29 FREE Montreal events worth checking out this February

February is great because it’s essentially the Sunday of winter.

But what makes February even greater is when you can check out events for free. Things are going to get cold this month, so let’s keep your wallet frozen as well.

See also

• A local's guide to Montreal neighbourhoods
• 21 diverse places to grab a drink (or five) in Montreal
• 21 awesome places to eat in Montreal
• 21 things you have to check off your Montreal bucket list

Here are 29 events worth checking out in Montreal this FREEbruary.

Pente à Neige

Pente à Neige/Facebook

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 second edition of the urban hill is big enough for up to 250 people and there’s also a mini slope on site to accommodate up to 50 mini-skiers.

The hill welcomes skiers, snowboarders, tubers and sledders of any age and features a cozily heated yurt, mulled wine, hot chocolate and music.

The slope is 280 metres long and has professionals on site to teach people proper skiing/snowboarding/falling down techniques.

Guests can bring their own equipment or it can be rented on site.

When: From now until March 12
Time: 10 am – 6 pm
Where: Parc Ignace-Bourget

Led Zeppelin Hommage Concert

The musical group Kashmir specializes in all things Led Zeppelin and the cover band will do their best to transport music-goers to the 1970s with a spectacular show mirroring the Led Zeppelin.

When: Friday, February 1
Time: 8 pm – 11:59 pm
Where: Club Soda, 1225 St-Laurent

POP Yoga Neige

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

Aptly titled POP Yoga Neige, classes will take place every Saturday and Sunday from January 12 to March 24 at Parc La Fontaine and Parcours Gouin, respectively.

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).

Grab your toques, thermal leggings, gloves, scarves, neckwarmers, and more, your mind and body will heat up but it’s still chilly outdoors.

When: February 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23 and 24
Time: 1 pm on Saturdays, 10:30 am on Sundays
Where: Parc La Fontaine and Parcours Gouin

Parc-Nature du Cap-Saint-Jacques Shuttle Bus

La Navette Nature/Facebook

The City of Montreal wants you to see more of this gorgeous province this winter by checking out the city’s biggest national park – for free.

Parc-Nature du Cap-Saint-Jacques is offering free shuttle services from downtown Montreal for seven dates this winter.

The park is also boarded by ecological farms that include cows, goats, sheep, donkeys, rabbits, ponies and pigs as well as a rustic sugar shack where guest can enjoy locally produced maple syrup.

When: February 3 and 16
Time: 9 am and 9:30 am – 3:45 pm and 4:15 pm
Where: Square Dorchester

Honey Martin Trivia

Honey Martin is a cozy Irish Pub in NDG that hosts a phenomenal pub trivia. They do six rounds of ten questions. 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 5, 12, 19, 26
Time: 9 pm – 1:30 am
Where: 5916 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest

Chinese New Year Celebration

Café Acquis is serving traditional dishes in celebration of the Chinese New Year along with cultural music, dancing and activities.

When: Wednesday, February 6
Time: 6 pm – 8:30 pm
Where: Café Acquis, 3101 Chemin de la Tour

McCord Museum

The McCord Museum is a public research and teaching centre that is dedicated to the preservation, study, diffusion, and appreciation of Canadian history. The museum features a variety of clothes, objects, and artifacts from dozens of different Canadian aspects.

The McCord Museum is offering free admission on the first Wednesday of December to get those intellectual juices flowing.

When: Wednesday, February 6
Time: 10 am – 9 pm
Where: 690 Rue Sherbrooke

North Star Monthly Pinball Tournament

A three-strike, knock-out pinball tournament takes place on the first Wednesday of the month at North Star.

If you’re a beginner pinballer or you want to go up against the big ballers, there’s plenty to go around.

It’s free to enter, and there are prizes to be won, you can’t go wrong.

When: Wednesday, February 6
Time: 7 pm
Where: North Star, 3980 St-Laurent

Honesca Ice Bike Race

Honesca/Facebook

The third 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: Sunday, February 9
Time: 10 am – 6 pm
Where: Parc Maisonneuve, 4581 rue Sherbrooke Est
Price: Free to attend, registration online

Fest-Hiver

Brossard is hosting a big winter festival on the second Sunday in February. There will be igloos, dog-sledding, fireworks, food, maple taffy and a friendly snowball fight (but they never up friendly).

