Festivales y eventos

Two free outdoor holiday performances in Mercier: Trio Java sings a cappella Christmas songs on Saturday, December 19, 2026, from 2:00 to 2:45 p.m., and the family circus show Brrr! by Le Gros Orteil plays Sunday, December 20, at 3:00 p.m. Entry is free (entrée libre), no ticket needed.

Soprano Jacqueline Woodley and Les Boréades, led by Francis Colpron, perform 17th and 18th century French Nativity music in Montreal's oldest church on Thursday, December 3, 2026, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., recorded for Radio-Canada's ICI Musique. The concert is free but requires a ticket, released November 17; picking it up in person is free while online booking adds a $2 fee.

Montreal's all night arts party on Saturday, February 27, 2027, with more than a hundred mostly free activities across downtown and beyond: outdoor shows, light art, music, museum openings and late night events, with the metro running late. Entry to the outdoor sites is free; some venues and special events charge admission.

One of North America's oldest St. Patrick's parades marches along De Maisonneuve Boulevard from Fort Street to Jeanne-Mance in downtown Montreal on Sunday, March 14, 2027, starting at noon, with pipe bands, floats and lots of green. Watching from the sidewalk is free.

Pointe-Claire Village kicks off the holidays with its tree lighting celebration on Saturday, November 28, 2026, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., at the municipal lot at Cartier Avenue and Lakeshore Road. It is a drop in community event with no registration. Hot chocolate and treats from local merchants cost money.

The famous animated Christmas windows from the old Ogilvy store come back to life. The outdoor window, The Mill in the Forest, is free for everyone, any time. Inside, The Enchanted Village is free for 17 and under, with a suggested voluntary contribution for adults, plus a seek and find game for families. Runs November 6, 2026 to January 10, 2027.

A big holiday market in the Quartier des spectacles, with dozens of chalets of local artisans and producers, food stalls and daily free shows and music. Admission and entertainment are free; you only pay for what you buy. Runs November 13, 2026 to January 3, 2027.

A family Christmas village in the Sud-Ouest, near Atwater Market and Lionel-Groulx metro, with local and eco-responsible artisans and free programming for families, including movie trains and free photos with Santa. Free admission; you only pay for purchases, food and drinks. Runs November 26 to December 24, 2026.

Around twenty interactive, contemplative and luminous light and sound installations spread across the Quartier des spectacles and downtown Montreal, all free. The 17th edition runs from November 2026 to March 2027; exact dates are still to be announced (last year it ran November 27 to March 8, open daily from sunset to 11 p.m.).