What to do in Montreal in November 2015

Tweet

November is when the trees go bald and the weather starts to turn and Montreal gears up for the winter ahead. Don’t fret. Okay, it sucks. November is too cold and too dismal and too damp for skiing and winter sports. But, for the urbanite, there are plenty of festivals and events taking place in November 2015 to keep you moving fast enough to stay warm.

Montreal À Table

October 28-November 8

various places

Trying new restaurants (and old favorites) is a breeze with this food festival. Select restaurants price their menus with plates and complete meals at set price points ($21, $31, $41). It’s a bargain and an adventure. The favorites sell out quickly, so make reservations early. Some good ones to try: Modavie, Le Margaux, Imadake, Guru, H4C, Assomoir, and many others. More info HERE.

Festival du Monde Arabe de Montreal

October 31- November 15

various places

With music, theatre, film, and food, this festival brings in stars from around the world to showcase arabic culture. Cultural diversity and community are two words that appear again and again on the website, stressing that this is a bold but welcoming festival for all. More info about events and locations, HERE.

Montreal Improv Festival

November 5 to 14
Theatre St. Catherine and Montreal Improv Theatre

Ten years strong and the Montreal Improv festival gets bigger and more diverse each year. Three days of French programming are followed by a line up of groups you don’t want to miss. Locals include Helmüt, Jess and Vance, and Wild Heart. Other groups come from Toronto, Vancouver, New York, Winnipeg, and Ottawa. Total win! Tickets range from $6 per show to $25 for the night (3 per night). Click HERE for details.

Cinemania French Film Festival (subtitled in English)

November 5 to 15

Imperial Cinema (1430 Bleury)

French film gets its day(s) on the screen at Cinemania and as long as you can read English, you can follow along. Amateurs de film can check out all the latest offerings from around the world. For more info on what’s showing and when, click HERE. 

Coup de Coeur Francophone

November 5-15

Get ready for eleven nights of your favourite francophone artists performing all over the city. Artists performing include Francis Faubert and Bernard Adamus, Ariane Moffatt, Marie Audet, and plenty more. More info HERE. 

SOLOS

November 5-8

Mainline Theatre (3997 St Laurent)

Going solo. Not a problem for these bold actors and actresses. The successful run of shows includes both French and English performers, some visiting, some local. Highlights for sure are Jon Bennett, always a Montreal fave, who will be talking about Aussie Rules Football: Playing with Men. Zoe Daniels talks about why you shouldn’t move to Toronto. $15 or $25 for two. Mainline Theatre (3997 St Laurent).

SIPA Short Works Festival

November 5 – 8

Cazalet Theatre, F. C. Smith Building (7141 Sherbrooke W). 

Theatre sorts from Concordia showcase their productions over a four day festival. Six different works are featured and run daily from November 5 to November 8. Get to see the future of the Montreal stage as it finds it feet with some creative and challenging works. $5. Click HERE for more details.

Le Grande Dégustation de Montreal

November 6 and 7

Place Bonaventure (800 Gauchetiere St W)

Over 200 wine producers come to Montreal to showcase their reds, their whites, and everything in-between. Tastings vary in price, but at the very least, you walk away with a glass. $12/15 More info HERE.

Annual Gem and Mineral Show

November 6 to 8

Place Bonaventure (800 Gauchetiere St W)

If rocks are your thing, this show is a good place to pick up a few of your favorite things! Gems, jewelry, sculptures, pearls, beads, fossils, tools, and minerals are all available here. The stones come from around the world too. Professional jewelers are on site to turn your purchases into jewellery. Also, representatives from the école de gemmologie de Montréal will provide you with information about your gems. $8/6. Info HERE. 

Salon National des Animaux de Compagnie

November 7-8

Place Bonaventure (800 Gauchetiere St W)

A public event for the animal lover, pet fanatic. Breeders, vets, behaviorists, and anyone associated with pets will be around to talk about their expertise. And this isn’t just cats and dogs — it’s also reptiles, rodents, ponies, and exotic birds. Not quite Crufts, but this is Montreal’s cat show and dog agility competition. $13.50/$11.50. More info HERE.

Vegan Festival

November 7

Marche Bonsecours (350 St Paul E)

For those who abstain from eating and using animal products, the vegan festival might be just up your alley. Free to attend with workshops, tastings, and products to buy. Info HERE. 

