16 things to do in Montreal this weekend: January 17 to 19

From Igloofest, a food festival, stand-up comedy, outdoor activities, and everything in between, here is what’s going on around Montreal this weekend, January 17 to 19.

Friday, January 17

Igloofest

igloofest_mtl/Instagram

There’s no better way to stick it to Mother Nature’s winter by revelling in the snow and the cold. And, Igloofest is the most entertaining way to do so.

Thousands of partiers will flock to the Old Port to brave the freezing temperatures for eight nights (split across four weekends) of wild music, cozy costumes, and snowy dancers, the first of which starts tonight.

This weekend’s lineup includes Alpha 9, Gabriel & Dresden, Ilan Bluestone, Oliver Smith
Jaytech, Kora, Alex Pycke, Reinier Zonneveld, Honey Soundsystem, Phran, Regularfantasy, and much more.

When: January 17 and 18
Time: 7:30 to 11 pm on Friday, until 12:30 am on Saturday
Where: Quai Jacques Cartier
Price: $20.50 – $89, available online

• See also:
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  • Canada ranked #1 country in the world for Quality of Life
  • Your ultimate guide to surviving Igloofest 2020 in Montreal

Happening Gourmand

Happening Gourmand

Nine gourmet restaurants in the Old Port are taking part in the 13th edition of Happening Gourmand, a food festival where foodies can knock back some delicious brunch and dinner meals for under $40.

Whether you’re into pizza, steak, eggs- benedict, or burgers, Happening Gourmand offers gourmet meals and a vibrant atmosphere for every food lover. Plus, the meals won’t set you back too much (we’re dreading the post-holiday credit card statements too).

Check out a full list of participating restaurants online.

When: From now until February 9
Time: Varying times per restaurant
Where: Nine participating Old Port locations
Price: $17 brunch, $25-$35 dinner

Imagine Van Gogh

@fernwehbebe/Instagram

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: Friday, January 17
Time: 10 am to 6 pm
Where: Arsenal Contemporary Art Contemporain
Price: $26 – $36, available online

Phil Hanley – The Comedy Nest

As seen on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, and Comedy Central, Phil Hanley is setting up camp at The Nest this weekend, using his hilariously reflective style of straightforward joke-telling.

He’s also great with crowd work. You can’t go wrong for under $20 this weekend!

When: January 17 and 18
Time: 8 pm and 10:30 pm
Where: The Comedy Nest
Price: $6 (for students) – $15, available online

Saturday, January 18

Fête des neiges

Fête des neiges

You’re best off standing up to the snow and the cold instead of shying away from it this weekend. Luckily, Parc Jean Drapeau’s four-weekend-long winter festival is a perfect opportunity to make the most of the wintery season.

The 37th edition of the Fête des neiges takes place every weekend between January 18 and February 8, and it starts this weekend.

Outdoor activities include snow tubing, cross-country skiing, dog sledding, snow archery, an icy pirate ship, ice skating, ice sculptures, ziplining, a Ferris wheel, Tour de Lévis, axe throwing, a penguin village, a Polar Circus, snow scooters, an inflatable bouncy castle, a snow castle competition, and a mini igloo play area.

When: January 18 to February 9
Time: 10 am to 6 pm
Where: Espace 67, Parc Jean-Drapeau
Tickets: $8 – $38, available online

Montreal Canadiens vs the Vegas Golden Knights

@samyboy16/Instagram

After Wednesday’s tough loss on home ice to the Chicago Blackhawks, the Habs welcome old friend Max Pacioretty and the Vegas Golden Knights to the Bell Centre for a Saturday night tilt.

When: Saturday, January 18
Time: 7 pm
Where: Centre Bell
Price: Various prices, available online

Atrium Le 1000

@atrium.le1000/Instagram

If the weather is too tricky today but you feel like hitting the ice, check out Atrium Le 1000, an indoor ice rink located inside Montreal’s tallest building.

The Atrium has a glass ceiling, perfect to be part of the weather without actually being part of it.

Plus, the skating rink plays music so you can glide to some tunes.

You can bring your own skates or rent equipment on site.

When: Saturday, January 18
Time: 11:30 am to 9 pm
Where: 1000 Rue de la Gauchetière Ouest
Price: $8.26

Pente à Neige

@andrewbohz/Instagram

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 18
Time: 10 am to 6 pm
Where: Parc Ignace-Bourget — 6101 Avenue de Montmagny
Price: Various pricing, details available online

Amaze Escape Room

SmartyPantz Escape Room

Escape the cold and try to figure your way out of an escape room this weekend.

Try your luck at escaping from a prison, a military facility, a lost temple, or a 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 18
Time: 2 to 10:30 pm
Where: 3550 Rue St. Jacques
Price: $15-$30 depending on your chosen mission (per person). Make your reservation first online.

Sunday, January 19

Luminothérapie

Quartier des Spectacles

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

Bleu, Blanc et Bouge

@chcfondation/Instagram

The Montreal Canadiens foundation has six outdoor, refrigerated rinks around the island. The professional-level rinks provide the opportunity for hockey players to develop their skating skills on exceptional quality ice.

The program is divided into six sessions of approximately 45 minutes each.

When: Sunday, January 19
Time: Varies per rink
Where: Various locations around Montreal

Snow Tubing on Mont Royal

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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, January 19
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

Notre-Dame Basilica

A G Baxter (Shutterstock)

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, January 19
Time: 12:30 pm – 4 pm on Sundays (mass starts at 11 am)
Where: 110 Rue Notre Dame Ouest
Price: Free

Rage: Axe Throwing

Rage Axe Throwing

If you feel the need to get some adrenaline pumping post-holidays, head inside to Rage Axe Throwing and toss some axes.

The competition is based on accuracy points but throwing hatches, axes, and Tomahawks is fun enough without needing to tally the scores.

When: Sunday, January 19
Time: Fridays and Sundays: 12 pm to 10 pm; Saturdays: 10 am to 11:30 pm
Where: 1436 Rue Amherst
Price: $45 – $55, available online

The Sunday Sunday Improv Show

Montreal Improv/Facebook

If you want to cap off your weekend with some improv comedy, Le P’tit Impro might be your spot on Sunday.

The show’s players take audience suggestions and turn them into hilarious skits, right on the spot.

When: Sunday, January 19
Time: 8 pm – 9 pm
Where: Le P’tit Impro, 3713 blvd St-Laurent #20
Price: $6

Nextdoor Pub & Grill

@fattiesondeck/Instagram

Nextdoor Pub & Grill is the place to be on Sunday. They offer deals at both ends of their hours – bottomless caesars and mimosas in the afternoon and 29 cent chicken wings at night. Park yourself at Nextdoor for as many caesars or mimosas you can handle and then relax by eating all the 29 cent wings as you can.

When: Sunday, January 19
Time: 8 am – 3 pm caesar/mimosa deal, 4 pm – midnight wing special
Where: 5175A Rue Sherbrooke Ouest