The Nation Summer Tourism Guide
What to do, where to go and when to do it
by Amy German

Montreal is one of Canada’s biggest tourist hubs with so many attractions and festivals that when the summer season hits, its hard to know which one to plan a vacation around. From jazz to blues to Alouettes to women’s tennis, Montreal has it all but we have decided to make the decision process a little easier with an overview of just about everything the province’s cultural capital has to offer.

Festivals

Montreal is a city of festivals, some of them overlap and for the most part, during May to September there is hardly a day to be found that is festival-free.

This month (May 28) is the 20th edition of Museum Day. Hop on the bus and be shuttled around from one museum to the next, with 35 different institutions participating, the learning curve is unlimited. http://www.museesmontreal.org/site/museumsday.htm

Enjoy a full week of “cycling celebrations” from May 28 to June 4 at the Montreal Bike Fest. From crazy night-time escapades to Le Tour de l’Île de Montréal, this active fest will get your wheels in Motion.

http://www.velo.qc.ca/english/home.lasso

Now in its seventh edition, the Mutek, a new arts form festival, combines the best of electronic music with workshops, presentations and innovations on the subject. Boasting 70 local and international artists, it’s sure to please any digital toe tapper! May 31-June 4 http://www.mutek.ca/

It’s no big secret that Quebecers like their beer, so why not revel in our sudsy similarities and indulge in what could almost be our national beverage at Le Mondial de la bière! The beer fest runs May 31 to June 1 and is a delight for beer fanatics and gourmands alike, offering beers from around the world and delectable edibles that pair up with them. http://www.festivalmondialbiere.qc.ca/EN/EVENT/info.html

Self-described as “dedicated to promoting chamber music in all its spectrum, through its integration with other art forms,” the Montreal Chamber Music Festival is a celebration at the historic St. James United Church. For those in search of soul soothing, go to http://www.festivalmontreal.org/home/homeE.html for more info. June 9-31.

There ain’t nothing like an outdoor stage in the downtown core with billowing music and dancing bodies. The first taste Montrealers will get is during Francofolies, the festival that celebrates French-language music running June 8-18. Headliners include Loco Locass, Malajube, les Ogres de Barback, Mononc’Serge, Dominique A, Aut’Chose, Luck Mervil, Mara Tremblay, Cali, Les Chiens, Thomas Hellman, Saïan Supa Crew, Prototypes, WD40 along with many others.

http://www.francofolies.com/Francos2006/splash2.html

Montreal’s only festival of theatre, dance and performance art, The St-Ambroise Fringe Festival, also kicks off June 8 and runs to June 18. This is the only bilingual and bicultural festival of its kind in North America and it promises a whole bevy of craziness as per usual. Check out performances inside or out and stop by the beer tent for a “refresher” between shows. http://www.montrealfringe.ca/

From June 17 to July 29, Le Mondial SAQ International Fireworks Competition is one of the city’s most celebrated festivals and features competitors from all over the globe. Switzerland is first up June 17 and though it’s most ideal to view it from LaRonde, the competition draws tens of thousands of Montrealers to the Old Port. http://www.internationaldesfeuxloto-quebec.com/en/programmation/

Formula 1 fans get their automotive fix June 23-25 at the Grand Prix du Canada on Île Notre-Dame. Their catch phrase is “Nothing compares to being there,” and they certainly have a point in that it can be heard and its vibrations felt for miles. Crescent Street, downtown, devotes itself to this three-day festival by blocking itself off for live music stages and various other festivities. Displays of antique and luxury cars are set up all over the downtown area and the core will also stay open for shoppers on St-Jean-Baptiste Day.

http://www.grandprix.ca/site_content.html

The Montreal International Jazz Festival June 29-July 9 is the capo di tutti capi of festival season. Its 27th edition boasts a line-up of 150 concerts by the likes of Paul Simon, B.B. King, Tony Bennett and Jamie Cullum. Don’t miss opening night headliner John Pizzarelli or closing night legend Dave Brubeck; along with players like John Zorn, Nils Peter Molvaer, Ravi Coltrane, Yusef Lateef and other artists who paint their masterpieces in blue notes. http://www.montrealjazzfest.com/

