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While January ends with a super blue blood moon (that’s a full moon, a lunar eclipse, and a moon at its closest point to the earth making it a very large moon), February is much more like the rest of space — cold, dark, with long seemingly empty stretches. Not to worry, there’s still something every weekend… several somethings.

Winter Village

December 15 2017 – March 25 2018
Thursday and Friday, 4 p.m. – 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Olympic Park (4141 Avenue Pierre-de Coubertin)
free access to site; some activities are extra

Montreal’s Olympic Stadium again opens up its winter village from Thursday to Sundays. There is an 18 meter long slide, a hockey/ice-skating rink, and a variety of other activities. DJs are on hand to keep the beat alive along with a cocktail bar open after 4 p.m. See HERE for more info.

Le Happening Gourmand

January 11 – February 4, 2018

If trying new and old restaurants is on your bucket list, you might want to take advantage of Le Happening Gourmand, a mini-restaurant week happening in Old Montreal. Eight of the city’s best restaurants are offering lunch and dinner menus at costs of $23, $27, and $31. After eating, you can get a discount ticket to Igloofest and dance off the extra dessert. A few of the participating restaurants are Verses, Méchant Boeuf, and Kyo Bar Japonais. There are also brunch meals available. For more information and to book a space, click HERE.

Cinema Paradiso

January 29 – February 2, 2018
Phi Centre (407 ST. Pierre)

Never one to rest on its laurels, the ever intriguing Phi Centre showcases a series of ten films from Paris’ prestigious festival. Along with the ten films, there will be a conversation with director and screenwriter Kim Nguyen. Info HERE. 

Igloofest

January 18-February 3, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, 
Old Port Quai Jacques Cartier
Tickets: $20/night

Igloofest brings in the world’s coolest DJs and mixes them with those from the local scene. Know any of these: NGHTMRE, The W4RRIORS, Bonobo, Esco? If you don’t, check out Igloofest and find out how they can make you move). The festival usually has all kinds of other cool things in the space to distract you when you need to relax in front of a fire pit. Tickets are here and all information is HERE.

Fête des Neiges

January 20-February 11, 2018, Saturdays 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., Sundays 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Parc Jean Drapeau
free admission to site

Shows, events, music, Parc Jean Drapeau gives you a reason to get outside every weekend. To stay warm, try yoga in the snow or snow aerobics. Most people want to give the dog sled rides a go ($10/16), take a turn down the giant 10 lane tube slide, or ride all 200 meters of the zip line. There are 25 outdoor activities overall with things like curling, cross-country skiing, and an ice slide. Information and scheduling can be found HERE.

La Poutine Week

February 1 – 7, 2018
Various

A bit like Bonjour-Hi, poutine is the signature dish of the city with chefs competing to make a mound of fries topped with gravy and cheese curds into something extraordinary. Will La Poutine Bitoque at TaverneF hold the top spot again this year? Details HERE.

Montreal Boat and Water Sports Show

February 1 – 4, 2018
Place Bonaventure, 800 de la Gauchetière

Boats and more boats, and okay some waterskiing and parasailing and whatever else you can do on the water. There are over 275 exhibitors with 450 different boats to chedck out on display. For info, click HERE. 

Tet Festival 2018

February 4, 2018
Centre Pierre Charbonneau (3000 rue Viau), 10:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
$10/5

It’s the year of the Dog and the Vietnamese Community wants to welcome everyone for live entertainment, martial arts, circus, a flower market, and information about the Tet. Information HERE.

Festival Nomade

February 7 – 11, 2018
La Khaima Atighs Restaurant and Café (142 Fairmount W)

Nightly entertainment at the restaurant around the theme of nomads. Among other things, music and Uncle Fofi’s Couscous Comedy Show are part of the festival. Information HERE.

