February in Montreal isn't just another cold month — it's our spirited pushback against the dark, chilly days. With the leap year adding an extra 24 hours to the calendar, you have even more things to do squeezed into the shortest month.
From celebrations of the Lunar New Year to shows from 90s pop stars, the heartwarming sweetness of Valentine's Day, to the ultimate comfort of a creative poutine, every moment is an opportunity to defy the winter blues. And don't forget, it all leads up to the thrill of tax season.
Until then, here are some of the best ways to brighten your month:
Try a new take on the Quebec comfort food at La Poutine Week
When: February 1 to 7
Where: 100+ venues in Montreal
Cost: Various prices
Reason to go: Montreal has lots of iconic foods like smoked meat, or hot chicken sandwiches and quirky ones like pizzaghetti, but none so iconic as Poutine. The mish-mash of fries, gravy, and cheese curds is served in classic spots like La Belle Province or many unlikely places. La Poutine Week started in Montreal 12 years ago and has since poured across Canada like hot gravy. But Montreal is still home to the best poutines in Canada, with four out of the top five voted poutines for 2023 hailing from the city. The event is about more than just finding the best poutine, it’s about finding the poutine that’s right for you. If you can imagine something would be good on a poutine, it probably exists, and this is the way to find it.
Attend a 5 à 7 party with no alcohol
When: February 1, 5 to 7 p.m.
Where: Apéro à Zéro, 3661, rue Ontario Est
Cost: Free, reservation required
Reason to go: Apéro à Zéro and Le Sober Club are kicking off dry February in style with a 5 à 7, welcoming the sober-curious or those looking to keep dry January going. Their bar is fully stocked with alcohol-free wines, spirits, beers, and bubbly you can bring home or taste on-site. The store also has a running discount on their “ultimate alcohol-free February" box.
Support A Local Market
When: February 25 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: 3301 rue Dandurand
Reason to go: After two successful market days, Marché Talents Locaux is hosting a third event this weekend where you can find items including crafts, decor, art and more from local sellers across Montreal. In addition to shopping local, you'll also be helping out a cause as part of the profits will be donated to help Gaza.
Stock up on luxury items at a sample sale
When: January 30 to February 2
Where: Sheraton Laval Hotel, 2440, autoroute des Laurentides, Laval
Reason to go: Montreal gets very cold in February and if your winter gear doesn’t quite cut it, here is your chance to get a high-quality name-brand coat at a sharp discount. Mackage and The Sample Sale Guys are putting on this event that will have up to 70% off of women's, men's, and kid's outerwear and accessories. Just keep in mind they only accept credit or debit payment.
More at thesamplesaleguys.com
Get in the true winter spirit at Igloofest
When: February 1 to 3, and 8 to 10
Where: Grand Quai of the Port of Montreal, 200, rue de la Commune Ouest
Cost: $42.50+/person
Reason to go: February’s biggest party brings the heat to the coldest part of winter. Igloofest’s finale will feature big names like Eric Prydz, Lane 8, Kaskade, and many more over the last six nights in February. The event is a great place to dress up in bright colours and enjoy the festival vibes that are a major part of Montreal's reputation.
Gain knowledge at Montreal's annual seed festival
When: February 3 and 4
Where: Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium, 4801, ave Pierre-de Coubertin
Cost: Free
Reason to go: This festival will help you learn how to grow your own plants, flowers, or food. The Espace Pour la Vie event will feature workshops and seminars that delve into the science behind seeds and the secrets held within them.
Meet Tom & Jax from Vanderpump Rules
When: February 17
Where: Pangea, 104, rue Saint-Paul Est
Cost: Free entry; Tasting menu is $95 with a $500 minimum bottle service
Reason to go: Stars of the hit reality show Vanderpump Rules, Jax Taylor and Tom Schwartz, are visiting Old Montreal to celebrate the launch of the show's 11th season and bringing a slice of L.A. nightlife to rue St-Paul. Fans will get the chance to mingle with Jax, known for his roles in both modeling and reality TV, and Tom, a TV favourite and restaurateur.
Stuff your face at a sugar shack
When: From February to April
Where: 300, chem. Saint-Georges, Rigaud, QC
Cost: $49+/person
Reason to go: In Quebec, sugar shack season begins in February because maple trees are warmed up by the winter sun and the sap begins to flow. One of the best spots to go is Sucerie de la Montagne; the grounds will charm you with live music and horse-drawn sleigh rides,. Plus the maple taffy tastings, and full-course meal in their lively dining hall will make your sweet tooth happy. You can see the whole process of sap going from the trees to a wood-fired evaporator, get to taste the finished product on-site, and even take some home.
Ring in Chinese New Year at the Dragon Ball
When: February 16, 6 p.m.
Where: Olympia Reception Hall, 3855-B, boul. Saint-Jean, Dollard-des-Ormeaux
Cost: $188
Reason to go: Celebrate the Chinese New Year with a three-course meal, an open bar, special performances, and entertainment with prizes to be won. The event is family-friendly, open to all, and a great way to celebrate Chinese culture and traditions. The Dragon Ball will ring in the lunar new year with the luck, strength, and innovation that the Dragon signifies.
