The top 5 things to do in Montreal: winter special
Don't miss TELUS Fire on Ice as part of Montreal en Fêtes! | Photo by M. Tanaya (Flickr Creative Commons)
For those in town, be sure to look into Montreal en Fêtes and what they have in store for you this year. As cold as it may be, there is much to do. So bundle up! And enjoy the holidays.
1. MUSICAL FIREWORKS
TELUS Fire on Ice as part of Montreal en Fêtes | Quais du Vieux Port | Saturdays | December 13 to January 3, 8 p.m.
Montreal has fireworks even in the winter. Why let the chill keep you inside?
The best way to deal with the cold is to layer up, and make sure you have a piping hot beverage at hand. If you’re lucky, you might be able to find a place indoors with a view over the St. Lawrence River.
Make sure to keep your eye on the sky. The “pyro-musical” shows last 15 minutes.
Photo by Guy Mayer (Flickr Creative Commons)
2. THE NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY IN OLD MONTREAL
As part of Montreal en Fêtes | Place Jacques-Cartier | December 31, 7 p.m.
Stop here if you haven’t made plans for New Year’s Eve yet.
No need to make any reservations or buy a ticket, Montreal en Fêtes is throwing a party at the Vieux Port and Place Jacques-Cartier. After some festive music, come enjoy three live folk shows with musicians Alex Nevsky, Bernard Adamus and Les Soeurs Boulay.
The night will go on after the countdown to 2015 until 2 a.m. with more DJs and the Coca-Cola “Brigade du Bonheur.”
Find out more about The New Year’s Eve Party in Old Montreal.
Outdoor fireplaces? Check! | Image courtesy of Montreal en Fêtes
3. KNOW WHERE TO WARM UP
Holiday Hot Spots as part of Montreal en Fêtes | Place Jacques Cartier | December 11 to January 4, 12 to 8 p.m.
Whether you’re out for an evening stroll in Old Montreal or getting in some last-minute holiday shopping, take a minute to warm up by the outdoor fireplaces set up at Place Jacques-Cartier. Grab a chair, warm your feet, and enjoy some festive music.
For books, books and more books, Salon des Beaux Livres is the place to go. | Photo by Moyan Brenn (Flickr CC)
4. FINE ART AND ILLUSTRATED BOOKS
Salon des Beaux Livres 2014 3rd Edition | Librairie Monet | November 14 to January 11
What makes a book beautiful? Is it the content, the cover, or is it a combination of both?
Expand your winter’s reading list at the Salon des Beaux Livres with this year’s collection of fine works of fiction and non-fiction. At this exciting exhibition, you’ll find books on travel and fashion, literary classics, contemporary thrillers, spiritual texts, and guides to good food. You’re bound to find a new favourite by a well-known author, or stumble across something rare you might not find at the local bookstore.
Decide for yourself what makes a book worthy of the top shelf.
Curious what other Concordians are reading? Check out Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #CUreads.
5. TOTALLY RANDOM AND POTENTIALLY AWESOME
Grand Sapin en Canettes D’Aluminium | Atrium de la Maison du développement durable | December 5 to December 18
Time to get creative with recycling!
More than 800 tin cans were collected throughout the month of October to make a giant aluminum Christmas tree in the atrium of the Maison du développement durable. Alcoa, a global leader in lightweight metals technology, originally conceived of the idea for the metallic tree, and this is the third year it’s on display. Did you know, recycling 100 aluminum cans saves enough energy to power a television set for 22 days?
Feel inspired? Here is a tutorial on how to make your very own Christmas tree. You’ve still got the month of December to collect as many as possible.
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About the author
Andy Fidel is a Montreal-based freelance journalist, photographer and writer with dreams of living on a submarine. She enjoys metro rides, writer's block and cold instant coffee.