11 things to do in Montreal today: Saturday, January 4

With a good mix of outdoor and indoor activities, here are a bunch of things worth checking out around town today, January 4, in Montreal.

Luminothérapie

Place des Festivals is lit.

The Quartier des Spectacles’ public square is hosting the 10th edition of Luminothérapie through Pop!, a celebration of five fantastical creatures that aim to light up the city during the dark days of winter.

Because if anything can lighten up our bleak winter, it’s Luminothérapie, Quebec’s largest temporary public art installation.

When: From now until January 26
Time: 12 to 11 pm
Where: Place des Festivals
Price: Free

• See also:
  • Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté to perform at Coachella this spring
  • You can take a free shuttle bus to Montreal’s largest natural park all winter
  • 14 of Quebec’s national parks are offering FREE admission this month

Montreal Museum of Fine Arts – Miracle at the Museum

The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) is getting into the spirit of giving by allowing free access to the general public to its permanent collections and discovery exhibitions.

The deal is part of the museum’s Miracle at the Museum promotion and it concludes this weekend.

Check out the website for a full list of exhibitions.

When: From now until January 5
Time: 10 am – 5 pm
Where: 1380 Sherbrooke Ouest
Price: Free

Imagine Van Gogh

Montreal has been coated with an exhibition of the works of Vincent Van Gogh, the Dutch post-impressionist painter who is among the most famous figures in the history of the art world.

The exhibition, Imagine Van Gogh, which opened last week, takes guests through the world of colours and emotions of Van Gogh’s works through gigantic murals and an immersive soundtrack.

When: Saturday, January 4
Time: 10 am to 6 pm
Where: Arsenal Contemporary Art Contemporain
Price: $26 – $36, available online

Montreal Canadiens vs the Pittsburgh Penguins

The Habs and their 18-16-6 record welcome the high-octane Pittsburgh Penguins for a Saturday night tilt at the Bell Centre on Saturday.

It will be Alex Galchenyuk’s first game back in Montreal as a member for the Penguins.

When: Saturday, January 4
Time: 7 pm
Where: Centre Bell
Price: Various prices, available online

Pente à Neige

No offence, Mont Tremblant, but we might hit the slopes a bit closer to home this weekend as La Pente à Neige has constructed a man-made ski hill at Parc Ignace-Bourget.

The third edition of the urban hill is big enough for up to 250 people along with a mini slope that can accommodate up to 50 mini-skiers.

The hill welcomes skiers, snowboarders, tubers, and sledders of any age and features a cozy heated yurt, mulled wine, hot chocolate, and music. Guests can bring their own equipment or it can be rented on site.

The slope is 300 metres long and has professionals on site to teach people proper skiing/snowboarding/falling down techniques.

When: Saturday, January 4
Time: 10 am to 6 pm
Where: Parc Ignace-Bourget — 6101 Avenue de Montmagny
Price: Various pricing, details available online

Natrel Skating Rink Fireworks

Aside from offering 2,500 square metres of refrigerated ice, the Natrel Skating Rink will be hosting firework displays this weekend, for the last time.

When: Saturday, January 4
Time: 8 pm
Where: Old Port, Rue de la Commune Ouest
Price: $5.22 – $7.83, available on site and online

Dash Berlin

Dash Berlin is a Dutch electronic music trio that started in 2007. The trio will be spinning tunes at New City Gas on Saturday and into the wee hours of the morning on Sunday, just in case you’re not partied out from the holidays.

When: Saturday, January 4
Time: 10 pm – 3 am
Where: New City Gas, 950 rue Ottawa
Price: $18 – $45, available online

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, January 4
Time: 10 am – 4 pm (until 6 pm on Saturdays and Sundays)
Where: Mont Royal Park
Price: $6 for four to 11-year-olds, $10 for 12-years-old and up

Amaze Escape Room

You escaped December’s busy schedule, now try to get out of an escape room.

Try your luck at escaping from a prison, military facility, lost temple, or laboratory. Make a reservation, choose your adventure and then you have anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to get out of any respective room. Each mission is reserved solely for your group and you’re given a walkie-talkie in case you need hints/get scared.

When: Saturday, January 4
Time: 2 pm – 10:30 pm
Where: 3550 Rue St. Jacques
Price: $15-$30 depending on your chosen mission (per person). Make your reservation first online.

Illumi Cavalia

The dark days of winter need to be brightened up a touch and that’s where Cavalia’s Illumi comes in.

Check out a world of magical, captivating, and gorgeous lights in an extraordinary outdoor show created from thousands of light sculptures, characters, and designs.

Illumi wraps up its month-long run on Sunday.

When: Saturday, January 4
Time: 4 to 10 pm
Where: Illumi Cavalia — 2805 Boulevard du Souvenir, Laval
Price: $14.50 – $18.50, available online