10 Things to Do in Montreal in July

Whether you want to cool off on the surrounding beaches, try a Hawaiian ice cream or enjoy some French music, there are different plans every day waiting for you. It's one of the busiest months for festivals that include foodie activities, comedy shows, medieval demonstrations and film screenings.

You can also take advantage of events involving African and Latin American culture, try Canadian snow crab, sign up for a women-only marathon or get up close to the fashion shows.

Canada Day is celebrated every July 1 to commemorate the country's independence from the United Kingdom in 1867. Montreal hosts a parade through the streets of the city, plus festivals, free concerts, barbecues and more. Head to Clock Quay early in the morning for the grand opening cannon fire and aerial shows.

In the city's parks, there are amusement rides, temporary tattoo stations, make-up artists for kids and food tastings. Don't miss the cake sharing, where slices are handed out for free.

At the end of the day there is a closing show with live music and a fireworks display.

Details of interest: Flags and objects alluding to the country in the typical colours are handed out for the parade, but you should arrive early as quantities are limited.

If you're travelling to Montreal with the purpose of improving your French or learning to communicate in French, I recommend landing at Les FrancoFolies between June and July, an event that celebrates French music and attracts the best local and foreign performers.

You can make a small donation to contribute to a ticket, which is given to people who can't afford the cost of admission.

Details of interest: Access to some events is completely free, however there are concerts ranging from around €12 to €30.

July is the month with the most variety of festivals, with locals taking advantage of the warm temperatures to immerse themselves in outdoor activities including music, regional food and medieval rituals.

Montreal Cirque Festival

For eleven days you can enjoy the Cirque de Montréal Festival, which offers an itinerary of circus shows throughout the city. There are open-air street attractions, breathtaking costumes, adventure-filled structures and hair-raising acrobatics.

On the official website you can find a dynamic map showing the circus locations, as well as accommodation options in the surrounding area, places to eat or have a beer and offers on nearby attractions.

Details of interest: Most activities and circuses are free, but some shows are free of charge.

Streetfood Festival

If you want to try around 100 different dishes, I suggest you stop by Montreal's Streetfood Festival, a street food event that hosts offerings from different continents such as Asia, Europe and America, as well as food from the province of Quebec.

You can't miss the churros, takoyaki, corn, tornado potatoes, tacos or a surprise tasting. You can also stop by the night market that takes place in Montreal's Old Port for four days. As this is a family event, pets on leashes are welcome, and parking is available for your car.

Details of interest: Admission is approximately €2, and each food stall has its own payment system. It is important to have Canadian dollars in cash, although there are some cash machines available.

Festival of Comedy and Laughter

The Festival of Food and Laughter, or Just for Laughs, is an event where the laughs are never far away. It has been running since 1983 and brings together over 400 comedy activities, funny, wacky and unexpected acts.

Details of interest: You can buy tickets for each show, but the cheapest and most cost-effective option is to buy a passport for several shows. Prices range from €78 to €160.

Nuits d'Afrique International Festival

The Nuits d'Afrique International Festival encompasses cultural activities from Africa, the West Indies and Latin America and lasts approximately thirteen days. During the first few days you can enjoy a wide repertoire of at least 700 artists from 30 countries, performing in Montreal's most iconic venues.

On the following days of the festival, there are more than 150 free activities, including open-air exhibitions, concerts, dance workshops, craft sales and tastings at the Timbuktu market.

Don't miss the cabaret shows that open their doors to locals and foreigners, with special discounts and promotions. For example, you can pay for one ticket and enjoy an additional pass free of charge.

Details of interest: I recommend arriving in advance for all activities.

International Fantasy Film Festival

Between July and August you can enjoy the International Fantasy Film Festival which features special events and free activities such as Korean animation screenings, lectures and things to do with children.

Details of interest: To see the exhibition of films you can buy an individual pass for around €10, or group tickets (for up to 20 people) for around €135.

Medieval Festival of Lanaudière

The Lanaudière Medieval Festival brings together magical activities based around the country's medieval past. Enjoy a musketeer show, medieval-inspired performances, Viking crafts and the International Horse Tournament.

Plus, don't miss the immersive children's adventures, music events, exhibitions of indigenous peoples and rare artefacts from New France. Another ideal stand will take you on a journey through the world of pirates who will tell you their story, while staying on board their ship. If you're still looking for fun, sign up to join a medieval troop, enjoy historic Quebec music or learn more about medicinal plants.

Details of interest: General admission tickets range from €15 to €26, depending on the number of hours you want to reserve to visit the recreational booths. Children pay a fee ranging from approximately €9 to €16, while family packages average €38 to €55.

I invite you to celebrate the heritage of the Kanien'kehá:ka, a Kahnawà:ke community that has been holding events commemorating their culture on Kateri Tekakwitha Island, just twenty minutes from Montreal, since 1991. Most of the activities revolve around indigenous rituals, such as the Echoes of a Proud Nation Pow Wow or the annual Shout of Pride, which features singing and drumming.

