17 things to do in Montreal this weekend: November 29 to December 1

As November wraps up and we prep to welcome in December, here is what’s going on around town this weekend, from November 29 to December 1.

You better believe holiday activities are ramping up.

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Friday, November 29

Village de Noël de Montréal

As if the Atwater Market isn’t magical enough, it’s being transformed into a ‘Christmas Village’ for its fourth edition of Village de Noël.

The village, which can be found on the outskirts of the Atwater Market, will include 40 local craftsmen and restauranteurs, concerts, choirs and shows, a sugar shack, an outdoor fire pit, creative activities, a Christmas tree sale, and face painting.

As a bonus, the big man himself, Santa Claus, will be taking time out of his very busy holiday schedule to be on site every weekend until Christmas.

When: Every weekend from November 29 to December 22
Time: 11:30 am to 9 pm
Where: Place du Marche, corner of St-Ambroise and Atwater
Price: Free

Luminothérapie

Place des Festivals is about to get 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 pm to 11 pm
Where: Place des Festivals
Price: Free

Montreal Bach Festival

Montreal’s Festival Bach is devoted to classical music buffs and obviously, composer Johann Sebastian Bach. From local and international artists, the two-week festival will interpret the works of Bach.

When: From now until December 7
Time: Varying times
Where: Maison Symphonique de Montréal, 1600, rue St-Urbain
Price: $15 – $186, available online

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.

When: November 30 to December 31
Time: 4 to 10 pm
Where: Illumi Cavalia, 2805 Boulevard du Souvenir, Laval
Price: $14.50 – $18.50, available online

Miracle Montreal – Christmas Pop-Up Bar

Miracle Pop-Up has taken over The Coldroom and transformed it into a beautifully festive Christmas bar.

If you aren’t in the holiday spirit yet, this might help you get there.

Miracle pops up in over 80 cities around the globe, partnering with local bars to inspire the Christmas cheer through festive decorations, quirky parties, ugly X-Mas sweaters, and of course, seasonal cocktails and grub.

For the second year in a row, Miracle will join forces with The Coldroom to bring on the festive feels, every day until December 26.

When: From now until December 26
Time: 5 pm to 3 am
Where: The Coldroom — 131 de la Commune
Price: Free admission

Alight at Night

Lights (a lot of them), camera… action Christmas!

One of the country’s biggest outdoor light festivals is just about ready for you and the holidays.

Located about 140 km outside of Montreal, Upper Canada Village will be undergoing its winter transformation, as the historic location is adorned with over one million lights to become Ontario’s largest outdoor light festival, Alight at Night.

When: November 29, 30, December 1, 3
Time: 5 pm to 9 pm
Where: Upper Canada Village, 13740 County Road 2, Morrisburg, Ontario
Price: $12 – $16, depending on age, available online

Montreal Snow Beach Party

Jet Nightclub is turning its popular Crescent bar into an indoor snow-filled beach. Take all those bad things from being outside in the snow and just bring it inside.

Just with dancing and alcohol. Oh, and free candy.

DJ Keith Dean and J-Fro will be spinning beats all night.

When: Friday, November 29
Time: 10 pm to 3 am
Where: Jet Nightclub, 2020 rue Crescent
Price: $12

Saturday, November 30

FAO Schwarz Pop-Up Week 2:  DIY Ornaments

Now that the countdown to Christmas is officially on, one of the world’s leading toy stores is holding a series of festive pop-ups to get Montrealers into the holiday spirit.

Ahead of the upcoming holiday season, FAO Schwarz will host holiday activities over three weekends at Montreal’s La Baie d’Hudson, this being the second.

This weekend, kiddos can come by the pop-up and make their own custom holiday cards at the FAO Schwarz arts and crafts station, and take a festive picture in the photo booth.

When: Saturday, November 30
Time: 10:30 am to 1 pm
Where: 585 Saint-Catherine Street Ouest, Main Floor
Price: Free

Montreal Canadiens vs the Philadelphia Flyers

After a tough stretch against the New York Rangers and the Boston Bruins, the Habs welcome the Flyers on home-ice in a rare matinee game as they try to get their season back on track and close out November with a much-needed W.

