Published on July 13, 2009 - Montrealers are definitely not the half-way type; in fact, they tend to go all out, no matter what the season. And this to-the-max attitude definitely applies to how they make the most of winter.
For starters, there’s skating and rinks aplenty throughout the city. Two of the most popular are the Bassin Bonsecours in Old Montréal and the skating rink at Beaver Lake, at the heart of Mount Royal Park. Both are refrigerated and equipped with rental services and restaurants, in addition to offering many special activities, day and night.
Cross-country skiers, for their part, love hitting the many trails reserved for their sport in Montréal’s major parks, including Mount Royal, Parc Jean-Drapeau and Parc Maisonneuve, which also welcome snowshoers.
If you dream of riding a snowmobile through wide open spaces (though it won’t happen in the city proper), you can explore areas of Québec, thanks to the services of Authentik Canada, which offers snowmobile treks starting from Montréal.
More the culture and cocktail type? The MONTRÉAL HIGH LIGHTS Festival treats you to parties, wine tastings and performances aplenty. This three-in-one festival (performing arts, celebration of light, and gourmet wining and dining) is a winter crowd favourite, featuring concerts, conferences, culinary workshops and free activities, not to mention the hugely popular Montréal All-Nighter.
Another must: Igloofest, a primo winter party which features a white-hot electronic music scene, along with an ice bar and braseros, to warm those chilly fingers.
And finally, kids love the Fête des neiges, whose festive program at the heart of Parc Jean-Drapeau, in the magical setting of Île Notre-Dame, includes tubing, performers, half-pipes for snowboarding, shows, concerts and more.
One thing’s for sure: Montréal winters will keep you warm, no matter what the temperature!
Mount Royal Park
Parc Jean-Drapeau
Parc Maisonneuve
Authentik Canada
MONTRÉAL HIGH LIGHTS Festival
Igloofest
La Fête des neiges de Montréal