In its tenth edition, Fantasia brings back its genre film festival July 6-26 at Concordia University. Last year the festival saw more than 75,000 viewers over the course of the festival and the bulk of those peeps were youngins’ aged 18-34. Though this year’s details are not yet out, rest assured that once again this festival will have a very international flavour and will certainly have strong representation from Asia.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Nuits d’Afrique is a festival that celebrates all music of African descent from the Caribbean to Latin America. This years’ “Festival Godfather” is Africa’s biggest act, Senegalese Youssou N’Dour who will be kicking off the festival July 13 at Metropolis. With 10 solid days of exotic acts, this is the perfect opportunity for anyone to get their culture on and take in acts from around the world. http://www.festivalnuitsdafrique.com/

Anyone who has lived in Quebec for an hour knows what the round, green fuzzy monster with red horns is synonymous with one of North America’s hottest comedy festival, Just for Laughs. In its 23rd edition, the festival this summer will bring a special event with Bill Cosby and at press time, announcements had been made for galas hosted by Monty Python funny man John Cleese and the man the world knows as George Castanza, Jason Alexander. The club series are also back, The Nasty Show, known for its hyper vulgarity, Britcom, Wiseguys and so many more all will be presented July 13-23. http://www.hahaha.com

An ideal event for families, the Montreal Dragon Boat Festival, includes live entertainment, arts and crafts, ethnic delicacies, a very popular children’s drawing contest and of course dragon boat racing along the St. Lawrence. This ancient festival started in China to commemorate the great poet Qu Yuan (343-290 B.C.) and it falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese Lunar calendar. This year it will go down July 22-23 at the Olympic Basin of Parc Jean-Drapeau.

https://www.montrealdragonboat.com/

Who can forget Montreal hosting the Olympics back in 1976? Thirty years later to the day, from July 26-Aug. 5, the Olympic Stadium will be host to the first World OutGames, the International LGBT (lesbian/ gay/ bi-sexual/ transgender) community’s competitive sporting event. Involving more than 16,000 participants from more than 100 countries, along with 250,000 visitors, this will be the city’s largest cultural/sporting event since the 1976 Olympics. The International Conference for the Advancement of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Rights entitled “The Right to Be Different” will be held July 26-29, just prior to the games.

http://www.outsports.com/montreal2006/

As Montreal is known internationally for its diversity and its open-mindedness it’s no surprise that Divers/Cité, Montreal’s LGBT Pride festival is one of the cities’ most popular and colourful events. Kicking it off with the Pride Parade on Sunday, July 30, this now night-time event brings all of the festival’s diverse cultures and flavours together in style with floats, bright lights and dancing along Blvd. René-Lévesque. The rest of the week is packed with activities from outdoor movie screenings, free outdoor shows and many other activities. From July 30 through Aug. 6. http://www.diverscite.org

Everybody’s Scottish at the Highland Games! This 29-year-old event features pipe bands, highland dancers and men in kilts without underwear on (as is the tradition) performing athletics. Vendors offer traditional Scottish fare, handicrafts, traditional garb, beer and scotch to enrich the cultural experience and it all goes down at Pierrefonds Sports Park Aug. 6. http://www.montrealhighlandgames.qc.ca/index.htm

From August 10-13, FestiBlues, Montreal’s blues music festival, will once again make having the blues a good thing. In the past the likes of Marie-Chantal Toupin, Gaspesie’s Pat The White, Spoonful from France, and The Chuck Lambert Band from the US have all taken the Ahuntsic stage and though it was too early at press time to get line-up information, given the festival’s spectacular track record, its doubtful that they will disappoint anyone. http://www.festiblues.com

Aug. 19-20 mark Montreal’s seventh annual Fête des enfants or Children’s Festival. This event is actually put on by the city of Montreal and its all about play. Last year’s edition was celebrated with a square kilometre of gigantic inflatable games, shows, educational, artistic, sporting activities to many other activities and only looks too promising for this year. These are two days devoted to family fun at Parc Maisonneuve that Mom, Dad or the kids won’t soon forget.

http://ville.montreal.qc.ca/portal/page?_pageid=167,523446&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