When: Saturday, November 30
Time: 3 pm
Where: Centre Bell
Price: Various prices, available online

Noël dans le Parc

As November winds down, the Christmas events begin to ramp up.

Celebrating its 26th edition, Noël dans le Parc is a month-long outdoor Christmas festival spread out among three popular parks in Montreal, and it starts this weekend.

The festival offers free music shows and events, holiday-themed drinks and bites, outdoor fire pits, and Christmas trees for purchase.

Because if there’s ever a place to nab a tree, it’s in a park devoted to Christmas.

Once again this year, the festival will host francophone music by renowned local artists, all of whom will perform on a gorgeous cabin stage, built specifically for the Noël dans le Parc.

When: November 30 to December 24
Time: Varies per park
Where: Place Émilie-Gamelin, parc Lahaie, and parc des Compagnons
Price: Free admission

The Irishman – Cinema Moderne

Martin Scorsese’s new film, The Irishman, assembles an all-star cast that includes Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Al Pacino and therefore shouldn’t be watched on the small screen.

The film will be screened at Cinéma Moderne for various runs all weekend and follows an epic saga of organized crime in postwar America told through the eyes of World War II veteran Frank Sheeran (De Niro).

The Guardian is calling it “one of Scorsese’s best films ever” which is some high praise.

Sure, you can catch it on Netflix for free but come on, it’s Scorsese.

When: November 30 and December 1 to 2, 5 to 8
Time: Varying times
Where: Cinéma Moderne — 5150 boulevard St-Laurent
Price: $15, available online

Madeon – Good Faith Live Tour

Hugo Pierre Leclercq, better known by his stage name Madeon, is a French DJ, record producer, singer, songwriter, and musician from Nantes, France.

He’ll be spinning beats at the gorgeous MTelus this weekend.

When: Saturday, November 30
Time: 9 pm
Where: MTelus, 59 rue Ste. Catherine
Price: $36.75 – $42.75, available online

The Nutcracker Market- Montreal

Every holiday season, the Nutcracker Market brings together hundreds of local artisans for a magical shopping experience and it’s returning today for its 10th edition.

Hundreds of exhibitors will be in attendance selling everything from gourmet food and hand-knit mittens, to gorgeous jewelry, and sweet-smelling candles. The market will display gifts for everyone in your life – children, partners, friends, and family.

When: November 28 to December 8
Time: Monday to Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday, 11 am to 6 pm; Thursday and Friday, 11 am to 8 pm
Where: Palais des congrès
Price: Free

Sunday, December 1

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.

When: From now until January 5, 2020
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)

Fontaine boréale

Considering Christmas is usually associated with snow and ice, it might be time for a little element change.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Christmas fountain known as “Fontaine boréale” is returning to the complexe Desjardins for the holiday season and it splashes off tomorrow.

The immersive and multi-sensory experience features the Complexe Desjardin’s Grande-Place water fountain, completely decked out in the Christmas spirit.

Every hour, the fountain lights and shoots up to the shopping mall’s ceiling, accompanied by music, lights, and special effects.

When: From now until December 6, and select dates afterwards
Time: Every hour from 4 pm – 10 pm
Where: Complexe Desjardins, 150 rue Ste. Catherine Ouest
Price: Free

Sunday Night Improv – Piano in the Snow Edition

Top the weekend off with some laughs at the gorgeous Théâtre Saint Catherine with some improv.

Professional improvisers will hit the stage, using the audience’s suggestions for some serious laughs.

The show is open to all ages, and “has food, drinks, a stage, performers, and all around good fun for everyone.”

When: Sunday, December 1
Time: 7 pm – 9 pm
Where: Théâtre Sainte Catherine — 264 Rue Sainte-Catherine Est
Price: $7, available online

Olde Orchard Sunday Game Show

Cap off your weekend in game show form as Ye Olde Orchard Pub is hosting their weekly “Game Show Night” hosted by Jay Devine.

The event offers classic games like Family Feud, Pictionary, and Word Finder but with a twist.

Plus, you’re at a pub so you know, drinking.

When: Sunday, December 1
Time: 7 to 9 pm
Where: Ye Olde Orchard Pub & Grill, 20 Prince Arthur
Price: Free admission