22 things to do in Montreal this weekend: November 23 to 25

With the weather heating up to less-crazy temperatures this weekend, it’s the ideal time to head out for some November 23 to 25 adventures, it’s the last weekend of the month.

Plus, the holiday spirit is in the air. What more could you want?

Friday, November 23

Dream Land

Once the ‘Christmas Display House’ gets going, it’s officially the holidays. Sami Hajjar of the West Island will be continuing his ‘Christmas Display‘ house again this holiday season, but he’s upping his game.

Compared to last year’s ‘Frozen Land,’ the upcoming ‘Dream Land’ will feature 250,000 lights, inflatables and synchronized music to five Disney songs, four times a day.

When: November 23 – December 25
Time: 6 pm – 9 pm (Every hour)
Where: 9035 Jean-Bourdon Avenue, West Island
Price: Free

Montreal Improv’s Main Event

How about some improv comedy to start off the weekend?

The ultimate improv competition in the city is happening on Friday as two teams collide for their weekly, main event.

Through a series of match-ups and challenges, all initiated through audience suggestions and interaction, only one team will leave Montreal Improv with the title of champion.

When: Friday, November 23
Time: 8:30 pm
Where: Montreal Improv, 3697 Boulevard Saint Laurent
Price: $8

Le Marché de Noël chez Maison Pepin

Maison Pepin has channelled their inner-Harry Potter and has transformed their charming alleyway into a breathtaking rustic Christmas market.

The market itself will feature a variety of locally-made products for sale and DIY workshops from gift packaging to wreath making.

Think about all the Instagramable moments this alleyway presents.

When: November 23 to December 24
Time: 10 am – 5 pm
Where: 378 Rue St-Paul Ouest

Clerel and Only the Righteous at Honey Martin Pub

Clerel and Only the Righteous are local musicians who know how to bring it. They play a Motown style of music – very unique and mellow vibes. The group will be playing at Honey Martin Pub on Friday, which will be a perfect intimate setting for the type of music Clerel and co. bring.

When: Friday, November 23
When: Honey Martin is open from 3 pm – 3 am, the band starts at 10 pm – 2:30 am
Where: 5916 Sherbrooke Ouest
Price: Free to enter

Collectif Créatif Etsy Montreal

The Collectif Créatif Etsy Montreal is a three-day pop-up event that sells local, handmade products just in time for the holidays. Located in the heart of downtown, the event takes place (for the second time) in the renowned Salle Des Pas Perdus at Windsor Station.

Over 150 local artisans, makers and designers will be on site. You’ll find home decor products, jewelry, children’s clothing and toys, accessories, skin care products, culinary delicacies and more.

When: From now until November 24
Time: 11 am – 7 pm
Where: Windsor Station, 1100 Rue de la Gauchetiere Ouest
Price: Free

Montreal Bach Festival

The Bach Festival honours Bach and other composers in more than 20 concerts hosted at some of the most beautiful spots of Montreal: Quartier des spectacles, Mont Royal, Le Plateau, Westmount Park.

Hundreds of musicians, singers, and conductors from Quebec and Europe pay tribute to the famous German composer.

It’s enough to make tou say, “I’ll be Bach.”

When: From now until December 7
Time: Varies per selection
Where: Various venues around Montreal
Price: $15 – $42, available online

Gem and Mineral Exhibition

The annual exhibition and sale of semi-precious stones, jewellery, sculptures, beads, semi-precious beads, fossils, and minerals returns this weekend. Crystals and minerals made locally and from abroad will be showcased as well as jewellery made of amber from the Baltic Sea. The site also features fossils, rough lapis lazuli, kunzite, aquamarine, quartz, rose quartz, and giant amethyst geodes.

When: November 23 – 25
Time: 12 pm – 9 pm on Friday, 10 am – 7 pm on Saturday, 10 am – 5 pm on Sunday
Where: Place Bonaventure
Price: $8

Comedy at the Art Loft

Comedy at the Art Loft is the hottest underground comedy show in Montreal. It’s the city’s only weekly bilingual show and is run out of a private loft on Rue Saint Laurent and always packed with people. It feels like a college party, except a comedian is speaking into a microphone.

Every week, Art Loft welcomes a slew of hilarious comedians, DJs and snacks.

This week’s lineup includes Quinn McMorrow as the host, Nick Nemeroff as the headliner and featured acts Ém Lap, Joel Edmiston, Everardo Ramirez, Claudia Tobar, Vincent Descôteaux and David Brennan.

BYOB and 420 friendly. Very 420 friendly.

When: Friday, November 23
Time: Doors open at 9 pm, show starts at 10:30 pm
Where: 4152 Boulevard Saint Laurent
Price: $10 at the door (cash only)

FEZtival of Trees

The FEZtival of Trees is a family-friendly Christmas Tree Spectacle held by Karnak Shriners, which brings together families, neighbours, businesses and community partners to celebrate the many joys of Christmas.

Local businesses and organizations donate fully decorated Christmas Trees (artificial) that are displayed for the public to enjoy. At the end of the four-day event, the trees are raffled off.

