22 things to do in Montreal this weekend: December 6 to 8

Hey folks, we’re less than 20 days away from the big one and Montreal is oozing with holiday activities all weekend. Plus, some comedy, food, and concerts.

Here are a handful of great things happening around Montreal this weekend, December 6 to 8.

• See also:
  • Old Port of Montreal announces details for this winter’s outdoor activities
  • 13 Instagrammable holiday spots to visit in Montreal this year (PHOTOS)
  • Montrealer reportedly smashes 12-hour Guinness World Record burpees challenge

Friday, December 6

Polytechnique Memoriam

Friday marks the 30th anniversary of the Ecole Polytechnique Massacre in which 14 women lost their lives.

On December 6, 1989, twenty-five-year-old Marc Lepine opened fire, shooting 28 people and killing 14 women before turning the gun on himself.

Beacons of light will shine towards the sky from Mont Royal this evening in honour of the memory of the young women who lost their lives.

Comité Mémoire, the City of Montreal, and Polytechnique Montréal invites the public to gather at the Belvédère Kondiaronk lookout in honour of the tragedy at 4:45 pm.

When: Friday, December 6
Time: 4:45 to 10 pm
Where: Belvédère Kondiaronk lookout, Mont Royal
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 every weekend until Christmas.

When: December 6 to 8 (until the 22)
Time: 11:30 am to 9 pm
Where: Place du Marche, corner of St-Ambroise and Atwater
Price: Free

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

Comedy at the Art Loft

Comedy at the Art Loft continues to be one of the city’s hottest comedy shows and this weekend’s edition, the 154th, features Ernie Vicente, a gem in Montreal’s comic scene.

Art Loft is the city’s only weekly bilingual show and is run out of a private loft on rue Saint-Laurent and is usually packed with people. It feels like a college party, except a comedian is slinging jokes into a microphone.

The venue features a DJ and snacks. BYOB and it’s 420 friendly (very 420 friendly).

When: Friday, December 6
Time: Doors open at 9 pm, show starts at 10:30 pm
Where: 4152 Boulevard Saint Laurent
Price: $10 at the door (cash only)

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 third weekend and it runs until the end of December.

When: From now until December 22
Time: 10 am to 6 pm
Where: 378 Rue St-Paul Ouest
Price: Free

Saturday, December 7

Marche de Noël aux flambeaux

Mont-Royal Avenue is getting a holiday makeover this weekend, featuring a slew of Christmas activities and it all kicks off with the mountain’s traditional Christmas march.

Known officially as the Marche de Noël aux flambeaux, the enchanting Christmas trek will start off with the sounds of Brazilian percussions and brass instruments on Saturday.

The march will begin at Parc des Compagnons-de-Saint-Laurent (corner of Mont-Royal and Cartier) and will finish at the gorgeous Parc La Fontaine.

The walk includes classic holiday songs performed by choirs from Les Nanas, Ensemble vocal les Jongleurs, Petites Voix du Plateau, and Les Voix ferrées.

Musicians from La Chasse-Balcon will also add to the march’s soundtrack by singing from six balconies on de la Roche Street.

When: Saturday, December 7
Time: 7 pm
Where: Mont-Royal Avenue
Price: $2 for torches, non-perishable food items strongly encouraged

Vegan Christmas Market

Montreal’s Vegan Christmas Market gathers a group of vendors offering a wide range of vegan products, made without animal exploitation.

Guests will find pastries, chocolate treats, cosmetic products, artisanal soaps, clothing, and more.

When: Saturday, December 7
Time: 11 am – 5 pm
Where:  Maison du développement durable, 50 Rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest
Price: $9

Natrel Skating Rink

A skating rink with Old Montreal as the backdrop – talk about picturesque.

The Natrel Skating Rink in Old Montreal opens up to the public for the winter this weekend offering some really nice ice.

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: December 7, 2019 – March 8, 2020
Time: 10 am – 9 pm: Monday – Wednesday, 10 am – 10 pm: Thursday – Sunday,
Where: Natrel Skating Rink, Bonsecours Basin
Price: $5.22 for kids six – 12; $7.83 general admission, free for kids under six.

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?

An entire village dedicated to Saint Nick, located about an hour away from the island of Montreal, opens this weekend.

Village du Père Noël is the perfect place for a holiday family getaway. Plus, it’s North of Montreal so you’ll actually be closer to 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: December 7, 8, 14, 15 and from December 21 to January 5 (closed on the 25th)
Time: 10 am – 5 pm
Where: 987 Route Morin, Val-David
Price: Adults (individuals two years old and older): $18; grandparents: $16

Montreal Bach Festival

Montreal’s Festival Bach is devoted to classical music buffs and obviously, composer Johann Sebastian Bach. From local and international artists, the two-week festival will interpret the works of Bach.

The festival kicked off at the end of November and sums up on Saturday.

When: Saturday, December 7
Time: Varying times
Where: Maison Symphonique de Montréal — 1600, rue St-Urbain
Price: $15 – $186, available online

Week 3:  DIY Ornaments

Now that the countdown to Christmas is officially on, one of the world’s leading toy stores is holding a series of festive pop-ups to get Montrealers into the holiday spirit.

