Holiday season cultural activities in Montréal

Montréal’s entertainment scene sparkles with concerts and shows at venues big and small. Here are some of our picks.

Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal’s timeless adaptation of Casse-Noisette (a.k.a. The Nutcracker) by Quebec choreographer Fernand Nault returns to Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier for its 60^th year. This two-act ballet based on Hoffmann’s classic tale is set to the music of Tchaikovsky and brings together more than 60 dancers and 100 extras, plus Les Grands Ballets Orchestra under the direction of conductor Dina Gilbert. If you have never seen it, this famed production is a must. The Nutcracker runs from December 12 to 30.

The Orchestre symphonique de Montréal presents ‘Tis the Season with Kent Nagano with guest vocalist, superstar contralto Marie-Nicole Lemieux, at the Maison Symphonique on December 10 and 11.

Under the baton of Grammy-winning maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin and vocals by Kim Richardson, Elisabeth St-Gelais, Mélissa Bédard and Michel Rivard, the Orchestre Metropolitain presents Holiday Melodies (December 5 and 6) at the Maison Symphonique.

Then Nézet-Séguin conducts the OM and an all-Canadian cast of soloists in Handel’s Messiah at Notre-Dame Basilica on December 9 and 11.

The Orchestre Classique de Montréal will perform Handel’s Messiah in the crypt of Saint Joseph’s Oratory on December 12.

Bourgie Hall presents the 10^th edition of their highly-anticipated holiday classic A Charlie Brown Christmas featuring the Taurey Butler Trio. This four-concert series (December 18 and 19) will sell out, so get your tickets early.

The Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal Archaeology and History Complex in Old Montréal presents the exhibition Witches: Out of the Shadows (Sorcières : de l’ombre à la lumière) chronicles the little-known history of witches with more than 400 objects from European and American collections. Pendulums, crystals, tarot cards, herbariums and interactive elements enable visitors to explore such practices as divination, spells, healing, and protection rituals, and examine the beliefs, symbols and fascinating practices of witchcraft. Runs to April 6, 2025.

Arsenal Contemporary Art Montreal in Griffintown presents the smash hit exhibition Tintin: The Immersive Adventure which pays tribute to Hergé and the famous Belgian reporter, from the first 1929 edition of Tintin in the Land of the Soviets to the latest publications. Visitors will discover legendary artifacts and unique treasures before diving into an immersive experience with six themes such as “Tintin, Great Reporter” and “The Big Villains.” Runs to January 12, 2025.

Over at the McCord Stewart Museum, relive the magic of Ogilvy’s mechanical Christmas window displays in the Holidays at the Museum installation from November 30 to January 5, 2025. Visitors of all ages will see The Mill in the Forest outdoors on Victoria Street and The Enchanted Village inside the Museum. These dazzling displays – a holiday tradition that goes back to 1947 and among the last of their kind in North America – feature handmade animals that come to life in a Bavarian setting.

Cirque du Soleil presents their show OVO at the Bell Centre from December 27 to January 3, 2025, for a total of 14 matinee and evening presentations.

For its annual holiday pantomime, Hudson Village Theatre presents Cinderella. With singing, dancing and silly jokes, the Hudson Village Theatre Panto is a hugely entertaining family theatre experience. Runs from December 13 to January 5, 2025. 

As the nights grow longer, Montréal lights up with tons of activities to get you glowing with holiday spirit.

The Lumino playground in the Quartier des Spectacles lights up the night with eye-popping interactive installations from November 28 to March 9, 2025.

Created by Montréal’s renowned multimedia entertainment studio Moment Factory, AURA literally reconstructs Notre-Dame Basilica’s interior with lights and sound.

Montréal is known as a city that celebrates food year round, so you’ll find lots of palate-pleasing options, plus a festive menu of holiday-themed dinner shows.

Stay up to date with the city’s dynamic culinary scene by clicking here to read food critic Mayssam Samaha’s latest picks.

Food critic Jason Lee’s choice picks where to eat during the holidays.

For those looking for dinner and a show under one roof, Le Balcon music hall and restaurant offers themed live-music shows year-round, starring such well-known entertainers as Freddie James and Michelle Sweeney. Le Balcon’s Celebration holiday party concert series runs from December 5 to 21, while soul diva Michelle Sweeney also headlines Gospel Brunch concerts on November 23 and December 28.

Stretch your legs and work off some of those delicious meals with outdoor fun all around the city, from hiking on Mount Royal to ice-skating in the Old Port.

The 75-hectare Montréal Botanical Garden is home to some 20 thematic gardens, including the Alpine Garden and the First Nations Garden, as well as 10 greenhouses. It is an ideal getaway for families looking for a calm and spacious oasis in the city. Along with the Planetarium, Biodôme, Biosphere and Insectarium, the Botanical Garden is part of Montréal Espace pour la vie, the largest natural sciences museum complex in Canada. Click here for more info about Montréal Espace pour la vie.

The Old Port of Montréal outdoor skating rink returns in December. Great music and twinkling lights add to the ambiance. Click here for updates.

Enjoy music, festive lights, hot chocolate and more at Noël dans le Parc downtown and in Parc des Compagnons and Parc Lahaie in the Plateau neighbourhood from December 6 to 31. Click here for full programming.

Les amis de la montagne operates a sports equipment rental service for ice skating, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snow tubing and more in Mount Royal Park each winter. Enjoy the refrigerated skating rink at Beaver Lake or explore the marked trails for cross-country skiing (22 km), snowshoeing (3 km) and hiking (10 km in winter). Click here for their updated programming.

If you have your own equipment, go hiking, cross-country skiing or snowshoeing on the trails of Parc Maisonneuve and Parc Jean-Drapeau.

Every neighbourhood in Montréal exhibits a unique character of its own, embodied by its historical sights, restaurants, hotels and art galleries, nightlife, parks and people. Click here for an introduction to Montréal’s most popular neighbourhoods, plus here are other choice picks:

Chosen by Time Out magazine as one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world, Villeray’s charms lie in its people and independent businesses, from its picturesque parks to its curved apartment staircases. Be sure to check out the legendary Ferlucci Coffee Shop and stop by Avaanaa Chocolat for some hot chocolate.

Verdun has been shaped by the borough’s proximity to the St. Lawrence – in fact, the beautiful green parks that line the entirety of the waterfront were originally built to protect the area from flooding. A little snow doesn’t keep anyone inside either, with a cross-country ski track along the river’s edge starting at Parc Arthur-Therrien and traversing all the way to Lachine nearly 20 km away. In 2023, Time Out magazine chose Verdun’s Wellington Street as one of the coolest streets in the world. Click here for more info about Verdun and its attractions.

Les Quartiers du Canal district is comprised of three Montréal neighbourhoods: Griffintown, Little Burgundy, and Saint-Henri, bound together by the historic Lachine Canal. The pathways and greenspaces along the Lachine Canal are a perfect area for dining and daydreaming, for promenading and pedaling. Highlights include famed Joe Beef restaurant and historic Atwater Market. Click here for more info about Les Quartiers du Canal.

Montréal is a shopper’s paradise year-round, but the experience becomes even more festive during the spirited holiday season. Here are some ideas to get you started.

The Le Village de Noël de Montréal at Atwater Market (runs November 28 to December 22), and the Great Christmas Market (runs November 22 to December 30) located in Place des Festivals in the Quartier des Spectacles are back this holiday season.

Montréal’s Underground Pedestrian Network, often nicknamed “the underground city” by visitors, connects all the major downtown shopping centres without setting foot outside. Look for “RESO” signs and start exploring.