23 things to do in Montreal this weekend: January 25 to 27

Montreal had a lot thrown at it this week, with everything from snow, ice, and wind, but we made it to the weekend.

You may opt to stay cozy inside this weekend but the city is offering a slew of great events from January 25 to 27 that may make you think otherwise.

Enjoy the last weekend of January, Montreal.

See also

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• Two Montreal directors have been nominated for Oscars in 2019
• Montreal-raised Kamala Harris to run for US President in 2020

Friday, January 25

Igloofest

The second weekend of the 13th edition of Igloofest brings a collection of great local and international DJs, food, drinks and dancing.

Above & Beyond, Spencer Brown, Solid Stone, Waze & Odyssey, and Mandiz will be on site this weeked (along with thousands of other people).

When: January 25 and 26
Time: 7:30 pm – 12:30 am
Where: Quai Jacques Cartier, Old Montreal
Price: $20.50 – $89, available online

Lux Magna Festival 2019

The second edition of the Lux Magna Festival returns to Montreal this weekend.

The four-day fest, including a variety of local festival music, visual arts, poetry, dance, workshops and activities for all ages, in the heart of winter.

This weekend’s schedule includes movie screenings, poetry, a hip-hop competition, jazz improv and DJ sets.

When: January 25 – 27
Time: 5 pm – 11:59 pm
Where: Plateau Mont-Royal
Price: Varying prices, available online

Forum Sports Bar

Start the weekend off with some bowling.

The Forum Sports Bar hosts 16 lanes of 10-pin bowling, a giant square bar, arcade games, billiards and TV screens.

You strike that one off the list.

When: Friday, January 25
Time: 11 am – 1 am
Where: 2313 rue Ste. Catherine
Price: $8 per game, shoe rental included

The Sweaters – Weezer Cover Band

The Montreal-based band, The Sweaters, are playing a free tribute show to the rock band Weezer tonight at the gorgeous Pub St-Paul.

When: Friday, January 25
Time: 9:30 pm – 2 am
Where: Pub St-Paul, 124 rue St-Paul
Price: Free

Mike Ward – NOIR – Club Soda

Quebec-comic Mike Ward is debuting new material at his show titled NOIR tonight at the ever-popular Club Soda on Friday.

When: Friday, January 25
Time: 9:30 pm – 11 pm
Where: Club Soda, 1225 St-Laurent
Price: $25, available at the door

The Sheepdogs & The Damn Truth Concert

Fresh off their cross-Canada tour, Montreal’s The Damn Truth teams up with The Sheepdogs in preparation of Saskatchewan band’s new album.

Get ready for some classic rock (times two) and a whole of hair.

When: Friday, January 25
Time: 8 pm – 11 pm
Where: MTELUS, 59 rue Ste. Catherine
Price: $38.75, available online

Saturday, January 26

Bryan Adams Concert

Bryan Guy Adams is a Canadian singer, songwriter, record producer, guitarist, photographer, philanthropist and activist.

He’s on tour promoting his new album and he’ll be rockin’ out the Bell Centre tonight.

Each ticket gives guests an electronic version of Adams’ new album.

When: Saturday, January 26
Time: 8 pm – 11 pm
Where: Bell Centre, 1909 avenue des Canadiens de Montreal
Price: Various prices, available online

POP Yoga Neige

Downward dog-sled, anyone?

Montreal-based fitness company POP Spirit is hosting a series of outdoor snow yoga sessions this winter.

Aptly titled POP Yoga Neige, classes will take place every Saturday and Sunday from January 12 to March 24 at Parc La Fontaine and Parcours Gouin, respectively.

All classes are free to the public and boast top-notch, professional instructors. All you have to do is bring your own mat and dress warmly (and we mean, really warm).

When: Saturday, January 26
Time: 1 pm on Saturdays, 10:30 am on Sundays
Where: Parc La Fontaine and Parcours Gouin
Price: Free

Fête des neiges

The 36th edition of the Fête des neiges festival rolls into its second 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, and a mini igloo play area.

When: From now until February 10
Time: 10 am – 5 pm
Where: Parc Jean-Drapeau
Tickets: $8 – $25, available online

Parc-Nature du Cap-Saint-Jacques

The City of Montreal wants you to see more of this gorgeous province this winter by checking out the city’s biggest national park – for free.

So, pack a lunch, hop on a shuttle bus and spend the day in the great Canadian outdoors!

Parc-Nature du Cap-Saint-Jacques is offering free shuttle services from downtown Montreal this weekend (and six days afterwards).

With 330 hectares of land, the Parc-Nature du Cap-Saint-Jacques is the largest park in Montreal. It’s bordered by Lac des Deux Montagnes and the Rivière des Prairies, offering magnificent views of icy, snowy, land.

The park is also boarded by ecological farms that include cows, goats, sheep, donkeys, rabbits, ponies and pigs as well as a rustic sugar shack where guest can enjoy locally produced maple syrup.

When: Saturday, January 26
Time: 9 am – 4:15 pm
Where: Shuttle pick up Dorchester Square
Price: Free

Sépaq Winter Day

This weekend, you’d best get out and explore some of Quebec’s national parks.