The Montreal World Film Festival is preparing for its 30th anniversary edition Aug. 24 through Sept. 4 and with its birthday there are sure to be some special events going on. An event of international proportions, the celebs and the not-so-celebs all culminate to screen what may just be the next blockbuster. Attracting everyone from DiNiro to David Lynch to David Cronenberg in the past, though the schedules and or guest list are not out yet this year’s edition will certainly be a spectacular one.

http://www.ffm-montreal.org/en_index.html

Well, after all of that partying there is only one summer festival left and its geared to get us all back into healthy living: Sept.10 the city gears up for the Montreal International Marathon and Festival de la Santé Oasis. It was created back in 1991 to offer Quebeckers the building blocks of a healthy lifestyle and events to help them improve or keep their good physical shape. The marathon starts on the Jacques Cartier Bridge and takes runners through some of the nicest spots the city has to offer. The event also includes bike and in-line skating activities and is fun for the whole family.

http://www.marathondemontreal.com/en/accueil.php

Music outside of festival times

While the festival schedule has its perks, like free shows and street eats, Gillette Group Entertainment has a whole host of delicacies cooked up to keep the Bell Centre hopping all summer long.

Is she really still selling Sanctuary? The Cult hits Montreal May 27 for all those looking for some 80s nostalgia. Sure the line-up has changed a little over the years and these guys have broken up more times than anyone can remember (or cares to) but they can still pack a punch!

June 3 brings Luciano Pavarotti and his giant lungs to Montreal. The world famous tenor will grace us with his presence for one evening and for those who are not familiar with him, he will be the one centre stage that from a distance looks like a hairy penguin.

Quebec’s pride and joy, The Cirque de Soleil, will be presenting Delirium, its first live-music arena event. Combining new music, dance, theatre and multimedia, this highly rated show is an urban tale of unprecedented proportions and hits the stage June 16-18.

The New Cars, consisting of Elliot Easton on guitar and Greg Hawkes on keyboards, and surprisingly Todd Rundgren, fellow Utopia bassist Kasim Sulton, and Prairie Prince, former drummer for The Tubes, are united to recreate the original music of the Cars. Call it a late 70s/ early 80s super bill, as Blondie will also share the stage that night and “one way or another,” June 23 will be “just what I needed.”

Imagine what a chorus of 2,000 would sound like? Could it be the angels singing? ILLUMANIMA plans on doing just that with original compositions by Marle Bernard, uniting over 2,000 French-language choir singers for an evening of French “chansons nouvelles.” Illumanima and its many performers hit the stage on June 25.

Taking a complete 180-degree turn, the Slayer-headlined “Unholy Alliance Tour - Preaching to the Perverted” will also be at the Bell Centre July 2-3. For your head-banging pleasure, Slayer has brought with them Mastodon, Lamb Of God, Children Of Bodom and Thine Eyes Bleed for two hard-core evenings.

Elvis Presley still has to be one of the biggest vedettes Quebec has ever seen and is still to this day just as popular, and just as dead. The Elvis Story—Megaproduction, will be in the building (the Bell Centre, actually) for almost a whole month and is a musical reconstruction and celebration of the rise of Elvis and his lengthy career, as interpreted by various musicians. Shows begin July 8 and run until Aug. 6.

Songwriter Félix Gray’s interpretation of the Don Juan story will hit the stage at the end of August through early September. A loose adaptation of Moliere’s play set on fire by colourful costumes, swift co-ordination and song, Don will be around Aug. 30 through Sept. 10 for all those who which to participate in the magic.

Parc Jean Drapeau will also see two major concert events under the guidance of the Gillette Group. First up is Bon Jovi supported by Nickelback July 13. This will be Bon Jovi’s third date in Quebec off the same tour, as he is just as big a fan of Montreal as Montrealers are of him. Next up is the Vans Warped Tour on its last day of touring, bringing everyone from Anti-Flag to Joan Jett & The Blackhearts to Nofx to the Buzzcocks and so many more to various stages August 13.

Le Casino de Montréal

The Casino will also be offering up its own bevy of hot acts for those who like their entertainment in style. From May 4 through June 18, Hit the Road Jack, a tribute to Ray Charles, celebrates the lengthy career of the recently departed legend. June 6-28, Lou Nelson hits the stage with a tribute to “the not unusual” Tom Jones. For three special nights, June 28-30, Frank Sinatra, Jr. will be in town to belt out his father’s hits along with a 38-musician orchestra. The Casino’s summer program wraps up with Simplement Streisand, a Barbra tribute with Christine Chartrand running from Aug. 8 to Sept. 10.

