde and techno. In company of DJ Raven.
Le Grand Poutinefest
When: July 17 to 28
Where: Old Port
Why You Need To Go: Montrealers can prepare to stuff their faces with Quebec's most iconic dish…poutine! Guests will be able to enjoy an array of poutine flavours and styles with former years offering up creations including general tao poutine, butter chicken poutine and a Tex-Mex mix on the chips, cheese and gravy concoction.
Catch the Montreal fireworks for free
When: June 27 to August 1
Where: Recommended lookout points include the Old Port, Mount Royal Park, Clock Tower Beach, the Jacques-Cartier Bridge, the Concorde Bridge and Village au Pied-du-Courant
Why You Need To Go: While access to the world's most prestigious fireworks competition isn't technically free — in fact, it costs upwards of $65 to get a seat at La Ronde, where the festival is based — no one can charge us for looking up at the sky. And if we just so happen to witness magical-looking explosions of colourful light, as international pyrotechnic firms battle it out to see which country puts on the most dazzling show, whose fault is that? Certainly not ours.
Festival International Nuits d'Afrique
When: July 9 to 21
Where: Various venues in Montreal
Why You Need To Go: More than 700 artists from 30 countries are expected to come together this year to bring Montreal its cherished African nights, spent grooving to the rhythms of African, Caribbean and Latin American music. The unforgettable cultural festival, now in its 38th year, won't unveil its schedule until May 28. But last year, it included six days of free outdoor programming and this year's event should be similar.
Montreal's Fantasia Film Festival
When: July 18 to August 4
Where: Multiple Montreal cinemas
Why You Need To Go: Back for its 28th edition, North America's largest 'genre' film festival bridges the gap between the cutting edge and the mainstream, providing audience members — from industry pros to emerging artists to local fans — with the opportunity to see some of the best productions Canadian cinema has to offer. While many of the 300+ films require tickets, Fantasia also offers free programming each year. In 2023, all family-friendly "My First Fantasia" screenings were free, as were a couple of artist talks, a special screening of Jour de merde and more.
Laugh it up with Kickback Comedy at JFL
When: July 18 to 26 at 7 p.m.
Where: Scène Vidéotron — Place des Festivals
Why You Need To Go: With Just For Laughs officially making its comeback, you can catch none other than Montreal's very own Eva Alexo and Erika Suarez host the Sept à Huit happy hour session at the outdoor stage. You'll be able to enjoy stand-up comedians, fun and interactive games and some hilarious anecdotes from host Eva herself.
Feel the beach vibes at Village au Pied-du-Courant
When: July 18 to 20 at 7 p.m. ($5 entry after 7 p.m.)
Where: 2380, rue Notre-Dame Est
Why You Need To Go: Montreal's ultimate beach party spot is back. Village au Pied-du-Courant reopens June 13, with the perfect mix of sun, sand, and music every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday through September 21. With free entry before 7 p.m. and only $5 after, it’s a great way to party on a budget this summer.
This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.
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