Montreal Events and Attractions August 2018

The province of Quebec celebrates Archaeology Month in August. Montreal history and archaeology museum Pointe-à-Callière typically proposes family-friendly archaeology quests for the occasion. Consult the Archaeology Month website for the whole lineup.

You've got until August 1, 2018 to catch the gore and the kitsch that is Fantasia, one of North America's most important genre film festivals.

From August 7 to August 15, 2018, it's the Montreal First Peoples Festival, an event packed with film screenings and concerts. Don't miss free shows at ​Place des festivals nearly every evening of the festival.

Starting in August, Repercussion Theatre will be presenting this year's Shakespeare-in-the-Park production of Romeo & Juliet: Love is Love, a comtemporary takes on Shakepeare's classic tragedy. You have until August 8, 2018 to catch a show in one of Montreal's beautiful parks.

World cosplay action, Japanese singing competitions and meetups with Japanese pop and anime industry guests of honor, catch Otakuthon August 3 through August 5, 2018 at Palais des congrès. 

Montreal Italian Week runs August 3 to August 12, 2018. Fashion shows, live opera, car exhibits and addictive food are mainstays of the annual street fest, which holds the bulk of its activities in La Petite Patrie's Little Italy.

The Montreal World Triathlon is on August 25 and August 26, 2018

Spectate either for free along the race courses lining the Old Port and Old Montreal, or pay for a VIP seat in the Grandstands.

The Great Montreal Poutinefest is back in Montreal July 31 through August 5, 2018 at the Old Port. Sample everything from foie gras poutine to meatball poutine to gawd-knows-what. Admission is free. Poutine is extra.

Almost every Sunday through May 20 to September 30, 2018 features Piknic Electronik, a weekly spring and summer electronic music tradition held at Parc Jean-Drapeau.

Graffiti artists create art to the tune of DJ sessions. As do Under Pressure's b-boys and b-girls, the lot doing their thing August 9 through August 13, 2017. Some events charge admission. Others don't.

Keep an eye for Under Pressure's free admission street fest perimeter located on Ste. Catherine Street East, between Ste. Élizabeth Street and Berger. Closed off to cars on both August 12 and August 13, 2017, activities for kids, dance battles and live graffiti creation are on the bill.

EDM music fest ÎleSoniq runs August 10 and August 11, 2018 at Parc Jean-Drapeau. Headliners for 2018 include The Chainsmokers, DJ Snake, Diplo, French Montana, and Steve Angello.

Dubbing itself the “underside of pride,” Pervers/Cité is “a collaboratively organized summer festival that aims to make links across social justice groups, queer communities, and radical visions of pride. In a climate of corporatized gay agendas and whitewashed homogeneity amongst queers, Pervers/cité strives to provide a critical and accessible schedule of activities, designed to bring back the radical underpinnings to the pride movement.” 

Running August 11 to August 14, 2017, catch Pervers/Cité's Trans March as well as several talks and meetups in Montreal.

August 9 to August 19, 2018 features Montreal's Pride celebrations, from its annual Community Day event on August 19 in the Gay Village's pedestrian zone to the Montreal Pride parade on August 20, 2017.

From August 9 to August 11, 2018, La TOHU hosts FALLA, a family-friendly event that ends in fire.

From August 10 to August 13, 2017 the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal presents OSM Classical Spree which includes its annual roster of concerts in the park. 

August 10, 2017 features the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal performing songs from Gershwin's Porgy and Bess at the Olympic Park Esplanade and August 11 through August 12, 2017 features free music performances and activitiesin and around Place des Festivals and Place des Arts.

An annual tradition at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre of Montreal is Matsuri Japan Festival, a one-day outdoor event featuring martial arts demonstrations, dance performances, Taiko drummers, Japanese food and more. In 2018, it's on August 11. Free admission.

Join hundreds of yoga enthusiasts for a ​group yoga session at the Old Port on August 18, 2018. Admission $44 to $130, includes a goody bag and a complimentary yoga mat. All white yoga clothing required for participation.

Paris got the ball rolling in 1988. And now infamous flash dinner party, Dîner en Blanc, has since spread to several cities around the world followed suit in recent years, Montreal included. 

In 2018, Montreal's Dîner en Blanc is on August 16. As per usual, its location is revealed at the last minute.

From August 17 to August 19, 2018, catch Jackalope at the Olympic Park Esplanade, a free extreme sports event featuring free climbing, slacklining, base jumping, longboarding, BMX racing, a water gun fight and more. In 2017, skate legend Tony Hawk attended.

Montreal's annual Fashion and Design Festival proposes outdoor catwalk action and industry talks over the course of four days. In 2018, it runs August 20 to August 25.

Catch MUTEK's audiovisual experimentations August 22 through August 26, 2018.

Formerly called Nuit Blanche sur Tableau Noir, Réappropriation Urbaine (RU) is a street fair, a sidewalk sale and a live arts creation festival all wrapped into one running August 23 through August 26, 2018 on Avenue Mont-Royal.

Experience a rodeo and immerse yourself in country music, gourmet food stations, bull riding August 24 through August 27, 2018 at the Old Port with NomadFest. Admission ranges from $10 to $75.

Featuring films from across the globe, in many cases shown to the public for the first time, the Montreal World Film Festival is supposed to run August 23 through September 3, 2018.

August 17, 18, and 19, 2018 is the second annual All Asian Night Market featuring morsels from over 15 participating restaurants as well as entertainment for all ages at Village au Pied-du-Courant. Free admission. Food costs extra.

Pointe-à-Callière's Public Market on Place Royale in Old Montreal is held the last weekend of August. In 2018, that's August 25 and 26.

Selling authentic 18th century foodstuffs like maple syrup, cider, cheese and sausages, jams and spruce beer, games for kids, historical reenactments, and storytelling are usually part of the package.