21 FREE things worth checking out in Montreal this November

Alright Montreal, the holidays are sneaking up pretty quickly so we’re highlighting a slew of events worthy of checking out in Montreal in November for free.

Save that scratch, you’re going to need it in December.

See also:

Fright Zone – Montreal Casino

As if gambling money away isn’t scary enough, the Casino de Montreal is getting into the Halloween spirit even after the holiday, for the first two days in November.

Just in case you didn’t get enough of Halloween in October, that is.

The casino’s Fright Zone includes free live shows, costumed actors, spooky entertainment, and free candy.

Plus who knows, maybe you’ll even hit the jackpot.

When: November 1 and 2
Time: 7 pm
Where: Casino de Montreal

Montreal Toy Con

Eventbrite

Toys, comic books, collectibles, video games, and Cosplayers.

What else do you need for a little nostalgic boost?

When: Sunday, November 3
Time: 10 am – 4 pm
Where: Courtyard by Marriott Montreal Airport

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

McKibbin’s Pub Stumpers

Africa Studio/Shutterstock

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

By The Seaway

Scott Berwick

Montreal artist Scott Berwick revisits Indigenous representation through a modern Mohawk community in a week-long photo exhibition of over two years worth of his work in Kahnawake, “through the eyes of an outsider.”

When: November 11 – 17
Time: 9 am – 9 pm
Where: MFA Gallery

Les Pastellistes

The 24th edition of the international exhibition ‘Les Pastellistes’ will be held at the Galerie Le HangArt for half of the month with its opening vernissage on November 15.

The exhibition promotes the expression of pastel art pieces.

When: November 15 – 24
Time: 10 am – 6 pm
Where: Galerie Le HangArt Saint Denis, 3951 St-Denis Street

The Santa Claus Parade

JStone/Shutterstock

The 69th edition of the Santa Claus Parade returns to the city this month to give you a jump start on the holidays.

X-Mas fans, both young and old, are invited to René Lévesque Boulevard, between Guy and Saint-Urbain streets, to experience the excitement of one of the city’s most adored Christmas events.

When: Saturday, November 24
Time: 11 am
Where: René Lévesque Boulevard, between Guy and Saint-Urbain

CP Holiday Train Montreal

@cpholidaytrain/Instagram

The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train will be chugging through Montreal this coming Christmas season.

For its 21st edition, two magical Christmas trains will depart out of Montreal, one bound to trek across Canada and the other in the United States.

The trains will travel across the continent, bringing holiday cheer to hundreds of communities and collect donations for local food banks.

When: November 25 and 26
Time: 7 pm and 8:30 pm
Where: Montreal West and Beaconsfield
Price: Free! Bring non-perishable donations to support your local food bank.

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

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

Galerie MX

Galerie MX

An art gallery is always appealing, especially during November’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 November
Time: 10 am – 6 pm (Monday – Wednesday), 10 am – 9 pm (Thursday – Friday), 11 am – 5 pm (Saturday – Sunday)
Where: 333 Viger Avenue Ouest

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 November
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 month, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts has got you covered. The MMFA offers free admission to all exhibitions (including major exhibitions) to people 20-years-old and younger.

When: Every day in November
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 November
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 November
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 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 spring sunshine fused with the skyline is 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 November’s pretty foliage. 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

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