Ready for holiday excitement in Joliette? Let our guide show you all the festive happenings! Whether Joliette is your hometown or your holiday destination, our guide is your festive compass.
Kickoff this delightful season by visiting the enchanting Joliette Christmas Market, bustling with local vendors and holiday treats. For an unforgettable spectacle, the Holiday Train by Canadian Pacific lights up the night with seasonal decorations and joyous performances. And don't forget Christmas at the Market, where you'll find festive goods and entertainment in abundance. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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The Top Christmas Events in Joliette
See these and even more events listed below!Joliette Holiday Markets and Shopping
Joliette Christmas Market
What to Expect:
Local artisans showcase traditional Québécois crafts
Description:
The Joliette Christmas Market transforms the heart of this historic Quebec town into a bustling hub of local artistry. Artisans from across the region showcase their traditional Québécois crafts, offering visitors a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of the area. The air is filled with the aroma of freshly baked pastries as you explore stalls brimming with handcrafted goods. This market dates back to the early 20th century, reflecting the town's longstanding commitment to supporting local craftspeople.
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Christmas Craft Fair
What to Expect:
Focuses on eco-friendly and sustainable holiday crafts
Description:
Joliette's Christmas Craft Fair stands out for its emphasis on eco-friendly and sustainable holiday decorations and gifts. Local artisans demonstrate techniques for creating beautiful ornaments and presents using recycled materials. Visitors can participate in workshops to learn these environmentally conscious crafting methods. The fair reflects Joliette's commitment to sustainability, a movement that has gained momentum in the region over the past decade.
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Nearby Events
Holiday Train by Canadian Pacific (Various Towns)
What to Expect:
Moving train decorated with lights travels across Canada
Description:
The Holiday Train by Canadian Pacific illuminates the night sky as it journeys across Canada, bringing cheer to various towns along its route. This unique traveling spectacle features a locomotive adorned with thousands of LED lights, creating a dazzling display visible for miles. As the train rolls into each stop, it opens up to reveal a stage where live musical performances entertain the crowds. The Holiday Train tradition began in 1999 and has since raised millions for local food banks across the country.
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Holiday Train by Canadian Pacific
Christmas at the Market (Trois-Rivières)
What to Expect:
Combines traditional market with modern culinary experiences
Description:
Christmas at the Market in Trois-Rivières blends the charm of a traditional holiday bazaar with contemporary culinary experiences. Local chefs showcase innovative twists on classic Québécois dishes, offering visitors a taste of the region's evolving food scene. Stroll through the market to discover artisanal products and sample gourmet delights. This event celebrates the city's rich history as a trading post, dating back to 1634, while embracing its modern identity as a cultural hub.
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Winter Festival at Parc de la Rivière-aux-Sables (Chicoutimi)
What to Expect:
Outdoor winter activities in a scenic riverside setting
Description:
The Winter Festival at Parc de la Rivière-aux-Sables in Chicoutimi embraces the snowy landscape, offering a range of outdoor activities along the picturesque Saguenay River. Visitors can try their hand at ice fishing, a traditional practice in the region for centuries. The festival also features snow sculpture competitions, showcasing the artistic talents of local and international sculptors. This event celebrates the resilience and creativity of the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region in embracing its harsh winter climate.
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Winter Festival at Parc de la Rivière-aux-Sables
Santa Claus Parade (Montreal)
What to Expect:
Bilingual parade celebrating Montreal's diverse cultural heritage
Description:
Montreal's Santa Claus Parade marches through the city's streets, reflecting the bilingual and multicultural fabric of Quebec's largest metropolis. Floats and performers represent various cultural traditions, from French-Canadian to newer immigrant communities. The parade's route passes by some of Montreal's most iconic landmarks, offering a unique perspective on the city's architecture. This event has been a Montreal tradition since 1925, evolving alongside the city's changing demographics.
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Ice Skating at Old Port of Montreal (Montreal)
What to Expect:
Skating rink with views of historic Old Montreal
Description:
Ice Skating at Old Port of Montreal offers a unique winter experience against the backdrop of the city's historic district. Glide across the ice while taking in views of centuries-old architecture and the frozen St. Lawrence River. The rink's location in the heart of Old Montreal allows visitors to explore the area's cobblestone streets and boutiques after their skating session. This activity continues a long tradition of winter sports in Montreal, dating back to the city's earliest days.
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Ice Skating at Old Port of Montreal
Nativity Scenes Exhibition (Quebec City)
What to Expect:
Diverse collection of nativity scenes from around the world
Description:
The Nativity Scenes Exhibition in Quebec City showcases a vast array of crèches from diverse cultures and time periods. Visitors can examine intricate details of nativity scenes crafted from materials ranging from wood to precious metals. The exhibition highlights the global interpretations of this Christian tradition, reflecting Quebec City's role as a center of religious art in North America. Some of the displays date back several centuries, offering insight into the evolution of this artistic practice.
