* DEAN'S  2025  SCHEDULE  OF  FESTIVALS & EVENTS IN  MONTREAL, QC. & AREA * AUSSI en francais

E-mail & Facebook - funfestivals@yahoo.ca French Calendar version 2025 English version will be ready in April

                               ALSO ONLINE SEE  -  www.mtl.org     &      www.bonjourquebec.com/

M  =  Montreal   Q = Quebec City ( 2. 5 hours away )   O = elsewhere   E = everywhere     *  =  NOT to be missed
 F   =  Free  Festivals have outdoor concerts/shows nightly, some daytime.  + = also some shows cost $ if you want
 ? = exact dates not set  For dates not yet confirmed I note ? when it will probably be based on previous years               
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EARLY   2025

M  Tues Jan 14 – Sun 19 Canadian National Skating Championships ( @ Place Bell @ Laval, Qc )

M Thu Jan 16 – Sat Feb 8 Igloofest ( Electro music festival Thursdays to Saturday nights outside in Old Montreal & Quebec city March 6 – 8 )

M cancelled again Fête des Neiges ( Mtl’s snow festival - family oriented -wkends in Jan/Feb @ Parc Jean Drapeau - F+ )

O Fri Jan 31 - Mon 17  Winterlude/Bal de Neige ( Ottawa / Gatineau's winter carnival  - weekends - F+ )

Q   Fri Feb 7 - Sun 16  **Quebec Winter Carnival ( awesome for singles & families, Sat 15^th -parade= best nt-F+)

M  Wed Feb 12 – Thu 20 *4 Nations Face-off ( Canada, USA, Sweden & Finland – pro hockey tournament @ Mtl 12-16 & @ Boston 17 & 20 )

Q  Wed Feb 12 – Sun 23 Quebec International Pee-Wee hockey tournament ( best in the world @ Centre Videotron )

M    Th Fb 27 - Sun March 9 Montreal High Lights Festival ( outside @ Place des Arts , *All-nighter - Sat March 1st - F+ )

M Mn March 10 – Mn May 12 Francouvertes ( french music festival - prelims @ Lion d’Or & SF & F @ Club Soda )

M    Sun  March 16      *St Patrick’s Day Parade (on De Maisonneuve, bars after- F )

M   Thu  March 20 - Sun 23   *La Cabane Panache et Bois Rond ( music & food festival on Wellington near Metro De l’Eglise F+ )

M Sat April 26 Exposfest (former Expos visit for charity fundraising) @ Laval

M April / May & maybe June *Montreal Canadiens FanJam ( tailgate party before each home playoff game in front of the Bell Centre -F)

M  Fri May 16 – Sun 18 Pouzza Fest ( punk rock music festival in downtown Montreal– F+ )

M Fri May 16 – Sun 18 Jeux Urbains ( various demonstrations & competitions @ Place Ville Marie – F )

M    Fri May 30 - Sun June 1  *Eureka! Festival ( science festival in Old Montreal or Parc Jean-Drapeau - F )

M Sun May 25 - Sun June 1 Go Bike Mtl Festival ( biking events including Tour de Nuit – Fri May 30, Tour de l’Ile – Sun 1 )

M Thu May 29 - Sun June 1 MontRoyal sidewalk sale ( on MontRoyal Ave between St Laurent & de Lorimier - F )

JUNE

M Thu 5 – Sun 15 Montreal Fringe Festival ( plays & theatre on St Laurent - Fringe for all Mon May 26 & Drag Race Sat Jn14th -F+)

M   Thu 5 – Sun 15 Mural Festival ( public art festival including a sidewalk sale on St Laurent - F )

M     Thu 12 – Sun 15 *Grand Prix of Canada ( Formula 1 race @ Île Notre Dame, *free festival on Crescent -F)

M    Fri 13 - Sat 21    **Les Francos ( french music festival - outside @ Place des Arts- F+ )

E      Thu 12 – Tue July 2  **My birthday partying ( festivals, St Jean Baptiste, restaurants, & fun - F )

