16 things to do in Montreal today: Saturday, December 22

Montreal, the holidays are just beginning so why not take to some of the great events offered in the city today, December 22.

Cirque du Soleil: Corteo

Helium dance (Dominique Lemieux/Cirque du Soleil)

Corteo has come home. The Cirque du Soleil touring production premiered in Montreal in April 2005 and it’s back until the end of the month.

Corteo, which means “cortege” in Italian, is a joyous procession, a festive parade imagined by a clown. The show brings together the passion of the actor with the grace and power of the acrobat to plunge the audience into a theatrical world of fun, comedy and spontaneity situated in a mysterious space between heaven and earth.

When: Saturday, December 22
Time: 1 pm, 3:30 pm, 5 pm and 7:30 pm
Where: Centre Bell, 1909 avenue des Canadiens de Montreal
Price: $62.50 – $171.50, available online

Noël Nights

The legendary Rufus Wainwright and Martha Wainwright’s Christmas show, “Noel Nights,” has entertained audiences all across North America. Described by The New York Times as “typical Christmas-time family gathering motley, convivial, multigenerational, jokey, affectionate and tinged with both skepticism and faith,” the Christmas show has been a family tradition since 2005 when Kate and Anna McGarrigle released their classic album, “The McGarrigle Christmas Hour.”

When: Saturday, December 22
Time: 7:30 pm
Where: MTELUS, 59 rue Ste. Catherine
Price: $81.50 – $270, available online

Dream Land

Sami Hajjar’s Christmas Display/Facebook

Sami Hajjar of the West Island is continuing his ‘Christmas Display’ house again this season and there’s only a few days left.

Compared to last year’s ‘Frozen Land,’ ‘Dream Land’ features 250,000 lights, inflatables and synchronized music to five Disney songs, four times a day.

When: From now until December 25
Time: 6 pm – 9 pm (Every hour)
Where: 9035 Jean-Bourdon Avenue, West Island
Price: Free

Slava’s Snowshow

Slava’s Snowshow is a stage show created and staged by Russian performance artist Slava Polunin. The show won the Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience and was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event.

Hosted by Just for Laughs at the timeless Théâtre St-Denis, the show will run for 15 dates, a variety of which have two or three shows per day.

When: Saturday, December 22
Time: 3 pm, 7 pm, 7:30 pm
Where: Théâtre St-Denis, 1594 St-Denis
Price: $46 – $93.50, available online

Alight at Night

Upper Canada Village/Facebook

Lights (a lot of them), camera… ~~action~~ Christmas! One of the country’s biggest outdoor light festivals is ready for you and the holidays.

Now that the Gardens of Light festival has packed up for 2018, Instagrammers need to get their lighting fix somewhere else so why not make a day of it?

From the enchantment of horse-drawn wagons to a life-size toy train, this holiday road trip will take you down the 401 to a magical place. There will be carolling, festive dining, and of course, Santa will be making a visit to take in all your Christmas wishes.

If you get cold, warm-you-up beverages will be for sale at the outdoor Carousel Corner Café, where two new holiday huts offer a cozy shelter to snuggle up in.

When: December 22 and 23
Time: 5 pm to 9 pm (4 pm to 10 pm on Saturdays)
Where: Upper Canada Village, 13740 County Rd 2, Morrisburg, On
Price: $12 – $16, depending on age

Nordic Square

Head to the Old Port and stand by an outdoor wood fire with a warm (maybe boozy) drink in hand. Enjoy performances by choirs, storytellers, Indigenous artists and much more. New to the Square this year is the luminous public art installations, including an enormous bear, shimmering light prisms and Bernard, the giant moose.

When: December 21, 22, 23 and 27-30
Time: 4 pm – 9 pm on Friday, 12 pm – 9 pm on Saturday and Sunday
Where: Places Jacques Cartier, Old Montreal
Price: Free

The Nutcracker Ballet

The Nutcracker/Goh Ballet

For the 55th year, the full-length rendition of Les Grands Ballet’s magical The Nutcracker returns to Montreal.

Choreographed by the late Quebecer Fernand Nault and based on German author ETA Hoffman’s original tale, the theatre play embodies the spirit of Christmas with its graceful entertainment, magical scenery and stunning costumes, to Tchaikovsky’s irresistible musical score.

The story tells the tale of Clara, who receives a beautiful nutcracker for Christmas. The young girl is then swept into a fairytale world in which the nutcracker becomes a prince, while mice and rats battle an army of toy soldiers.

When: Saturday, December 22
Time: 2 pm and 7:30 pm
Where: Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Place des Arts
Price: $99 – $144, available, online

Village de Noël de Montréal

noelmontreal/Instagram

Montreal’s iconic Atwater Market has been transformed into a gorgeous Christmas market (we have proof here).