When: November 23, 24, 25 and 30
Time: 10 am – 9 pm on Friday, until 6 pm on Saturday and 4 pm on Sunday
Where: Karnak Shriners, 3350 Sources Boulevard, Dollard

Saturday, November 24

The Montreal Canadiens vs the Boston Bruins

The Habs come home on Saturday from a Friday night game in Buffalo and face their bitter rivals, the Boston Bruins, for the first time at the Bell Centre this season.

Look for Price to bounce back between the pipes and see if anyone can slow down Max Domi.

Things might get chirpy, they might get heated, it’ll definitely be fun.

When: Saturday, November 24
Time: 7 pm
Where: Bell Centre, 1909 avenue des Canadiens de Montreal
Price: Varying prices, available online

Victorian Christmas at the Cartier’s

Discover how fashion styles dating back to 1867 are still in vogue 150 years later. The exhibition showcases elegant Victorian decor and styles, hot drinks by the fireplace, a Christmas card workshop, and champagne.

When: From now until December 21
Time: 10 am – 5 pm on weekdays, 9:30 am – 12 pm on weekends
Where: Sir George-Étienne Cartier National Historic Site
Price: $7.80

Mini-Comiccon

This month’s Mini-Comiccon showcases video games, comic books, action figures and collectibles at the historic Palais des congrès.

It’ll lack the star power that it had at this summer’s main event, but you can still dress up.

When: November 24 and 25
Time: 11 am – 5 pm
Where: Palais des congrès de Montréal
Price: Free admission

San Holo Concert

Sander van Dijck, better known by his stage name San Holo, is a Dutch DJ, musician, record producer and composer from Zoetermeer. He gained international recognition for his remix of Dr. Dre’s “The Next Episode,” which currently has over 175 million views on YouTube.

He’ll be spinning beats at the timeless Théâtre Corona on Saturday.

When: Saturday, November 24
Time: 8 pm
Where: Théâtre Corona, 2490 Notre-Dame Ouest
Price: $38, available online

Hiking on Mont Saint-Hilaire

PGSS is taking Montrealers to Mont Saint-Hilaire for a chance to explore more than 1,000 hectares of natural forest. The hike will be separated into three groups depending on your experience and whether you want an easy or a more challenging trek.

Included in the fee is transportation and entrance to the park.

When: Saturday, November 24
Time: 9 am – 5 pm
Where: Mont-Saint-Hilaire Nature Centre
Price: $22 Adults, $12 Child

Sunday, November 25

CP Holiday Train Montreal

The 20th edition of the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train will travel across Canada this holiday season and will be going through Montreal this weekend.

Not only will you get to see this historic train in all its glory, but Montreal native Sam Roberts will also be performing.

When: November 25 and 27
Time: Various times
Where: Kahnawake, St.Constant, Delson, St. Mathieu, Lacolle, Montreal West, Beaconsfield
Price: Free (Bring non-perishable donations to support your local food bank)

Three Days Grace Concert

Three Days Grace is a Canadian rock band formed in Norwood, Ontario in 1997. After stops in Quebec City and Ottawa, Three Days Grace swings by Montreal’s MTELUS theatre on Sunday.

When: Sunday, November 25
Time: 7:30 pm
Where: MTLEUS, 59 rue Ste. Catherine
Price: $69 – $137, available online

Hockey History Exhibit

The Hockey Cup History travelling exhibit opens on Friday at the Dorval Museum of Local History and Heritage.

Hockey fans can take a look at trophies, rings, hockey sticks, archival footage and over 50 hockey-related artifacts. Visitors are also invited to play a hockey tabletop game as well as a ‘design your own goalie mask’ workshop.

When: From now until April 17
Time: 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm, Thursday to Sunday
Where: 1850 Lakeshore Drive, Dorval
Price: Free

The Canadian International Organ Competition

The Canadian International Organ Competition (CIOC) carries over from last month and presents the world’s finest organs and organists. The festival promotes increasing awareness and interest in organ music.

When: Every day in November
Time: Various times
Where: Various venues

Nextdoor Pub & Grill

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, November 25
Time: 8 am – 3 pm caesar/mimosa deal, 4 pm – midnight wing special
Where: 5175A Rue Sherbrooke Ouest

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, November 25
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

Resplendent Illuminations

For the first time, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is presenting a selection of rare illuminations of the earliest books ever made which date back to the Middle Ages and the Renaissance in Europe.

Selected from seven Quebec collections and extensive research, the exhibition Resplendent Illuminations is a unique opportunity to see over 50 works that have remained intact since their creation from 1225 to 1583.

When: Every day in November
Time: 10 am – 5 pm
Where: 1380 rue Sherbrooke Ouest
Price: Free for ages 0-30, $15 ages 31 and older

Turbo Haus Chili Cook Off

Turbo Haus is hosting their first ever chili cook off, the ultimate comfort food.

Guests are welcomed to join the venue to cook, or to eat. Winners will be rewarded for whoever cooks the best meat and vegetarian chili sauce.

Chili while it’s chilly.

When: Sunday, November 25
Time: 5 pm – 8 pm
Where: Turbo Haüs, 2040 rue St-Denis
Price: $10

See also

• Joe Rogan says Montreal's Joe Beef is his all-time favourite restaurant (VIDEO)
• Ogilvy's Christmas window display finds new home after 70 years
• Canada's opinion of the US lowest its been in almost 4 decades
• The Nutcracker Ballet returns to Montreal for the holidays