When: Sunday, February 9
Time: 1 pm – 9 pm
Where: Parc Sorbonne, Brossard

Fête des neiges

patipamipato8/Instagram

The 36th edition of the Fête des neiges festival has rolled its way to Montreal.

Activities cost money to partake but walking around the fun site is free.

Outdoor activities include snow tubing, cross-country skiing, dog sledding, snow archery, an icy pirate ship, ice skating, ice sculptures, ziplining, a Ferris wheel, Tour de Lévis, axe throwing, a penguin village, a Polar Circus, snow scooters, an inflatable bouncy castle, and a mini igloo play area.

When: From now until February 10
Time: 10 am – 5 pm
Where: Parc Jean-Drapeau

Winter Games – Parc Olympique

Provencher_roy/Instagram

Olympic Park is hosting a variety of winter games on Saturdays and Sundays, fun for the whole family.

Activities include ice skating, a snowskate park, ice slides, snowshoeing and a heated cafe to keep you warm.

When: Weekends until March 8
Time: 10 am – 4 pm
Where: 4549 avenue Pierre-de-Courebtin
Price: Free

50th Anniversary Bed-in Celebration: “Give Folk a Chance”

It’s been 50 years since John Lennon and Yoko Ono staged a bed-in at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth hotel in Montreal where they penned and recorded the iconic pacifist song “Give Peace a Chance.”

Commemorate and celebrate the spirit of peace and solidarity through music at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel.

When: Saturday, February 16
Time: 9:30 am – 9 pm
Where: Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel, 900 René-Lévesque

Montreal en Lumière

mtlenlumiere/Instagram

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.

When: February 21 to March 3
Time: Various times
Where: Quartier des Spectacles

Cité Mémoire

levieuxmontreal/Instagram

Head to Old Montreal to admire 25 of the world’s largest projection circuits. Montreal’s history is displayed on buildings and streets throughout the Old Port. Download the free “Montreal en Histoires” app for destinations, details and schedules.

When: February 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23
Time: From nightfall until 11 pm
Where: Old Montreal

Fête des fromages

The 12th edition of Fête des fromages returns to Complexe Desjardins at the end of the month with over 70 types of cheese from across Quebec.

Cheeses are available for purchase but for tasting, it’s all free.

And there’s nothing better than free cheese.

When: February 22 – 24
Time: 11:30 am – 6 pm
Where: Complexe Desjardins

Casino de Montreal

Casino de Montreal/Shutterstock

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 holidays 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

Notre-Dame Basilica

AG Baxter (Shutterstock)

One of Montreal’s most-viewed structures is filled with hundreds of wooden carvings, several religious statues, and gigantic stained glass windows. Take a self-guided walking tour or visit the church every Sunday at 11 am to hear a 25-person choir accompanied by the organ.

When: Every day in February
Time: 8 am – 4:30 pm on weekdays, 8 am – 4 pm on Saturdays and 12:30 pm – 4 pm on Sundays (mass starts at 11 am)
Where: 110 Rue Notre Dame Ouest

Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

If you want to expand your knowledge this February, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts has got you covered. The MMFA offers free admission to all of their Collections and Discovery exhibitions to people under 30-years-old.

When: Every day in February
Time: 10 am – 6 pm
Where: 1380 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest

Jean Talon Market

Songquan Deng/Shutterstock

The highlight of Little Italy is undoubtedly the Jean Talon Market. The Jean Talon market has been supplying Montreal with fresh Quebec products and specialty items from around the world since 1934.

The market is free to enter and is open every day. Visitors can find a wide variety of produce, flowers, fish, meat and specialty ice cream for sale, the area is also a great destination for lunch. Barbeque lamb, pork, and chicken sandwiches, as well as bison on a stick, are all available for a few bucks.

It’s a Montreal landmark.

