In Montreal
- Shop for “Made in Montreal” Gifts at the souk@sat
The ninth edition of indie gift show souk@sat is taking place from November 30 to December 2. The event showcases the work of over 60 Montreal artists and designers, and their contemporary creations are grouped by sections inspired by the home: living room, kitchen, bathroom, etc. Admission is free and the atmosphere is casual and fun; you can even have a drink while you shop! Forgo crowded shopping centers and discover unique holiday gifts, made in Montreal.
When: Friday, November 30th, 2012 and Saturday, December 1st, 2012, 12pm to 9pm
Sunday, December 2nd, 2012, 12pm to 5pm
Where: Society for Arts and Technology (SAT) (View Map)
Official Website / Twitter / Facebook
- Go Ice Skating at the Old Port
The Old Port’s winter activities launch with the opening of Montreal’s largest refrigerated ice skating rink in early December.
When: Daily, December 1 to March 10, 2013
Where: Quai de l’Horloge, Old Port of Montreal (View Map)
More Info
- Taste Quebec’s Wines
Learn more and taste wines produced in the province of Quebec at the Fête des Vins du Québec, an annual event that takes place in Old Montreal, at the Bonsecours Market. Meet vintners, attend workshops and conferences, sample Quebec’s best cheese, and learn how to pair them with local wines.
When: November 30 to December 2
Where: Marché Bonsecours, Old Montreal (View Map)
More Info / Official Website (in French only)
- Shop for Unique Holiday Gifts While Contributing to a Good Cause
Every year, cultural organization Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal gets artisans and creators together for The Nutcracker Market to benefit the non-profit organization, The Nutcracker Fund for Children, a fund that allows children from underpriviledged neighbourhoods to attend educational workshops and a performance of the ballet. Jewelry, fashion accessories, gourmet and beauty products, toys and gadgets can all be found at this market.
When: Daily, November 29 to December 9
Where: Mall of the Palais des congrès de Montréal (ground floor) (View Map)
Official Website
- Plan a Family “Movie Day” at the IMAX Telus Theater
The Old Port’s IMAX Telus Theater presents “Santa vs. The Snowman 3D”, a fun, animated movie that is sure to put the whole family in a cheery holiday mood.
When: Daily in December (showings in English or French, view full schedule for details)
Where: Montréal Science Centre (View Map)
More Info and Tickets
- Admire Spectacular Fireworks Over the Atmospheric Old Port
The TELUS Fire on Ice musical fireworks will draw you into a fantastic universe of shapes and colors, bringing you right into the heart of holiday magic. Admission is free.
When: Every Saturday December 1 to January 5, 2013, at 8pm
Where: The fireworks are best viewed from the Old Port Promenade and the Skating Rink (View an Interactive Map of the Old Port)
More Info
- Have a Quebec-Inspired Holiday Meal at the SAT FoodLab
Every week in December, the SAT FoodLab serves a different holiday-themed menu inspired by Quebec’s terroir. A great opportunity to sample some of the province’s best traditional food, as seen and reinvented by talented chefs Michelle Marek and Seth Gabrielse.
When: December 4 to December 21
Where: Society for Arts and Technology (SAT) (View Map)
Official Website (in French only)
- Relax to the Tune of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Masterpieces
The Montreal Bach Festival is a must for classical music buffs, and the 2012 edition gathers local and international renowned artists that will interpret the works of Bach, as well as that of some of the leading composers of his time, such as Vivaldi and Händel, and his musical heirs, Beethoven and Arvo Pärt.
When: December 1 to December 13
Where: Various venues around the city
Official Website / Tickets
- Browse Through Thousands of Hand-Made Gift Ideas
Montreal’s largest and oldest craftshow, the Salon des Métiers d’Art de Montréal, gathers over 400 artists and artisans that display their creations at Place Bonaventure, right in the heart of downtown Montreal. Meet the people who know how to transform raw materials into beautiful, decorative and functional works of art, and hunt down the perfect gift for that person on your list that seems to have everything.
When: December 7 to December 22
Where: Place Bonaventure (View Map)
Official Site
- Take Part in a Traditional Torchlit Christmas Walk
Montrealers and visitors alike can enjoy an entire month of festive events along one of Montreal’s best shopping streets, Avenue Mont-Royal, in the Plateau neighborhood. Group activities, workshops, and shows for the whole family are on the program, but the most popular event is the traditional torchlit Christmas walk, held this year on Saturday, December 8. Over 8,000 people will gather and cheerfully walk and sing from the Mont-Royal metro station to La Fontaine Park. The sale of torches benefits a local non-profit organization, which helps the disadvantaged.