All in the family

For as much as Montreal can be a romantic city with attractions abounding for adult tastes, there are still no limits on what the city has to offer up as family fun.

La Ronde, Montreal’s largest amusement park attraction, remains some of the happiest memories of most of the city’s dwellers. Since Six Flags bought the cash-strapped park back in 2002, new and adventurous rides have popped up, including this year’s edition, the “new steel giant” roller coaster known only as Goliath. Measuring over 53 metres (175 feet) in height, Goliath towers over Le Monstre and is even bigger (and scarier) than last year’s edition, The Vampire. The park is open from May through October. http://www.laronde.com

Montreal has four nature museums that are all “must sees” for the family: Montréal Botanical Garden, Montréal Insectarium, the Biodôme and the Planetarium. The gardens are a truly magical experience offering 22,000 plant species and cultivars, 10 exhibition greenhouses, some 30 thematic gardens. One of the garden is the First Nations Garden, make sure not to miss out on this beautiful area. Once you’ve taken in the scents, flora and fauna, head over to the Insectarium, just steps away to learn all about bugs. These little misunderstood creatures are all part of what helps mother nature along her path and one visit will enlighten you to just that. After that, check out the Biodôme, which offers an educational experience to visitors recreating some of the most beautiful ecosystems of the Americas. From wildcats to penguins, kids and parents alike will enjoy this experience. After covering land and sea what else is left but the skies and the twinkling stars that spangle it at the Planetarium. Designed to teach the general public about astronomy, since 1966, the Montréal Planetarium has offered multimedia shows for people of all ages, all about the exciting worlds of astronomy and space exploration. A good idea for a rainy day, this is one experience the kids won’t soon forget.

http://www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/jardin/jardin.htm

http://www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/insectarium/insect.htm

http://www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/biodome/

http://www.planetarium.montreal.qc.ca/

Space, the final frontier, these are the voyages of a family or friends discovering the possibilities of space travel. The Laval Cosmodôme Space Centre is a two-pronged affair, they offer various space camps for kids aged 9-15 and the space centre, a facility open to the general public designed to highlight man’s conquest of space and the technology that has supported him throughout his conquests. With everything from authentic moon rocks and a real Apollo mission space suit, the experience does not get much closer than this other than perhaps actual space travel. Open year-round with space camp running through the summer months, the Cosmodôme is ideal family fun or a perfect kid’s vacation away from the family.

http://www.cosmodome.org

Of course if you really want to immerse your children into the world of science in an interactive environment, The Montreal Science Centre offers kids the chance to try things out first hand. This bright and colourful science museum has exhibitions geared towards various different age groups so there is something for little kids and big kids alike. From basic design concepts in the new world of technology to understanding human biology, whether it’s a child’s first experience with science or what inspires them to pick a career in science, this museum has so much to offer. The Montreal Science Centre is also home to the first IMAX theatre. Throughout the summer months Deep Sea 3D will be showing on the big, big screen, exploring the depths of the ocean and all it has to offer. Learning has never been so much fun! http://www.centredessciencesdemontreal.com/

Of course if the kids just really want to run around and explore, what better than a Labyrinth jam packed with puzzling obstacles, mysteries, surprises and enigmas. The Shed 16 Labyrinth is, yes, made out of a real shed but a very large one at that. Located in the Old Port of Montreal, it’s a perfect activity for a rainy afternoon and kids can collect the clues to solve the mystery of Omer St-Laurent in their new 1929-gangster themed mystery adventure. Clues, routes and themes are changed frequently so that kids need to figure out the mystery on their own and it’s fun for the whole family.

http://www.labyrintheduhangar16.com/en/index.html

Though the weather is quite delightful, those who miss the cold and frightful can get their skating fix on at Atrium Le 1000 year round. Formerly known as the Bell Amphitheatre, this indoor rink is right in the heart of downtown and it’s also known as the warmest rink in town. Located in the underground city, it offers a skating in-style concept with luxurious changing rooms, skate sharpening, equipment rentals and restaurants galore. http://www.le1000.com/index_en.asp

