Your ultimate guide to a wonderful winter in Montreal

Few of the world’s metropolises experience winter quite like Montrealers. Whether it’s navigating mountains of snow, sheets of ice, slick streets or slippery sidewalks, the city’s residents are quite familiar with every bit of weather the season has to offer, and have learned how to embrace it.

The vibrancy of Montreal truly comes alive in the coldest months of the year, with an exciting and colourful range of festivals, culinary delights, arts, and family fun.  Because if there’s any city that knows how to keep it hot all winter long, it’s Montreal!

Igloofest l Jan 18 to Feb 10: Igloofest is an annual festival that brings together thousands of electronic music fans to dance under the stars at Montreal's Old Port. The event is back for its 16th edition in 2024, and will feature top music artists such as Diplo, Armin Van Buuren, Eric Prydz and many more. General admission tickets start at $42.50.

Montréal En Lumière l Feb 29-Mar 10: Montréal's biggest winter festival merges gourmet food and drink events with arts, culture and an exciting outdoor activity site in Place des Festivals. Enjoy themed restaurant meals, workshops by guest chefs and more. While outdoors you can listen to live music, ride a Ferris wheel and ice slides, watch playful video projections and warm up with food and drink too. Join the jubilant Nuit Blanche crowds in a citywide all-nighter celebration of art, culture and urban life.

Poutine Week l Feb 1 to 14: The name says it all, except for the right time frame! This two-week event is dedicated to the Québecois signature dish of French fries and gravy topped with cheese curds, a truly Canadian comfort food loved by Canucks across the country. Along with celebrating the height of Canadian culinary creations, the festival also offers the public a chance to sample unique spins on the classic dish from chefs across the city.

Old Montréal's Happening Gourmand l Annually in March: A winter restaurant event made to warm body and soul through the power of great food, Happening Gourmand features gourmet dining experiences at a fraction of their regular cost, with nine restaurants in Old Montréal offering table d'hôte menus for dinner and brunch.

Cabane Panache l Mar 21-24: The 12th edition of the most festive Sugar Shack in Quebec is approaching! The annual Cabane Panache offers a completely electrifying atmosphere, full of lumberjacks wandering all over Wellington Street, thrilling shows, mouth-watering comfort food, alcoholic beverages to keep your body warm and classic maple taffy on snow. Don't miss the biggest free “Bûcheronesque” festival in Quebec.