As the calendar flips from February to March 1, we’re hoping the weather joins in flipping from frigid to sunny.

It’s a warm addition in welcoming the month that officially announces spring.

Here are 22 things to keep you busy this weekend, the first in March.

See also

• Your ultimate guide to 2019's Nuit Blanche in Montreal
• CFL terminates Johnny Manziel's contract, bans him from league
• This POV video shows all of the Montreal en Lumière fun (VIDEO)
• Racist hockey fan taunts black player in a Quebec hockey league

Friday, March 1

A Conversation with Ellen DeGeneres

edbyellen/instagram

Montreal is about to get a tad funnier as Ellen DeGeneres is on her way to La Belle Province.

The 61-year-old talk show host and comedian will be at Montreal’s Bell Centre on Friday, March 1 for a Q&A style show called “A Conversation with Ellen DeGeneres.”

When: Friday, March 1
Time: Doors at 6:30 pm, show at 7:30 pm
Where: 1909 avenue des Canadiens de Montreal
Price: $89.25 – $391.75, available online

Les Rendez-Vous Québec Cinéma

This weekend, cinema buffs can gather to see nearly 300 films and 100 premiers from Quebec’s film industry.

When: From now until March 2
Time: Varying times
Where: Quartier des Spectacles
Price: Varying prices, available online

Quebec Maple Ferris Wheel – Montreal en Lumière

mlle_bob/ Instagram

Montrealers will have the chance to ride the fairest Ferris wheel of them all this weekend.

As part of the city’s week-long Montréal en Lumière festival, the giant, neon wheel will stand out among the Quartier des Spectacles’ outdoor activities, food, music and performances.

The festival aims to light up the city during the dark days of winter and the top of the wheel will give guests a spectacular vantage point of Montreal.

When: Friday, March
Time:5 pm -11 pm
Where: Quartier des Spectacles
Price: Free

MNM Festival

For its 50^th anniversary, the Société de musique contemporaine du Québec (SMCQ) is  presenting the 8^th annual  festival Montréal / Nouvelles Musiques (MNM).

The festival hosts more than 20 concerts, orchestras, solo shows and conferences as a celebration of contemporary music for 10 days.

When: From now until March 2
Time: Varying times
Where: Quartier des Spectacles
Price: Various prices

Disturbed: Evolution World Tour

Disturbed/Facebook

When: Friday, March 1
Time: 7:30 pm – 11 pm
Where: Place Bell, 1950 rue de Gagne
Price: $92.25 – $102.25, available online

Mondial des Ciders

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Just what we needed, a little bit of hooch to take off some of the wintery stress.

Montréal en Lumière, has confirmed that SAQ will be hosting their 12th annual cider festival at the start of the month. Known as Mondial des Cidres, the event promotes cider in sparkling, still, ice, effervescent and rosé forms.

The cider festival will host tastings (obviously) from twenty local artisans, paired with mixologists and cheese-makers from Quebec to teach guests how to properly pair cider and culinary creations.

When: March 1, 2, and 3
Time: 5 pm – 9 pm on Friday, 12 pm – 12 am on Saturday and 11 pm – 4 pm on Sunday
Where: Complexe Desjardins, Quartier des Spectacles
Price: $20 – $65, available online

The Last Wife

In this play written by Kate Hennig, the story follows the relationship between the notorious King Henry VIII and Katherine Parr. Not only did Henry meet his match in wit and negotiation, he gained a formidable ally worthy of ruling the country.

When: March 1, 2 and 3
Time: 2 pm (March 2) and 8 pm (March 1 and 3)
Where: Centaur Theatre, 453 St Francois Xavier
Price: $55, available online

Saturday, March 2

The Montreal Canadiens vs Pittsburgh Penguins

Montreal Canadiens / Twitter

Carey Price and the Montreal Canadiens welcome Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Bell Centre on Saturday, a day after a tilt with the Rangers in New York.

When: Saturday, March 2
Time: 7 pm
Where: Bell Centre, 1909 avenue des Canadiens de Montreal
Price: Varies per date and seat selection, available online

Montreal International Children’s Film Festival (FIFEM)

This children’s film festival showcases the best international cinema for kids and families.

When: March 2 to 10
Time: Various times per selection
Where: Cinéma Beaubien, du Parc, du Musée and Musée des beaux-arts
Price: $9.50 per film, available online

Nuit Blanche at the MMFA

mbamtl/Instagram

Be the first to check out the Thierry Mugler: Couturissime exhibition which was christened this week by Kim Kardashian.

From 5 pm to midnight, take advantage of special price admission ($11.50) and discover the first retrospective ever dedicated to Thierry Mugler – visionary creator, couturier, director, photographer and perfumer.

Set against a spectacular backdrop, the exhibition brings together more than 140 garments made between 1973 and 2001, most of which have never been shown before.

