13 things to do in Montreal today: Sunday, December 22

It may be Sunday but let’s be real, it’s the pre-holidays and work this week doesn’t count. Here’s a bunch of stuff happening around Montreal today, December 22.

Le Marché de Noël chez Maison Pepin

Maison Pepin has channelled a little bit of Harry Potter by turning its charming alleyway into a breathtaking rustic Christmas market.

The market itself features a variety of locally-made products for sale and DIY workshops from gift packaging to wreath making.

Without taking away from the local artisans, the alleyway is one of the most picturesque Christmas-time spots in the city. The narrow walls, dim lighting, light snow, and wreaths are begging to be shared all over Instagram.

This is the market’s last day until next year.

When: Sunday, December 22
Time: 10 am to 6 pm
Where: 378 Rue St-Paul Ouest
Price: Free

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Cirque du Soleil – AXEL

Cirque du Soleil has hit the “la glace” all weekend at the Bell Centre as the company’s new show, AXEL, carved its way to Montreal.

Fusing skating, acrobatics, live music, dancing, and stunning graphics, Cirque du Soleil is bringing their “ice spectacle” to the company’s founding city for ten days, starting tonight.

When: Sunday, December 22
Time: 1 pm and 5 pm on Sunday, 3:30 pm and 7:30 on select dates throughout the week
Where: Bell Centre, 1909-avenue-des-Canadiens-de-Montreal
Price: $55.50 – $167.75, available online

Merry Montreal

Merry Montreal returns this weekend, hosting a slew of free events to kick your Christmas spirit into high gear.

Along with the Old Port’s historical cachet, restaurants, boutiques and renowned hotels, Merry Montreal features the Nordic Place, Music on the Docks, and a massive New Year’s Eve bash (one of the only free New Year’s Eve events in the city).

The Nordic Square features DJs, live theatre, a band, interactive installations, and a winter beer garden. Local artists will be performing on stage to keep you entertained while a giant fire keeps you warm (the alcohol will help too).

When: From now until December 31
Time: Various times
Where: Montreal’s Old Port
Price: Free

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 kicks off this weekend until January 5, 2020.

Check out the website for a full list of exhibitions.

When: December 21 – January 5
Time: 10 am – 5 pm
Where: 1380 Sherbrooke Ouest
Price: Free

Village de Noël de Montréal

As if the Atwater Market isn’t magical enough, it’s been transformed into a ‘Christmas Village’ for its fourth edition of Village de Noël.

The village, which can be found on the outskirts of the Atwater Market, includes 40 local craftsmen and restauranteurs, concerts, choirs and shows, a sugar shack, an outdoor fire pit, creative activities, a Christmas tree sale, and face painting.

As a bonus, the big man himself, Santa Claus, will be taking time out of his very busy holiday schedule to be on site.

It’s the village’s last day until 2020, so you better get Christmasing!

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

Victorian Christmas at the Cartier’s

Discover how fashion styles dating back to 1867 are still in vogue 150 years later. The exhibition showcases elegant Victorian decor and styles, hot drinks by the fireplace, a Christmas card workshop, and champagne.

When: From now until December 29
Time: 10 am – 5 pm on weekdays, 9:30 am – 12 pm on weekends
Where: Sir George-Étienne Cartier National Historic Site
Price: $7.80

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

The Nutcracker 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: From now until December 30
Time: 2 pm and 7:30 pm
Where: Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Place des Arts
Price: $99 – $144, available, online

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: Sunday, December 22
Time: 10 am to 6 pm
Where: Arsenal Contemporary Art Contemporain
Price: $26 – $36, available 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.

When: Sunday, December 22
Time: 4 to 10 pm
Where: Illumi Cavalia — 2805 Boulevard du Souvenir, Laval
Price: $14.50 – $18.50, available online

Miracle Montreal – Christmas Pop-Up Bar

Miracle Pop-Up has taken over The Coldroom and transformed it into a beautifully festive Christmas bar.

If you aren’t in the holiday spirit yet, this might help you get there.

Miracle pops up in over 80 cities around the globe, partnering with local bars to inspire the Christmas cheer through festive decorations, quirky parties, ugly X-Mas sweaters, and of course, seasonal cocktails and grub.

For the second year in a row, Miracle will join forces with The Coldroom to bring on the festive feels, every day until December 26.

When: Sunday, December 22
Time: 5 pm to 3 am
Where: The Coldroom — 131 de la Commune
Price: Free admission

La Grande Roue de Montréal

Hit up Canada’s largest observational wheel and take in some absolutely breathtaking views of the city in all its festive glory.

Not to mention, some primetime photo ops that’ll make your Instagram crowd jealous.

When: Sunday, December 22
Time: 10 am to 11 pm
Where: 362 rue de Commune Est
Price: $14.79 – $25

Notre-Dame Basilica

Celebrate Sunday mass at Montreal’s most viewed structure at 11 am and hear a 25-person choir accompanied by the organ. Or, take a walking tour of the basilica which is an absolutely gorgeous spectacle. It is filled with hundreds of wooden carvings, several religious statues, and gigantic stained glass windows.

When: Sunday, December 22
Time: 12:30 pm – 4 pm on Sundays (mass starts at 11 am)
Where: 110 Rue Notre Dame Ouest
Price: Free

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