32 FREE Montreal events worth checking out this March

March is an exciting time of year because the snow is supposed to melt and the weather should start get warmer.

What’s even better is there’s a ton of great events going on in Montreal this month for free.

To make sure you save up some cash for the spring, here are 32 things to check out in the city this month while keeping your wallet behind.

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Alive at Night: Art, Music & History at McGill

This is actually a night at the museum.

McGill University’s Visual Arts Collection is joining forces with the Schulich School of Music and the Beatty Memorial Lecture Series to offer Alive at Night: Art, Music, and History at McGill.

Guests can enjoy free flashlight tours of the art and architecture in Redpath Hall, a renowned 19th-century building, and one of the oldest at McGill. Animated by a multimedia presentation, and followed by a live, multi-instrumental musical performance, these tours promise to bring the past, present, and future of McGill to life.

There will be a total of four tours throughout the night: two in English and two in French. Each tour will accommodate 30 persons and last approximately 60 minutes.

When: Saturday, March 2
Time: 9 pm – 1 am
Where: Roddick Gates, Sherbrooke Ouest
Price: Free

Nomadic Massive

Nomadic Massive is a unique crowd-rocking, multilingual hip-hop crew based out of Montreal.

Known for their explosive shows and sharp socially conscious lyrics, the band has captivated audiences worldwide with their own mix of global beats, based on live instrumentation and the art of sampling.

They’ll be rocking out l’Astal during Nuit Blanche until the wee hours of the morning.

When: Saturday, March 2
Time: 11:55 pm – 1:30 am
Where: L’Astral, 305 rue Ste-Catherine Ouest
Price: Free

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 a simple registration is required to access the rinks.

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: From now until end of March (weather permitting)
Time: Varies per rink
Where: Various locations around Montreal

Cold Fighter Series – Free Boxing Classes

As we enter the height of winter, cold and flu season are in full swing.

But you can be too. Literally.

To help bring awareness to the many ways you can stay healthy and strong during the cold and flu season, Montrealers are invited to take part in a free boxing class hosted by Jamieson Vitamins from March 6 to 10.

When: March 6 – 10
Time: 7:45 am to 9 am and 1 pm to 3 pm
Where: Mansfield Club, 1230 rue Mansdield

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

After a one year hiatus, Montreal’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade is returning to its rightful route on Ste. Catherine Street this year.

The annual parade will be back on Ste. Cat’s after it as forced to move to Boulevard de Maisonneuve in 2018 because of construction.

The giant outdoor bash, the 196th edition, is an excuse to party outside among thousands of other people.

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 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

La Cabane Panache et Bois Rond

Channel your inner lumberjack because a maple syrup festival is coming to Montreal at the end of March.

Officially called Cabane Panache Et Bois Rond, all the sugary goodness of a Quebec cabane à sucre will be coming to Promenade Wellington between March 21 to 24.

The ninth annual urban cabane à sucre will feature four days of square dancing, woodcutting, festive dancing, tasty treats and oodles of maple syrup.

When: March 21 to 24
Time: TBA
Where: Promenade Wellington, Verdun

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 every Saturday and Sunday from until 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: March 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

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: March 5, 12, 19, 26
Time: 9 pm – 1:30 am
Where: 5916 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest

Cité Mémoire

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

Hockey History Exhibit

The Hockey Cup History travelling exhibit has set up shop at the Dorval Museum of Local History and Heritage.

Hockey fans can take a look at trophies, rings, hockey sticks, archival footage and over 50 hockey-related artifacts. Visitors are also invited to play a hockey tabletop game as well as a ‘design your own goalie mask’ workshop.

When: Every day in March
Time: 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm, Thursday to Sunday
Where: 1850 Lakeshore Drive, Dorval
Price: Free

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. A round for a round – good trade.

When: March 4, 11, 18 and 25
Time: 7:30 pm – 10 pm
Where: 1426 Rue Bishop
Price: Free to play (with purchase of a beverage)

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 holidays and is worth the trek off-island just to marvel in its beauty.

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

Notre-Dame Basilica

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 March
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 March
Time: 10 am – 6 pm
Where: 1380 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest

Jean Talon Market

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 March
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

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 March
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

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 March’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 March (or until the snow melts)
Time: 7 am – 10 pm
Where: Murray Hill, Westmount

Atwater Market

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 March
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 March
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

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 March
Time: 9 am – 5 pm during the week, 1 pm – 5 pm on Saturdays and Sundays
Where: 859 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest

Outdoor Hockey Rinks

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 mid March (or until the weather warms up)
Time: Varying hours per rink
Where: Various areas around Montreal