When: December 8 to December 31
Torch-Lit Christmas Walk: Saturday, December 8
Where: Avenue Mont-Royal (View Map)
Official Site (in French only)
- Find Out Who’s the Real Santa Claus
Young and old alike are invited to the Pointe-à-Callière Museum to meet classic Christmas characters Saint Nicholas, Befana, Little Lucy and Santa Claus, and learn more about how they celebrate the holidays in their homelands, with the help of knowledgeable interpreter-guides.
When: December 8 to December 30
Where: Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal Museum of Archeology and History (View Map)
Official Site
- Attend a Representation of the Best Holiday Ballet: The Nutcracker
Les Grands Ballets Canadiens have been dancing their interpretation of the classic holiday tale since 1964, so you can be sure it is one of the most beautiful and dazzling show you’ll ever see. Splendid sets, magnificent costumes and talented dancers bring powerful holiday magic for the whole family. Music by Tchaikovsky, featuring the Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal orchestra.
When: December 13 to December 30
Where: Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Place des Arts (View Map)
More Info and Tickets
- Enjoy a Rare Exhibition of Contemporary Native Art
Quebec’s 11 Aboriginal nations join forces to showcase the creations of contemporary Native artists at Marché Bonsecours, in the Old Port.
When: Daily, in December
Where: Marché Bonsecours (View Map)
More Info / Official Website
- Immerse Yourself in the Works of Impressionism Masters
The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is home to an exceptional exhibition that showcases 74 extraordinary paintings by the French masters of impressionism, such as Monet, Degas, Renoir and Toulouse-Lautrec. Discover the history of impressionism from its beginnings to the dawn of postimpressionism.
When: October 13, 2012 to January 20, 2013
Where: The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (View Map)
Official Website
- Discover Quebec’s Holiday Traditions
The beautiful Château Ramezay museum reveals the secrets of logs, Christmas trees, stockings, advent calendars, greeting cards and many more holiday traditions at the exhibition Around the Fireplace… Holiday Traditions. For the duration of the exhibition, activities will also take place in the spirit of the season’s festive preparations of the past and present.
When: December 1, 2012 to January 6, 2013
Where: Château Ramezay Museum (View Map)
Official Website
Around Montreal
- Enjoy a European Christmas Market… Five Minutes Out of Downtown Montreal
Longueuil is the closest of Montreal’s suburban cities: it is located right on the other side of the Jacques-Cartier Bridge and it is easily accessible by public transit. During the holiday season, a subway ride transports you to the province’s largest European-style Christmas market. For the whole month of December, a village made up of 60 traditional stalls is installed in Old Longueuil, and the event also presents free concerts, entertainment, horse-drawn carriage rides, and demonstrations of traditional Quebec workmanship such as sleigh-making and woodcarving. Of course, visitors can also eat delicious foods and drink warming while they wander through the enchanting market.
When: Weekends, December 1 to December 23
Where: St. Mark Park, Longueuil (View Map)
More Info / Official Website (in French only)
- Gawk at Canada’s Largest Decorated Natural Christmas Tree
The Eastern Townships’ beautiful mountainous setting makes it a natural destination for the holidays, but Sherbrooke’s annual Christmas Market, held in the city’s train station, will make your visit even more worthwhile. On display are artisan creations, gourmet products, and works of art, and right outside the train station, there is a Ferris wheel that will carry you on a magical ride, as well as Canada’s largest decorated natural Christmas tree. Illuminated by over 30,000 DEL lights, it is sure to warm everyone’s hearts. New this year and right outside the market is a new “skating path”: an iced, 154 meter-long, refrigerated path, open daily from November 22, 2012 to March 10, 2013.
When: Sherbrooke’s Christmas Market: November 22 to December 31
Where: Marché de la Gare de Sherbrooke (View Map)
More Info
- Hop on a Train Ride
The Oxford Express offers holiday-themed train rides through the scenic Eastern Townships that the whole family will love. Different packages available, including special rides for children.
When: December 1 to December 30
Where: Sherbrooke Train Station (View Map)
More Info
- Ski for 24 Hours Straight
Every year, Mont Tremblant hosts a popular charity event: the 24h Tremblant. Participants form teams of 6 to 12 skiers that relay each other riding down the slopes of Tremblant over a period of 24 hours to benefit non-profit organizations for children. There is also a 24h Walk, for those who can’t or don’t want to ski, as well as the opportunity to donate online, if you can’t make it to Mont Tremblant.
When: December 6 to December 9
Where: Mont Tremblant (View Map)
Official Site