As part of Sépaq’s third annual ‘winter open house day,’ 17 of the province’s national parks will be open to the public, free of charge.

Sépaq, the Société des établissements de plein air du Québec, is the agency of the Government of Quebec that manages parks and wildlife reserves.

Check out our previously published post for a full list of participating spots.

When: Saturday, January 26
Time: Various times per location
Where: Various participating locations
Price: Free

Musée Grévin Montreal

Sneak away from the winter cold and spend a few hours in a warm room while staring at wax celebrity figures.

Check out your favourite actors, athletes, and artists in wax form. The figurines are displayed beautifully through the four-floor museum that also features optical illusions and interactive displays. It’s admittedly pretty creepy staring into Elvis’ eyes, especially if he starts blinking.

When: Sunday, January 26
Time: 10 am to 6 pm
Where: 705 Rue Saint Catherine (4th floor of the Eaton Centre)
Price: $19.50 for adult, $13.50 for children, $15.50 for youth and students and $18 for seniors

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 26
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

Off-Igloo Day

Igloofest is going to have a little bit of a different feel on Saturday afternoon.

The second edition of Off-Igloo day will allow visitors, both young and old, to experience the outdoor music festival in broad daylight.

Featuring games, festive music, and impressive visual effect, Off-Igloo day is an opportunity for families and future festival-goers to experience the giant, outdoor bash without the large and rowdy crowds.

When: Saturday, January 26
Time: 2 pm – 7 pm
Where: Quai Jacques-Cartier
Price: Free

Winter Games – Parc Olympique

Olympic Park is hosting a variety of winter games on Saturday and Sunday, fun for the whole family.

Activities include ice skating, a snowskate park, ice slides, snowshoeing and a heated cafe to keep you warm.

When: January 26 and 27
Time: 10 am – 4 pm
Where: 4549 avenue Pierre-de-Courebtin
Price: Free

Sunday, January 27

Luminothérapie

Place des Festivals is bringing Montreal sights and sounds by fusing dominos, music and lights for the last time this weekend.

The 9th edition of Luminothérapie, Quebec’s largest temporary public art installation, is called “Effet domino” by Ingrid Ingrid. The installation will feature 120 giant dominos spread out across several different stations. The public is invited to play with them, each creating different music and luminous effects in the process.

The dominos are all topple-able as a musical orchestra of dominos illuminate in a rainbow of pastel hues and sounds. Check out some photos here.

When: From now until January 27
Time: 12 pm – 10 pm
Where: Place des Festivals, Jeanne Mance
Price: Free

Amaze Escape Room

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

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 19
Time: 2pm – 10:30pm
Where: 3550 Rue St. Jacques
Price: $15-$30 depending on your chosen mission (per person). Make your reservation first online.

Comedy Confessional – The Second Coming

The second edition of Comedy Confessional is happening this weekend at the coziest place to watch stand-up comedy, Honey Martin Pub.

The show is headlined by Michelle Dominique and features Vlad Levitt, Sara Quinn, Vance Moise Michel, Amanda McQueen, Melina Maria Trimarchi, Rena Taylor and Quinn McMorrow.

When: Sunday, January 27
Time: 8 pm – 9:30 pm
Where: Honey Martin Pub, 5916 rue Sherbrooke
Price: Free admission

iSaute Kirkland

Take your kids to iSaute Kirkland and pretend it’s for them when it’s really for you. 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. Fun for all ages!

When: Saturday, January 27
Time: 10:00 am – 9:00 pm
Where: 3220 Jean Yves, Kirkland
Price: $16 for the first hour, $10 for the second. Tickets are sold at the door

Natrel Skating Rink

From indoor skating to outdoor, we can’t call ourselves true Canadians without offering both.

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 outdoor skating in Montreal.

There’s no better way to stick it to winter than bundling up and hitting the ice.

The chilled 2,500-square-metre rink features a cozy village right in front of the ice and is a puck’s throw away from Bistro Bonsecours for a little post-game refresher.

Natrel’s Skating Rink plays rock, classical and jazz music on large outdoor speakers to add to your soundtrack of whizzing down the ice.

When: Sunday, January 27
Time: 10 am – 10 pm
Where: Natrel Skating Rink, Bonsecours Basin
Price: $6.95 general admission, $4.90 kids aged 6 – 12, free for children under 6

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: The Notre-Dame Basilica is open year round
Time: 12:30 pm – 4 pm on Sundays (mass starts at 11 am)
Where: 110 Rue Notre Dame Ouest
Price: Free

Pente à Neige

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.

If you’re up to braving the cold, the second edition of the urban hill is big enough for up to 250 people and there’s also a mini slope on site to accommodate up to 50 mini-skiers.

The hill welcomes skiers, snowboarders, tubers and sledders of any age and features a cozily heated yurt, mulled wine, hot chocolate and music.

Guests can bring their own equipment or it can be rented on site.

When: Sunday, January 27
Time: 10 am – 6 pm
Where: Parc Ignace-Bourget
Price: Free admission