Hot Summer Calendar

All the crazy crap you can expect from a summer in the city

compiled by MARK SLUTSKY

When the sun comes out in the 514, so do the festivals, and this year's no exception. Festivity-seekers and amateur hedonists can expect a season of music, art, race cars, movies and many other culturally related diversions.

June

Nuit Blanche sur Tableau Noir, to June 13
The annual Mont-Royal street painting festival's theme this year is "le paysage exposé." The main event here is La Grande Fresque de Nuit, June 10-11, where over 10,000 people are expected to take part in a massive street painting throwdown. On Mont-Royal, between St-Hubert and de Lorimier. Info: www.tableaunoir.com.

Montreal Chamber Music Festival, to June 26
A real class act that features chamber music as well as jazz and other stuff. This year's theme: "Musical Stars on the Mountain." At Chalet de la Montagne, Mont-Royal. Info: www.festivalmontreal.org.

Suoni Per Il Popolo/Sounds for the People Festival, to June 27
The Casa del Popolo's homegrown music fest gets bigger and better. Don't miss Popolo in the Park, an outdoor event on June 12, from noon-6pm at Parc Lahaie (St-Laurent and St-Joseph). Otherwise, the shows go down at the Casa (4873 St-Laurent) and La Sala Rossa (4848 St-Laurent). Info/tix: 284-0122, www.casadelpopolo.com.

St-Ambroise Fringe Festival, June 10-20
Around 80 shows, ranging from straight-up theatre to dance to comedy to crazy avant-garde hoo-ha, take to stages all over the Plateau. As usual, the action takes place around the Plateau, with the heart of it all being the beer tent/outdoor stage at Parc des Amériques, (St-Laurent and Rachel). Info: 849-FEST or www.montrealfringe.ca.

Montreal First Peoples' Festival, June 10-21
Canada's First Nations' people and cultures are celebrated at this yearly fest, with dance, music, videos and whatnot providing for a well-rounded 11 days. The festival is scheduled to coincide with National Aboriginal Day, June 21. Events at various venues downtown. Info: 998-VUES, www.nativelynx.qc.ca.

Grand Prix du Canada, June 11-13
After much worried speculation, the Grand Prix makes its return to Montreal this year, great news for hedonists, Eurotrash, celebrity-watchers, hangers-on, fickle heiresses, moneyed dilettantes, and, yeah, F1 fans too. Grand Prix hysteria can be found in any swanky bar or nightclub in town; the race itself is at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, Parc des Îles. Info: www.grandprix.ca.

Montreal International Fireworks Competition (Le Mondial SAQ), June 12-July 28
Pyromaniacs from all over the world gather to light up our skies with brightly coloured displays of light and music. The displays are weekly (check the Web site for the exact schedule) and are best viewed from La Ronde, though if you can find a rooftop with an unimpeded view that's all the better. Info: www.lemondialsaq.com.

Magnifico: The Al Fresco Summer Film Event, June 16-20
Outdoor screenings of movies from all around the world are always the highlight of this annual event, and really, what could be better? This year's Magnifico is entirely free (screenings indoor and out), in order to better celebrate Ex-Centris's fifth anniversary. Info: 847-1242, http://ex-centris.com.

Les Bouquinistes du St-Laurent, June 17-July 11
Stalls a-plenty as antique booksellers set up shop around the Old Port. Info: www.lesbouquinistes.org.

International Acadian-Cajun Festival of Quebec, June 18-20
Music from the Maritimes and Louisiana is the theme of this young festival's second year. Workshops, conferences, films and tasty cuisine are all part of the line-up. At Parc des Rapides, LaSalle. Info: 748-7816, www.acadieenfete.ca.

Montreal Baroque Festival, June 19-20
Classical musicians kick it out, Baroque-style, at the Old Port. At Place des Vestiges, Old Port. Info: www.oldportofmontreal.com.

