Montreal Holiday Planner Part 1: The Christmas Orphan

Events to Carry You Through Eggnog Season

Fringe ArtsLaura Pellicer — Published December 23, 2012

The holidays can be a tough time for anyone. With a budget of zero dollars, feast-related cooking fiascos and drunken uncles to deal with, sometimes it’s a wonder we make it through at all.

But despite the challenge of concentrated family time, being without them can be even tougher. Unfortunately it’s the reality for a lot of students who are pinching their pennies and can’t make it home for the holidays.

Well, we feel for you, and we’ve got a solution—our ultimate Fringe Holiday Planner. Now you can get your party on even if you’re a pauper this slushy season!

Ongoing Events

The holiday spirit is taking over multiple parks in the city as part of “Noël dans le parc.” Free Christmas concerts, roaring fires, and Christmas tree farms are up and running. The effect is a little cheesy but the snacks and holiday brew—read alcoholic—available onsite, definitely encourage holiday cheer. Check out the complete event schedule here.

Locale: Various locations including Parc des Amériques (corner of Rue Rachel and St-Laurent Blvd) and Parc Lahaie (corner of St-Laurent Blvd. and Blvd. Saint Joseph)
When: Daily until December 31
Price tag: Free
Website

It’s not quite Rockefeller center, but the massive artificial tree at Place Ville Marie in Montreal’s downtown core is bound to satisfy your need for supersized shrubbery. It’s made up of 13,000 lights and stands over 19 metres tall making it the tallest Christmas tree (or rather, tree-inspired structure) in the city.

Locale: 1 Place Ville Marie
Price tag: Free
Metro: Green Line – McGill

Have you spotted the bales of hay lining the base of Mont Royal’s east side? Every year in true Montreal form, hordes of city dwellers seek a little urban adventure by barrelling down the steep slopes of the mountain. We should warn you that this hill is not for the faint of heart, but a thermos of spiked eggnog should provide the right dose of liquid courage.

Locale: Avenue du Parc near Mont Royal
Price tag: Free
Metro: Orange Line – Mont-Royal

Drink grog and eat reindeer. Marché Bonsecours in the Old Port district is hosting the “Village international du temps des Fêtes.” The holiday fair will be serving up tasters of caribou meat, hot mulled wine, and other seasonal delicacies. Because sometimes you just need a tasty treat.

Locale: 350 St-Paul Street East
When: Daily until January 5, excluding December 25. From 12:00 p.m. till 6:00 p.m.
Price tag: Free
Metro: Orange Line – Champ-de-Mars
Website

Sunday December 23

Kick off the holidays in traditional style. Mile End’s iconic Rialto Theatre is hosting a live performance of Charles Dicken’s classic story A Christmas Carol. Take in a matinee showing under the ornate decor of this neo-baroque style establishment that’s been an institution since 1924.

Where: 5723 avenue du Parc
When: 2:00 p.m. (doors open at 1:30 p.m.)
Price tag: 20$ for students
Metro: Blue Line – Outremont
Website

If historical re-enactments are your cup of tea, check out A Victorian Christmas at the Sir George-Étienne Cartier Museum. It’s a chance to mingle with actors in frilly frocks and learn about what the season’s traditions were like in the Victorian era.

Where: 458 Notre-Dame Street East
When: 10:00 a.m till 5:00 p.m.
Price tag: 7.80$
Metro: Orange Line – Champ-de-Mars
Website

After slogging around in the snow on Sunday, head over to Montreal’s favourite low-key electronic music club, le Salon Daome for Beat Boutique presents Phil Larochelle & Max Reynold’s. The club with a red door facing Mont Royal has the gritty charm of your best friend’s basement, warm red lighting, and paneled walls. The beer’s cheap, and the dress code is non-existent. Best part? The six dollar price tag! Headliner Max Reynolds was on the last year’s Igloofest lineup and will be pumping out the sweet sounds of deep old school house.

Where: 141 Avenue du Mont-Royal East
When: 10:00 p.m.
Price tag: 6$
Metro: Orange Line – Mont Royal
Website

Monday, December 24

The twenty fourth is a pretty sleepy time in the city but if you really want to kick it Catholicism style, La Maîtrise des Petits Chanteurs du Mont-Royal boys choir are giving a free performance at Saint Joseph’s Oratory. The awe-inspiring architecture of the Oratory itself is worth the trip.

Where: 3800 Queen-Mary Road
When: 11:00 a.m.
Price tag: Free
Metro: Blue Line – Côte-des-Neiges
Website

Tuesday, December 25

The Ye Olde Orchard Pub in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce is opening its doors at 7:00 p.m. on Christmas day in a somewhat spontaneous, unofficial Christmas party. In other words, the regulars demanded it. The cozy pub will be serving up its extensive selection of beers on tap, scotches, with the added bonus of a little holiday eggnog.

Where: 5563 Monkland Avenue
When: 7:00 p.m.
Price tag: Free entrance
Metro: Orange Line – Villa Maria
Website

Wednesday December 26

If your Christmas usually comes with tourtière and bûche de Noël, then this is your party. Le Bleury is hosting a kitsch Quebecois-themed post-Christmas shindig. Don your sexiest Christmas sweater and jam to the traditional tunes of La belle province. In the tradition of our proud provincial ancestors, there will of course be karaoke.

Where: 2109 rue de Bleury
When: 7:00 p.m.
Price tag: 7$
Metro: Orange Line – Place-des-Arts
Website