The following information is for January/February, 2020.
With winter in full swing, many communities in and around Montreal have organized several festivals so that you can make the most of the snow-filled days. These festivals feature a multitude of different winter activities from skating and tubing to sleigh rides, musical performances and culinary treats. One of the city’s main events is the annual Fete des Neiges at Jean Drapeau Park.
Below you will find some other big festivals happening close to home as well as a list of winter festivals and carnivals happening in individual boroughs. These events offer family-friendly activities along with tasty treats and toe-tapping music. So bundle up in your warmest gear and go enjoy the snow, no shovelling required!
Fête des Neiges de Montréal
January 18 to February 9, 2020
(weekends only)
An annual tradition at Jean Drapeau Park, this festival courts families over four consecutive weekends with a variety of outdoor activities, including tubing, skating, snow-shoeing, cross-country skiing and ice hockey. Other fun activities are inflatables, giant foosball, boot hockey, ice- and snow-sculpting, live shows and more. Tickets cost $12 for ages 14 & over, $8 for ages 3-13 and are free for kids 2 & under. This year, the festival will take place in a new home – Espace 67 – which is closer to the metro station. Always check the website before going as some activities are only held weather permitting. Parking is available but the site is easily accessible by metro. For information, visit parcjeandrapeau.com.
Photo credit: Myriam Bariltessier
Laval en Blanc
January 24-26, 2020
Held at Berge des Baigneurs, Laval en Blanc features outdoor activities, historical presentations and shows. Dogsledding, entertainment, fishing village, snow sculpting and structures, workshops, live shows, laser & light show, etc. are also being offered. For more information, visit laval.ca
Photo credit: Vincent Girard
Fête des Neiges de Magog
February 1-9, 2020 (weekends only)
During this Eastern Townships’ festival, which is approximately a 90-minute drive from Montreal, discover a host of free family activities including ice fishing, bubble ice hockey, inflatables, face painting, tubing, snow soccer, pedal karts on ice, musical entertainment, skating, mascots (Paw Patrol, Baby Shark, etc), and fireworks. For more information, visit fetedesneigesdemagog.com
Photo credit: Marco Bergeron
Winterlude in Ottawa
January 31 to February 17, 2020 (weekends only)
Festival enthusiasts won’t mind driving to Ottawa when the nation’s capital hosts its annual edition of Winterlude. This year’s festival takes place at a variety of locations over three weekends. There will be many activities including outdoor sports, ice sculpting and skating on the world’s largest outdoor rink, the Rideau Canal Skateway. Families can also visit the Snowflake Kingdom, a children’s snow playground located at Jacques Cartier Park. For a complete list of activities, visit ottawatourism.ca.
Photo credit: Ottawa Tourism
Quebec Winter Carnival
February 7-16, 2020
Head over to the province’s capital city for the annual edition of the Quebec Winter Carnival. The festival features hundreds of activities that the whole family can enjoy like skating, giant foosball, horse-drawn carriage rides, an ice slide and ice palace, a sugar shack, a petting zoo, an international ice sculpting competition, live musical performances and much more. Most activities are free, but some require an entry fee. For more information, visit carnaval.qc.ca
Photo credit: Frédéric Lavoie Photographe – Videography
Festival Feu et Glaces in Repentigny
February 7-16, 2020 (weekends only)
This annual winter celebration offers activities such as zip lines, tubing, sledding and skating (but bring your own skates, there’s no on-site rental). Visitors can also play on inflatables, watch fireworks, take a sleigh or pony ride, and try dog sledding and even ice sculpting. There will also be various live shows to enjoy. Most of the festival’s activities are free and take place at Parc de l’Île Lebel in Repentigny. For more information, visit feuetglace.com
Photo credit: Festival Feu et Glace
While these major Winter Festivals are amazing fun for young and old alike, many boroughs also hold winter carnivals during January and February. They may be a bit smaller, but still have plenty of activities for families. Below is a list in alphabetical order.
Click on each borough name to get more information from their websites.
Ahuntsic-Cartierville
February 15, 2020 at Berthe-Louard Park (9355 de Galinee Ave.) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with sliding, skating, fort building and hot chocolate.
February 16, 2020 at Parc Hirondelles (2574 Fleury St. E.) from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sliding, skating, fort building and hot chocolate.
February 22, 2020 at the Welcome Pavillon at Gouin Trail (10905 Basile-Routhier St.) from noon to 4 p.m. Sliding, skating, fort building and hot chocolate.
February 23, 2020 at de Mesy Park (12120 Grenet St.) from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. with sliding, skating, fort building and hot chocolate.
Cote des Neiges/Notre Dame de Grace
February 8, 2020 at Benny Park from noon to 3 p.m. Free winder activities, hot chocolate, roasted marshmallows, snowshoeing, skiing, sledding, inflatables, music, games, mascots and more.
Cote St. Luc
February 16, 2020 at Pierre Elliott Trudeau Park (6975 Mackle Rd.) from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Enjoy a pancake breakfast (while supplies last), a horse drawn carriage ride, taffy on snow, tobogganing, face painting, ice sculpting, and more.