Fête Nationale/St. Jean Baptiste, June 24
Quebec pride runs strong at this always-rambunctious annual holiday, with various celebrations in neighbourhoods and parks around town and the occasional riot

OFF Festival de Jazz, June 25-July 4
Overlapping the main Jazz Fest, this scrappy, homegrown festival offers counter-programming for jazz lovers turned off by the bigger festival's excesses. This year sees 32 concerts by jazz musicians from at home and abroad. At various venues around town. Info: 570-0722, www.lofffestivaldejazz.com.

25th Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, June 30-July 11
The mother of all Montreal summer festivals celebrates a quarter-century of existence this year. As always, the performances run the gamut from pricey indoor shows to the multitude of free shows outdoors. Events take place downtown, in and around Place-des-Arts. Info: 871-1881, www.montrealjazzfest.com.

July

Canada Day Festivities/Célafête, July 1
Various celebrations around town (probably localized mostly in the western half of things) pay tribute to federalism. Célafête in particular, down at the Old Port, offers a bunch of different activities, fireworks, a parade and more. Info: http://montreal.celafete.ca.

Carifiesta, July 3
The fun and colourful Caribbean parade stars at noon at the corner of Guy and René Levesque and proceeds to St-Urbain, then down to St-Antoine and across to the Hôtel-de-Ville, where the "after-parade program" will feature food, music and arts and crafts. Info: 735-2232

Artfest 2004, July 2-4
Over 200 artists from around the world participate in this great big celebration, which shuts down Ste-Catherine around the Gay Village to make way for activities, shows, performances and more. Info: www.festivaldesarts.org.

Fête international de Lanaudière, July 2-Aug. 3
Take to the countryside to enjoy the soothing strains of classical music at this highbrow summer fest. At the Ampithéâtre de Lanaudière, Joliette. Info/tix: 1-800-561-4343, or visit the Web site at www.lanaudiere.org.

Mondial des Cultures de Drummondville, July 8-18
Promoting cultural exchange for over 23 years, this good-natured fest features music and art from all over the world. At various venues around Drummondville. Info: www.mondialdescultures.com.

Fantasia, July 8-31
The always-crazy, always-entertaining festival of genre cinema from around the globe may just be Montreal's most entertaining film event. As usual, the schedule is packed with the profound and the profane. Info: www.fantasiafestival.com.

Labatt Outdoor Cinema, July 8-Aug. 12
Popular flicks (all dubbed into French), are shown Thursdays at 9pm on a big outdoor screen, for free. At Bonsecours Island. Info: www.oldportofmontreal.com.

Tremblant International Blues Festival, July 9-18
A heavy dose of blues, mixes with Tremblant's faux-Alpine atmosphere. Six outdoor stages and eight indoor venues, a "Blues Pavillion" and lots of activities make for blues-lover's utopia. At Mont-Tremblant. Info: http://tremblant.com.

Montreal International Tango Festival, July 14-18
The tango is back for this new festival's second edition. This year's theme is "Tango dans le parcs" - lots of spicy tango dancing in the city's green spaces. At various outdoor spots around town. Info: www.festivaldetangodemontreal.qc.ca

Festival International Nuits d'Afrique, July 15-25
The 18th edition of this annual fest of African and Caribbean culture features a staggering number of performers (around 500 musicians and dancers are expected!) At various venues around town. Info: www.festivalnuitsdafrique.com.

Just for Laughs, July 15-25
Probably the biggest comedy event of the year, anywhere, this year's Just For Laughs sees names like Wayne Brady, Caroline Rhea, Tim Allen and Tom Arnold headlining the galas, plus a host of other comic talent at the various showcases. Also on tap: the voice talent behind The Family Guy will be doing a live script reading (much like last year's Simpsons show); Evil Dead 1 & 2: The Musical, and the usual craziness. At various locales around town. Info: www.hahaha.com.

Shakespeare-in-the-Park, July 21-22
Billy Shakespeare's comedy classic A Midsummer Night's Dream for free for two nights at 6:30pm. At Jacques-Cartier Pier in the Old Port. Info: www.oldportofmontreal.com.