The third edition of the Village de Noël will feature “twice as many kiosks as years past,” vendors, concerts, light shows, a giant, decked out evergreen tree, holiday treats and outdoor screenings of classic Christmas movies.

As a bonus, the big man himself, Santa Claus, will be on site today.

When: Saturday, December 22
Time: Weekends from 11:30 am – 9 pm
Where: Place du Marche, corner of St-Ambroise and Atwater
Price: Free

Snow Tubing on Mont Royal

Take advantage of the pride of Montreal by snow tubing down it.

Discover the exhilaration of snow tubing down reserved lanes next to the toboggan hill overlooking Beaver Lake.

When: Saturday, December 22
Time: 10 am – 4 pm (until 6 pm on Saturdays and Sundays)
Where: Mont Royal Park
Price: $5 for 4 – 11-year-olds, $9 for 12 years old and up

Fontaine Boréale

amazing.views/Instagram

Christmas is usually associated with snow and ice so how about a little element change? For the third consecutive year, the Christmas fountain known as “Fontaine boréale” is returning during the holiday season.

The immersive and multi-sensory experience features the Complexe Desjardin’s Grande-Place water fountain, completely decked out in the Christmas spirit.

Every hour, the fountain lights and shoots up to the shopping mall’s ceiling, accompanied by music, lights and special effects.

Or, it could actually be magic.

When: Every day in December
Time: Every hour from 4 pm – 10 pm
Where: Complexe Desjardins, 150 rue Ste. Catherine Ouest
Price: Free

L’hôtel de Ville Christmas

Celebrate Christmas with a couple of heavy hitters: Santa Claus and Mayor Valérie Plante.

The Mayor invites residents to city hall to meet elected officials in council chambers, meet the big man, and there’s plenty of activities for kids.

When: Saturday, December 22
Time: 10 am – 1 pm
Where: 510 rue Gosford
Price: Free

Natrel Skating Rink Fireworks

Old Port Winter Fireworks / Facebook

The Old Port is going to be lit tonight. Actually.

On four select dates this holiday season, the Old Port’s Natrel Skating Rink will fuse ice with fireworks and this Saturday is the first of the season.

The 2,500 square metre rink, just off Promenade des Quais, will be open to the public and will host a firework display overhead. The rink costs money to enter, but standing outside and watching the fireworks is as free as it is delightful.

When: Saturday, December 22
Time: 8 pm
Where: Old Port, Rue de la Commune Ouest
Price: Free

Village du Père Noël

The Christmas season just isn’t the same without a visit to see Santa. Besides, why take a chance of bumping into the big fella on Christmas Day without getting in some face-time beforehand?

There’s an entire village dedicated to Santa about an hour away from Montreal.

Village du Père Noël is the perfect place for a holiday family getaway. Plus, it’s North of Montreal so in some ways, you’re heading towards the North Pole.

Located in Val-David, the village’s summer activities are transformed into a magical Christmas experience.

Activities include ice skating, tubing, sledding, a petting zoo, and a mini train. And of course, Santa and his elves are on site.

When: Saturday, December 22
Time: 10 am – 5 pm
Where: 987 Route Morin, Val-David
Price: Adults (individuals two years old and older): $18; Grandparents: $16

Le Village du Vilain Sapin – Ugly Christmas Tree Village

shaunethompsonphotography/Instagram

It’s important to laugh at yourself. And, that’s exactly what this year’s ‘Ugly Christmas Tree Village’ in ~~Whoville~~ Montreal will be doing this holiday season, literally.

The second edition of Le Village du Vilain Sapin features more than just an ugly, Charlie Brown-esque tree as this year’s evergreen is ticklish.

Yes. A ticklish Christmas tree.

Motion detectors and built-in loudspeakers will be incorporated into this year’s Frankentree that will bellow out laughter when guests shake the bottom branches to tickle it.

When: From now until January 2
Time: 5 pm, illumination of the laughing tree at 6 pm
Where: 57 rue Prince Arthur Est
Price: Free

Atrium Le 1000

anulka77/Instagram

If the weather doesn’t bode well with you this weekend, lace up the skates and glide to the lively beat of music at the Atrium inside one of the tallest buildings in Montreal. The rink is covered under an immense glass dome so you can feel like you’re outside without having to deal with the pesky weather. Plus, it’s gorgeously decorated for the holidays.

When: Saturday, December 22
Time: 12:30 pm – 9 pm
Where: 1000 De La Gauchetière
Price: $5 – $7.50 (equipment rentals range from $1 – $7)

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