24 FREE things worth checking out in Montreal this February

It’s cold and snowy in Montreal and if there’s anything that helps quell the winter blues, it’s not spending money.

Here are a bunch of free events happening in Montreal throughout February.

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Les Jardineries

Head over the Olympic Stadium every weekend in February for some free outdoor fun including bowling, skating, sledding, sliding, hot drinks, and a heated chalet.

When: February 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, and 29
Time: 10:30 am to 4:30 pm
Where: Les Jardineries, L’Esplanade du Parc Olympique

Défi canot à glace Montréal

Even though it’s too late to register (besides, think about it: cold), guests can watch the annual ice water canoe race from any of the spectacular vantage points around Old Montreal.

When: Saturday, February 1
Time: 8:30 am to 4 pm
Where: Bassin de l’Horloge — Vieux-Port de Montréal

POP Yoga Neige

Montreal-based fitness company POP Spirit is hosting a series of outdoor snow yoga sessions all month.

Aptly titled POP Yoga Neige, classes will take place from 10:30 am to 11:15 am every Sunday in February.

All classes are free to the public and boast top-notch, professional instructors. All you have to do is bring your own mat and dress warmly (and we mean, really warm).

When: February 2, 9, 16, and 23
Time: 10:30 to 11:15 am
Where: Parcours Gouin

Pente à Neige

No offence, Mont Tremblant, but we might hit the slopes a bit closer to home this winter as La Pente à Neige has constructed a man-made ski hill at Parc Ignace-Bourget.

The edition of the urban hill is big enough for up to 250 people along with a mini slope that can accommodate up to 50 mini-skiers.

The hill welcomes skiers, snowboarders, tubers, and sledders of any age and features a cozy heated yurt, mulled wine, hot chocolate, and music. Guests can bring their own equipment or it can be rented on site.

The slope is 300 metres long and has professionals on site to teach people proper skiing/snowboarding/falling down techniques.

When: Thursdays to Sundays, on until March 12
Time: Thursday and Friday, 4 to 9 pm; Saturday, 9 am to 9 pm; Sunday, 9 am to 7 pm
Where: Parc Ignace-Bourget

Fest-Hiver

From heated tents, fire-pits, dogsledding, tubing, concerts, and plenty of outdoor activities and treats, check out Brossard’s two-day winter festival to kick off the new month.

When: February 8 and 9
Time: Saturday, 5 pm to 10 pm; Sunday, noon to 4
Where: Parc Sorbonne, Brossard

A tribute to Queen with Yvan Pedneault

Yvan Pedneault will be singing a tribute concert to Queen and Freddie Mercury at the Montreal Casino, taking a personal selection of his favourite songs from the iconic band.

Since the show takes place inside the casino, it’s reserved for people 18 and older.

When: Thursday, February 6
Time: 7 pm to 3 am
Where: Casino de Montréal, Level A – Pavillon La France

Je t’aime en chocolat

After a two year absence, the seventh edition of the ‘Je t’aime en chocolat’ festival returns to Old Montreal featuring a slew of – you guessed it – chocolate.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day too…

Visit the website for a full list of eateries and bakeries.

When: February 8 and 9
Time: 10 am to 6 pm
Where: Marché Bonsecours — 350 Saint-Paul Est

Honesca Ice Bike Race

The fourth annual race combines two well known Montreal activities: biking and trying not to skid on ice.

The one-day event will host three ice bike contests (fork, studded and fat tire bikes), bike limbo (roll under a bar on your bike), a pick-up challenge and the “slowest race without falling over” contest.

There will also be a DJ on site, demonstrations, time trials, local merchants selling winter gear and accessories and of course, food trucks.

It costs moolah to register but attending the event is free.

When: Saturday, February 8
Time: 9:30 am to 6 pm
Where: Parc Maisonneuve — 4581 rue Sherbrooke Est
Price: Free to attend, registration online

Honey Martin Trivia

Honey Martin is a cozy Irish Pub in NDG that hosts a phenomenal pub trivia every trivia. They do six rounds of ten questions and a winner is rewarded each round with either a round of drinks or a round of shots. A round for a round – solid deal.

The questions are all general knowledge and the trivia host is interactive and funny.

Buy him a shot and you just might get that European geography question right after all.

When: February 4, 11, 18, and 25
Time: 9 pm to 1:30 am
Where: 5916 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest

Montreal en Lumière

Montreal en Lumière is one of the largest winter festivals in the world. The annual celebration draws over 900,000 visitors to experience the city through a series of unique programming combing arts, gastronomy, family activities and immersive light shows in the storied Quartier des Spectacles.

It returns at the end of the month for its 21st edition.

When: February 20 to March 1
Time: Varying times
Where: Quartier des Spectacles, corner of rue Ontario and Jeanne-Mance

Milk Urban Slide

The Milk Urban Slide returns to the Quartier des Spectacles this month, zigzagging its way across the Montreal en Lumiere outdoor party site.

The 110 metre-long slide starts at the illuminated launch tower and zooms its way around the site, at full speed, screaming with photo opportunities.

When: February 21 to 24, 28, March 1 to 3
Time: 5 pm to 11 pm (from 2 pm on Saturdays and Sundays)
Where: Quartier des Spectacles, corner of rue Ontario and Jeanne-Mance

McKibbin’s Pub Stumpers

Test your trivia knowledge at McKibbin’s Irish Pub every Monday.

The pub’s trivia has five rounds, general knowledge multiple-choice, short answer, a picture round, and a music round. The winner of each round receives free drinks or a round of shots.

When: February 2, 10, 17, and 24
Time: 7:30 to 10 pm
Where: 1426 Rue Bishop
Price: Free to play (with purchase of a beverage)

Bleu, Blanc et Bouge

The Montreal Canadiens foundation has six outdoor, refrigerated rinks around the island. The professional-level rinks provide the opportunity for hockey players to develop their skating skills on exceptional quality ice.

The program is divided into six sessions of approximately 45 minutes each.

The rink is free to use but has rather strict schedules so the shinny hockey players don’t hit the ice at the same time as the little skaters.

Rinks can be found at the following spots around Montreal:

• Villeray-St-Michel-Parc-Extension: François-Perrault Park
• Montréal Nord: Carignan Park
• Verdun: Willibrord Park
• LaSalle: Hayward Park
• Côte-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grâce: Confederation Park
• Ahuntsic-Cartierville: Mésy Park

When: Every day in February
Time: Varies per rink
Where: Various locations around Montreal

Casino de Montreal

It’s tough to associate casinos without money, but it’s true.

The Casino de Montreal is free to enter. If you don’t feel like blowing money at the blackjack table, head to the Casino de Montreal and simply take in the sights and sounds, it’s quite spectacular. The casino offers free refreshments and coffee, maybe you’ll find a loonie on the ground and even win big?

The Casino is decorated beautifully for the wintertime and is worth the trek off-island just to marvel in its beauty.

When: Every day in February
Time: The Casino de Montreal is open 24/7
Where: 1 Avenue du Casino

Galerie MX

An art gallery is always appealing, especially during February’s chilly days.

Galerie MX seeks to give greater exposure to contemporary artists, primarily from Canada, but from all over the globe as well.

The gallery is located in the heart of the Quarter international, the cultural epicenter for arts in Montreal in a sleek 6,000 sq. ft. exhibit space.

When: Every day in February
Time: Monday to Wednesday, 10 am to 6 pm; Thursday to Friday, 10 am to 9 pm; Saturday and Sunday, 11 am to 5 pm
Where: 333 Viger Avenue Ouest

Notre-Dame Basilica