Eighth Festival International du Merengue de Montréal, July 24-25
Focusing on merengue and other Latin music, this festival features a couple of jam-packed days in the sun. At Parc Jean-Drapeau. Info: 279-9459, www.festivalmerenguedemontreal.com.

Montreal International Dragon Boat Race Festival, July 24-25
Huge Chinese dragon boats take to the waters and compete in traditional races at this colourful event. Surrounding the races are your crop of artisans, food vendors and the like. At the Olympic Basin, Parc Jean-Drapeau. Info: www.montrealdragonboat.com.

Divers/Cité and Gay Pride celebrations, July 26-Aug. 1
Montreal's wild Pride celebrations consist of a week jam-packed with screenings, multimedia art, a community day and lots of music and dancing. And don't forget the parade (Aug. 1), one of the most fun days of the year. Stuff takes place all over the city, and, of course, around the Gay Village. Info: www.diverscite.org.

Twist, July 29-Aug. 1
Timed to coincide with Gay Pride festivities, the Bad Boy Club of Montreal's Twist Weekend features a bunch of huge parties and a Gay Day at the Beach at Parc Jean-Drapeau. Info: www.bbcm.org.

Les Francofolies de Montréal, July 29-Aug. 7
The festival of diverse music from all over the French-speaking world celebrates its sweet 16 this year with an impressive lineup of performers. Bashung, Nana Mouskori, Yann Tiersen, Stefie Shock,and Henri Salvador are just a few of musicians slated to play. At clubs all over town, with free outdoor shows as well. Info: www.francofolies.com.

Festival des Arts de St-Sauveur, July 30-Aug. 8
This dance-flavoured arts festival features shows and activities for all age groups. Under the Big Top in St-Sauveur, and at various other venues around the town. Info: www.artssaintsauveur.com.

Games of the World, July 30-Aug. 8
Billing itself as a "world festival of traditional games and sports," this year's event expects to see over 1,000 participants from 70 countries around the world. What's more, whenever possible, audience members are invited to take part in the fun, joining in on the high kicks, kendo, sepak takraw, croquet and all sorts of other crazy stuff. Around the Old Port and at Parc Jean-Drapeau. Info: www.jeuxdumonde.ca.

Rogers AT&T Cup, July 31-Aug. 8
The world's best women tennis players gather to compete for big bucks. At Jarry Park. Info/tix: www.rogerscup.com.

August

Montreal Highland Games, Aug. 1
Piping, drumming, dancing, haggis, kilts - all things Scottish are celebrated at this festival, now in its 28th year. At Pierrefonds Sports Park. Info: 332-5242, www.montrealhighlandgames.qc.ca.

Vans Warped Tour, Aug. 13
Who likes big shorts? Surely the attendees of this annual crazy nouveau-punkathon, which features about a million peppy bands. At Parc Jean-Drapeau. Info: www.warpedtour.com.

International Balloon Festival of St-Jean sur-Richelieu, Aug. 14-22
Hot-air balloons, and lots of them, in all sorts of shapes and sizes, fill the air at this festival, which also promises "500,000 square feet of activities for kids of all ages." In St-Jean sur-Richelieu. Info: (450) 347-9555, www.montgolfieres.com.

Festiblues, Aug. 19-22
Over 150 blues musicians perform, with proceeds going to youth groups and the like. In Ahuntsic park. Info: www.festiblues.com..

Hellenic Festival, Aug. 20-Sep. 5
Montreal's rich Greek culture is celebrated at this annual event. At Jacques-Cartier Pier in the Old Port. Info: www.oldportofmontreal.com.

World Film Festival, Aug. 26-Sep. 6
Montreal's biggest film festival features hundreds of movies and, this year, a tribute to actress Isabelle Adjani. At various cinemas downtown. Info: 848-3883, www.ffm-montreal.org.