You know, the best version of this town is regularly absent from big venues or glossy flyers—it’s a ramshackle stage with a borrowed amp, some sweaty dive bar with a crackling mic, and a crowd that knows all the words even if no one’s on key.

This weekend, the city’s DIY spirit takes centre stage, with folk and punk scenes spilling into the streets, parks, and patios. It’s all grit, heart, and homegrown noise—just the way we like it.

The city’s cracking open like a cold one: There’s live music on porches, punk bands screaming downtown, and a pizza oven getting fired up for a block party. Then you'll find a whole new park inauguration, a feminist comedy fest, seedling sales, and cocktail pop-ups that could knock you sideways.

It’s a weekend built for wandering, and we’ve laid it all out below.

Activities, parties, points of interest, art exhibitions, you name it: These are the weekend events you don't want to miss.

Thursday

🎭 Black Theatre Workshop’s Club Zed Playwrights’ Festival returns with readings, panels, workshops, and conversations celebrating Black Canadian voices in theatre.

📖 Celebrate the launch of Al Hayya Magazine Issue #4: Dreams of Liberation with an evening of conversation and reflection on resistance, art, and memory at Zamalek.

🎨 Cheer on your favourite artist at Art Battle, where 12 visual artists compete in a three round competition to produce a winning piece of art in only 20 minutes.

🎙️ Meet like-minded comedy fans at HystéRire, a three day feminist, queer, antiracist comedy festival featuring shows, improv, discussions, and a closing party.

Friday

☠️ Pouzza Fest is here, bringing together over 150 bands for three days of punk rock performances downtown, including free shows at the outdoor Parterre du Quartier des Spectacles site.

🛹 Jeux Urbains returns with a new twist: alongside its downtown stages, a brand-new outdoor setup at Esplanade PVM will debut—complete with a mystery sport making its first appearance.

🍷 Rouge Gorge kicks off terrasse season with a Sangria Party evening of drinks and fun to celebrate the opening of their outdoor space.

Saturday

🌳 Visit the inauguration of Place des Montréalaises with a free event featuring food trucks, performances by local artists, and guided tours to celebrate the park’s opening.

🖼️ Bibelot invites you to sip a coffee or drink at Dépanneur Comptoir before browsing unique trinkets and art at their sidewalk sale.

🎸 Commemorate 15 years since the death of Ronnie James Dio with free entry to Microbrasserie Mutoïde’s Vinyle VIII event featuring DJs Gringö Starr and Dirty Tony.

🏡 NDG Porchfest returns for a weekend of live music performed from neighbourhood front porches, a testament to community organizing which spotlights local talent while showing off the area’s architecture and green spaces.

Sunday

🍸 Montreal Cocktail Fest 2025 kicks off, with nearly 30 participating bars and four days worth of programming. We’ve rounded up the must-hit festival spots, including pop-ups, pairing dinners, and workshops here.

⚡ Piknic Électronik is back at Parc Jean-Drapeau! Sunday’s performances include electronic artists Stryv, Zorza, and Lobsta B.

🌮 Celebrate Mexican-style at Brasserie Dieu du Ciel's Terrasse Fiesta in Saint-Jérôme with free entry, special cocktails, beers, and a brand-new summer menu.

💿 Peruse the collection at Vinyl Caravan’s pop up record fair at Le Record while listening to a live DJ recording session.

🌱 For those with a green thumb, check out the Annual Epic Organic Monkland Seedling Sale for vegetable, herb and flower seedlings plus fresh farm produce.

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WHAT TO EAT & DRINK IN AND AROUND MONTREAL

Scope the latest restaurant openings, recommendations on where to eat, plus new menus, old classics, and everything in between.

A new café, Pas de Probleme, is open as of May 16 in Saint-Henri and selling Jamaican coffee brews, pastries, and patties.

This month is your last chance to visit Haute Saison’s spring pop up bar, hosted at their event space every Friday.

A newcomer has opened in Saint-Henri: Mina Mina offers specialty coffees and earl gray matcha.

Casavant kicks off summer with a block party on May 17—Elena’s firing up their New York-style pizza oven, Fellas Q Tips are on the decks, and a live jazz band wraps the day; no reservations, just bring your crew.