M    Fri 20 - Sun 22 **Mondial de la Bière ( world beer tasting festival -100s of beers,etc. @ Windsor station again this year -  F+)

E       Mon 23 - Tue 24     **Fête national du Québec ( parade @ Montreal & music shows all over the province of Québec - F )

M    Thu Jn 26 – Sat Jllt 5  **Montreal  International Jazz Festival ( inside - $, outside @ Place des Arts - F+ )

O  Thu Jn 26 – Sun Jllt 6 Festivoix ( music festival @ Trois-Rivières F+ )

JULY

M Th Jn 26 – Th July 31 *Fireworks competition { from 10 - 10:30 pm @ La Ronde = $, or places to watch Free
(Thurs June 26, every Thurs night in July (3, 10, 17, 24 & 31) & Sun July 6 & 27)}

M     Tues July 1 Canada Day celebrations ( parade & festivities, activities & shows @ Old-Port - F )

M? cancelled in 2024 Carifiesta Festival Parade ( events all weekend, parade Saturday afternoon - F+ )

M    Fri 4 – Sun 6     Comiccon ( comic & superhero festival @ Palais des Congrès de Montréal - F+ )

M Thu 3 – Sun 13      Montreal Circus Festival ( circus festival – various places around town - F+ )

Q      Thu 3 – Sun 13  ***Quebec City Festival d'Été ( the best summer music festival, street artists, etc. - F+ )

O Wed 9 – Sun 13  Mont Tremblant International Blues Festival ( @ Mont Tremblant )

M   Tue 8 - Sun 20   African Nights Festival ( music festival, outside @ Place des Arts is free from Tues 15 - Sun 20 - F+ )

M Wed 16 – Sun 27  *Just For Laughs Comedy Festival ( free shows outside @ Place des Arts & inside at some venues - F+ )

M? cancelled in 2024 Zoofest ( comedy shows with emerging talent F+ )

M Thu 17 – Sun Aug 3 Fantasia Festival ( imaginative, unique genre cinema @ various Montreal theatres )

M     Sat July 26 – Thu Aug 7  *National Bank Open pro tennis tournament ( 2025-women - @ IGA Stadium in Jarry Park, men play in Toronto )

AUGUST

Q   Wd July 30 –Sn Aug 3  Festivent (St Jean sur Chrysostome) – hot air balloons & music in the Quebec city suburb)

E  Thu Jly 31 – Sn Aug 3    Pig Festival of Ste-Perpétue ( music festival & boar & tractor races, etc )

M Fri 1 - Sun 3 Osheaga ( a very expensive music festival @ Parc Jean Drapeau )

M     Thu Jly 31 - Sn Aug 10 Pride festivities ( Canada LGTBA+ pride celebrations – *Parade Sun 10 - F+ )

M Tues 5 – Thurs 14 Montreal First people’s festival ( films, music & history @ Quartier des spectacles - F )

O Thu 7 – Sun 10 **BeauceRock ( music festival with camping en Beauce – replaced Woodstock en Beauce since 2021 )

Q Thu 7 – Sun 10 *Quebec City's New France Festival ( in Old Quebec - F )

Q Wed 6 – Sun 17 ComediHa ( humour festival in Quebec City ) 

M Fri 8 – Sun 10 Otakuthon ( animé festival @ Palais des Congrès de Montréal - F+ )

M Sat 9 – Sun 10 Ile Soniq ( electro dance music festival @ Parc Jean Drapeau )

M Sat 9 – Sun 10 Under Pressure ( international graffiti convention – @ & near Foufounes Electriques - F+ )

M Fri 8 – Sun 17 Italfest (Italian festival in Little Italy & maybe Quartier des spectacles Esplanade Tranquille- F+ )

O   wkends 8-10, 14-17   *Hot Air Balloon Festival ( music & hot air balloons @ St Jean sur Richelieu )

Q     Thu 14 Pro-Am Sunlife charity hockey game ( Over 20 NHL players play against amateurs in a game @ Québec Centre Videotron )

M Wed 13 – Sun 17 OSM Classical Spree ( classical music festival @ Place des Arts. Free show Wed 13 @ Olympic Stadium - F+ )

