October starts to get chilly, but Montreal keeps the festival calendar going. If you needed a reason to get out and about in the city, here’s some stuff to check out.

Gardens of Light

September 6 – October 31, 2019

Botanical Garden (4101 Sherbrooke E)

The Botanic Gardens light up with hundreds of intricate lanterns shaped to look like animals, flowers, and objects. The lanterns come from Shanghai and take three months to mount in the Botanic Gardens. Every year there are about 200 new lanterns added to the group. This is one of the most beloved fall seasonal activities in Montreal and anyone can enjoy it. More info HERE.

Les Escales Improbables Montréal – Construsions Monumental

September 14 – October 6, 2019

Various locations

Escales Improbables focuses on performing arts. The festival has spread into a sprawling event with many small subsections. Crawl into a hammock while a chorus sings to you. Join in participatory art. Info HERE.

La Ronde Fright Fest

October 5 – 27. 2019

Halloween runs an entire month at La Ronde with zombies and ghosts all over the park. Specific attractions include haunted mazes, district 510, evil circus in 3D, and of course rides. More information HERE.

Banners of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.

Annual Vigil for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women

October 4, 2019

Cabot Square

6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Because one woman missing is one woman too many. Join the annual October 4th vigil to raise awareness and demand justice through your presence. Information HERE.

Festival du Thé / Tea Festival

October 5, 2019

Marché Bonsecours

Get ready to enjoy tea of all kinds. As with most food festivals, expect tastings as well as an expo to buy tea. Information HERE.

Festival de Nouveau Cinema

Oct 9 – 20, 2019

Various locations

The festival de Nouveau Cinema showcases a variety of films from around the world. Find out what the future holds in terms of cinematic trends and talents. The films can be quirky, but also deeply moving. More info on the festival and its lineup can be found HERE .

L’Off Jazz

October 3 – 12, 2019

Various locations

With summer gone who knows where and the Jazz fest with, time to bring out the Off Jazz. Over 140 artists, most local, will light up the city with concerts and release parties. For more info, click HERE.

Montreal Cannabis Expo

October 3 – 4, 2019

Place Bonaventure

Professionals and others in the industry head to Motnreal. It’s not open to the public, but… maybe you fall in one of these categories? Growers, investors, suppliers, healthcare professionals, job seekers, and media. Discussions focus on what’s here as well as what’s coming. Information HERE.

MagicFest Montreal Limited Grand Prix of Magic the Gathering

October 4-6, 2019

Place Bonaventure

Three day event for fans of the game that entails collecting cards. There’s monetary prizes and other events for those who know what it means to be a grand wizard or something like that. Info HERE.

Phénomena Festival

Oct 5 – 25, 2019

Various venues

Les Filles électriques is a creative company that runs the Phenomena festival, a playful, interdisciplinary festival with installations, performances, and all sorts of oddities. It never ceases to amaze with wonder and is perfectly timed for the spooky season. More info HERE.

Black and Blue Festival Edition Masque

October 7 – 15, 2019

The Black and Blue festival is essentially a giant EDM party in Montreal. This year, the main event takes place at the Olympia and Club Soda. There are plenty of alternative events including a Twinkle Party and a Leather Ball. More info HERE.

Le Gout du Changement / A Taste for Change Festival

October 9, 2019

Ausgang Plaza

Foodtrepreneurs get together to celebrate innovation and local food. Farmers, chefs, restauranteurs, and locals can celebrate together and try what’s on offer. Information HERE.

Kampai Festival du Saké / Saki Festival

October 10, 2019

Marché Bonsecours (350 Rue St Paul E)

Over 180 varieties of the Japanese beverage are on offer. There will be more food than ever. For information, find out HERE.

The Gatsby Gala Party

October 12, 2019 6 p.m. – 11 p.m.

Old Port of Montreal

Dress up like it is the 1920s because that’s when it was fun to party. The event is held in support of Young Kids, Kind Hearts, Powerful Minds. For info, click HERE.

Montreal Indigenous Fashion Week

October 16 – 19, 2019

City Hall (275 Notre Dame E)

With a week celebrating indigenous artists, fashion designers, fashionistas, government, adn academia, partake in the very first indigenous fashion week in Montreal. Indigenous designers will be coming from around the globe. For information, click HERE.

Salty Margarita and Golden Thunderpants. El Carnaval Burlesque. Wiggle Room. Montreal. Photo Sebastian Mora.