Pumpui welcomes guest chef Rinda Suparatana on May 17 for a Thai BBQ pop-up with street food dishes like Moo Ping and Thai banana splits from noon until supplies last.

Robin is hosting PittNik on their terrasse May 17 for a wood-fired pizza pop-up to pair with their natural beer.

Bonne Fête Jungle! The torrefacteur’s 4th birthday party will be celebrated on May 17 at the Canadian Roasting Society with coffee, donuts, flash tattoos, and a limited supply of gifts.

Kwizinn is hosting a Haitian flag day brunch party on May 18, featuring kompa dance, afrobeats by DJ Benxoli, and a flag-colors dress code—plus, a main plate and mimosa are included with a ticket.

For a special brunch menu, live sets by DJ GHXST and dreewpy, and great vibes, reserve a place at Loaded for Days’ Boozy Brunch at Blandino on May 18.

Pichai welcomes Julien Albertus and Vincent Hamm from Kumpf & Meyer on May 19 for an “MTL x Alsace” evening of cuvées, vintages, and magnums.

The next edition of Stir It Up will be held at Marion on May 20 with special guest Max preparing extra-special cocktails.

Auberge Saint Mathieu is coming to La Renard on May 21 for a joint tasting menu by chefs Samy Benabed and Philippe St-Arnaud, featuring lobster and an add-on pairings menu.

Here, you'll find a weekly round-up of the latest local news, from entertainment to current affairs and more.

Raise your glass: Montreal Cocktail Fest is back with nearly 30 participating bars and we’ve rounded up the must-hit festival spots, including pop-ups, pairing dinners, and workshops. Read more.

“You can’t knock it ‘til you try it” — Meet Barry Fleischer, the iconic brewmaster keeping Montreal’s spruce beer legacy alive. Read more.

Here's how a chance encounter between Haitian artist Paul Beaubrun and Arcade Fire turned into a cross-cultural collaboration rooted in rhythm, resistance, and home. Read more.

Paint what you know: This painter captures Montreal’s iconic scenes in vibrant acrylics, affectionately immortalizing the city streets of her childhood. Read more.

The last symbol of Old Montreal's horse-drawn carriages will soon be destroyed in Griffintown as the Lucky Luc Calèches stable is now empty. Read more.

The one million dollar price tag on a street lamp replacement in Longueuil reveals the troublingly high cost of minor upkeep in Quebec. Read more.

OK, now you can laugh. Just For Laughs is going to be back this year, this time under new management. Read more.

It's gonna get crowded. While Montreal's tourism board expects less Yankees to come visit this summer, they also expect more tourists than before. Read more.

Speaking of tourists, Montreal is apparently going to spearhead one of the biggest crackdowns on Airbnbs the world's ever seen. Gonna be yuge. Read more.

Montreal's landmark shopping center Place Versailles is set for redevelopment, focusing on enhancing the public space and integrating community-centered facilities. Read more.

Another mess for landlords to clean up: The city is considering holding landlords more responsible for the the trash on our streets. Read more.

How'd you get in here? Housing in Montreal is bad enough as it is, but people starting bidding wars are making it worse. Read more.

"I Went to the SSENSE Store, and All I Got Was $20,000 of Designer Menswear": A title too ridiculous to embellish. We got nothing. Read more.

Learning from our mistakes? Montreal will be easing terrace rules in the lead up to the Grand Prix after last year’s restrictions sparked chaos among business owners. Read more.

Ach, no! Looks like the Highland Games got cancelled for the first time in 45 years due to unexpected financial challenges. They said they'll be back, though. Read more.

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And that wraps yet another weekly bulletin. We’ll be back with more curiosities, local stories, and events to discover next week.

If ever you catch something we should know, don't hesitate to reach out to us on Instagram.

👋 Masthead: Philip Tabah, Founder & Head of Creative / Daniel Bromberg, Co-Founder & Head of Operations / Jean-Philippe Lauzon, Co-Founder & Head of Tech / JP Karwacki, Managing Editor / Amber Spector, Social Media Manager / Anahi Pellathy, Editorial Intern