We’re late this month with the festivals. Doesn’t mean they’re not happening.

December 15 2017 – March 25 2018

Thursday and Friday, 4 p.m. – 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Olympic Park (4141 Avenue Pierre-de Coubertin)

free access to site; some activities are extra

Montreal’s Olympic Stadium again opens up its winter village from Thursday to Sundays. There is an 18 meter long slide, a hockey/ice-skating rink, and a variety of other activities. DJs are on hand to keep the beat alive along with a cocktail bar open after 4 p.m. See HERE for more info.

February 22 – March 4, 2018

Place des Arts

This is a large winter festival with a slide, domes and tents, outdoor activities, and of course food. Among those playing and performing, look for the Hurlevents, Minuit, Martha Graham dance, Gabrielle Shonk, and the Freakeasy Circus. For info, click HERE.

February 22 – April 29, 2018

Botanical Garden, 4101 Sherbrooke E

Butterflies fill the Jardin Botanique’s main exhibition greenhouse. Walk in the tropical habitat and see how many creatures mistake you for their favourite flower. Information HERE.

March 3 2018

various

Montreal doesn’t go to sleep as things stay open all night to offer performances, sports, comedy, exhibitions and more. Info HERE.

March 8 – 18

Various

Films about art, artists, and the people who love and hate them, make for a rich series of mostly documentaries. This is a fantastic festival that leaves no discipline un-explored. Info HERE.

February 19 – May 7 2018

Only one can be the best, but over the next few months let your ears decide which of these artists deserves to advance to the next round: Mathieu Bérubé, Lou Adriane Cassidy, Valse Frequence (March 5), Laura Lefebvre, Julien Déry, Mort Rose (March 12); Barrdo, Totem Tabou, Crabe (March 19), Laura Babin, Billy Love Band, Anthony Roussel (March 26), with more to come in April. At Club Lion D’Or. Info HERE.

March 3 – 25 2018

Montreal Underground + Satellite Locations

Get ready to go underground with a festival that puts art where the people are. Art Souterrain works with international art institutions to make visual art more accessible by putting it in the tunnels of the underground city. This year’s theme focuses on work as a recurring problem in the history of art. The works of art here will look at themes such as modern slavery, economic crises, stoppage, migrant work, and prostitution. 70 artists and collectives are participating in 7 km worth of pathways under 13 buildings and art galleries. For those wanting more guidance, there are guided tours available. There are also cinq à septs, workshops, and even audio downloads to go with the event. More info can be found HERE.

March 3 – 11, 2018

The very best of international children’s cinema from over 30 countries plays at Cinema du Parc. Just $9 per film. More info HERE.

Art Matters

March 3- 27, 2018

We at Montreal Rampage believe that art matters. Do you? The annual Concordia festival that celebrates art in its many forms has an appeal that goes well beyond students. Check out who is up and coming as both artists and curators in the city of Montreal. All areas are covered — writing, dance, design, theatre, video, theatre, and digital arts. Check out vernissage yielding to vernissage throughout the whole of March. Click HERE for more information.

March 8 – March 11 2018

The magic of puppetry is always in how the puppeteer gets an inanimate object not just to move, but to move you. This annual festival has over 10 artists and their manipulated creatures.. A few we recommend are The Daisy Theatre at the Centaury, Bijou, and Puppet Slam. More info can be found HERE. Tickets range from $16 to 30 per show.

FIFA (Festival International du Film Sur l’Art)

March 8-18 2018

It might sound meta — movies about art, but it’s so much more than that. The FIFA has gone strong showcasing films from the last year and the year to come related to art topics. These include biographies and documentaries, but also a smattering of fictional works as well. All arts are covered too, from storytelling to painting to dance to filmmaking to… Information HERE.

Slow Wine 2018 — Salon des Vins Bio

March 14, 2018

Montreal has an annual slow food and organic wine show. Learn to eat and drink like you have the time to do it. Or at least, enjoy food that you would eat if you had the time to take your time. Details HERE.

Festival de la Voix

March 16- 27, 2018

Vox Aeterna presents eight concerts and five workshops as a way to support music in the community. More information can be found HERE.

Salon de la Course à Pied de Montréal

March 16 – 18, 2018

Running, jogging, slow walking. It’s all good. Find out more at this salon that will cover everything from gear to how to pace yourself. More info HERE.

Changes that Matter TED x HEC Montreal

March 17 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

If you dig TED talks, check out 12 speakers and good food brought to you by the HEC. Details HERE.

Under the Snow

March 17 – 18, 2018

Under the snow started as a series of indie concerts. Now, it’s grown into a proper underground arts festival to help us get out from under whatever weather is still keeping us down. In addition to music, there’s a bazaar where you can enjoy comix, graphic novels, records, t-shirts, seriographic prints, and all manner of awesome goods. Info HERE.

St Patrick’s Day Parade

March 18 12 noon, starts De Bleury and De Maisonneuve

We’re all Irish on St. Patrick’s day. Some would vote it the best holiday in Montreal, though a close friend calls it Douchebag Christmas. I beg to differ. You can put a Guinness on that if you like. Watch the parade, squeeze into a packed bar on or off Bishop street, and enjoy. Info HERE.

Montreal Digital Spring

March 21 – June 21 2018

Celebrating all of Montreal’s electro-talents, the Digital Spring unites different artistic venues and organizations and gives them recognition for their digital exhibits. Places to keep an eye on include the DHC/ART, the SAT, and the MAC. More info HERE.

