After a few months of hibernation, it’s finally time to officially enter the summer season in Montreal! You know what they say… in May, do as you please.
It’s tulip season, cherry blossom season, terrace season, gougounes season – and festival season, too!
Don’t miss these activities to celebrate the summer season:
Museum Month
May 1 to 31
From May 1 to 31, fill your eyes and your soul with a Montreal Museums card and access to a multitude of exhibitions.
You’ll be able to discover “42 well-kept secrets” at mini-prices with the Museums Pass, in 42 museums across the city… Good shoes, and we’re planning our visits in advance, because 30 days, 42 museums – we’re going to make a calendar.
Cycling – Festival Vélocité
May 3 and 4
On May 3 and 4, the Vélocité festival is all over Montreal.
There will be family (and free) activities on the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, a rolling brunch, bike conferences, a big race and even a film festival dedicated to… you guessed it: cycling.
In a city named one of the best places in the world to visit by bike, it’s the perfect place to celebrate our bycicle culture.
For more information on the Vélocité festival and its program, click here!
Japan Week
May 1 to 11
We’ve been waiting for it, and it’s finally Japan Week. The event, organized by Asie Asie and YATAI MTL, promises a delicious program to celebrate Japanese culture in Montreal.
21 Japanese restaurants in Montreal are taking part, and 19 boutiques, cafés, patisseries, hotels and organizations are joining in this year.
What’s more, the famous Shiba, Akita, Kimono and Yukata dog gathering returns on May 10: cuteness overload.
There’s also the Chibi Japanese Market on May 3 and 4, on the terrace of Osmo x Marusan. Chibi” means “small and cute” in Japanese.
Pizza Week
May 1 to 10
Pizza Week is Canada’s biggest pizza festival. It started in Montreal, and now pizzerias all over the country are taking part.
It’s in the restaurants, directly, and above all, the festival is in partnership with Food Banks of Canada-$1 from the sale of each pizza is donated to the organization, so we’re eating for a good cause too.
The theme of Pizza Week 2025 is “flavours of the world”, and Montreal chefs have already started announcing the pizzas they’ll be serving during the week-prosciutto cotto with rosemary, Sisig pork, jalapeño sauce, yoghurt and lime cream… You can see all the participating restaurants and their pizzas here!
Tulip picking
in May
The U-Pick Tulip U-Pick is back this year with over 600,000 tulips in bloom for the occasion! Although the season isn’t officially open, picking normally takes place during the month of May, for a few weeks only.
BUT tickets are already available, click here!
On site, you’ll have the chance to stroll through a huge field of multicolored tulips, and pick your own bouquets too! What better way to celebrate Mother’s Day…
For more information on U-Pick tulips, click here.
Mother’s Day
May 11th
Sunday May 11th is Mother’s Day!
We celebrate our mothers, sisters, friends, cousins, daughters, grandmothers and all the women in your life who embody this most important role.
How do you mark the occasion? Here are a few suggestions that are sure to please everyone:
🌷 S hare a decadent brunch with her
🌷 Take her to the spa
🌷 S pend an afternoon at the tea room
🌷 Go tulip picking together
🌷 Spend a unique day at a selfie hotel
Verdun PorchFest
May 31st
Between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m., the Verdun district will come alive with music – on balconies, porches, little iron gardens in front of houses, and just about any surface where musicians can set up.
It’s the first time this has been done in the neighborhood, and it’s also organized with iHeartRADIO.
It’s time for music lovers and garage bands to discover or be discovered… 105 musicians and bands will be present, and we can’t wait to stroll the streets and, as we change channels on the radio, listen to all styles of music and musicians, stopping when we have a crush.
For info, programming and updates, click here!
Free admission to the museum on the first Sunday of the month
May 4
Every first Sunday of the month, many of Montreal’s magnificent museums offer free admission to Quebec residents under the age of 20 to discover their institution’s unique cultural programming.
For more information and a list of participating museums, click here!
Montreal Drag Race
May 18
It’s Canada’s first Drag Queens car race, and it’s taking place in the Village, on Sainte-Catherine Street.
It’s a free event, open to all, at 6:30 p.m. on May 18, and we’ll be there in our highest heels to cheer on the queens who’ll be competing – we’re told there’ll be rings of fire, a monster truck battle and a circuit driven blindfolded… start your engines…
AURA at Notre-Dame Basilica
You can pray, meditate or just vibrate in the Aura, an immersive sound and light experience. It’s perfect for families, groups and children, and for anyone who appreciates a good show…
To reserve your tickets, click here!
Festival Transamériques
May 22 to June 2
This is the most experimental, cutting-edge festival of dance, choreography and performance. This year, there are several highly anticipated world premieres: Lacrima by Caroline Guiela Nguyen, Danses Vagabondes by Louise LeCavalier and the contemporary opera Hiroshima Mon Amour by Christian Lapointe and Rosa Lind – a tribute to the iconic novel by Marguerite Duras.
To find out more about the program and reserve your tickets, click here.
Saturnale Experience at MAC
Saturday May 17
To round off its 60th year of existence, the MAC is offering one of its legendary one-night-only Nocturnes – but with two timetables, one during the day and one in the evening.
There will be creative workshops, music and performances – we’re promised “joyful chaos” under the eye of the Greek god Saturn…
There are two programs, both on May 17: one from 12pm to 5pm and one from 7pm to 3am.
For more information and tickets, click here!
Candlelight concerts
Immerse yourself in the enchanting ambience of Candlelight’s spring concerts in Montreal this May.
Imagine yourself surrounded by flickering candles, lulled by the haunting melodies of your favorite music, performed by talented artists.
Whether in a majestic church, a lovely garden or a historic building, it’s always a transcendent experience…
Let yourself be transported by the magic of music, and create precious memories in this enchanting atmosphere.
Piknic Électronik
May 18 to October 22
Sundays, the best DJs on the world electronic scene and a picnic basket, and the sweetest afternoons of the summer…
With many other activities available in the park (pedal-boating, cycling, etc.), it’s the best way to forget city life – which we love anyway – for a day.
For more information on the Piknic Electronik program, click here.
Spring flowers
It’s finally flower time, and compared to April, when we almost cried over a snowdrop, we don’t know where to turn.
We recommend our guide to spring blooms, here, to make your own calendar to see them all before the hot days of Montreal summer!
Tam-Tams
In May, Tam-tam season is officially underway!
We’ll be spending our Sundays on Mount Royal, at the foot of the George-Étienne Cartier monument, listening to the incredible beats of the drums and enjoying the good times.
Picnics, dancing and local artisans are on the menu! It’s a Montreal classic like no other, for all ages.
For more information on Tam-tams Sundays, click here.
Happy May! Don’t forget your sun cream!