Things to do in Montreal this July

The best things to do in Montreal during July can be summarized in two words: Festival fever.

Outdoor stages fill with music, neighbourhoods buzz with street fairs, and avenues swell with parades and pop-up performances. The month cracks open a kaleidoscope of sounds, tastes, and sights, inviting you to sit back, relax, and let the season wash over you. While summer-long classics continue through the month, July sees the start of a host of community celebrations, food festivals, and cultural programming. 

From fireworks lighting up the skyline to the soaring acrobatics of Montréal Complètement Cirque, reggae rhythms in Old Port to al fresco dance performances at Parc La Fontaine, and more festivals than you can count, the city becomes a playground of sensory delights. Go chase improvised grooves at the world’s largest jazz festival, or just laze around by the Lachine Canal—whatever you do, July in Montreal offers no shortage of ways to make this summer your best summer.