The Pow Wow festivities last two days and feature colourful costumes, food stalls with indigenous native food, craft, carving and jewellery stands, as well as storytelling for children.

Also not to be missed is the Friday Night Social where you can meet people with authentic indigenous customs and enjoy a dance performance. Note that parking is free, so you can get around by car.

Details of interest: The general admission price is around €7. Adults over 60 pay an average rate of €4 and children under five are completely free.

During the April to August season you can take the opportunity to try the delicious and mysterious Canadian snow crab, a seafood dish with a lot of flavour. In July you'll find fresh offerings and I recommend you make this a part of your itinerary, as they tend to be more expensive and harder to come by in August.

Thanks to the pleasant temperatures in July, the crab has the ideal conditions, with a tender flavour. The best time to try it is at lunchtime, some places I suggest are:

• Le Filet, you will also find other seafood dishes, vegetarian, gluten-free and French food. In this restaurant the snow crab is priced at approximately 20 €.
• Garde Manger, if you want to eat seafood or try Canadian food, this is the restaurant for you. The snow crab is included in different dishes ranging from 17 to 34 €.
• Da Vinci, if you want to accompany the snow crab with Italian dishes, this place is the best option. I recommend booking in advance, and you have the option of reserving a private room. Dishes cost an estimated €22 to €34.

Details of interest: Snow crab is a seafood that is best served with cranberry sauce or champagne syrup.

Life is more fun from the sea, so during your visit in July I suggest you buy tickets for a cruise and see the city from a different perspective. One of the best options is to take a one-hour boat cruise along the St. Lawrence River which offers unparalleled scenery.

In addition to circumnavigating the city, you'll have the opportunity to take a look at the Boucherville Islands and admire the architecture of their walkways or pass under the Jacques-Cartier Bridge. It is one of the most entertaining activities to do during the summer and the best thing is that it is an ideal plan for the whole family.

Details of interest: The entrance fee for this type of maritime adventure is around €50.

After walking and hopping through the festivals and events of July, you'll want to stop for a refreshing break. The best option is to head out in search of the best local ice cream parlours, which often welcome the month with special seasonal flavours.

Traveller Tip

If ice cream isn't your thing, you can opt for a frozen drink, a glass of wine or citrus cocktails. July can be a very hot month and it's important to keep cool and hydrated.

Unicone

Unicone is one of Montreal's most popular ice cream parlours, with a new flavour being added weekly. For example, you can try an authentic pistachio gelato with the best ingredients from Italy. In addition, it offers ice cream cakes, ice cream biscuits, special creations and areas with activities for children.

Its main location has a nice decoration, ideal for taking pictures, there are spaces to sit and even rooms to take a nap.Details of interest: It is located in Saint Denis, nine minutes from downtown, the ice creams go from approximately 9 to 40 €.

Kamehameha

Try the Taiyaki ice cream, a speciality of the Hawaiian ice cream parlour Kamehameha. It also offers ice cream with a fish-shaped biscuit filled with nutella or dulce de leche.

You should visit this ice cream parlour in July as the rest of the year they offer sweet and savoury Hawaiian bowls, but in the warmer months they have a cold smoothie station and delicious and refreshing ice creams inspired by Hawaiian culture.

Details of interest: They have two locations in Sainte-Catherine about twenty minutes from the centre. Ice cream portions are generous and cost around €7.

La Maison Lavande

If you want to have an ice cream next to the lavender fields, I suggest you take the car and drive twenty-five minutes to this heavenly place. I recommend you visit La Maison Lavande where the ice creams are prepared with organic lavender and have a refreshing taste.

Here you can organise a picnic and enjoy the flowering. The entrance fee is around €8 from June to July and small glasses of ice cream are €2-3.

Details of interest: On site you can take the opportunity to buy other products such as oils, facial and body creams, accessories and more.

Startup Fashion Week is an event that has been held during July in Montreal since 2014. It showcases emerging designers and Canadian talent with a futuristic approach. There are booths for shopping and fashion conferences.

Details of interest: Admission is around €5.

The Mun Girl mud run is a women-only event and I recommend you wear all-terrain clothing, as you will pass through mud and foam stations as well as fun slides. It's a great activity to share with friends and includes at least 17 obstacles for the pink army.

Details of interest: The entrance fee is approximately €37.

There is nothing more refreshing than a swim at the beach, during July the temperatures are ideal and the sand stays warm, so I suggest you visit the Jean Dore beach. Just opposite is an inflatable obstacle course which attracts children. If you want to get a tan and go around the harbour, you can rent canoes or pedal boats.

It's a fun plan as in July the waves in Montreal improve their conditions and you'll be able to surf. In addition, there are volleyball courts, freshwater swimming pools and yoga lessons.

Details of interest: Fourteen minutes from the city centre, you can park at Parc Jean-Drapeau for around €14, but as the beach is so close I recommend taking the metro or bus. The entrance fee to the beach is around €15.