Ahead of the upcoming holiday season, FAO Schwarz will host holiday activities over three weekends at Montreal’s La Baie d’Hudson, this being the third and last.

This weekend, kiddos can come by the pop-up and make their own custom holiday cards at the FAO Schwarz arts and crafts station, and take a festive picture in the photo booth.

When: Saturday, December 7
Time: 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
Where: 585 Saint-Catherine Street Ouest, Main Floor
Price: Free

Mini Comiccon de Montreal 2019

A mini version of Comiccon is coming to Montreal this weekend, just in time for some gift ideas.

It will feature a “shopping experience aimed at fans that are looking for that special gift for the hard-to-shop-for collector” ranging from games, clothing, comics, toys, statues, DVDs/Blu-rays, replicas and more.

When: December 7 and 8
Time: 11 am – 6 pm on Saturday, until 5 pm on Sunday
Where: Palais des congrès de Montréal — 1001 place Jean-Paul-Riopelle
Price: Free admission

Noël dans le Parc

Celebrating its 26th edition, Noël dans le Parc is a month-long outdoor Christmas festival spread out among three popular parks in Montreal, and it’s ready for its second weekend.

The festival offers free music shows and events, holiday-themed drinks and bites, outdoor fire pits, and Christmas trees for purchase.

Because if there’s ever a place to nab a tree, it’s in a park devoted to Christmas.

Once again this year, the festival will host francophone music by renowned local artists, all of whom will perform on a gorgeous cabin stage, built specifically for the Noël dans le Parc.

When: December 7 and 8
Time: Varies per park
Where: Place Émilie-Gamelin, parc Lahaie, and parc des Compagnons
Price: Free admission

Sunday, December 8

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: November 30 to December 31
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 8
Time: 5 pm to 3 am
Where: The Coldroom — 131 de la Commune
Price: Free admission

Hyphen Hyphen

Hyphen Hyphen is a French electronic pop rock band, who sing in English, created in 2011 in Nice. It is composed of three members: Santa, Adam, Line, who have been friends since high school.

Check out the funk Le Ministère to cap off the weekend.

When: Sunday, December 8
Time: 7 pm
Where: Le Ministère
Price: $32.50, available online

Alight at Night

Lights (a lot of them), camera… action Christmas!

One of the country’s biggest outdoor light festivals is ready for you and the holidays.

Located about 140 km outside of Montreal, Upper Canada Village has undergone its winter transformation, as the historic location is adorned with over one million lights to become Ontario’s largest outdoor light festival, Alight at Night.

When: Sunday, December 8
Time: 5 to 9 pm
Where: Upper Canada Village — 13740 County Road 2, Morrisburg, Ontario
Price: $12 – $16, depending on age, available online

The Nutcracker Market – Montreal

Every holiday season, the Nutcracker Market brings together hundreds of local artisans for a magical shopping experience and it’s back this weekend to conclude its 10th edition.

Hundreds of exhibitors will be in attendance selling everything from gourmet food and hand-knit mittens, to gorgeous jewelry, and sweet-smelling candles. The market will display gifts for everyone in your life – children, partners, friends, and family.

When: Sunday, December 8
Time: 11 am to 6 pm
Where: Palais des congrès
Price: Free

Enchanted Worlds – McCord Museum

Ogilvy’s old Christmas window display, a holiday fixture at the corner of Ste. Catherine and rue de la Montagne since 1947, can now be found on Sherbrooke Street.

Last year, the annual scenes of stuffed animals interacting in mechanical settings, was donated to the McCord Museum and it is now on display until January 5, 2020.

Ogilvy’s old display has been split into two exhibits, “The Mill in the Forest” and the “Enchanted Village.”

The Mill in the Forest can be seen outside, 24 hours a day, at the corner of Sherbrooke and rue Victoria and the Enchanted Village is in a room on the McCord’s second floor.

When: Sunday, December 8
Time: 10 am to 6 pm (Enchanted Forest), 24 hours a day, outside (The Mill in the Forest)
Where: McCord Museum
Price: $14 – $19 (Enchanted Forest), free admission (The Mill in the Forest)

Fontaine boréale

Considering Christmas is 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: Sunday, December 8
Time: Every hour from 4 to 10 pm
Where: Complexe Desjardins, 150 rue Ste. Catherine Ouest
Price: Free

Olde Orchard Sunday Game Show

Cap off your weekend in game show form as Ye Olde Orchard Pub is hosting their weekly “Game Show Night” hosted by Jay Devine.

The event offers classic games like Family Feud, Pictionary, and Word Finder but with a twist.

Plus, you’re at a pub so you know, drinking.

When: Sunday, December 8
Time: 7 to 9 pm
Where: Ye Olde Orchard Pub & Grill — 20 Prince Arthur
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 8
Time: 10 am to 11 pm
Where: 362 rue de Commune Est
Price: $14.79 – $25