11 things to do in Montreal today: Saturday, January 5

Jan 5 2019, 1:54 am

It’s been a short week and we’re already back to a couple of days off. Regardless if you’re back at work on the seventh, or if you breezed through the first week of 2019, here are a few things to keep you busy today, January 5.

Dream Land

Christmas display

Sami Hajjar’s Christmas Display/Facebook

If you missed out on Sami Hajjar’s tradition of decking out his house in over 250,000 Christmas lights, you still have time.

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 January 10
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, January 5
Time: 3 pm, 7 pm, 7:30 pm
Where: Théâtre St-Denis, 1594 St-Denis
Price: $46 – $93.50, available online

Rideau Canal Skateway

skating rink

lilyslensonlife/Instagram

How about a little road trip to the nation’s capital?

Entering its 49th year, the world’s largest naturally frozen skating rink, the Rideau Canal Skateway, winds its way through the heart of Ottawa over a total length of 7.8 km, stretching from downtown to Dow’s Lake.

The longest Skateway on Earth is divided into 13 sections, four of which are currently open.

When: Saturday, January 5
Time: 8 am – 11 pm
Where: Mackenzie King Bridge – Dows Lake
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, January 5
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

Natrel Skating Rink Fireworks

fireworks

Old Port Winter Fireworks / Facebook

The Old Port is going to be lit this weekend for the last time of the year. (Fireworks lit, that is).

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, January 5
Time: 8 pm
Where: Old Port, Rue de la Commune Ouest
Price: Free

DJ Pauly D at New City Gas

DJ Pauly D, best known for being a housemate on MTV’s reality show Jersey Shore, is spinning beats at New City Gas on Saturday.

For the big Pauly D fans, you can pay $85 and get to meet the American DJ.

When: Saturday, January 5
Time: 10 pm – 3 am
Where: New City Gas, 950 rue Ottawa
Price: $16 – $85, available online

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, January 5
Time: 2 pm and 7:30 pm
Where: Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Place des Arts
Price: $99 – $144, available, online

Free Dance Classes

Studio 303 is offering a day of free open-level dance classes, all taught by professional artists. The studio urges guests to come out and try one or more classes that will be offered throughout the day:

12 pm – MAKING DANCE with Suzanne Beth Miller
1 pm – DANCE & CREATION with Louis Guillemette
2 pm – PHYSICAL THEATRE with Pierre Blackburn
3 pm- BREAK with Kate Lynx
4 pm – KRUMP with Montreal Krump Alliance / 7Starr

When: Saturday, January 5
Time: 11 am – 5 pm
Where: Studio 303, 372 Ste. Catherine Ouest
Price: Free

Korean BBQ – All You Can Eat

For a tad less than $20, you can devour all the Spring Rolls, Pork Gyoza, Vege Gyoza, Kimchi and Spicy Fried Chicken you can handle (plus so much more).

When: Saturday, January 5
Time: 4:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Where: Bistro Californie, 4287 rue Saint Denis
Price:
 $19.95

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: Saturday, January 5
Time: 10 am – 7 pm
Where: Cours Mont-Royal, 1445 Rue Peel
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 winter season.

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

See also

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