Scope out the crafts at the Montreal International Boat Show
When: February 8 to 11
Where: Palais des congrès
Cost: $18
Reason to go: Whether you’re a nautical nerd or just boat-curious, this event is for you. Hundreds of new vessels will be on display, with a wide range of models of world-class boats from fast jet skis to houseboats that might be cheaper than your Montreal rent. The event will feature more than just showboating, with seminars and conferences, and routes to check out.
Cheer on Olympic athletes at a skateboarding championship
When: February 22
Where: Le Taz Skatepark, 8931, ave Papineau
Cost: Free
Reason to go: Canada’s National Skateboarding Championship is a free event, hosted at Le Taz Skatepark in St. Michel. The finalists who make it through these qualifiers will be heading to the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, so catch them here before they make it to the very top.
Learn the art of charcuterie
When: February 2, 7 p.m.
Where: 3319, boul. de la Concorde Est, Laval
Cost: $95
Reason to go: This workshop will teach you how to make an “Instagram-worthy charcuterie-boardʺ and help take your snacking game to the next level, supplying everything you need to create your own display. The class will teach you how to pick out cheeses, meats, pickles, and finger bites and arrange them in a way that will have your friends and family wanting to snap a photo before they get devoured.
Eat healthy with your Valentine’s date
Where: Various locations
Reason to go: Over a dozen restaurants in Montreal have been ranked among the healthiest in the country by OpenTable, offering a great selection for Valentine’s reservations. If you’re looking to keep eating right for 2024, setting healthy habits before the summer comes around again this is a great way to start.
Experiment with paint at Art Chaos
Where: 31, rue Saint-Viateur Est
When:
- Thursday: 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Friday: 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Saturday: 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Sunday: 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Cost: Starts at $35/person
Reason to go: Art Chaos is a new hybrid art studio and bar turning paint nights into a whirl of colour with high-speed spin art (soon to serve food and drinks as well). You can watch your paint splatter everywhere as your piece turns as fast as tires on a highway — up to 60 mph.
Attend a Ted Talk
When: February 4, 10:30 a.m.
Where: Le National
Cost: $25/student, $35/general admission
Reason to go: This TEDxMcGill event will feature presentations by 10 speakers and two performance acts that merge cultures and perspectives like the changing shapes and colours of a kaleidoscope. It will showcase the diversity that Montreal has to offer and give a platform to McGill students and alumni, doctors, and business leaders from different backgrounds and areas of study.
More at tedxmcgill.org
Have a board game night
When: Mondays from 6 to 9 p.m., February 5, 12, 19, 26
Where: 4425 Wellington St.
Cost: Free (verify +15147697007)
Reason to go: If you want to go try out a new board game or already have a favourite you like to play with friends, Face to Face Games Verdun is hosting a games night every Monday evening. They also have daily Yu-Gi-Oh, Magic the Gathering, Pokemon TCG events, and more.
More at facetofacegames.com
Go see a play at the Wildside Theatre Festival
When: January 18 to February 8
Where: Centaur Theatre, 453, rue Saint-François-Xavier
Cost: $40 to $50
Reason to go: The name says it all — take a seat on the wild side, and enjoy a bit of chaos, with tastes of different styles of innovative performances that showcase Montreal’s spirit. Get two or three show flex passes for the festival at a discount to get a better feel for what Centaur Theatre has to offer.
More at centaurtheatre.com
Spoil yourself with a staycation
When: February 9 to 25
Where: Various Locations
Costs:
- Hôtel William Gray: Starting at 195$/ p.p
- Auberge du Vieux-Port: Starting at $155/pp
- Le Petit Hôtel: Starting at $145/pp
Reason to go: Gray Collection is offering a Valentine’s package at a discount for their 3 Old Montreal hotels, Hôtel William Gray, Auberge du Vieux-Port, and Le Petit Hôtel. The package includes a reduced price on a one-night stay, $100 restaurant credit at Maggie Oakes, Jacopo, Tweezers, Gaspar, Vieux-Port Steakhouse, and I DRINK. The package includes a discount voucher at Spa William Gray.
Live la vida loca with Pitbull, Ricky Martin, and Enrique Iglesias
When: February 22, 7 p.m.
Where: 1909, ave des Canadiens-de-Montréal
Cost: $85+
Reason to go: This show will take you back in time to the 90s and 2000s when touchscreens didn’t exist. The pop stars who have collaborated together on albums for over two decades will be back in Montreal, and get the Bell Centre jumping to their extended “Trilogy Tourʺ.
Take a Montreal Secret Food Tour
When: Every Day, 11 a.m. or 2:30 p.m.
Where: 5170, rue Saint-Laurent
Cost: $84
Reason to go: Get the full Montreal culinary experience during this tour, which takes you from a French bakery, to an Italian café, sampling fresh Montreal bagels, smoked-meat poutines, local ice cream, and a secret dish made by the event hosts along the way. The tour will give context to all of the foods along with Montreal history, while chefs at the various locations talk about the food you will taste.
Soak in the lights at Montréal en Lumière
When: February 29 to March 10
Where: Place des Festivals
Cost: Free
Reason to go: Montreal's winter lights festival is back with another elevated skating trail, surrounded by gourmet dining and free activities. Place des Festivals will be lit up with a ferris wheel, slides, dancing, musical performances, and lots more.
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