This weekend, we put on a mask and feel free to become a goblin, a vampire, or a princess on the streets of Montreal; we sip a cocktail with a little sugar brain at the bottom; we scare ourselves with ghost stories, and our hearts race. And on Sunday, we sleep in.
October 30–November 1: SUSPIRIA (1977), MIDNIGHT SCREENING AT CINÉMA DU PARC
Nostalgia comes through the eyes and the muscle memory of a night at the movies for the fall midnight film series at Cinéma du Parc. From September through Halloween, it’s the “audience’s choice,” and it’s ultra-polished, colorful, gory, and a little surreal.
The audience’s choice—always curated with care by the programming team at the independent cinema chain CINÉMA CINÉMA—is the coolest nerd movie we know.
This weekend, we’re going to see:
SUSPIRIA (1977)
by Dario Argento
, Italian original version with English
subtitles, October 30–31 and November 1
October 31: Vintage Market
October 31 is also the first day of the darkest season of the year, and to get into the spirit, we’ll buy some vinyl records (for the atmosphere), fur-lined jackets (for style), and a coffee (to stay warm) at the vintage market.
The sun is setting earlier and earlier, and to take a stroll through a garden—but in the deepening darkness of the approaching fall—we’re heading to FESTILUMI.
Festilumi – Halloween
6 November 2026 16:45 + more dates
Marché Central
October 31: The VAMPIRE BALL at Bowie’s
The tiny Bowie club, decked out in dark velvet and mirrors, is hosting a Halloween party that’s a little sexy and a little trendy with a “VAMPIRE BALL.”
Costumes are recommended, and a friend willing to buy us a martini is also recommended. For vampires, luxury lasts until the very end of the night.
Hilal Ghanem will be on the turntables, and you can book your tickets here
October 31: The ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW Ball
From October 29 to October 31, 2026, there will be six performances of the city’s only ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW at two iconic Montreal theaters.
It’s called the ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW HALLOWEEN BALL. There will be a screening of the film, massive audience participation (including dancing the “Time Warp”), a master of ceremonies to guide the evening, and a live troupe on stage.
There will also be a costume contest—and it’s a competition to see who can pull off Dr. Frank-N-Furter’s corset and sapphire-colored eyeshadow best.
For Halloween, Maison France is organizing a slightly retro evening, featuring;
Immersive installations and sound experiences, horror movies, karaoke, contests, and giveaways with @veloceeventproduction @lakitschparty and @arthourdj
Live
covers of ’90s hits by the band @les.costauds
Official launch of the book *1,000 Days with Dorothée* by @motivateurdetalent
October 31: Trick or Treat!
Montrealers outdo one another with their ingenuity when it comes to Halloween decorations in the alleys and the city’s most beautiful neighborhoods, and for an afternoon stroll, it’s quite enchanting to check out during this very chilly month of October.
We’re going trick-or-treating this year;
- in Westmount
- in NDG
- in Rosemont La-Petite-Patrie
- on the Plateau
- in Villeray
October 31: SPECTRE Night at Dalhousie Station
For those who are afraid of clowns but love spider-women, Cirque Éloize is hosting a Halloween party with music, screenings, and circus acts (of course).
November 1: WE SWITCH TO WINTER TIME
Daylight saving time has a simple purpose: to align our lives (subway, work, cocktails, exhibitions, sleep) with the hours of sunlight. We’ve all noticed that not only does the sun set earlier and earlier, but it also rises later and later.
With daylight saving time ending, we’ll be waking up at sunrise—and that’s actually quite pleasant. Light boosts the immune system, aligns our chakras, and gets our blood flowing in the right direction—especially early morning light.
On the night of Saturday, October 31, to Sunday, November 1, we’ll set our clocks back one hour. The sun will technically rise “earlier” but (inevitably) set earlier, too. Shall we console ourselves with happy hour?
Immerse yourself in a biennial where video games and art come together to move and provoke thought.
The 8th Elektra Biennial (F(R)ICTION: ART AND GAMES) is being held at the Arsenal d’Art Contemporain in Saint-Henri and features some forty playable art video games exploring nostalgia, activism, identity, and emotion. Exhibition runs from October 15 to November 15, 2026; open Wed.–Fri. 11 a.m.–9 p.m. and Sat.–Sun. 10 a.m.–7 p.m. (last admission 1 hour before closing).
A scientific and immersive journey into the heart of criminology.
An immersive exhibition in Montreal that examines more than 17 serial killers through archival files, reenactments, psychological profiles, and crime scenes. An interactive tour lasting 90 to 120 minutes, open to ages 16 and up, with a VR module reserved for VIP ticket holders.
Mind of A Serial Killer: The Experience
2 November 2026 13:30 + more dates
312 Sainte-Catherine St W
CHIHARU SHIOTA: THE QUIVERINGS OF THE SOUL AT THE MONTREAL MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
$32 for ages 26 and up, $16 on Wednesday nights / free for ages 25 and under, members of Indigenous communities, and people with disabilities and their companion
This fall, starting September 26, 2026, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is hosting a retrospective of Chiharu Shiota’s work—the first of its kind in North America. Chiharu Shiota was present for the unveiling of this exhibition, which reads like a diary of the soul—she wove all the installations herself, on-site.
Chiharu Shiota, a Japanese artist who studied art in Berlin—alongside the iconic Marina Abramović—began by working in painting before moving on to performance, sculpture, and installation. But throughout her career, she has consistently explored the dichotomy between body and soul, presence and absence, and humanity’s intangible connections.
Her performance art—including the visceral *Becoming Painting* (1994) and the sublime short film *Bathroom* (1999)—is featured at the beginning of the exhibition. Visitors can also see her sculptures, drawings, and sets designed for theater and opera.
Through the pieces, we move from the physical to the poetic tribulations and emotional installations for which the artist is best known today.
The exhibition, which Chiharu Shiota simply compares to her own life, is a true retrospective in red and black of the artist’s work over the past 30 years—and a must-see this fall.
In addition to the exhibition, the Cinéma du Musée will screen films selected by the artist;
- BOY MEETS GIRL (1984) by Leos Carax / Sunday, September 27, 12:00 PM
- DOGVILLE (2003) by Lars von Trier / Sunday, October 25, 12:00 PM
- THEATER OF THOUGHT (2022) by Werner Herzog / Sunday, December 6, 12:00 PM
FALL EXHIBITIONS AT THE DARLING FOUNDRY
The Darling Foundry is presenting two exhibitions this fall—“APRÈS LA PLUIE, LA BOUE” by Christopher Varady-Szabo and “SOLAR LAMENTATION” by Shanie Tomassini.
AFTER THE RAIN, THE MUD is a monumental woodland installation exploring the joy of creation and the concept of humanity.
SOLAR LAMENTATION is an exhibition that places alchemical sculptures under the blazing sun.
Have a great weekend!
