THURSDAY
The weather’s hot and the parties and events seem to be even hotter this week in Montreal. Let’s kick off Thursday with a view from the top: Montreal’s newest 5 a 7 with Moët & Chandon. Starting today, Terrasse sur l’Auberge and Moët & Chandon set the stage for a refreshing, summertime celebration with the city’s best young professionals. The terrace party runs from 5pm to 11pm with complimentary canapés and a cocktail per person served throughout the evening. The newly renovated rooftop offers some of the most unique sights in the city, so make sure you pop by and get the weekend started right.
Zoofest is back for its 5th time around and packed with its usual goodies like comedy, music, theatre, burlesque and other art forms set to entertain. Zoofest is an international, multi-genre festival featuring emerging artists through alternative and eclectic programming all at very affordable prices. Get ready for more than 20 different shows, starring emerging talents from all over the world, presented in 10 rooms in the heart of the entertainment district.
FRIDAY
Indie rockers and the kings of live shows, The Black Keys, are going on stage to kick ass and take names at the ninth annual Mondial Loto-Québec de Laval. With hits like “Lonely Boy” sure to get you to shake your moneymaker, and with opener Kurt Vile’s beautiful folk rock, this is bound to be the concert of the weekend.
On the other side of the musical spectrum, put on your bellbottoms, platform shoes and glitter and dance to the hits from Saturday Night Fever to Gloria Gaynor. Think Le Freak C’est Chic. The Rialto Theatre, in partnership with Disco Montreal, special guest DJ Michel Cadoch, and hosted by Sheldon Caplan, presents “Disco Inferno,” a night full of boogie, soul trains and all the feathered hair you can imagine.
SATURDAY
Get colourful at the 38th annual Carifiesta parade that will take over the streets of downtown Montreal. Over 100,000 people are expected to attend this annual carnival, which goes for four hours, allowing the participants and spectators to dance and sing to the rhythm of the Latin West-Indian and Afro-caribbean music. The parade will include floats, traditional dances, exotic and picturesque costumes worn by the Carifiesta masqueraders and much more.
Dreaming of a cruise but can’t leave town? Check out the next best thing: “Cruise Control” 01 Sunset Boat Party, in collaboration with Way Of Acting and featuring some of Montreal’s coolest DJs like MoodyJones, MightyKat and Anthony Collins. You will join 180 other party people who will be on the St. Lawrence River on the “archipelago” ship of Navark. It’s a unique experience to enjoy the sun this summer with a lineup of local and international DJs specially selected for the occasion. Notable fact? There is a full bar and BBQ on the boat.
SUNDAY
Here’s a great excuse to leave the city for the day: The 2013 Tremblant International Blues Festival, fronted by Normand Brathwaite. The Festival celebrates its 20th year with a line-up worthy of the premier international blues fests. For 10 days, this unique event will bring together blues legends, up-and-comers from Canada and abroad, 20 audience faves from years past and surprise guests, all in the beautiful setting of Mont-Tremblant. A day trip truly worthwhile!
On a whole other spectrum, the steamy Inferno weekend comes to a fabulous conclusion with an afternoon featuring some of Montreal’s hottest DJs. For those who didn’t get a chance to come out to Inferno’s weekend events, this closing party will be a major highlight of the weekend hosted at the always-fun Terrace Bonsecours . A big highlight of the day will be a performance by DJ Leticia Manfil, a singer, drummer, percussionist, and songwriter who has collaborated with some top DJs including Eric Morillo, Little Louie Vega and Pablo Ceballos just to name a few. Party on pride!
Image: Black Keys Coachella 2012