When: Saturday, March 2
Time: 5 pm – 12 am
Where: Musée des beaux-arts de Montreal, 1380 rue Sherbrooke
Price: $11.50

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 now until 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: March 2 and 3
Time: 1 pm on Saturdays, 10:30 am on Sundays
Where: Parc La Fontaine and Parcours Gouin
Price: Free

Karaoké On Ice

Old Port Montreal

Experience a memorable night by showcasing your voice on the gorgeously lit outdoor skating rink accompanied by the event’s emcee, Chouchoune.

Because skating isn’t tough enough, try singing while doing it.

When: Saturday, March 2
Time: 9 pm – 1 am
Where: Montreal’s Old Port
Price: $6.95

MNM Festival

For its 50^th anniversary, the Société de musique contemporaine du Québec (SMCQ) is  presenting the 8^th annual  festival Montréal / Nouvelles Musiques (MNM).

The festival hosts more than 20 concerts, orchestras, solo shows and conferences as a celebration of contemporary music for 10 days.

When: From now until March 2
Time: Varying times
Where: Quartier des Spectacles
Price: Various prices

Nomadic Massive

nomadic_massive/Instagram

Nomadic Massive is a unique crowd-rocking, multilingual hip-hop crew based out of Montreal.

Known for their explosive shows and sharp socially conscious lyrics, the band has captivated audiences worldwide with their own mix of global beats, based on live instrumentation and the art of sampling.

They’ll be rocking out l’Astal during Nuit Blanche until the wee hours of the morning.

When: Saturday, March 2
Time: 11:55 pm – 1:30 am
Where: L’Astral, 305 rue Ste-Catherine Ouest
Price: Free

Jeff Dunham: Passively Aggressive

When: Saturday, March 2
Time: 5 pm – 8 pm
Where: Place Bell, 1950 Rue Claude-Gagné, Laval
Price: $79.75, available online

Illuminart

illuminartmtl/Instagram

Get arried away by the Illuminart course; illuminated works by local and international at the Place des Arts and the Promenade des Artistes.

Ten pieces mixing new technologies, art and light will amaze young and old alike, in the dead of winter.

When: Saturday, March 2
Time: 2 pm – 3 am
Where: Quartier des Spectacles
Price: Free

Trance Unity Rave 2019

Circus is hosting a massive rave on Saturday featuring a slew of local and international artists and DJs for a party that rages from 10 pm until 11 am.

When: Saturday, March 2
Time: 10 pm – 11 am
Where: Circus, 917 rue Ste. Catherine
Price: $65 – $115, available online

Sunday, March 2

Haunted Montreal Pub Crawl

jhof8888/Instagram

If you thought Montreal’s weather this winter was scary, you’ve got another thing coming.

After doing studies in Savannah, Georgia (dubbed “America’s most haunted city”), the paranormal research crew has jumped over to Montreal for the first-ever Haunted Pub Crawl in the city.

Led by a professional ghost storyteller, the Haunted Montreal Pub Crawl will visit four of the city’s most haunted bars, because mixing ghosts and booze is the only smart way to deal with the paranormal.The tour will start at Charlie’s American Pub on Bishop Street before heading to the recently-burned down John Doe Pub, the historic McKibbin’s Irish Pub, the mysterious Sir Winston Churchill Pub, the frequently-visited (not just by the living) Club Le Cinq and, of course, Hurley’s Irish Pub, where a ghost known as the “Burning Lady” is said to still lurk on the grounds.

When: Sunday, March 3
Time: 3 pm for English, 4 pm for French
Where: The tour starts at Charlie’s American Pub, 1204 Bishop
Price: $20.87, available online

Volcanoes 3D – IMAX

The Montreal Science Centre invites guests to a “very hot immersive experience” as Volcanoes 3D takes over the IMAX screen for the fourth weekend, taking patrons where few humans dare to venture: into the heart of a volcano.

When: Sunday, March 3
Time: Various times
Where: 2 de la Commune Ouest
Price: $10.50 – $12, available online

Pente à Neige

Pente à Neige/Facebook

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, March 3
Time: 10 am – 6 pm
Where: Parc Ignace-Bourget
Price: Free admission

Salon Des Reptiles 2019

Head to Collège De Maisonneuve to get a glimpse at over 100 reptiles including some unique specimens like Wally the Alligator., Margo the Albino Python, a group of African tortoises and the endangered Fiji Banded iguanas.

When: March 2 and 3
Time: 10 am – 5 pm
Where: Collège De Maisonneuve, 2700 Bourbonnière
Price: $8 – $45, available online

Parc-Nature du Cap-Saint-Jacques National Park

La Navette Nature/Facebook

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 for three dates in March, the first of which is this Sunday.

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 a massive network of cross-country ski trails that offer river, field and forest landscapes.

When: Sunday, March 3
Time: 9 am and 9:30 am – 3:45 pm and 4:15 pm
Where: Square Dorchester pick up
Price: Free shuttle, various prices at the park