The mild weather of the last few days has made several winter activities that normally bring joy to Quebecers at this time of year impracticable. But just because there’s no more snow doesn’t mean there aren’t more things to do during the holidays. Here are some recommendations to make the most of this exceptionally “green” holiday season.
Winter sports — Most outdoor skating rinks and cross-country ski trails in Quebec are currently closed or in poor condition, but others remain open, and several winter sports are still practicable. This is the case for alpine skiing: many centers produce artificial snow and open even only part of their slopes. Refrigerated outdoor rinks can also compensate. Those of Esplanade Tranquille, in Montreal, and Place d’Youville, in Quebec, are particularly popular, both with tourists and locals.
Indoor leisure — Several indoor sports and recreational facilities remain open during the holidays. This is of course the case for gymnasiums, swimming pools and arenas, but also other leisure centers for the whole family, such as the Bora Parc at the Village Vacances Valcartier, near Quebec, the Ninja Factory in Brossard or the Children’s Museum from Laval.
Museums — Museums of all kinds are another great way to enjoy the holiday holidays without regretting the lack of snow. History buffs will want to visit the Musée de la civilization in Quebec or the Pointe-à-Callière history museum in Montreal, and art lovers can take a trip to the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec and the Musée of Fine Arts of Montreal (MBAM), among others. Please note that the MMFA requires an online reservation in advance to visit the exhibition Marisol: a retrospective until December 31 due to high traffic, and that most Quebec museums will be closed on December 1er January. In addition, the Cinémathèque québécoise is closed until January 4.
Festivals — Many festivals are organized in Quebec during the holidays. In Montreal, Christmas in the Park continues until December 31. The music festival will close with a “New Year’s Eve” at Place Émilie-Gamelin, mixing music and traditional dance. In Quebec, the Kaléidoscopes festival (theatre, storytelling and gastronomy) and Toboggan (music) also continue until Sunday. A show by singer Les Louages and DJ performances are notably planned for the evening of December 31 of the Toboggan festival, at the Place de l’Assemblee-Nationale, in downtown Quebec City.
Urban facilities — In addition to festivals, various urban installations allow Quebecers to have fun outside, with or without snow. As every year, Luminothérapie lights up Montreal’s Quartier des spectacles. Place des Festivals also hosts the Grand Montréal Christmas Market until December 30. In Laval, the Illumi course remains open to the public until January 7, the date of its permanent closure. And in Quebec, the Dufferin Terrace slide and the Onhwa’Lumina light trail in Wendake are among the most popular holiday activities.