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summer festivals

just for laughs montreal

Montreal's Just for Laughs festival is returning and the 2025 lineup is already stacked

Montreal's biggest comedy festival is officially back in full force — and it's bringing some major names with it.

On Thursday, Just for Laughs revealed the first batch of headliners for its 2025 edition, which runs from July 16 to 27 at the Quartier des Spectacles. Among this year's big acts are Russell Peters, Kumail Nanjiani, and Tom Segura, who will close the festival with his "Come Together" show on July 26.

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best things to do in montreal

14 of the best things to do in and around Montreal before the summer's over

The construction holiday has come and gone, our Osheaga passes are sitting in the trash (or at least they would be if they weren't digital) and we're knee-deep in Pride Month festivities. Add it all together and it can only mean one thing: summer in Montreal is almost over.

If you're a 'glass half empty' kind of person, you might be tempted to curl up in a ball until the Autumn equinox. But there is an alternative — and it's a heck of a lot more fun. The 'glass half full' route involves squeezing every possible morsel of fun out of the rest of August and September.

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montreal food festival

A new month-long Montreal food festival is kicking off and every dish is $8 or less

A brand-new Montreal food festival is shining a spotlight on the "hidden flavours" of Saint-Léonard.

While the city has no shortage of culinary events happening this summer — from Les Premiers Vendredis to Taco Fest to anything organized by Asiasie — this new month-long festival, called Fringale, has a couple of unique and enticing perks. For starters: every dish costs $8 or less. Is your wallet crying tears of joy, yet?

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montreal festivals

Montreal festivals are the ultimate summer experience — Here are 4 ways I avoid FOMO

Montreal hosts tons of festivals every summer and it can be hard to keep track of where and when all of them are happening. From the famed Montreal Jazz Festival to the free festival on the Lachine Canal to the brand-new Palomosa music festival, there's always something going on and you might find it hard to choose.

Last year, I felt like I missed out because I just didn’t know about all the wonderful events happening in the city. Here are some ways I have found to avoid the FOMO:

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montreal festivals

Montreal's Quartier des Spectacles Will Transform Into A Catwalk With A Giant Pop-Up Shop

Montreal's Quartier des Spectacles will transform into a giant catwalk from August 25 to 28, showcasing the latest fashion trends from Canadian designers and artisans. For four days, Montreal fashionistas can find inspiration and perfect their looks by attending 16 free runway shows downtown.

Keep an eye out for new original collections and meaningful clothing lines, as many of the participating brands will be advocating for a cause.

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Free Electronic Music Shows Are Coming To Montreal's Quartier des Spectacles This Month

After two years of adapted programming, MUTEK, the International festival of electronic music and visual arts is back in town from August 23 to 28, and you can get a glimpse for free.

Now with editions in five cities worldwide, MUTEK promises 80 art performances with over 100 artists from 21 countries during its flagship Montreal event this year. Performances include the festival's A/Visions ("large-scale audiovisual creations that merge images, sound and technology") and "nocturnes" (a series "dedicated to electronic music’s more rhythmic and enthralling forms of expression" that "features original, immersive scenography").

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Montreal's Haïti En Folie Festival Is Back In Full Swing This Week

This year's festival season is off to a good start, helping Montrealers return to some semblance of normality. Haïti en Folie is no exception.

After two years of adapted programming due to the pandemic, this huge celebration of Haitian culture is back with its 16th edition that combines online events with indoor and outdoor shows. "The team is so pleased to be able to welcome and entertain people in person again this year," festival spokesperson Véronique Fecteau told MTL Blog.

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Festival Nuits d'Afrique Cancelled Yemi Alade's Performance After Her Visa Got Denied

Nigerian pop singer Yemi Alade, who was scheduled as the headliner for the Festival International Nuits d'Afrique, will not be able to close the 36th edition of the festival this Sunday.

The singer's visa was denied by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada earlier this month.

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ÃŽLESONIQ Just Dropped The Dates For Its 2022 Festival & They Added A Whole Extra Day

Sure, it's October. But it's never too early to start thinking about summer — and one of Montreal's favourite festivals, îLESONIQ, just gave us a big reason to get excited.

In a Facebook post announcing festival dates for 2022, îLESONIQ also announced that it was expanding from two days to three days. That means festival-goers get a whole extra day of DJs and dancing this August.

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