When: The Jean Talon Market is open every day in February
Time: 7 am – 6 pm from Monday – Wednesday and Saturday, 7 am – 8 pm on Thursdays and Fridays and 7 am – 5 pm on Sundays
Where: 7070 Avenue Henri Julien

Barbie Exhibition

joshuajacobs81/Instagram

The world’s largest permanent exhibit of Barbies is happening at Montreal’s Cours Mont-Royal. The upscale mall hosts over 1,000 entertainment industry Barbie dolls, all dressed by leading fashion houses.

When: Every day in February
Time: 10 am – 7 pm
Where: Cours Mont-Royal, 1445 Rue Peel

Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral

Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral is a 19th-century church modelled after the famous St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

The church opened in 1894 and is an absolutely stunning visual.

When: Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral is open year round
Time: 8 am – 4 pm
Where: 1085 Rue Cathedrale

Grande Bibliothèque

BAnQ, Bernard Fougères

The Grande Bibliothèque is a Montreal’s biggest public library. Its collection is part of Bibliothèque et Archives Nationales du Québec (BAnQ), Quebec’s national library.

The Grande Bibliothèque is an absolute spectacle to see. Its winding staircases will make you feel like you’re at Hogwarts and it hosts an unbelievably impressive collection of books, magazines, records, CDs, and film.

It’s one of the most visited libraries in North America.

Membership is free to all Quebec residents.

When: The Grande Bibliothèque is open year round
Time: 10 am to 5 pm
Where: 475 Boulevard de Maisonneuve Est

Mont Royal Belvédère Kondiaronk Park

Hiking Mont Royal has its rewards besides the view. The winter’s snow fused with the skyline are totally Instagram worthy and Mont Royal’s chalet has some nice historical elements as well.

You get to see the entire city lit up – especially in February’s chilly weather. A 15-minute hike is totally worth it.

When: Mont Royal is accessible year round
Time: 6 am – 12 am
Where: 1196 Voie Camillien-Houde

Murray Hilly Tobogganing

Embark on a classic winter adventure: tobogganing down one of the city’s most gorgeous hills.

Whether you’re more of a plastic disk, magic carpet, or wooden sled kind of person,  Murray Hill has plenty of natural slopes that included padded walls in case you really get going.

When: Every day in February
Time: 7 am – 10 pm
Where: Murray Hill, Westmount

Atwater Market

Jean Gagnon

The Atwater Market is a massive farmers’ market located in Saint-Henri that’s been running since 1933. The market features both indoor and outdoor vendors from a vast variety of local options: meat, bread, cheese, fruit, vegetables, flowers, candy, pizza and ice cream.

The market is free to enter and a lot of outlets hand out free samples. Take a stroll through the market, it’s lovely.

When: Every day in February
Time: 7 am – 8 pm
Where: 138 Avenue Atwater

Promenade Fleuve-Montagne

You can experience two of Montreal’s most stunning landmarks in one trek: the St. Lawrence River and Mont Royal Park. Stroll from one to the other on a beautiful 3.8-km promenade that features wide sidewalks, pedestrian crosswalks, rest areas, greenery and access to various restaurants along the route. The multimillion-dollar investment from the city’s 375th birthday celebrations is a site and a sight to see.

When: Every day in February
Time: The path is open 24/7
Where: Rue de la Commune Ouest and Place Royale to Avenue des Pins and Rue McTavish

Redpath Museum

Musée Redpath Museum/Facebook

Founded in 1882 at McGill University, the Redpath Museum’s aims to further the understanding and appreciation of biological, geological, and cultural heritage.

The comfortable, little museum has a variety of ancient Canadian artifacts.

When: Every day in February
Time: 9 am – 5 pm during the week, 1 pm – 5 pm on Saturdays and Sundays
Where: 859 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest

Outdoor Hockey Rinks

Shutterstock

It’s crisp and cold in Montreal which means it’s the prime time to show off your Canadian pride and hit the ice at any of the city’s collection of outdoor hockey rinks.

If you’re going for a leisurely skate or you want to wire a few clappers, these spots around the city offer not only the best ice and maintenance but have warm rooms to lace up, long hours, lights, nets, boards and open-skate areas for the mini-skaters.

Be sure to check out the Ville de Montreal’s skating rink site to check out rink locations and ice condition details, which are updated daily.

When: Every day until early March
Time: Varying hours per rink
Where: Various areas around Montreal