Activities in Montreal in Winter

Montreal Canadiens

• Hockey season runs October through April, with the Montreal Canadiens providing months of exciting hockey action on the ice. The Canadiens, founded in 1909, have won more Stanley Cups than any other team. They won their first Stanley Cup in 1916, and by 2009 had won it 24 times. (See Reference 1) No other National Hockey League team has even come close. The team plays at La Centre Bell (Bell Center),

  Montreal Canadiens
  Le Centre Bell
  260 Rue De la Gauchetière Ouest
  Montreal, Quebec
  Canada
  514-932-2582
  canadiens.nhl.com/index.html

La Fete des Neiges de Montreal

• La Fete des Neiges is the major winter carnival in Montreal, taking place annually over three weekends in January and February. As the name implies, this snow festival involves a lot of activities in the snow: snowshoeing, snow tubing, cross-country skiing and ice skating, both on a rink and a path along the St. Lawrence River. (See Reference 2) There are demonstrations of winter sports, games of skill on snow and pick-up hockey games. The action takes place at Parc du Jean Drapeau, which was the site of the 1967 World's Fair.

  Societe du parc Jean Drapeau
  1, Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve
  Montreal, Quebec
  Canada H3C 1A9
  514-872-6120
  parcjeandrapeau.com/106-La_fete_des_neiges_de_Montreal_2010-event.html

Parc du Mont Royal

• The Parc du Mont Royal (Mount Royal Park) is Montreal's most-well known park. This 494-acre park has the highest point in Montreal, which provides outstanding views of the city. The park, established in 1876, was designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, who also landscaped Central Park in New York City. (See Reference 3) The park offers many opportunities for snow-related activities, including ice skating, cross-country skiing and snow tubing. The less active can go for rides in horse-drawn sleighs.

  Parc du Mont Royal
  Centre de la montagne
  Smith House
  1260 Remembrance Road
  Montreal, Quebec
  Canada H3H 1A2
  514-843-8240
  montreal.com/parks/mtroyal.html

Salon des métiers d'art

• Founded in 1955, the Salon des métiers d'art has since turned into the biggest arts and crafts exhibition and sale in Canada. The annual show takes place over three weeks in December, and provides a venue for Montreal residents to buy handcrafted gifts to give as Christmas presents. The salon also provides music and dance performances and fashion shows. (See Reference 4) Artisans also demonstrate their specialty. The show usually features more than 400 exhibitors, with almost a quarter of a million people attending each year. It is usually held at Place Bonaventure.

  Salon des métiers d'art
  Place Bonaventure
  800 de la Gauchetière St. West
  Montreal, Quebec
  Canada
  514-861-2787
  metiers-d-art.qc.ca/smaq/index.php?lang=en