16 things to do in Montreal this weekend: January 31 to February 2

As we bid farewell to January and welcome in February during the same weekend, here are a bunch of things happening around town that might worth checking out from January 31 to February 2.

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Friday, January 31

Igloofest

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.

Igloofest is entering round 2 of 4 this weekend, where thousands of partiers flock to the Old Port to brave the cold with wild music, costumes, dancing, and booze.

This weekend’s lineup includes Sentimental Rave, Omar Hamdi, Yanneek, Matador
Kris Tin, Syd Woz, Nap, Myriam Boucher, and much more split up across the final two weekends.

When: January 31 and February 1
Time: 7:30 to 11 pm on Friday, until 12:30 am on Saturday
Where: Quai Jacques Cartier
Price: $20.50 – $89, available online

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 in December, takes guests through the world of colours and emotions of Van Gogh’s works through gigantic murals and an immersive soundtrack.

When: Friday, January 31
Time: 10 am to 6 pm
Where: Arsenal art contemporain — 2020 rue William
Price: $16 to $26, available online

Happening Gourmand

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

Julie Kim – The Comedy Nest

Julie Kim, the two-time Canadian Comedy Award nominee, is setting up camp at the Nest this weekend, using her cheerful point of view to united the crowd with laughter.

When: January 31 and February 1
Time: 8 pm and 10:30 pm
Where: The Comedy Nest
Price: $10 – $15, available online and at the door

Le Cathcart Restaurants et Biergarten

It looks like the Eaton Centre’s Time Out Market has got some tasty competition.

As part of Ville Marie’s $200-million revitalization, the now-closed Place Ville Marie food court has been transformed into a gourmet food and beer garden.

The 35,000-sq-ft space has been rejuvenated as Le Cathcart Restaurants et Biergarten under the glass pavilion of the Place Ville Marie Esplanade.

Open seven days a week, all year round, the biergarten offers seating for more than a thousand people with three full-service restaurants, nine food kiosks, and two cafes, aiming to become the go-to destination for business lunches, happy hour, and festive evenings alike.

Le Catchart opened to the public last week and this weekend might be time to check it out.

When: Friday, January 31
Time: 7 am to 11 pm
Where: 1 Place Ville Marie

Saturday, February 1

La Poutine Week Montreal

Hopefully that 2020 diet is working out because the world’s largest poutine festival is about to kick off and you might want to find the stretchiest pants you have.

The eighth edition of La Poutine Week returns to Montreal during February’s first week,  as a variety of Montreal restaurants will create their own signature poutine-dish, vying to become the city-wide champion, voted by restaurant patrons.

So yes, things are about to get greasy. Ranging from $7 to $25.95, check out this list of all of this year’s greasy pooters and the restaurants that are dishing them out.

When: February 1 to 7, 202o
Time: Varying hours per location
Where: Various locations around Montreal

Rex Orange County

Alexander O’Connor, better known by his stage name Rex Orange County, is an English recording artist.

He has released three albums, bcos u will never b free, Apricot Princess, and Pony and will be rocking out MTELUS on Saturday.

When: Saturday, February 1
Time: 6:30 pm
Where: MTELUS, 59 rue Ste. Catherine
Price: $43, available online

The Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre

The Canadiens have back-to-back afternoon games this weekend as they welcome the Florida Panthers and the Columbus Blue Jackets for consecutive 2 pm tilts as they look to keep pace in the standings.

When: February 1 and 2
Time: 2 pm
Where: Bell Centre — 1909 avenue des Canadiens de Montreal
Price: Varies per date and seat selection, available online

Fête des neiges

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

The 37th edition of the Fête des neiges returns for its penultimate 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: February 1 and 2
Time: 10 am to 6 pm
Where: Espace 67 — Parc Jean-Drapeau
Tickets: $8 – $38, available online

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: Saturday, February 1
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

Sunday, February 2

Egyptian Mummies: Exploring Ancient Lives

A handful of mummies have been continuing their world tour as they cozied up to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, which ends this weekend.

The exhibition, Egyptian Mummies: Exploring Ancient Lives, is the mummies’ first North American exposition, following “tremendous success in Australia, Hong Kong and Taiwan,” according to the MMFA.

As per the press release, the British Museum has reconstructed the lives of six individuals who lived along the Nile from about 900 BC to AD 180.

If one of them gets up and starts haunting you, however, that’s NOT part of the exhibition.

When: From now until February 2, 2020
Time: 10 am – 5 pm (closed on Mondays)
Where: Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, 380, Sherbrooke Street O,
Price: $12 – $24, available online

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.

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: Sunday, February 2
Time: 10 am to 6 pm
Where: Parc Ignace-Bourget — 6101 Avenue de Montmagny
Price: Various pricing, details available online

Mont Avila Snow Tubing

If you haven’t gone snow tubing yet, it’s not really winter.

This weekend might be perfect for some snow tubing on Mont Avila. 12 of the mountain’s 13 trails are open and the snow surface is “solid,” as per the website, which means you can zoom down the hill real fast.

Nobody will blame you if you knock back some taffy on a snow stick either.

When: Saturday, February 16
Time: 8:30 am to 10 pm
Where: 500 Chemin Avila, Piedmont
Price: $32 – $38

Coup Sûr

It may not look like it, but baseball/softball season is right around the corner.

How about taking some cuts at the batting cage?

Coup Sûr has six pitching machines all throwing at various speeds and each machine throws either baseballs or softballs. They have a closed off radar section too if you want to practice pitching.

They supply bats and helmets and boast an impressive Baseball Town store if you’re looking for some gear.

When: Sunday, February 17
Time: 9 am to 10 pm
Where: 3835 Boulevard Curé-Labelle, Laval
Price: One token (20 pitches): $5.75; five token special (100 pitches): $23.00

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, February 2
Time: 11 am to 4 pm
Where: 110 rue Notre Dame Ouest
Price: Free

Great Bear Rainforest 3D

Embark on a wild 3D journey at the Science Centre through the Great Bear Rainforest, a sanctuary for grizzlies, sea wolves, otters, humpback whales, and the rare subspecies of black bears known as the spirit bear.

When: Sunday, February 2
Time: Varying times
Where: Montreal Science Centre
Price: $9 – $12, available online