Sizzle season
All the sun, fun and fests you need, courtesy of the Mirror’s Hot Summer Guide
by ELISABETH FAURE
June 9, 2011
STREET STRUT: Montreal Fashion and Design Festival
Photo by JIMMY HAMELIN.COM
AUGUST
First Peoples’ Festival, Land InSights, August 2–9
Shows, visual arts, film and video events from First Nations artists. The exterior site at Place des Festivals (metro Place des Arts) will be open from August 4–7, and will feature dance, teepees, bonfires and more. Performers T.B.A. late June. nativelynx.qc.ca
Next Wave Festival of New Musicals, August 2–25
The annual musical-theatre festival includes workshops and productions (in French and English), all starring Montrealers. Standouts include The Brain From Planet X, a send-up of 50s sci-fi movies, and [title of show], a musical about two guys trying to write a musical. montrealnextwave.com
Montreal Fashion and Design Festival, August 3–6
The beautiful people come out to play for the international fashion fest. Get your couture fix at a variety of downtown locations, including a huge open-air runway on McGill College between de Maisonneuve and Place Ville-Marie. festivalmodedesign.com
SINGING BY STARLIGHT: Philémon Chante, appearing at POP Lafontaine
Photo by MEGANE M. VOGHELL
POP Lafontaine, August 5–6
POP Montreal offers two nights of programming at Parc Lafontaine’s Théâtre de Verdure. The “Socalled” movie screens Aug. 4, followed by a Socalled performance, and Philémon Chante, the United Steelworkers of Montreal and special surprise guest perform on Aug. 5. popmontreal.com
Montreal Italian Week Festival, August 5–14
Montreal’s Italian community celebrates with opera, fashion, live music, food, art exhibitions and car demos. Held on St-Laurent in Little Italy. italianweek.ca
Rogers Cup, August 5–14
The one-week ATP tennis tournament at the Uniprix Stadium in Jarry Park features big men’s names like Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. rogerscup.com
Montreal Pride Celebrations, August 9–14
This year, the LGBT event’s theme is “Share the Pride.” The fest’s highlight is the Pride Parade on Sunday, Aug. 14, beginning at 1 p.m. and running along René-Lévèsque W. from Guy to Sanguinet. A mega-dance party at Parc Émilie-Gamelin follows. fiertemontrealpride.com
Festiblues International of Montreal, August 10–14
Ahuntsic Park (Metro Henri-Bourassa) comes alive with blues music from around the world. This year, Quebec’s biggest blues fest celebrates its 14th anniversary. Lineup T.B.A. mid-June. festiblues.com
Otakuthon, August 12–14
The anime convention returns to Palais des Congrès, dotting the streets of Old Montreal with costumed attendees. The convention features panels, workshops, a masquerade, exhibitions, screening rooms and more. otakuthon.com
Matsuri Japon, August 13
The Japanese cultural fest turns 10 this year. Activities include martial arts, archery and drumming, with traditional foods available on-site at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre of Montreal (8155, rue Rousselot). festivaljapon.com
RUGRAT RUMPUS: La fêtes des enfants
Photo by GILLES PROULX
La Fête des enfants, August 13–14
Parc Jean-Drapeau welcomes kids and families to experience 100 free events, including singing, dancing and craft workshops. It’s parent-friendly, with baby rest stops and stroller parking available. parcjeandrapeau.com
Under Pressure, August 13–14
The graffiti fest celebrates its 17th year with the usual—hip hop, breakdancing, skateboarding and lots of street art. Performers include 4DZ, Rough Draft and Art Cons. underpressure.ca
International Balloon Festival of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, August 13–21
Over 100 balloons will take passengers on morning and evening aerial tours, lifting off from St-Jean-sur-Richelieu—make your reservations early! Family-friendly on-site activities. Tickets include evening performances by KE$HA, Sean Paul, Pitbull, Roch Voisine and more. ballooncanada.com
World Film Festival, August 18–28
The World Film Festival celebrates its 35th anniversary with a selection of more than 400 films from over 80 countries. Features, shorts and documentaries screen in six sections, two of which are competitive. In addition, WFF offers a student film competition and free outdoor screenings. ffm-montreal.org
NASCAR, August 19–20
The NASCAR Nationwide series returns to the Gilles Villeneuve track at Parc Jean-Drapeau. The sport’s top drivers compete for the Villeneuve trophy. nascar.com
NDG Arts Week, August 19–28
NDG Arts Week helps the NDG Food Depot celebrate 25 years with a block party on Saturday, Aug. 20. Other activities include the Off-the-Wall outdoor movie night at Girouard Park (Aug. 26) and an Art Walk on Sherbrooke between Melrose and Wilson (1–5 p.m., Aug 27). cooplamaisonverte.com
RIDDIMS ON THE RIVER: Studio One, at the Montreal International Reggae Festival
Montreal International Reggae Festival, August 20–21
Acts this year include Gyptian, Sharon Tucker, Third World, Wayne Wonder, Beres Hammond, Studio One and Mavado. At the Quays of the Old Port. Food, kid-friendly activities on-site. montrealreggaefest.com
Montreal Burlesque Festival, August 25–28
Bust out your pasties! The Burlesque Fest is back, with plenty of babes, boobs and bawdiness to entertain you. Performers from Montreal and abroad will gather to give workshops and show some skin. montrealburlesquefestival.ca
18th-Century Public Market, August 27–28
Pointe-à-Callière has re-created Montreal’s first public market, complete with costumed villagers who interact with the crowd. Activities include a parade, storytelling, dress-up for kids, live music and plenty of olde-tyme eats. pacmusee.qc.ca.
WHIP IT GOOD: Montreal Fetish Weekend
Photo by CHRISTOPHE MOURTHE
Montreal Fetish Weekend, August 30—September 5
What better way to wrap up festival season than with some kink? The Fetish Weekend offers seven nights of “kinky delights.” Activities include a fetish fashion show, “kinky” bowling, bondage workshops and a Victorian masked ball. fetishweekend.com ■
JUNE | JULY | AUGUST
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