Montreal’s last full week of summer doesn’t coast. From tonight through August 30, the calendar stacks an outdoor artisan market with food trucks, a glowing immersive experience inside one of the world’s most celebrated churches, a Sunday afternoon dance at Parc Jean-Drapeau, six nights of world-class electronic music at MUTEK, a heavy metal show at MTELUS, a Latin arena night in Laval, and an intimate evening with one of Quebec’s most theatrical performers. Pick what suits you; all of it is good.

🛍️ Artisan Market and Street Food at Parc Sir-Wilfrid-Laurier (Aug 21–23)

A three-day outdoor market in the Plateau’s best park. From 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, vendors set up handmade jewelry, local fashion and home goods alongside food trucks with international street food, specialty coffee, barbecue and gourmet desserts. Friday evening is an easy low-key opener to the weekend: browse the stalls, share a plate, and let the evening sort itself out.

📍 Where: Parc Sir-Wilfrid-Laurier, corner of Rachel Est and Fabre, Plateau-Mont-Royal (Metro Laurier, 5-minute walk)
🗓️ When: Friday August 21 to Sunday August 23, 10 a.m.–9 p.m.

💫 AURA: Inside Notre-Dame After Dark

AURA transforms the Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal into a 45-minute immersive light and sound show once the tourists leave. Projections fill the entire interior of the basilica, including the vaulted ceiling and intricate carvings, paired with an original score performed live from the church’s pipe organ. It’s the kind of show that gives you a completely different experience of a space you thought you already knew. Shows run most evenings; booking ahead is strongly recommended since it sells out regularly.

📍 Where: Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal, 110 rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Old Montreal (Metro Place-d’Armes, 2-minute walk)
🗓️ When: Multiple evenings per week. Check basiliquenotredame.ca for the schedule and tickets. From around $30.

🎧 Piknic Électronik: One More Sunday in the Park (Aug 24)

The beloved weekly outdoor electronic party returns to Parc Jean-Drapeau this Sunday with a full afternoon of DJs, food trucks, local vendors and green space that makes it hard to leave. Tickets run around $25; under-18s get in free. Low-commitment, high-return date: show up at noon, see where the afternoon takes you.

📍 Where: Parc Jean-Drapeau, Île Sainte-Hélène (Metro Jean-Drapeau)
🗓️ When: Sunday, August 24, noon onward. Tickets and lineup at piknicelectronik.com.

🎛️ MUTEK: Six Days of Electronic Music and Digital Arts (Aug 25–30)

The big one. MUTEK’s 27th edition brings nearly 120 artists from 28 countries to the Quartier des Spectacles for six consecutive nights. The free outdoor stage at Esplanade Tranquille opens every evening at 5 p.m., making it easy to drop in any night without planning ahead. The indoor program runs at the Society for Arts and Technology (SAT), Maison Symphonique, MTELUS and, new this year, Les Grands Ballets’ Studio-Théâtre. Highlights include Jeff Mills, Ben UFO, Rival Consoles, Kali Malone and A Guy Called Gerald. If you’ve never been, MUTEK is the kind of festival where you plan to stay two hours and end up closing the venue.

📍 Where: Multiple Quartier des Spectacles venues; free outdoor stage at Esplanade Tranquille, Sainte-Catherine Ouest (Metro Place-des-Arts)
🗓️ When: August 25 to 30. Free outdoor stage daily at 5 p.m. Passes and individual tickets at montreal.mutek.org.

🤘 Down at MTELUS: A Proper Heavy Night (Aug 25)

If the electronic scene isn’t your thing, August 25 offers a very different energy. Down, the New Orleans heavy metal supergroup featuring members of Pantera and Corrosion of Conformity, plays a rare Montreal date at MTELUS. The room keeps the crowd close and the sound is excellent. Doors at 6:30, show at 8.

📍 Where: MTELUS, 59 rue Sainte-Catherine Est (Metro Saint-Laurent)
🗓️ When: Tuesday, August 25, 8 p.m. Tickets at mtelus.com and evenko.ca.

🎤 Marco Antonio Solis at Place Bell (Aug 28)

The legendary Mexican singer-songwriter brings his tour to Place Bell on August 28. If you’re looking for something with a completely different register, a night of boleros and romantic ballads in a proper arena does exactly that. Place Bell is a 20-minute drive north of downtown, or Metro Montmorency with a short bus connection.

📍 Where: Place Bell, 1909 avenue du Cosmodôme, Laval, 20 minutes north via A-15, or Metro Montmorency + shuttle
🗓️ When: Thursday, August 28. Tickets at evenko.ca and placebell.ca.

🎭 Pierre Lapointe at Place des Arts (Aug 28)

Same evening, different vibe entirely. Pierre Lapointe brings “La forêt des coeurs abîmés” to Place des Arts on August 28. Lapointe is one of Quebec’s most theatrical and emotionally direct performers, and this kind of intimate hall show tends to sell out. Worth checking availability now.

📍 Where: Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Place des Arts, 175 rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest (Metro Place-des-Arts)
🗓️ When: Thursday, August 28. Tickets at placedesarts.com.