13 things to do in Montreal today: Sunday, December 29

Here are over a dozen things happening in Montreal today, December 29, for all those not yet ready to shake the holiday vacation vibe.

Montreal Museum of Fine Arts – Miracle at the Museum

What: 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: From now until January 5, 2020
Time: 10 am to 5 pm
Where: 1380 Sherbrooke Ouest
Price: Free

Cirque du Soleil – AXEL

What: Cirque du Soleil will be hitting the “la glace” all weekend at the Bell Centre as the company’s new show, AXEL, carves 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: December 29, 2019
Time: 11:30 am, 3:30 pm, and 7:30 pm
Where: Bell Centre, 1909-avenue-des-Canadiens-de-Montreal
Price: $55.50 – $167.75, available online

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Merry Montreal

What: 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, 2019
Time: Various times
Where: Montreal’s Old Port
Price: Free

Bob Marley Tribute Show

What: Featuring the likes of Kman and The 45s and Beautiful Sabotage, Club Soda will be hosting a tribute show dedicated to everything Bob Marley.

When: December 29, 2019
Time: 7 pm to 11 pm
Where: Club Soda, 1225 St-Laurent
Price: $10, available online

Natrel Skating Rink

What: The Natrel Skating Rink in Old Montreal is now open to the public, offering some real nice ice. If you’re brave enough to tackle the cold, strap on some skates and get moving.

Known for its outstanding quality of ice, excellent facilities, and breathtaking views of the city and the Saint Lawrence River, this is the place to go skating in Montreal.

When: Sunday, December 29
Time: 10 am to 10 pm
Where: Natrel Skating Rink, Bonsecours Basin
Price: $5.22 for kids six – 12; $7.83 general admission, free for kids under six

Luminothérapie

What: 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, 2020
Time: 12 to 11 pm
Where: Place des Festivals
Price: Free

Oasis Surf

What: Battle the winter blues with some hardcore waves. Just because Montreal isn’t located on the coast, doesn’t mean you can’t tackle some killer tides.

Oasis Surf in Brossard is an indoor pool open to amateur and experienced surfers looking to ride the waves.

Radical.

When: December 29, 2019
Time: 10 am to 2 am
Where: Suite 01, 9520 Boulevard Leduc
Price: $30 for 30 minutes

The Nutcracker Ballet

What: 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, stunning costumes, and 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, 2019
Time: 2 pm
Where: Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Place des Arts
Price: $99 – $144, available, online

Imagine Van Gogh

What: 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: December 29, 2019
Time: 10 am to 6 pm
Where: Arsenal Contemporary Art Contemporain
Price: $26 – $36, available online

Illumi Cavalia

What: 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: December 29, 2019
Time: 4 to 10 pm
Where: Illumi Cavalia — 2805 Boulevard du Souvenir, Laval
Price: $14.50 – $18.50, available online

iSaute Kirkland

What: iSaute is a massive venue that has over 30 giant trampolines, trampoline basketball, wall climbing, and a trampoline jungle gym. You pay by the hour, there’s a lot to do, and it’s actually a fantastic workout.

iSaute is fun for all ages and is a great way to burn off those unwanted holiday meal calories.

When: December 29, 2019
Time: 10 am to 9 pm
Where: 3220 Jean Yves, Kirkland
Price: $16 for the first hour, $10 for the second. Tickets are sold at the door

Fontaine boréale

What: Considering the holidays are usually associated with snow and ice, it might be time for a little element change.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Christmas fountain known as “Fontaine boréale” has returned to the complexe Desjardins for 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.

When: December 29, 2019
Time: Every hour from 4 to 10 pm
Where: Complexe Desjardins, 150 rue Ste. Catherine Ouest
Price: Free

Amaze Escape Room

What: You escaped the Christmastime hustle, 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: December 29, 2019
Time: 2 pm to 10:30 pm
Where: 3550 Rue St. Jacques
Price: $15-$30 depending on your chosen mission (per person). Make your reservation first online.