Winter in the Quartier des Spectacles
You can really experience Quebec's Northern vibe with passion in winter on the various outdoor sites of the Quartier des Spectacles. When the temperature dips below zero, crowds flock to the Quartier to experience city winter in every possible way. Concerts, light installations, winter sports, the magical atmosphere of the holiday season: every opportunity is good to celebrate the cold season.
Lumino: A true classic in the Quarter
You’re wrapped in beams of light. Immersive images follow the movement of your feet. Soundscapes envelop you.
Every winter since 2011, the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership has been producing and disseminating a program of large-scale interactive luminous works in public spaces, free of charge. These playful and avant-garde digital and sound art installations are both visually stunning and cleverly participatory. They are a must-see and woven in the Quartier’s DNA, arousing curiosity and admiration with their one-of-a-kind urban scenography.
The best digital artists, as well as the most experienced studios in the field, lend their genius to these uniquely urban works—which people from all over the world are increasingly crazy about!
Glissades Gamelin: Winter is for sliding
The sloping surface of Place Emilie-Gamelin, elevated at the level of De Maisonneuve Boulevard and descending to a flat surface overlooking Sainte-Catherine Street East, is ideal for winter sliding on snowskates and snow scooters.
Every weekend during the cold season, it turns into an all-out snow sports station—a unique space in Montreal for practicing this type of urban winter sport. Families come here to try their hand at scooters in a friendly atmosphere. More serious athletes hone their snowskate skills as the season goes on.
Access to the site is free, as is the loan of equipment.
Esplanade Tranquille skating rink: skating and culture
Hold hands and synchronize your movements. Make a few dance-like turns, if you dare. Ice skating is a vibrant part of the Quebec imagination, and offers one of the best ways to take winter in the city with a smile.
At the Esplanade Tranquille, skating buffs enjoy a carefully maintained surface and a festive, magical atmosphere from the largest refrigerated outdoor rink in downtown Montreal. More than just an urban skating rink, it is a true cultural center in the Quartier des Spectacles, with a program of interactive video projection and musical evenings that include all styles.
Put on your skates and let the fun begin, it is free!
Holiday magic in the Quartier
When December rolls around and the snow starts to fall, the Quartier des Spectacles is the place to be. To soak up the festive atmosphere, Montreal’s most cultural square kilometer brings out a whole arsenal of activities.
The Great Montreal Christmas Market takes over the Place des Festivals in mid-November, with its 40 chalets populated with local artisans and outdoor comfort food stands.
Santa Claus is the crowd puller of the Quartier during this magical time of year—star of the traditional parade, Santa also welcomes young visitors to his huge throne in Complexe Desjardins.
The holiday season also goes hand in hand with festive music: Festival Noël dans le parc offers a fine program of concerts at Le Parterre throughout December.
MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE and LA NUIT BLANCHE: Embrace winter
In Montreal, cold winters have never stopped anyone from going outdoors. With this conviction in mind, the organizers of MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE invite us every February and March to take over the Quartier to enjoy artistic and gourmet activities on a permanently animated outdoor site, where a cheerfully Nordic and icy spirit comes alive. A variety of musical concerts are also offered in the various venues of the Quartier.
The not-to-be-missed festival also includes the much-anticipated Nuit Blanche, during which cultural venues open their doors all night long to invite you to exclusive artistic events. Northern spirit and nightlife make for an explosive cocktail!