Thursday, March 8

Photo courtesy International Women’s Day

A number of demonstrations and actions are planned across the city to mark International Women’s Day, including a noontime Action éclair organized by the Fédération des femmes du Québec outside the office of Quebec’s Minister of Health and Social Services (2021 Union, 12–1 p.m., free), an afternoon demo against unpaid internships and sexual harassment from a coalition of student groups at Norman Bethune Square (corner Guy and de Maisonneuve, 3–6 p.m., free) and a march to smash capitalism and patriarchy at Place du 6-Décembre-1989 from Women of Diverse Origins (corner Queen Mary and Bégin, 5:30–8 p.m., free)

The 13th annual Festival de Casteliers (beginning today and running through March 11) showcases the best in puppet theatre for adults and kids from across North America and beyond, with guest performers this year coming from as far away as Mexico, Nunavik and the Netherlands presenting theatrical works, installations, workshops and more. Pass by Outremont’s Pavilion St-Viateur this afternoon to catch the opening event, the outdoor street performance Les Bêtes dansent ou le sortilège discret de la nature sauvage involving a procession of massive, mesmerizing wolf puppets presented by Mexican company La Liga Teatro Elástico. 532 Bloomfield, 4 p.m., free

Local francophone alt-pop chanteuse Fanny Bloom launches her new album Liqueur with a 5à7 including a short performance. Artgang Plaza (6524 St-Hubert), 5–8 p.m., free

Also starting today is the Festival of Films on Art. The 36th edition of FIFA launches with a screening of Megalodemocrat: The Public Art of Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, Benjamin Duffield’s documentary about the titular Mexican-Canadian artist, who will be in attendance. The screening at Monument National (1182 St-Laurent, 7 p.m., $12.50) will be followed by an opening party at SAT (1201 St-Laurent, 10 p.m., free), with music by Selena Jr. and DJ Tacostán.

Head to Eastern Bloc for Set Phasers To Stun, a free performance night featuring Concordia’s electroacoustic orchestra CLOrk plus Damaris Baker on Tibetan Bowls, the five-component theremin and visuals project Requiem for Radio by Amanda Christie and DJ sets from Jay Whatson and Kayla Kloud Shears. 7240 Clark, 9 p.m., free

Proto-punk-era singer-songwriter Jonathan Richman — regarded as a legend for his work fronting the ’70s band the Modern Lovers as well as for his solo material — plays the first of two shows at la Sala Rossa tonight, accompanied by drummer Tommy Larkins (also of the Modern Lovers). 4848 St-Laurent, 9 p.m., $25/$29.75

For more music events, see our Event Listings. Art Listings can be found here.