Tibetan Cultural Fair

November 8 and 9

Notre Dame de la Salette Church (3535 Park Ave)

Tibetans have migrated around the world. Those in Montreal, and those connected to Montreal gather this weekend to perform Tibetan dances and music, as well as vend wares from the Himalayas. Get what you need most this winter, a kidney/butt warmers. These handy things are used by sherpas to stay warm. More info HERE.

RIDM

November 12-23

Lovers of documentary film can catch RIDM’s offerings all year round at their doc circuit. The festival happens in November. The best documentaries from around the world screen in Montreal in this 11 day festival. Find out what issues you need to know about yesterday. More info HERE.

Montreal Startup Weekend

November 13-15

La Gare (5333 Casgrain #102)

Focusing on the Internet of things, Google tries to help Montreal entrepreneurs get their businesses started. Pitches are proposed on the first day. This is a bilingual event. More info HERE.

Le Chatlon des Aristochats

November 14-15
3301 Dandurand, H1X 3E7, Montreal

Lovers of the cat your life just got a little better and furrier with the first ever Montreal Cat Festival. Cat products and products featuring cats will be available for all fans of the feline. Free to attend, this one promises to have the right gift for your felinefiliac. More info HERE.

Expozine

November 15-16

5035 St. Dominique

Every year Montreal Rampage relishes in this celebration of the zine, small press, pinback button, poster, and other indie creations.It’s a madhouse, but a good one. Artists draw, knitters knit, and everyone who loves the written word gathers. All you need to know HERE. 

M for Montreal

November 19-21

various

Over 100 bands play at this festival, designed to spotlight Montreal’s music community. These are bands about to break through to “selling out” or just widespread acclaim. Music industry types come in to see what’s hot right now. Among those playing are Milk and Bone, Grimes, Luis-Jean Cormier, Chocolat, Tchenical Kidman, and many more. Info HERE. 

Salon du Livre

November 18-23

Place Bonaventure (800 Gauchetiere St W)

The not independent book gets its moment at this festival that focuses on French publications. Quebec literature in particular gets plenty of visibility. Talks by Authors, discussions, debates, and public readings make this an exciting event. $10.  More info HERE.

Old Wig Noel Vintage

November 20-22

Bain Mathieu (2915 Ontario E)

Old Wig is another annual favourite for picking up unique gifts for the holidays. Look for vintage clothing, housewares, and all kinds of random stuff. Info HERE. 

Restaurant Day

November 21

Get ready to find out if your neighbours can cook when everyone in the city is invited to open their own restaurant. Check the website to find out where in Montreal you can find a home cooked meal. More info HERE.

Bach Festival

November 22-December 5

various

As the church composer extraordinaire, enjoy works by Bach in a variety of venues performed by musicians who range from classical to avant-garde. This includes No dancers from Japan, More info HERE.

SAT Souk

November 25-29

SAT (1201 St Laurent)

The annual Christmas market at the SOUK is a not to be missed event where you can get one-of-a-kind gifts from local artisans who produce high quality stuff. It has a real designer flair. Keep an eye HERE for more info.

Image + Nation

November 26-December 6

The annual LGBT film festival features films by and about the homosexual and queer communities. More info can be found HERE. 

Nutcracker Market

November 26-December 6

Mall of Palais de Congrès de Montréal (1001 place Jean Paul Riopelle)

Enjoy shopping for all kinds of goods in this Austrian style Christmas market. The market raises money to allow disadvantaged children to attend a free performance of the Nutcracker as well as participate in educational workshops.  Info HERE.

Weekend Au Masculin

November 27-29

Place Bonaventure (800 Gauchetiere St W)

If feminists support women, do masculinists support men? Men have their very first expo in Montreal. Exhibitors from around the country are headed to the city to show men why it’s great to be a man. Electronics, clothing, food, video games, sports are among the many things that will be on display. $15. More info HERE.

Sommets du Cinéma d’Animation

November 25-29

Cinémathèque Québécoise (335 de Maisonneuve E)

This international festival celebrates animation in all its forms, both new and old. Exhibits, discussion forums, workshops, film classes, it’s all there. There are also prizes awarded at this festival. More info HERE. 

Got another event that we didn’t cover here. Let us know at [email protected]