17 things to do in Montreal this weekend: January 3 to 5

As life starts to fall back into place after the holidays, here are a bunch of things happening around Montreal this weekend, January 3 to 5, as 2020 welcomes its first weekend.

Friday, January 3

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 156th, features Michelle Dominique, 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, January 3
Time: Doors open at 9 pm, show starts at 10:30 pm
Where: 4152 Boulevard Saint Laurent
Price: $10 at the door (cash only)

• See also
  • 21 shots from Old Montreal’s massive New Year’s Eve party (PHOTOS)
  • The new year’s first meteor shower is happening over Canada this weekend
  • Quebec’s controversial “values test” for immigrants is now in effect

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

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: January 3 to 5
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

Amaze Escape Room

You escaped December’s busy schedule, 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: Friday, January 3
Time: 2 pm – 10:30 pm
Where: 3550 Rue St. Jacques
Price: $15-$30 depending on your chosen mission (per person). Make your reservation first online.

Saturday, January 4

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 concludes this weekend.

Check out the website for a full list of exhibitions.

When: From now until January 5
Time: 10 am – 5 pm
Where: 1380 Sherbrooke Ouest
Price: Free

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: Saturday, January 4
Time: 10 am to 6 pm
Where: Arsenal Contemporary Art Contemporain
Price: $26 – $36, available online

Montreal Canadiens vs the Pittsburgh Penguins

The Habs and their 18-16-6 record welcome the high-octane Pittsburgh Penguins for a Saturday night tilt at the Bell Centre on Saturday.

It will be Alex Galchenyuk’s first game back in Montreal as a member for the Penguins.

When: Saturday, January 4
Time: 7 pm
Where: Centre Bell
Price: Various prices, available online

Pente à Neige

No offense, 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 4
Time: 10 am to 6 pm
Where: Parc Ignace-Bourget — 6101 Avenue de Montmagny
Price: Various pricing, details available online

Natrel Skating Rink Fireworks

Aside from offering 2,500 square metres of refrigerated ice, the Natrel Skating Rink will be hosting firework displays this weekend.

Soak up a little mix of fire and ice this weekend.

When: Saturday, January 4
Time: 8 pm
Where: Old Port, Rue de la Commune Ouest
Price: $5.22 – $7.83, available on site and online

Dash Berlin

Dash Berlin is a Dutch electronic music trio that started in 2007. The trio will be spinning tunes at New City Gas on Saturday and into the wee hours of the morning on Sunday, just incase you’re not partied out from the holidays.

When: Saturday, January 4
Time: 10 pm – 3 am
Where: New City Gas, 950 rue Ottawa
Price: $18 – $45, available online

Sunday, January 5

Natrel Skating Rink

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, January 5
Time: 10 am – 10 pm
Where: Natrel Skating Rink, Bonsecours Basin
Price: $5.22 for kids six – 12; $7.83 general admission, free for kids under six

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, January 5
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

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.

Illumi wraps up its month-long run on Sunday.

When: Sunday, January 5
Time: 4 to 10 pm
Where: Illumi Cavalia — 2805 Boulevard du Souvenir, Laval
Price: $14.50 – $18.50, available online

The Sunday Sunday Improv Show

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 5
Time: 8 pm – 9 pm
Where: Le P’tit Impro, 3713 blvd St-Laurent #20
Price: $6

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.

This Sunday is the historic exhibition’s last showing until next holiday season.

When: Sunday, January 5
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)

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, January 5
Time: 12:30 pm – 4 pm on Sundays (mass starts at 11 am)
Where: 110 Rue Notre Dame Ouest
Price: Free