If you have an event that should make our monthly list, give us a shout at [email protected]

LAN ETS 

February 9 – 11 ,2018
Place Bonaventure, 800 de la Gauchetière

The LanETS is a student club from the Ecole de technologie supérieure that organizes the biggest Lan party of North America’s east coast. 2000 gamers compete for prizes. Of coruse there is cosplay, scavanger hunts, and exhibitors too. Info HERE.

Carnaval de la Petite-Italie

February 10 – 13, 2018

Petite Italie de Montreal

Little Italy has its annual festival tradition of costumes, spectacles, and food. Come make a mask or enjoy the parade. This carnival is a way to celebrate Mardi Gras, Montreal style. Details HERE. 

ExpoYoga

February 10 – 11, 2018
Palais de Congrès, 1001 Jean Paul Riopelle

Montreal’s yoga community is quite large, so expo yoga is sure to be well attended. It’s goals to connect, nourish, and inspire are sure to attract many to its workshops, expositions, and instructors. Among those appearing are Elena Brower, Lyne St Roch, and Shabad Saroop Singh. Info HERE.

The Montréal Outdoor, Hunting, Fishing and Camping Show

February 15 – 18, 2018
Place Bonaventure, 800 de la Gauchetière

This is the largest event dedicated to hunting and camping in Quebec. Manufacturers, retailers, and close to 100 outfitters will be here to showcase everything from clothing to guns. There’s even a hunting hall with 35,000 square feet showcasing the leading brands and new products. Info HERE.

Les Rendez-Vous Québec Cinéma

February 21 – March 3, 2018

For 11 days, 400 cinema buffs and industry people can gather to see nearly 300 films, with around 100 premieres. Info and tickets HERE.

Montréal en Lumière

February 22 – March 4, 2018
Place des Arts

This is a large winter festival with a slide, domes and tents, outdoor activities, and of course food. Among those playing and performing, look for the Hurlevents, Minuit, Martha Graham dance, Gabrielle Shonk, and the Freakeasy Circus. For info, click HERE. 

Butterflies Go Free

February 22 – April 29, 2018
Botanical Garden, 4101 Sherbrooke E

Butterflies fill the Jardin Botanique’s main exhibition greenhouse. Walk in the tropical habitat and see how many creatures land mistake you for their favourite flower. Information HERE.

Montréal Bicycle and Triathlon Show

February 23 – 25, 2018
Place Bonvaenture, 800 de la Gauchetière

Get on your bike and get ready to ride. 250 exhibitors feature bicycles, equipment, accessories, and just plain old good advice. Whether you prefer biking for fun or are training for a triathlon, this event is for you. Info HERE. 

Salon de la Moto

February 23 – 25, 2018
Palais de Congres, 1001 Jean Paul Riopelle

If you love motorcycles, this event is for you. Whether its touring, sports, or just plain old admiration for two wheels, there’s something here for you. Info HERE.

Upcoming

Nuit Blanche

March 3 2018
various

Montreal doesn’t go to sleep as things stay open all night to offer performances, sports, comedy, exhibitions and more. Info HERE. 

International Festival of Films on Art (FIFA)

March 8 – 18
Various

Films about art, artists, and the people who love and hate them, make for a rich series of mostly documentaries. This is a fantastic festival that leaves no discipline un-explored. Info HERE.

Ongoing at the Museums

Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

1380 Sherbrooke Ouest

One Upon A Time… The Western

From October 14 to February 4, 2018
The Western film genre has long been connected to art. Paintings, sculpture, and photography all have inspired and responded to this media, both creating and transmitting a myth of what the west is and what it is not.

Commemorating Dr. Sean B. Murphy (1924-2017)

December 12 to April 1, 2018
Five centuries of prints and drawings are on display to the public following the passing of a much loved museum luminary. Dr. Murphy not only served the museum as a Trustee and President and donated works, but he also was an avid artist himself. See his works on display at the museum now.

Nadia Myre. Scattered Remains

November 15-May 27, 2018
Algonquin First Nation of Kitigan Zibi Anishnabeg artist, Nadia Myre revisits the history of Indigenous peoples in her symbolic works.

