Though the holiday season is behind us, there are still plenty of reasons to celebrate these colder months. No one knows this better than Montreal, a city notorious for its frigid winter temperatures as well as its party culture and truly Canadian activities. Rather than retreat indoors, Montreallers take to the great outdoors to make the most of the season’s offerings. From a historical tour on snowshoes to an icy music festival, there’s no shortage of wintertime events in the fun-filled Quebecois city this month. If you’re heading to Montreal this month, here are a few leading activities to help you complete your wintertime getaway. 

Photo: villagemammouth on Instagram

Village Mammouth (Until March 9th)

Located in the foot of the Olympic Stadium, Village Mammouth is a winter wonderland that is fun for the whole family. The attraction has a number of winter activities, including a skating rink and a snow slide. The Village’s “Snowfood” takes place every Saturday, where visitors can find delicious street food and music from local and international DJs. New to Village Mammouth this year is their “District Nord,” a winter market where local artisans will display their goods.

Photo: centaurtheatre on Instagram

Wildside Festival (Until January 15th)

The Wildside Theatre Festival is run by the Centaur Theatre Company and takes place over a ten day period. The festival features seven shows of the year’s most cutting edge theatre. Notable plays include this year’s “Best of Fringe” winner, “Self Exile” written by and starring Nisha Coleman, and “Empire of the Sun,” a play written by and starring former CBC personality Tetsuro Shigematsu.

Photo: igloofest_mtl on Instagram

Igloofest (January 12th – February 19th)

Only in Montreal could you find an outdoor music festival during the coldest days of the year. Igloofest is an annual electronic music festival which takes place at the Old Port of Montreal. Electronic music fans come from far and wide to dance under the stars in one of Montreal’s oldest neighbourhooods. On top of live programming from international DJs, Igloofest is known for its dynamic igloo village where visitors can take a break from the live music and relax in sculptures made entirely of ice. The festival also runs “Iglooswag,” a unique competition for winter wear.

Photo: parcjeandrapeau on Instagram

Parc Jean-Drapeau Snowshoe Tours (January 16th – February 7th)

Enjoy the crisp winter weather while learning more about the famous Expo 67, a world fair held in Montreal in 1967. Every weekend from January 16^th until February 7^th, Parc Jean-Drapeau will run guided snowshoe tours through their vast grounds, illustrating the layout and history of the 1967 festivities. The tour includes access to the top of Levi’s Tower, which offers unparalleled panoramic views of the city. The tour lasts two hours, with two tours embarking each Saturday and Sunday.