12 great things to do in Montreal during January's first full weekend

Besides ditching the Christmas tree and packing all the decorations for the year, Montreal is bustling with awesome things to do to welcome in the first full weekend of 2023.

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From skating and tubing to the Habs, concerts, and everything in between, here’s what’s worth checking out across Montreal all weekend.

Old Port Skating Rink

 

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What: The largest public skating rink in Montreal is welcoming Santa Claus and his elves this weekend.

Set to the backdrop of the city skyline, the Old Port Skating Rink is traditionally known for its outstanding quality of ice, excellent facilities, and breathtaking views of the city and the Saint Lawrence River.

It’s not hyperbolic to call it the place to go skating in Montreal.

Let’s be honest, there’s no better way to stick it to winter than bundling up and hitting the ice.

When: Saturday, December 17 (Rink open from now until March)
Time: 10 am to 9 pm, Monday to Wednesday; 10 am to 10 pm, Thursday to Sunday
Where: Bonsecours Basin
Price: $8.25, general admission (13 and older) | $5.65, kids (six to 12) | FREE, children (under six)

An Orchestral Rendition of Daft Punk: Greatest Hits

 

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What: A tribute band will be bringing Daft Punk classics to life on stage with the use of an orchestra.

Fuse some funk, techno, disco, and synthpop featuring a full orchestra. Oh baby.

When: Friday, January 6
Time: 8 pm
Where: Club Soda, 1225 St-Laurent
Price: Starts at $22, available online

Canadiens vs. Blues

 

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What: When was the last time you checked out the Canadiens? The Habs are facing off against the struggling St. Louis Blues on Saturday and an always-packed Bell Centre.

When: Saturday, January 7
Time: 7 pm
Where: Centre Bell
Price: Starts at $89.54, available online

Esplanade Tranquille

 

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What: There’s no shortage of places to skate outdoors in Montreal. And if you don’t feel like spending money for a skate, the Esplanade Tranquille is free, illuminated, and gorgeous.

Check the Quarter des spectacles’ website for the full scheduled activities, but the rink is open from 9 am to 11 pm on weekends.

When: Every day
Time: 9 am to 11 pm, Thursday to Sunday
Where: Quartier des spectacles
Price: Free

Snow Tubing

What: Parc Ignace-Bourget in Ville-Émard is offering free tubing slopes all winter.

Rent a tube, zip down some frozen slopes, and have a time.

When: Weekends all winter
Time: 11 am to 1:30 pm
Where: Parc Igance-Bourget

Luminothérapie

 

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What: The 13th edition of the interactive and luminous festival Luminothérapie has officially kicked off, offering all new interactions on the Esplanade Tranquille skating rink, a series of six colourful installations on Ste. Catherine, and original video projections.

When: From now until March 5, 2023
Time: 10 am to 11 pm
Where: Quartier des spectacles
Price: FREE

Seeing Loud: Basquiat and Music

 

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What: Seeing Loud: Basquiat and Music, which debuted at the Museum of Fine Arts of Montreal (MMFA) on October 15, is the first exhibition ever to focus on the role of music in Jean-Michel Basquiat‘s artistic practice.

It includes 100 of the legendary artist’s original works on display.

When: Until February 19, 2023
Time: 10 am to 5 pm (closed on Mondays)
Where: Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
Price: $24

Rooftop Bubble Tents – Terrasse William Gray

 

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What: If the winter blues already have you longing for terrace season, one of Old Montreal’s most iconic restaurants has a solution:

Rooftop bubble tents.

Terrasse William Gray is warming up the winter big time with its brand-new winter pop-up dining experience. The eighth floor of the popular hotel offers guests a chance to enjoy a majestic dinner inside transparent heated frameless geodesic domes.

Soak up the Montreal skyline without sacrificing your body to frostbite.

Each heated dome is 108 sq ft and can accommodate groups of four to eight people.

Visit the Terrasse Wiliam Gray website to make a reservation.

When: All winter
Time: 5 pm to 10 pm
Where: Terrasse William Gray
Price: $55 to $125 each

Dancing Lights That Flew up to the Universe

 

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What: Montreal has been enjoying a mesmerizing free infinity room exhibit since the summer from renowned 93-year-old Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama.

It might be the city’s most sought-after exhibit, so tickets are tough to get a hold of. But if you’re lucky enough to snatch up a few, it’ll cost you zilch.

The exhibit, which is being hosted at the PHI Foundation for Contemporary Art until January, features seriously photogenic “infinity mirror rooms.”

Roughly 5,000 tickets are available every month, and we’ve got a few tricks to make sure you can nab ’em. Check it out right here.