Kushapetshekan/Kosapitchikan. A Glimpse into the Other World

October 3 – February 4, 2018
this immersive installation is by Atikamekw artists Eruoma Awashih and Meky Ottawa, and Innu artist Jani Bellefleur-Kaltush. THe trio present an installation that alludes to the sacred without revealing its secrets.

Mnemosyne. When Contemporary ARt and the Art of the Past Meet

until May 20, 2018
Works by 14 contemporary Quebec and Canadian artists are on display at the Michal and Renata HOrnsteil Pavillion for Peace.

 

 

MAC/Musée d’Art Contemporain

185 St Catherine Ouest

The Gaze Listens

December 15 2017 to March 25, 2018
The exhibition is about how auditory works and visual works cross boundaries. “Most of the works gathered… are invisible to the ear, but audible to the eye,” it promises. The exhibition includes works by Yves Gaucher, Pascal Grandmaison, Barbara Steinman, and Takis.

That’s How the Light Gets In

December 12, 2018 – August 19, 2018
Quebec and Canadian artists explore the theme of how light comes into their work, inspired by Leonard Cohen’s phrase “There’s a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.”

Leonard Cohen

November 9, 2017 to April 9, 2018
Inspired by the work of the late Leonard Cohen, 40 different artists present 20 works.

Montreal Science Centre

2 rue de la Commune Ouest

Main Temporary Exhibition: Indigenous Ingenuity

until March 25, 2018

The First Peoples from North America demonstrate tremendous resilience not just against colonization, but also the forces of nature. Their ingenuity has been a survival tool that helped them and those who came to their lands survive. Designed for children, but easily appreciated by adults, a bear and a trickster guide visitors through a virtual canoe race, show them how to build an igloo, test a kayak’s centre of gravity, and discover interactive frescoes. Indigenous knowledge continues to shape society today.An exhibition of photos of powwow regalia by Roland Lorente and Aline Saffore shows men, women, and children from 14 different nations and tells their stories.

Disheveling!

Explore the hair of many different living creatures both through your senses. Humans, plants, and animals all have hair of different types and visitors can touch and see the many types that exist.

McCord Museum

The Topsy-Turvy Storyland

November 19 – March 18, 2018

Fairy tales are reinterpreted in diorama like spaces, using tiny toys. Learn about fairy tales from here and around the world.

Gabor Szilasi The Art World in Montreal, 1960-1980

December 7, 2017 – April 29, 2018

Fab, funk, and pop all come together by looking at the unpublished photographs of Gabor Szilasi who took pictures of many vernissages in a documentary style.

Wearing Our Identity. The First Peoples Collection

ongoing

The heritage of the First Peoples of Canada is on display through this exhibition of different types of dress. Ritual outfits as well as clothing made to match the environment showcase diversity and ingenuity among the different nations.

Pointe à Callière

350 Place Royale

Passion: Hockey

November 25, 2017 to March 11, 2018
Montreal has long loved hockey. This exhibition celebrates the NHL’s centennial and the 125th anniversary of the Stanley Cup.

 

CCA / Canadian Centre for Architecture

1920 Rue Baile

Greystone: Tools for Understanding the City

until March 4, 2018
Greystone buildings are ubiquitous in cities everywhere. This exhibition looks at the ones of Montreal and their history from the late 17th century to the early 20th century.

The University is Now on Air: Broadcasting Modern Architecture

until April 1
The Open University, an experiment in distance and adult education that grew out of political forces in the UK has allowed many individuals to enjoy university education without the costs and difficulty of access. Courses were disseminated by television and radio. In particular, this exhibition looks at one of those courses, A305, History of Architecture and Design, 1890-1939.

Where’s Class?

until August 5

This exhibition examines the idea of distance education and how we learn “offline” through spaces that are designed for collective learning experiences.