10 things to do in Montreal in June

By Micheline M. Filion

June marks the official arrival of the summer. It’s the moment to replace that pallid frown with a bright expression and sip orangeade while humming the pop hit of the summer; whether it’s chucking it down or beaming with sunshine, the beautiful season is above all a state of mind. So, are you warmed up and ready to enjoy the delights that June has to offer? Let’s go! [image credit: iStockphoto/NicolasMcComber]

June is a fertile month for festivals. For music lovers willing to jostle for a good spot and drink beer from a plastic cup, the free shows put on as part of FrancoFolies (from 8-18 June) and the Jazz Festival (from 28 June to 8 July) are a must. For roads less travelled, look to the adventurous TransAmeric Festival (May 25 to June 8), an international creative event featuring contemporary theatre and dance.

Racing fans are counting down the minutes: the Grand Prix de Montréal will be taking place on the weekend of the 9-11 June. But the event goes beyond the fierce competition between international drivers and the deafening roar of Formula 1: it’s also the time to show off one’s Dolce & Gabbana trousers or sequin dress while sipping a Campari-Champagne on Crescent Street, which is closed to traffic for the occasion.

Adapting menus to the season encourages the consumption of local food – it’s good for the environment and for the economy! June means excellent availability of a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and herbs: so it’s time to garnish your basket with asparagus, Swiss chard, basil, cherries, cucumbers, spinach, strawberries, radishes and more. Use the fruit & veg availability calendar produced by Équiterre and visit your public market to stock up on greenery.

After an afternoon’s stroll around Old Montreal, head to the Old Port for Avudo, a spectacular free multimedia event organized as part of Montréal’s 375th anniversary celebrations. The narrative thread? The story of Montreal, both large and small. Ghostly, breathtaking and free, but you’ll need to book ahead.

Hop lovers, this one’s for you... From 14 to 18 June, Montreal is hosting the 24th World Beer Festival. More than 450 varieties of beer (including 250 never before seen at the Festival), music and food stalls await you at the Palais des Congrès. And there’s nary a clash in sight for Sunday: the Festival is offering a Fathers Day package that will allow you to reconcile family and the love of beer.

_________________________________________________________________

CHECK OUT MORE GREAT CONTENT:

• Grab a pre- or post-show bite in Quartier des Spectacles
• Discover good eats around Montreal’s Jean-Talon station
• Top Montreal steakhouses for Father’s Day

_________________________________________________________________

18th June is Father’s Day, so don’t forget to show your pops some love. Call him for a nice chat, or give him a big hug and your best smile. If your dad needs to let out his inner barbarian, treat him to an activity at Rage, the axe-throwing academy. Or perhaps he’d rather be pampered? Spoil him with a visit to luxurious barbershop Notorious.

As it does every summer, amusement park La Ronde comesback to life in June, making the island of Sainte-Helene tremble with its steel monsters and its screams of joy – and abject fear. A new ride, the Titan, promises to turn your stomach by swinging you up and down at speeds of up to 70mph. Once you’ve recovered from the shock, spare a thought for the defunct Pitoune, retired after 50 seasons of loyal service.

The children have (very sensibly!), stowed their school bags and are stamping their feet with impatience: the last week of June sees the gates of the City of Montreal’s Public Swimming Pools open for the season. The youngest paddle, the less young chill behind their tinted glasses, and that’s what happiness is about. If your aquatic skills are lacking, take a look at this practical guide on learning to swim before diving in.

On the 23rd and 24th of June, day and night, Montreal will be brought to life with several activities to mark Quebec’s National Day. If you want to be in good company, wear your flag as a shirt and watch the parade downtown before heading to the Grand spectacle site, featuring French-language artists – including Alaclair Ensemble and La Bronze. Don’t want to go too far? Take a look at what’s going on at the neighbourhood festivals. Or alternatively, find out about other ways to celebrate Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day.

Contribute to the social reintegration of homeless, drug-dependent or unemployed people by purchasing the latest issue of L’Itinéraire, a bi-monthly magazine written largely by people living on the streets. Not sure where to get one from? Use this live map to find a news vendor.