M     Thu 14 - Sat 16  Lasso Montreal ( country music festival @ Parc Jean=Drapeau )

Q Thu 14 – Sun 17 Festibière ( beer festival @ Space 400^e in Québec city )

M Thu 21 - Sun 24 Festival fashion & design ( fashion & design festival, normally outside @ Quartier des spectacles - F )

M Thu 21 - Sun 24 MontRoyal sidewalk sale ( on MontRoyal Ave between St Laurent & de Lorimier - F )

M Sat 23 – Sun 24   *18th century public market ( @ Place Royale in Old Montreal – F )

M Th Aug 28 – Sun 31 Blvd ( sidewalk sale & artistic festival on St Laurent - F )

A Th Aug 28 – Sun 31 Woodstock en Beauce ( small version of the music & camping festival, my best weekend of the year from **2001-2014 )

SEPT – DEC

O   Fri Spt 5 – Sun 14   *St-Tite Western Festival ( near Trois Rivieres - rodeo, country dancing,etc. )

M Wed Spt 10 – Sun 14 Festival Tempéo (festival de la musique & danse – each evening a different music type – F )

Q    Thu Spt 11 – Sat 13 Festival Envol & MacAdam ( alternative music festival in Quebec City )

M Fri Spt 12 - Sun 14 Jackalope festival ( high action sports - skateboarding, bouldering festival @ Old Montreal - Quai Jacques Cartier - F )

P Fri Spt 26 - Sun 28   *Les Journées de la Culture ( > 1000 cultural activities - F )

M Sat Oct 4 – Sun 26 Fright Fest & Kids pumpkin festival ( @ La Ronde – zombies, vampires, haunted houses & kids Halloween activities )

M Wed Oct 9 – Sun 19 Festival du Nouveau Cinéma de Montréal (new cinema festival)

M Sat Oct 18 – Sun 19 Salon national des animaux de compagnie ( animal festival @ Palais des Congrès )

M? mid October usually **Montreal Canadiens Blood Donor Clinic ( @ Bell Centre - my 130^th donation – I save lives 5 times per year, players are there - F )

M? Fri Oct 24 - Sun 26 Lune Noir – Halloween festival ( @ Parc Jean-Drapeau F+ )

M? cancelled since 2019 Montreal zombie walk – zombies walk the streets of Montreal – cancelled since 2019 - F )

NOV-DEC 2025

M Thu Oct30 – Sn Nov16 Montréal à table ( restaurant festival to try new restaurants at discounted prices )

M  Wed Nov 19 – Sat 22 M for Montreal ( exposure for new Montreal musicians – F+ )

M? Sat Nov 22 Santa Claus Parade ( on Ste-Catherine St between Fort & St-Urbain @ 11 am - F )

E month of Dec Operation Nez Rouge – volunteers save lives by carpooling drunk people home with their cars - F )

M? weekends 5-31 Dec Christmas in the park – ( Christmas festival – free outdoor shows - F )

Q?    Sat Dec 27 – Wed 31   Toboggan festival ( music festival in Quebec city to celebrate the new year – F )

M? Wed Dec 31 Festivités du 31 Dec dans Vieux Port (Since 2024 Igloofest replaces Merry Montréal (2013-2021) for celebrations - F )

EARLY   2026

M? Thu–Sat midJan-earlyFeb Igloofest ( Electro music festival Thursdays to Saturday nights outside in Old Montreal & Quebec city March ? 5 – 7 ? )

O Fri Jan 30 - Mon 16  Winterlude/Bal de Neige ( Ottawa / Gatineau's winter carnival  - weekends - F+ )

Q   Fri Feb 6 - Sun 15  **Quebec Winter Carnival ( awesome for singles & families, Sat 14^th -parade= best nt-F+)

Q  Wed Feb 11 – Sun 22 Quebec International Pee-Wee hockey tournament ( best in the world @ Centre Videotron )

M  Thu Feb 12 – Sun 22 International hockey tournament M15 du Grand Montréal ( new best under 15 tournament @ Place Bell @ Laval )