Dollard des Ormeaux
February 1, 2020 at Centennial Park (2938 Lake Rd.) from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Horse-drawn wagon rides, treasure hunt, skating, heated igloo, bonfire, fire-breathing show, taffy on snow ($), and tasting various food options offered by food trucks on site ($).
Dorval
February 1-22, 2020 at various locations including Dorval Arena, Surrey Aquatic and Community Centre, and Dorval Aquatic and Sports Centre. Preschool skate and slide, ice skating show, Klondike night, live family show, sleigh rides, animation, sugar shack, and much more.
Hampstead
February 2, 2020 at Hampstead Park (30 Lyncroft Rd.) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tobogganing, dog sledding, snowshoeing, snow sculpting, taffy on snow, inflatable games, and live entertainment.
Hudson
More details to come.
Kirkland
February 6-9, 2020 at various times. Compete in a family outdoor challenge at Meades Park (16950 Hymus Blvd.), enjoy a family bingo game at the Sports Complex (16950 Hymus Blvd.). There will also be various outdoor games and indoor evening activities including sleigh rides, mascots, skating, a sugar shack and BBQ, maple taffy and more.
Lachine
February 8, 2020 at Grovehill Park (St. Antoine @ 36th Ave.) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Outdoor activities, creative workshops, tobogganing, hot chocolate and toasted marshmallows, a live music & dance show, and much more.
February 15, 2020 at Grovehill Park (St. Antoine @ 36th Ave.) from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Face painting, hot chocolate and toasted marshmallows, tobogganing, live music & dance show, a magic show, and more.
Laval
More than 20 individual winter festivals will take place throughout January, February and March, 2020 at various local parks and other locations offering animation, skating, tobogganing, hockey, inflatables, and much more.
Outremont
February 1, 2020 at Beaubien Park (Stuart Ave.) from noon to 3 p.m. and St. Viateur Park (525 Bloomfield Ave.) from 6 p.m. Outdoor skills competition and friendly outdoor hockey game, followed by a sleepover in the park.
February 2, 2020 at St. Viateur Park from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Activities, music, skating show, face painting, inflatables, mascots, roasted marshmallows, cookie decorating and animation.
Pierrefonds-Roxboro
February 8, 2020 at the Pierrefonds City Hall from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. An afternoon of fun with fatbikes, snow scooters, snowshoeing, an inflatable igloo. axe throwing, painting on snow, giant games, obstacle course, food trucks, hot chocolate, and more.
Pincourt
January 25, 2020 at Olympique Park (corner of Boisé, du Parc and Dagenais) from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Enjoy inflatables, dog sledding for children, tubing with the firemen, skating, Olaf & Elsa mascots, horse sleigh rides, biathlon RX1 course, sugar shack and taffy on snow ($), mini farm and much more.
Pointe-Claire
January 18, 2020 at Northview Park (111 Viking Ave.) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Celebrate winter with your family and enjoy games and face painting, ice sculpting, dog-sled rides, hot chocolate, food stands ($), and more.
Pointe-aux-Trembles
February 9, 2020 at Place du Village (Notre-Dame Blvd. @ St. Jean Baptiste Blvd.) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Enjoy sliding, snowshoeing, musical skating rink, ice sculpture, mini farm, crafts and more. Hot beverages and food sold on-site.
Ste. Anne de Bellevue
January 31 to February 2, 2020 at various times and locations. Outdoor activities at the Morgan Arboretum (sledding, dog sledding, snow sculpting, BBQ and more), evening of fun in the Village, bed race and outdoor disco, fireworks, fun day at Aumais Park (hot chocolate, taffy on the snow, BBQ, inflatables, snow sculptures, skating and more).
St. Laurent
February 9, 2020 at Gohier Park (1750 Beaudet St.) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Many outdoor activities for all ages, hot chocolate, inflatable games, and more.
St. Lazare
February 7-9, 2020 at various times. More details to come.
Sud-Ouest
More details to come.
Town of Mount-Royal
Feb. 9, 2020 at Connaught Park (1620 Graham Blvd.) from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Intro to skating (lessons), public skating, inflatable games, animation, snacks, and more.
Verdun
More details to come.
Ville Marie
January 24, 2020 at Walter Stewart Park (corner of d’Iberville St. and de Rouen St.) from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. A sounds & lights skating evening with animation, hot drinks and more.
February 1, 2020 at Parc des Veterans (Papineau Ave. @ Logan St.) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. A winter carnival with music, activities, skating, hot drinks and more.
February 8, 2020 at Parc Toussaint-Louverture (de Maisonneuve Blvd. E.) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. An outdoor family day with music, activities, hot drinks and more.
Westmount
February 8, 2020 at King George Park from 10 am. to 4 p.m. Toboggan run, snowman building contest, inflatable game, bonfire, 3-on-3 hockey tournament, old-fashioned sleigh rides, games, sugar shack, and more.