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Magical Christmas at Domaine de la Forêt Perdue (Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel)
What to Expect:
Christmas-themed adventure in a forest maze
Description:
Magical Christmas at Domaine de la Forêt Perdue offers a unique holiday adventure through a forest maze in Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel. Visitors navigate winding paths adorned with twinkling lights, encountering surprises and challenges along the way. The experience includes ice skating on a 15-kilometer forest trail, a feature that sets this event apart from typical holiday attractions. This innovative approach to winter recreation has made the Domaine a popular destination since its inception in the early 2000s.
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Magical Christmas at Domaine de la Forêt Perdue
Christmas Village (Drummondville)
What to Expect:
Recreates a traditional Québécois village from the 19th century
Description:
Drummondville's Christmas Village transports visitors back in time to a 19th-century Québécois settlement. Costumed interpreters demonstrate traditional crafts and customs, bringing history to life. The village's buildings, reconstructed with meticulous attention to detail, showcase the architecture and daily life of early French-Canadian settlers. Visitors can try their hand at candle-making, a essential skill in 19th-century Quebec. This immersive experience draws on the region's rich cultural heritage, preserving and sharing traditions that shaped modern Quebec.
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Holiday Choir Performance (Montreal)
What to Expect:
Combines classical choral music with contemporary Quebec compositions
Description:
Montreal's Holiday Choir Performance blends traditional carols with modern compositions by Quebec musicians. The concert showcases the evolution of choral music in the province, featuring pieces that span centuries. Listeners are treated to the rich harmonies of a world-class choir, their voices resonating through the performance space. This event celebrates Montreal's vibrant music scene, which has been a cornerstone of the city's cultural identity since the early 20th century.
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Light Show at Quartier des Spectacles (Montreal)
What to Expect:
Interactive light installations that respond to visitor movements
Description:
The Light Show at Quartier des Spectacles in Montreal pushes the boundaries of traditional holiday displays with cutting-edge, interactive light installations. As you move through the space, the lights respond and change, creating a dynamic and personalized experience. This innovative approach reflects Montreal's status as a UNESCO City of Design, showcasing the intersection of technology and art. The Quartier des Spectacles, developed in the early 2000s, has become a hub for creative and technological innovation in urban spaces.
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Light Show at Quartier des Spectacles
Christmas Artisan Fair (Repentigny)
What to Expect:
Focuses on reviving and showcasing traditional Québécois crafts
Description:
Repentigny's Christmas Artisan Fair spotlights the revival of traditional Québécois crafts, from woodworking to textile arts. Skilled artisans demonstrate centuries-old techniques, preserving cultural practices that were once at risk of being lost. Visitors can watch intricate snowshoe weaving, a craft that played a crucial role in Quebec's early development. This fair is part of a broader movement in Quebec to reconnect with and celebrate the province's rich artisanal heritage.
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Holiday Art Exhibition (Longueuil)
What to Expect:
Showcases contemporary Quebec artists' interpretations of winter themes
Description:
The Holiday Art Exhibition in Longueuil presents a fresh perspective on winter themes through the eyes of contemporary Quebec artists. The exhibition challenges traditional holiday imagery, offering thought-provoking and innovative works that reflect the diverse experiences of winter in the province. Visitors can engage with interactive installations that explore concepts of light and darkness during the winter months. This event highlights Longueuil's growing reputation as a center for contemporary art in Quebec.
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Winter Market (Gatineau)
What to Expect:
Focuses on locally sourced winter produce and products
Description:
Gatineau's Winter Market celebrates the bounty of Quebec's cold season, showcasing locally sourced winter produce and products. Farmers and producers offer hardy vegetables, preserves, and cold-weather specialties unique to the region. Visitors can sample ice wines and ciders produced using traditional winter harvesting methods. This market highlights the ingenuity of Quebec's agricultural community in adapting to and thriving in harsh winter conditions, a practice that dates back to the earliest European settlements in the area.
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Holiday Story Time (Laval)
What to Expect:
Bilingual storytelling featuring Québécois holiday tales
Description:
Holiday Story Time in Laval offers a bilingual journey through Quebec's rich tradition of winter tales. Professional storytellers bring to life both classic and lesser-known stories in French and English, preserving and sharing the province's oral history. Children and adults alike are captivated by tales of the Chasse-galerie and other uniquely Québécois legends. This event celebrates the art of storytelling, which has played a crucial role in preserving Quebec's cultural identity for generations.
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Christmas Train Ride (Saint-Constant)
What to Expect:
Historic train ride through scenic winter landscapes
Description:
The Christmas Train Ride in Saint-Constant takes passengers on a journey through time and picturesque winter scenery. Aboard meticulously restored vintage railcars, travelers experience the golden age of rail travel while enjoying views of snow-covered landscapes. The train passes by historic sites, offering glimpses into the region's railway heritage. This unique experience is made possible by the Canadian Railway Museum, which has been preserving Quebec's railway history since 1961.