by PATRICK LEJTENYI

It’s that time of year again: Montreal’s premier gay event of the year, Divers/Cité, is coming to town and people are getting ready for some serious partying. Here are some highlights.

The whole shebang kicks off on Sunday, July 30, with the second annual LGBT Night Parade. The theme is Nuit de Montréal, and glitter, sequins and all things luminous are de rigueur. Expect the usual floats, marching groups and music as the parade makes its way down René-Lévesque between de Lorimier and St-Hubert, starting at around 8:45 p.m. If you happen to wind up at Parc Émilie-Gamelin (Berri Square)—and odds are you will—you can grab a drink and watch the whole parade again on a giant outdoor screen. At 9:30 p.m., a minute of silence will be observed for those who have died as a result of their sexuality, and out of respect for those who have lost loved ones.

In case you’ve missed it (and if you have, shame!), Jean-Marc Vallée’s excellent 2005 film C.R.A.Z.Y., about a young Montreal teen coming to grips with his homosexuality and his family in the 1970s, screens at Berri Square’s Loto-Québec stage at 9 p.m. At 7 p.m., catch DJ Zilon’s C.R.A.Z.Y.-inspired set of ’70s and ’80s glam rock. Expect lots and lots of Bowie.

Music and dancing

There is absolutely no shortage of live music running through the Divers/Cité party. On Tuesday, Aug. 1, Marleen Ménard emcees the 1, Boulevard des Rêves evening at the Loto-Québec stage, beginning at 7 p.m., featuring homegrown songbirds crooning some of the best jazz, soul, R&B, gospel and pop. The line-up, headlined by famed club singer Crystal Waters, includes Martine St-Clair, Cassiopée and many, many more.

The next night, on the same stage, transplanted Mississippian Nanette Workman gives her pipes a workout with a rompin’ stompin’ set of southern rock and blues. Opening will be local blues diva Manon Brunet.

The festival’s New Society event opens Friday at the Loto-Québec stage at 4 p.m. with some hot electronic acts, including Montreal’s favourite ex-Urbanaut DEE, followed by New York City’s Midnight Society (Curtis Atchison and Erik Reyes), who’ll offer up their particular combo of rhythms and “dirty” grooves at 6 p.m. Rounding out the day will be international DJ star and Grammy winner Hex Hector, who spins from 8–11 p.m. Also featured will be a multimedia show by the Cameron Brothers.

Get to know you

Still kind of confused about the whole gay thing? Get to know the community at the Grand Rendez-vous Community Fair on Saturday, Aug. 5, and Sunday, Aug. 6, when over 80 community groups, social clubs, athletic teams, advocacy organizations and health experts gather for some outdoor fun at Berri and Ste-Catherine.

Next door at Berri Square, an entire day of live music is planned, with the PM Delux show kicking off with North African beats from Lynda Thalie, followed by a South American set. DJ Mister Smith eases the afternoon into the Sunset Party, when things really get crazy; as of 6 p.m. Israeli DJ Offer Nissim will hit Montrealers with an aural assault of his original, signature style, while Toronto’s Deko-ze offer up deep house, tribal and techno-trance beats to match his high-energy stage presence.

Up the street at the Berri-Ontario Stage, Montreal’s drag queen extraordinaire Mado will host the annual three-hour Mascara: La Nuit des Drags show, beginning at 6 p.m. Singing! Costumes! Dancing! It all comes courtesy of Mado (of course), Nana, V.Nus, Miss Butterfly and many more.

’70s memories

No rest for the wicked. On Sunday, Aug. 6, the Loto-Québec stage bursts out yet more sounds, beginning at the ungodly hour of 11 a.m. The Grand Bal Disco takes us all back to the wonderful, decadent ’70s courtesy of Montreal’s Boogie Wonder Band, while DJs Robert de la… Gauthier, Mario Léonard and Mario Bros while away the afternoon with music spanning three decades. Time goes by so slowly? “Montreal’s Madonna” V.Nus will make it go by fast with her “Confessions on a Dance Floor” gig, and Quebec chanteuse Caroline Néron wraps the evening up with some style.

At the Berri-Ontario stage, another party’ll be raging, as DJs Serge Duschesne, Omar “Cito” Perez, Jester, Alain Vinet and Nicola Torriero tear up La Grande Danse, beginning at noon and lasting until 11 p.m. Néron, Kim Richardson and Cassiopée also perform.

And then, of course, it’s time for the Pride Ball. The official closing party goes down at Aria (1280 St-Denis), from 11 p.m. until whenever. DJs Peter Rauhofer, Offer Nissim, Deko-ze and Robert de la… Gauthier go all night. Tix are $50. See www.diverscite.org for purchasing info.

All aboard!

The Gay Cruise weighs anchor at the Alexandra Pier in the Old Port on Saturday for the Night Splash (11 p.m.–7 a.m.) with DJs Roland Belmares and Esteban Rockett and the Day Splash (11 a.m.–5 p.m.) with DJ Brett Henrichsen. Tix are $70 for the day cruise, $80 for the night (add $10 if purchased at boarding), available at Priape (1311 Ste-Catherine E.) or www.

splashcruise.com.

As a warm-up to the Mascara night, Mado gets out the ABBA tunes for a fine rendition of all the hits from “Waterloo” to “Dancing Queen” at the Cabaret Mado (1115 Ste-Catherine E.). Tix $10 advance, $15 at the door, beginning at 10 p.m.

On Sunday, Aug. 6, lesbians and their friends can check out the Meow Mix show, consisting mostly of burlesque, drag and other acts. Dance party follows, at la Sala Rossa (4848 St-Laurent), 9:30 p.m., $10.

Finally, some community events. At the Ecomusée du fier monde (2050 Amherst), check out The Story of Our Lives exhibit, documenting 300 years of gay life in Quebec, until Aug. 6. On Thursday, Aug. 3, you can catch the Wild End Boys show at Club Lambi (4465 St-Laurent), 9 p.m., $10, a “cabaresque” featuring some fine Canadian talent. And if theatre’s your thing, don’t miss William & James, Robert Tsonos’s play about a strange relationship between two men in Victorian England, directed by Davyn Ryall. Times and prices vary, see www.villagescene.com for more info.

That’s about it. Have fun!