10 Events to Plan Your Summer Around

This story originally appeared in a special edition The Main x URBANIA Micromag. Read the full collection here.

At this point, it's no longer up for debate: in summer, Montreal is bursting with things to do. Between the festivals, the street parties, the concerts and the slightly offbeat events that pop up on our Instagram feeds every week, the hard part isn't finding something to do, it's choosing what to do.

To help you fill your calendar, we asked the URBANIA and The Main teams to share a few summer happenings worth the trip.

July 9 to 12: PlazaPalooza

Plaza St-Hubert

If your knowledge of Plaza St-Hubert is limited to a night at Spaghetti Western or the wedding dress shops, PlazaPalooza is the perfect opportunity to explore the area differently. For four days, the street transforms with a program spotlighting the businesses, restaurants and organizations that call it home.

July 11: La Course des Glorieux Triporteurs

Hochelaga

There are traditional sporting events, and then there's the Course des Glorieux Triporteurs. Starting at 1 p.m., participants take over the streets of Hochelaga aboard decorated cargo trikes, cheered on by the crowd. It's a way of paying tribute to what's considered the neighbourhood's official mode of transportation.

An activity as improbable as it is entertaining, and one that sums up the spirit of the neighbourhood perfectly.

July 12: Film Noir au Canal

Lachine Canal

Summer is outdoor screening season. If you only make it to one, we strongly recommend this one (but there are others). The concept is simple: a cult crime film, a warm evening, and the Lachine Canal as a backdrop.

Set yourself up by the water and take in an open-air cinema experience bound to be far more memorable than an air-conditioned theatre.

July 16 to 19: Chợ Đêm

Griffintown

Montreal’s premiere Vietnamese night market returns to the waterfront for four days, creating an intergenerational meeting ground fueled and entertained by delicacies like grilled squid and chạo tôm as well as bamboo pole dancing, V-pop sets, and a crowd decked out in áo dài dresses, respectively. Over the years, it's grown into one of the city's most genuinely moving summer gatherings with its family reunion energy that welcomes the whole city.

July 22: SOUS L'ANNEAU

Downtown

Whether you find it magnificent or pointless, one thing is certain: the Ring at Place Ville Marie doesn't go unnoticed. Since the start of summer, it's been serving as the gathering point for SOUS L’ANNEAU, a series of free events.