Whether you're ready to brave the cold at Igloofest or you'd rather stay warm inside a museum or cinema, Montreal has at least one good reason for you to be excited this February.
So, where will you go?
Attend The First-Ever Edition Of Montréal Boréal
Montreal Boreal
Les quartiers du canal
Cost: Free
When: February 3, 4 and 5, 2023
Where: Square Sir-George-Étienne-Cartier, Montreal, QC
Why You Should Go: Discover emerging local musicians and artists performing at several free-to-attend concerts. For the occasion, there will be a stage located in a heated dome and hot drinks to keep you warm.
Full program
Facebook event
Watch Titanic In 3D 4K At The Cinema
Cost: TBD
When: February 10, 2023
Where: Cineplex cinemas
Why You Should Go: James Cameron’s masterpiece is returning to theatres for the movie's 25th anniversary. Screened in 3D 4K, you'll probably watch the boat sink in the best quality ever —bar watching it from a floating door on the freezing water.
Website
Get Kinky At Cirque de Boudoir
A past event by Cirque De Boudoir.
Jo Gorsky, courtesy of Cirque De Boudoir
Cost: $65.23 for general admission and $86.53 for VIP admission.
When: February 11, from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Where: Cabaret Lion d'Or, 1676 rue Ontario E., Montreal, QC
Why You Should Go: The Montreal-based themed-event production company is bringing back its eccentric fetish party just before Valentine's Day, including burlesque performances, live circus, DJ sets and more. This year, the theme is pinup devils.
Dress accordingly or be turned away.
Website
Facebook event
Ticket
Party Hard At Dômesicle
Cost:
- One night: $20 for regular admission and $18 for pre-sale
- Pass for two nights: $25.50 in pre-sale
When: February 4 and February 18, 2023, from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Where: Satosphère, Société des arts technologiques, 1201, boul. Saint-Laurent, Montreal, QC
Why You Should Go: The Dômesicle series at Montreal's Société des Arts Technologiques (SAT) is returning with immersive parties where you can dance the night away this winter and be hypnotized by delightful visuals.
Website
Tickets
Relax at Igloofête
Cost: Free to attend. Drinks and food for purchase.
When: February 4 and 11, 2023. From 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: Quai Jacques-Cartier in Montreal's Old Port, Montreal, QC
Why You Should Go: Igloofest is bringing back its free festive gatherings.
Before the festival, you can expect free afternoon activities such as art performances, DJs, an archery game workshop, volley-pong, a photo booth and even marshmallow distribution.
Website
Dance The Night Away At Igloofest's Après-Ski Events
Cost: Prices vary by night but Igloofest attendees get a discount
When: February 3, 4, 10 and 11, 2023
Where: Auberge Saint-Gabriel, Center PHI, Francesco's, Soubois or the Société des arts technologiques (SAT), Montreal, QC
Why You Should Go: After Igloofest, you can keep the party going at one of the after-parties downtown and in Old Montreal.
Website
Tickets
Go See Steve Aoki Perform At New City Gas
Cost: General admission is $35
When: February 22 from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Where: New City Gas, 950, rue Ottawa, Montreal, QC
Why You Should Go: The American superstar DJ is coming to Montreal ans it's bound to be a party. Perhaps you should check the lineup at New City Gas if all the Igloofest shows featuring your favourite DJs sold out before you could get a ticket.
Website
Tickets
Facebook Event
Drink A Very Special Coffee At Valentina Boutique
Cost: Coffees are either $4.50 or $5 and you'll pay $1 extra for customization
When: Tuesday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: 1878, rue Ontario E., Montreal, QC
Why You Should Go: This café near Parc La Fontaine has a brand new machine that can personalize any coffee by printing words or images on the milk foam. Plus, you can indulge in some shopping thereafter.
Website
Try A Trendy Restaurant
Cost: You can check the menu on their website.
When:
- Sunday to Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Friday and Saturday, from 11 a.m. to midnight
- Brunch: Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: 1050, rue Wellington, Montreal, QC & 241 av. Mont-Royal E., Montreal, QC
Why You Should Go: The popular Plateau restaurant India Rosa just opened another location in Griffintown, and it's bigger and fancier than the original. You can also just go there for 5 à 7 tapas and cocktails.
Website
Get Down 'School Of Rock' Style
The Royals at The Wheel Club poster.
Courtesy of The Royals
Cost: $10 at the door
When: February 11 at 8 p.m.
Where: The Wheel Club — 3373, boul. Cavendish, Montreal, QC
Why You Should Go: The Royals— a group of five Montreal high school teachers are jamming the night away at The Wheel Club located in the heart of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce with some classic tunes, great drinks and an even better vibe.
Website
Try A New Korean Restaurant
Cost: You can check the menu here.
When: Every day from 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. (soft launch hours) — Grand opening in February 2023
Where: 1247, rue Stanley, Montreal, QC
Why You Should Go: Trendy items on Bar 1994's menu include yukhoe (steak tartare) and jokbal (marinaded pork).
Website
Watch Classic Movies With The Cineclub Film Society
Cost: 9$ for general admission or 7$ for students. Tickets are available at the door only.
When: Two screenings in February:
- Faces by John Cassavetes: February 12 at 6.30 p.m.
- Rear Window by Alfred Hitchcock: February 26 at 6.30 p.m.
Where:
- February 12: Cinéma VA-114, 1395, boulevard René-Lévesque O., Montreal, QC
- February 26: Cinéma de Sève, 1400, boulevard de Maisonneuve O., Montreal, QC
Why You Should Go: You can fight off the winter blues with a classic film. The Cineclub FIlm society offers screenings every month until June 4.
