Montreal, Lanaudière, Laval, Laurentides, and Montérégie remain in the government’s COVID-19 red zone (Level 4–Maximum Alert). Restricted measures in red zones prohibit non-essential activities where the risk of the virus “cannot be sufficiently contained.” The government urges citizens to avoid gatherings, wear face masks inside public spaces, maintain two-metre physical distances, limit their social bubble, and frequently wash their hands.
The Easter long weekend will have a different feel this year than in years past. There won’t be big family gatherings or drinks with friends but there is still plenty of virtual and in-person things to do over the next few days to keep busy.
If you plan on hitting the town or staying in, here are a bunch of things to keep on your radar this weekend.
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Indulge in some Easter treats
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Forget the Easter ham, how about some Mini Egg treats?
Support some of these local spots who are doing up the tasty Easter treat big time.
Illumi
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Illumi is extending its stay in Laval, this time boasting the country’s largest light-and-sound outdoor show.
With the curfew pushed back to 9:30 pm in Laval, soak up over one million lights full of Easter colours, themes, and backgrounds, starting at 5:30 pm every night.
The site is accessible to people by car or on foot and will shine bright until April 11.
Tickets range from $15 to $24.
Easter Mass
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Easter weekend is the holiest observance day of the year for Christians. Take part in a beautiful mass at any of the city’s most celebrated churches: Notre-Dame Basilica, St. Joseph’s Oratory, or Mary Queen of the World.
Check out some art galleries
Montreal has (finally) welcomed in springtime — so what better way to spend the weekend than checking out some local art galleries?
Though many museums like the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and the McCord Museum now require reserving a spot in advance, some of the city’s smaller galleries allow spontaneous visitors to stop by as well.
Check out Never Apart, La Guilde, OBORO, and so many others.
Tyrolienne MTL Zipline
Take a zip across Old Montreal.
The MTL Zipline is working on reduced hours due to COVID, conveniently on weekends (Saturday and Sunday) from 12 pm to 6 pm.
For a smooth $19.99, zip across the Old Port and take in seriously breathtaking views of the Montreal skyline.
Espace pour la vie
The newly renovated Biodôme de Montréal has reopened amid Quebec’s latest round of eased COVID-19 restrictions.
In fact, both of the Espace pour la vie venues have reopened as of two weeks ago. The Jardin Botanique is open to the public as well.
The Biodôme is open every day from 9 am to 5 pm, and the Jardin Botanique is open daily from 7:30 am to 5 pm. Tickets cost a smooth $19 to enter each one.
In September, before the second wave of COVID-19 shut down venues and museums across the province, Espace pour la vie reopened after more than two years of construction and refurbishment work.
The iconic space’s renovations are highlighted by a new “multisensory and immersive experience,” as guests can make their way through five ecosystems of the Americas.
The OASIS Immersion Gallery
The OASIS Immersion Gallery in Montreal opened last week, and the pictures of it look just as cool as we thought they would.
If you don’t already know what it is, OASIS is a new permanent immersive art centre at the Palais des Congrès. With 119 surround-sound speakers, 105 laser projectors, and a whole LED lighting system, Montrealers are in for a breathtaking experience.
The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA)
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The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) is reopen and it’s displaying four exhibitions that are “brimming with artistic discoveries and reflections on the major issues of our time.”
The MMFA follows all COVID-19 protocols and “ensures customer safety.”
Go thrift shopping
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If there’s one thing Montreal and Macklemore have in common, it’s their love of thrift shopping.
Truly, there’s nothing like diving into a colourful rack of secondhand clothes and finding the sweatshirt you’ve been trying to find for months, or a skirt that fits like a glove and matches with everything you own.
As post-lockdown makeovers begin, it can be difficult to revamp your style in a way that is sustainable, ethical, and won’t make your wallet cry. Despite the vast big brand thrift stores like Value Village and the Salvation Army, finding something decent often takes many hours and hundreds of failed trips to the fitting rooms.
Time travel back to Montreal
If you’re in the mood for a little bit of time travelling, why not check out some photos of what Montreal used to look like in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s?
The photos, courtesy of Archives de la Ville de Montréal, feature rue Ste. Catherine, The Plateau, St-Henri, and more from over eight decades ago.
Go house shopping
Now might actually be the best time to sit at home and peek into the luxurious lives of million-dollar homes around Montreal.
We scoured Sotheby’s International Realty and put together a list of the most expensive properties for sale in Montreal. Because sure, it’s a pandemic, but now might be the time to pour $25 million into a home.
Pointe-à-Callière
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Pointe-à-Callière is an exhibit in the heart of Old Montreal that shows centuries of history from the settlements of our First Peoples to the present.
Bota Bota
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We could all use a little relaxing these days, and Bota Bota has reopened its massage centre and water circuit.
Get a 60-minute Swedish massage, deep tissue, Thai, couples, or therapeutic massage starting at $160.
The spa is following all of the necessary COVID-19 protocols.