Montreal Burlesque Festival

October 17-19, 2019,

Club Soda (1225 ST Laurent)

Burlesque or boylesque, the art of the tease while taking off a few garments makes this form of performance as titillating as it is entertaining. Though the end game is more or less the same, the journey there is different each and every time. Some are more story oriented, others less so. Alongside many of Montreal’s beloved performers, check out some international superstars. More info is HERE.

The Braderie de Québécoise

October 17 – 22, 2019

Marché Bonsecours (350 St. Paur E and 325 de la Commune E)

A few days of high end fashion at super low prices, the annual Braderie is a much anticipated event. Kollontai, Veinage, Stefano, Ca va de soi, Furlux, Myco Anna, Message Factory, Creation Encore, and many other familiar names have deep discounts on their fashion designs. Also, jewelry and accessories are there too. More info HERE.

SPASM

October 17 – 26, 2019

Theatre Plaza (7001 St Laurent)

The cinema festival that is all about zombies and horror, with plenty of oldies to revisit. Keep an eye HERE to know more.

MUZ Music Festival

October 17 – 19, 2019

Place des Arts

Vision Diversité brings three nights of shows to the Quartier des Spectacles with the intent of showcasing the diversity of Quebec professional musicians with international influences. Info HERE.

IF3 Festival

October 17 – 19, 2019

Bain Mathieu (2915 Ontario E)

Freeski, freeride, and snow sports have their festival with equipment, exhibitors, and cinema. More details HERE.

Montreal SKA Festival

October 17 – 19, 2019

Diving Bell and Petit Campus

If you love music that involves horns and punks and dancing fast and occasionally moshing, ska your heart out. Information HERE.

Festival Interculturel du Conte / Montreal Intercultural Storytelling Festival

October 18 – 27, 2019

Various Venues

60 artists and storytellers come to Montreal from across Canada and around the world to share stories. 14 shows are in English, featuring storytellers from the Metis Nation, Argentina, Ottawa, Toronto, Greece, and Mile End. Details can be found HERE.

Akousma

October 22 – 24, 2019

Various Venues

Electroacoustic music isn’t just EDM and its variants. Its range is enormous and includes experimental works, laptop orchestras, and many more forms of musical discovery. Details HERE.

Au Contraire Film Festival

October 22 – 24, 2019

Museum des Beaux Arts

A film festival dedicated solely to mental illness. The opening night raises money for Donald Berman UP house. The festival shows that those with mental illness are not who they are stereotypically portrayed to be. Films showcase at the Musee des Beaux Arts. For more info, click HERE.

Alimenterre Festival de Films

October 23 – November 13, 2019

Ausgang Plaza (6524 St Hubert)

Can Montreal get any more food focused? NOw a film festival around food and agriculture. It’s all about social justice at heart. For information, click HERE.

Sight and Sound Festival / DIY or Die

October 24 -26, 2019

Eastern Bloc (7240 Clark)

Performances, installations, workshops, and DJs celebrate the DIY culture through critical statements and a political gaze. For information, click HERE.

Festival de la Paella Géante / The Giant Paella Festival

October 25, 2019

IGA (5600 Henri Bourassa Ouest)

There are two paellas to choose from and a ticket gets you a chance to have a taste of one of these four foot diameter dishes. If you’re missing the paella of the St Laurent street festival, maybe this is what you are waiting for. Info HERE.

FFASMontréal — South East Asian Film Festival

October 25 – 27 and November 1- 3, 2019

J.A. De Sève Cinema at Concordia University 1400 De Maisonneuve W.

Over two weekends, the festival showcases films from South Asia and those connected with the region. Panels and workshops are part of this thought-provoking and entertaining event. Details HERE.

Montreal Arab World Festival

October 25 – November 17, 2019

Place des Arts

Celebrating Arab culture and art through performing arts and cinema, the Arab World Festival delights the city with dance, theatre, film, debate, conference, lectures, and more. More info HERE.

Montreal Cannabis Expo

October 26 – 27, 2018, Place Bonaventure

If you’re not found of the stuff, you may want to avoid Place Bonaventure, but otherwise, find out about the wonders of Cannabis. Health, recreation, industry… More info HERE.

La Grande Dégustation de Montreal

October 31 – November 2, 2019

Place Bonaventure

Wine, beer, spirits, and really all kinds of interesting global providers of alcohol will be on hand. Pick up some cases for the holiday season. Information HERE.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Monthly Festival Links

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

The Montreal Rampage daily events calendar can be found HERE.