Do the kids like hide and go seek? Do they feel really confident about it? Why not try them out in a specially designed maze, equipped with laser guns and electronic body gear? Laser Quest is Montreal’s laser tag hot spot. Particularly older kids and teens will get a kick out of this one, its all of the fun of paintball without the mess or bruises and special accommodations can be made for large groups.

http://www.geocities.com/lqmontreal/

Parc Safari, if you’re willing to venture off island during your stay in Montreal, is an exhilarating experience for everyone, young and old alike. A zoological and recreational park, a little section of la belle province is transformed into six theme parks, among them the five main animal sectors with 800 animals of 75 species from five continents. If that’s not enough there is a water park with beaches, tire tubing and a wading pool for the tiny tykes and an amusement park featuring twelve different rides. Located in Hemmingford, Parc Safari combines all of the fun of the jungle with family entertainment to make it a sure bet! http://www.parcsafari.com

Since 1953, the Granby Zoo has been one of Quebec’s biggest tourist attractions. Located in Granby, an hour outside of Montreal in the Eastern Townships, it boasts over 920 animals and over 180 species, some of them endangered. With every thing from plains gorillas, elephants, lemurs, tigers, giraffes, bats, snakes, lions and sharks, children can sometimes even get the opportunity to interact with these wild beasts and if not at least learn from them first hand. Granby Zoo also features some of the largest habitats for these animals, giving them plenty of space to walk, crawl, slither and flap around freely. After a day at the zoo, why not cool off at the adjacent Amazoo Water Park or if it’s a cooler day, spice things up with adrenaline at the amusement park. This is family entertainment at some of its best! http://www.zoodegranby.com

Some of Quebec’s most distinctive characteristics are the topographical marks the Catholic Church has made on the landscape of the province via its houses of worship. St-Joseph’s Oratory is one of Montreal’s best known and most celebrated religious landmarks. Throughout the summer months believers and non-believers alike are welcomed to enjoy melodious concerts hosted by the Oratory. Carillon recitals start June 18 and run through August at the Carillon Claude Aubin. Various organ recitals, including a special evening of “Organ and Cinema” and “Organ and Dance” will also be held throughout the summer months along with tours and various other faith related activities. This picturesque historical site is a must see for all.

http://www.saint-joseph.org

Sports!

While Montreal certainly has a lot to offer to the artsy-fartsy, it also doesn’t fall short for sports fans despite the fact that we’ve lost the Expos. With Alouettes football, Montreal Impact soccer and the increasingly popular women’s tennis, Montreal has more than enough spectator sports going on to keep anyone’s sports rage in check.

Are you ready for some football? The CFL’s Montreal Alouettes kick off their season (literally) this coming June 2 in Winnipeg and play their first home game Thursday, June 8. Nothing beats the open-air experience of the Molson Stadium on a warm day, overlooking the cityscape, hotdog in one hand, beer in the other with the home team winning. But even when they are not, it still doesn’t take the fun out of it. Winners of five Grey Cups since 1946, the Als have shot up in popularity since their move from the Olympic Stadium a few years ago to their new home on the mountain so purchase tickets early if possible.

http://www.montrealalouettes.com

It’s the most popular sport in Europe, where they call it “football.” We call it soccer and the Montreal Impact have been making a name for themselves in recent years. It all goes down at the Claude-Robillard Sports Complex and for soccer fans it’s the best gig in town. Though they may not play at an international level, the do go up against the bulk of American teams and have been wowing audiences and gaining in popularity since it was started out by the Saputo (cheese) family back in late 1993. A fun family activity, seating is general and is first-come, first-served so get there early to get good seats. http://www.montrealimpact.com/index.asp

Women’s tennis has taken the spotlight in recent years thanks to the likes of sexy stars Anna Kournikova and Maria Sharapova, but when it gets down to it it’s all about the game. Known in the tennis world to be one of the best-run tournaments in the world, the Rodgers Cup is third to only Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in having the longest history on the WTA Tour. Montreal’s Rodger’s cup is one of 10 Tier I tournaments on the WTA Tour. The tournament runs Aug. 12-20 at the Uniprix Stadium. http://www.rogerscup.com