Revolution they Wrote: Short Works Feminist Theatre and Performance Festival

March 22-25, 2018 at Mainline Theatre

A four day event features intersectional feminist artists with works focused on the body. Ten artists in two programs and two readings will explore power, vulnerability, and what it means to be in a female or a non-binary body. More info HERE.

Cabane Panache et bois rond 2018

March 22 – 25 , 2018

An urban lumberchack party? If getting to a sugar shack is out of the question, head to Verdun for all the maple syrup products you can eat. Other cool events as well like square dancing and woodcutting are all on. Details HERE.

Expo de Manger Santé et Vivre Vert

March 23 – 25, 2018

An annual foodie event for everyone who likes free samples and green smoothies, the health food festival takes over Palais des Congrès with rows of people who want to help you improve your health. Try the latest organic chocolate and tempeh, learn about different holistic health methods, and enjoy the crowd. More info HERE.

Magic Festival

March 23-25 2018

Those interested in Magic the Gathering, Pokemon, Vanguard, Star Wars, and many other card games, along with their related ilk should check out this salon at the Palais de Congres. Info HERE.

Ongoing at the Museums

1380 Sherbrooke Ouest

Napoléon. Art and Court Life in the Imperial Palace

Feb 3 – May 6, 2018

400 unique works including many never on display before are here to give a new perspective on the Emperor who asserted the legitimacy of the Bonaparte dynasty at the head of France.

Commemorating Dr. Sean B. Murphy (1924-2017)

December 12 to April 1, 2018

Five centuries of prints and drawings are on display to the public following the passing of a much loved museum luminary. Dr. Murphy not only served the museum as a Trustee and President and donated works, but he also was an avid artist himself. See his works on display at the museum now.

Nadia Myre. Scattered Remains

November 15-May 27, 2018

Algonquin First Nation of Kitigan Zibi Anishnabeg artist, Nadia Myre revisits the history of Indigenous peoples in her symbolic works.

Mnemosyne. When Contemporary Art and the Art of the Past Meet

until May 20, 2018

Works by 14 contemporary Quebec and Canadian artists are on display at the Michal and Renata Hornstein Pavilion for Peace.

185 St Catherine Ouest

The Gaze Listens

December 15 2017 to March 25, 2018

The exhibition is about how auditory works and visual works cross boundaries. “Most of the works gathered… are invisible to the ear, but audible to the eye,” it promises. The exhibition includes works by Yves Gaucher, Pascal Grandmaison, Barbara Steinman, and Takis.

That’s How the Light Gets In

December 12, 2018 – August 19, 2018

Quebec and Canadian artists explore the theme of how light comes into their work, inspired by Leonard Cohen’s phrase “There’s a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.”

Leonard Cohen

November 9, 2017 to April 9, 2018

Inspired by the work of the late Leonard Cohen, 40 different artists present 20 works.

2 rue de la Commune Ouest

Main Temporary Exhibition: Indigenous Ingenuity

until March 25, 2018

The First Peoples from North America demonstrate tremendous resilience not just against colonization, but also the forces of nature. Their ingenuity has been a survival tool that helped them and those who came to their lands survive. Designed for children, but easily appreciated by adults, a bear and a trickster guide visitors through a virtual canoe race, show them how to build an igloo, test a kayak’s centre of gravity, and discover interactive frescoes. Indigenous knowledge continues to shape society today.An exhibition of photos of powwow regalia by Roland Lorente and Aline Saffore shows men, women, and children from 14 different nations and tells their stories.

Disheveling!

Explore the hair of many different living creatures both through your senses. Humans, plants, and animals all have hair of different types and visitors can touch and see the many types that exist.

The Topsy-Turvy Storyland

November 19 – March 18, 2018

Fairy tales are reinterpreted in diorama like spaces, using tiny toys. Learn about fairy tales from here and around the world.

Gabor Szilasi The Art World in Montreal, 1960-1980

December 7, 2017 – April 29, 2018

Fab, funk, and pop all come together by looking at the unpublished photographs of Gabor Szilasi who took pictures of many vernissages in a documentary style.

Wearing Our Identity. The First Peoples Collection

ongoing

The heritage of the First Peoples of Canada is on display through this exhibition of different types of dress. Ritual outfits as well as clothing made to match the environment showcase diversity and ingenuity among the different nations.

Pointe à Callière

350 Place Royale

Passion: Hockey

November 25, 2017 to March 11, 2018

Montreal has long loved hockey. This exhibition celebrates the NHL’s centennial and the 125th anniversary of the Stanley Cup.

1920 Rue Baile

Greystone: Tools for Understanding the City

until March 4, 2018

Greystone buildings are ubiquitous in cities everywhere. This exhibition looks at the ones of Montreal and their history from the late 17th century to the early 20th century.

The University is Now on Air: Broadcasting Modern Architecture

until April 1

The Open University, an experiment in distance and adult education that grew out of political forces in the UK has allowed many individuals to enjoy university education without the costs and difficulty of access. Courses were disseminated by television and radio. In particular, this exhibition looks at one of those courses, A305, History of Architecture and Design, 1890-1939.

Where’s Class?

until August 5

This exhibition examines the idea of distance education and how we learn “offline” through spaces that are designed for collective learning experiences.

Up and coming festivals

Dr. Mobilo Aquafest

April 6 – 14, 2018 at Théâtre Fairmount and Théâtre Outremont

Music and humour — this festival is meant to get you out. For info, click HERE.

Fika Festival

April 4 to 29, 2018

Scandinavia celebration in Montreal. Link HERE.