M?    Th Fb 26 - Sun March 8 Montreal High Lights Festival ( outside @ Place des Arts , *All-nighter - Sat Feb 28 - F+ )

M? mid March – mid May Francouvertes ( french music festival - prelims @ Lion d’Or & SF & F @ Club Soda )

M    Sun  March 15      *St Patrick’s Day Parade (on Av de Maisonneuve or Ste Catherine St. W, bars after- F )

M?   Thu  March 19 - Sun 22  La Cabane Panache et Bois Rond ( music & food festival on Wellington near Metro De l’Eglise F+ )

M? in April Exposfest (former Expos visit for charity fundraising) @ Laval & sometimes Blue Jays exhibition games at Olympic Stadium

M? April / May & maybe June *Montreal Canadiens FanJam ( tailgate party before each playoff game near the Bell Centre -F)

M?  Fri May 15 – Sun 17 Pouzza Fest ( punk rock music festival in downtown Montreal– F+ )

M   Thu May 21 – Sun 24 *Grand Prix of Canada ( Formula 1 race @ Île Notre Dame, *free festival on Crescent –F, earlier than usual in 2026)

M?    Fri May 29 - Sun 31  *Eureka! Festival ( science festival in Old Montreal or Parc Jean-Drapeau - F )

M? Sun May 24 - Sun 31 Go Bike Mtl Festival ( biking events including Tour de Nuit – Fri May 29, Tour de l’Ile – Sun 31 )

E       All the time                      **  LIFE  **  -  to be  celebrated and  enjoyed  everyday  -  ( F+ )

For the links & dates of many other festivals (Montreal & elsewhere in Quebec) not listed here – check the Calendar version 2025

E       Full moons  = MnJan13-5pm, ThFeb 12-9am, SunMrch14-3pm, SatApr12-8pm, MnMay12-1pm,WdJn11-4am,ThJly10-5pm, StAug9-4am, SnSpt7-2pm, MnOct6-1145pm, WdNov5-8am, ThDec4-6pm ( F )

OTHER THINGS TO DO
Les premiers vendredis (food trucks at Olympic Stadium the first Friday & Saturday of the summer months), Old Montreal ( very romantic & full of ambiance & life – also boat cruises-P, Pedalboats-P & Quadricycles-P etc),
various streets such as St. Denis, St. Laurent, certain museums are free the first Sunday of every month, Bixis are affordable if you don’t have a bicycle,
Ste. Catherine St. & the underground city, MontRoyal ( great view of the city & “tamtams” on Sundays ) , Botanical gardens-P, Biodome-P, Olympic Park-P, the bike paths & parks, free shows in Lafontaine Park,
La Ronde Amusement Park-P, the casino & the beaches ( Montreal-P, Oka, Plattsburgh ).
Some ideas for things to do for free…
          Great restaurants &  nice, friendly, fun people everywhere.
          Great nightlife -  bars, clubs & terraces – I don’t know where to go anymore other than L’Abreuvoir & Foufounes Électriques & Café Campus.

Unfortunately Le “LOFT” has been closed since early 2010- the best club in Montreal till 2006–terrace on roof & awesome Thurs nts.
Saint-Sulpice, Deux Pierrots ( Old Mtl ), & Bourbon Street North (Mon) are also all closed.

Don’t forget the POM coupon book (click on the link or pick it up in Old Montreal or any Montreal tourism office) for many discounts on summer activities.
The -P noted above after various activities notes that a coupon is available in the Pom book for a discount on that activity.         

Pro sports - Canadiens’ hockey, Laval Rocket (hockey AHL), Alouettes’ football, CF Montreal soccer,  pro tennis . Quebec City has the Remparts with the season starting in midSeptember.  The Expos moved to Washington in 2004 so there isn’t professional baseball in Montreal but Youppi! is with the Montreal Canadiens & if you want to watch baseball Quebec City has the semi-pro Capitales - Can-Am league champions for 5 straight years 2009-2013 & 2017 & Frontier league champions in 2022 & 2023 !!!

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