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Montreal September 2012: Events and Attractions

By Evelyn Reid, About.com Guide

Two seasons. One month. A time for apple picking, improbable artistic manifestations and lanterns galore, September is not letting go of summer just yet!

1. September 2012 Festivals

montreal september 2012 events Les escales improbables de Montréal

Image courtesy of Les escales improbables de Montréal

From apple picking to apple trains Montreal squeezes September's outdoor potential for all it's worth, proposing a car-free day here, hundreds of free artistic activities there, a healthy dose of POP, Comiccon and more.

montreal september 2012 events concerts festivals

Peter Gabriel performs September 18, 2012 at the Bell Centre, in Montreal. Getty Images

MONTREAL CONCERTS: SEPTEMBER 2012 SUMMARY NOT AVAILABLE

Go straight to the listings.

3. September 2012 Museum Exhibits

montreal september 2012 museums exhibits world press photo

Photo © Samuel Aranda courtesy of World Press Photo

Montreal museums tend to wrap up summer-long exhibits in September rather than kick off new ones, usually waiting until October to propose new presentations. So it might seem as if there's not much to see, but, arts fests included, there are four exceptions every year without fail.

The first? The recurring World Press Photo exhibit, which showcases what the foundation's handpicked judges deem the best photojournalism captured in the last year, is back in Montreal for its annual run from September 7 to September 30, 2012 at Marché Bonsecours (map).

The second is one of the Montreal Botanical Garden's most popular attractions. The Magic of Lanterns event is held every fall in the Chinese Garden. Not to be confused with your everyday patio lanterns, this outdoor exhibit features anywhere from 700 to close to 1000 elaborate lanterns based on a theme typically related to Chinese history and culture. Designed in Montreal, the lanterns are then crafted using traditional methods in Montreal's sister city of Shanghai. The Magic of Lanterns runs from September 7 to November 4, 2012 at the Montreal Botanical Garden (map).

Also, the Escales improbables de Montréal proposes a weekend of arts installations, some in movement, some not, but all improbable. And free of charge. Just go to Quays of the Old Port between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. from September 7 to September 9 and walk around. Or sit down and just wait. You don't really have a choice since organizers, apart from a handful of exceptions, refuse to set a schedule. It keeps things ... unexpected. But something is always bound to happen. And don't miss one of my favorite Montreal bands, The Unsettlers, perform on September 8 and September 9 at 6 p.m. for the occasion, on the Quays (map).

And the fourth recurring event of note is Culture Days, an annual three-day event featuring hundreds of free cultural activities all over the city as well as Quebec. In 2012, it runs September 28 to september 30, 2012. Details here.

Finally, it's last call to find out if like me, you're actually a pink Jedi Ewok bent on achievement and recognition. Star Wars Identities is about to shut down its Montreal exhibit after September 16, 2012. Here's my completely biased review of the psych meets sci-fi exhibit.

4. September Weather

Photo © Evelyn Reid

Montreal's legendary summer humidity generally tapers off by Labour Day, although the region is known to enjoy its fair share of mild, sunny Indian summers. But even when the mercury dips, the temperature is fairly pleasant, around room temperature, on average.