Program
Website
Discover The Works Of Basquiat At The MBAM
Cost: $16 for 21 to 30-year-olds. $24 if you're 31 or older. Free if you are 20 years old or younger.
When: Until February 19, 2023
Where: Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, 1380, rue Sherbrooke O., Montreal, QC
Why You Should Go: This multidisciplinary exhibition explores Jean-Michel Basquiat's relationship with music and the way it impacted his artworks. If you love the neo-expressionism movement, this experience is for you.
Website
Tickets
Go Ice Skating At The Esplanade Tranquille
Cost: Access to the ice rink is free and skates are available for rent at $11.96 per adult.
When: The ice skating rink is open every day:
- Sundays to Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Thursdays to Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Where: the Esplanade Tranquille on rue Sainte-Catherine O. (Quartier des spectacles), Montreal, QC
Why You Should Go: Au bord du lac Tranquille is an interactive video projection creation by Mirari and Normal Studio.
For 30 minutes, at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. every day, the massive rink at Esplanade Tranquille becomes host to virtual aquatic animals who follow skaters along their paths.
Alternatively, there are tons of other skating rinks in Montreal this month.
Website
Go See An Exhibition At OASIS Immersion
Cost: General admission for Van Gogh Distorsion or Transformé is $32.19 or $25.87 for students.
When:
- Van Gogh Distortion: February 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 15, 16, 18, 19, 22, 23, 25, 26 and 28
- Transformé: February 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28
Where: Oasis Immersion (inside the Palais des Congrès); 301, rue Saint-Antoine O., Montreal, QC
Why You Should Go: You have until March 5, 2023, to experience the lights and the colours of the emotional Van Gogh exhibit. You can also discover a new immersive walkthrough inspired by real-life events.
Website
Experience The Magic Of Illumi Laval
Cost:
- Online:
- $21.75 for general pedestrian admission
- for cars: $31.75 for the driver and $21.75 for a passenger
- In-person:
- $26.75 for general pedestrian admission
- for cars: $36.75 for the driver and $26.75 for a passenger
When: Until April 9, 2023
Where: 2805, boul. du Souvenir, Laval, QC
Why You Should Go: Illumi Laval, the festival of lights crafted by Cavalia, consists of 20 different thematic zones complete with a giant luminous Christmas at its centre. It's an approximately 16-minute walk from Montmorency metro station.
Website
Tickets
Get Your Laugh On At Laval's Got Jokes
Laval's Got Jokes poster.
Courtesy of Charles Daghlian
Price: $13 - $19
When: February 28 at 8 p.m.
Where: House of Jazz — 1639 boul. de L'Avenir, Laval, QC
Why You Should Go: If you're looking to get a good chuckle in this month, pass by Laval's Got Jokes on February 28. The show is hosted by local comedian Charles Daghlian and has an impressive lineup including acts from Ben Cardili, Sandy El-Bitar, Tom Murphy and Abdul Usman, to name a few.
Tickets
Walk Among The Butterflies At Montreal's Insectarium
Cost: $22.75 per adult or $16.50 for students over 18 years old.
When: Tuesday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Mondays.
Where: 4581, rue Sherbrooke E., Montreal, QC
Why You Should Go: If you haven't been yet, this experience in Montreal is magical, and indoors, so ideal for cold snowy weekends.
Website
Tickets
Enjoy A Candlelit Concert
Cost: Tickets start at $30.
When: Several themes with different dates in February.
Where:
- Saint-Jean-Baptiste Catholic Church, 4237, ave. Henri-Julien, Montreal, QC
- Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel, 400, rue Saint-Paul E., Montreal, QC
- Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs Church, 4155, rue Wellington, Montreal, QC
Why You Should Go: You can enjoy an intimate date night of classical and acoustic performances in a candlelit Montreal church.
Website
Stop By A New Claw Machine Arcade
Cost: The price varies according to the number of tokens you buy ($20 to $120)
When: Open every day except Tuesday
Where: 7800, boul. Taschereau, Brossard, QC
Why You Should Go: Dear fans of all things "kawaii" from Japan, the Montreal suburb of Brossard has a new arcade with tons of stuffed toys just waiting for you to catch.
Website
These prices are confirmed at the time of publishing, but they can change at any time. Taxes and fees may not be included.
People sit on white rocking chairs while close-ups of chameleons are projected on screen.Sofia Misenheimer | MTL Blog
Giant light-up crystals are interspersed between benches where viewers can sit and watch the show.Sofia Misenheimer | MTL Blog
Light shows extend from floor to ceiling in the massive third room.Sofia Misenheimer | MTL Blog
Piying shadow puppets (and viewers) walk on projected clouds.Courtesy of OASIS Immersion.
Cherry blossom peteals swirl off of trees and along the ground.Courtesy of OASIS Immersion.
A digital rendition of famous Chinese handscroll painting, "Along the River During the Qingming Festival."Courtesy of OASIS Immersion.
Sylized characters walk on the walls, while hand-drawn water sloshes around the floor of the exhibit.Courtesy of OASIS Immersion.
Japanese lanterns float all around in one part of "Dreaming of Asia."Courtesy of OASIS Immersion.
A cascade of rainbow-coloured cats across a massive room and multiple screens.Jean-Philip Lessard, Courtesy of OASIS Immersion.
Purples, blues and pinks wash over people sitting in chairs in the relaxing first room of the experience.Jean-Philip Lessard, Courtesy of OASIS Immersion.
