Get ready for festive fun in Longueuil! Our guide features all the top holiday events and activities. For both Longueuil locals and tourists, this guide unveils the season's best activities and events.
Experience the magic of the season at the enchanting Christmas Market, where you'll find unique gifts and delicious treats. Delight in the beautiful choreography and timeless music of The Nutcracker Ballet, a holiday classic. And don't forget, the Montreal Santa Claus Parade is something you definitely don't want to miss, with its lively floats and festive cheer. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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The Top Christmas Events in Longueuil
See these and even more events listed below!Longueuil Holiday Light Displays
Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
What to Expect:
Combines tree lighting with a local history exhibition
Description:
Longueuil's Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony illuminates more than just the towering evergreen at Place Charles-Le Moyne. The event pairs the traditional lighting with an outdoor exhibition chronicling Longueuil's 360-year history. As the tree sparkles to life, visitors can explore illuminated panels detailing the city's evolution from a 17th-century seigneurial system to a modern urban center. The ceremony, initiated in the 1950s, has grown to become a cherished annual event that connects holiday spirit with local heritage.
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Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
Longueuil Holiday Markets and Shopping
Christmas Market
What to Expect:
Showcases local Québécois artisans and cuisine
Description:
Longueuil's Christmas Market transforms Place Charles-Le Moyne into a bustling hub of Québécois culture. Local artisans display intricate handicrafts, while the aroma of traditional tourtière and maple-infused treats wafts through the air. You can participate in hands-on workshops to learn traditional crafting techniques. This market, established in 1985, has become a cornerstone of Longueuil's holiday season, celebrating the rich heritage of French-Canadian artistry and culinary traditions.
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Longueuil Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Longueuil Santa Express Train
What to Expect:
Interactive train ride with storytelling and caroling
Description:
The Longueuil Santa Express Train whisks passengers on a journey through a winter wonderland. As the train chugs along, professional storytellers weave tales of Québécois holiday folklore, accompanied by live carolers performing both classic and lesser-known French-Canadian Christmas songs. Children can participate in a scavenger hunt, spotting holiday scenes through the frosted windows. This unique experience, launched in 2010, has quickly become a beloved tradition, blending transportation history with holiday entertainment.
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Nearby Events
The Nutcracker Ballet (Montreal)
What to Expect:
Incorporates uniquely Canadian elements into the classic ballet
Description:
Montreal's rendition of The Nutcracker Ballet infuses the classic tale with distinctly Canadian flair. Dancers glide across the stage in costumes inspired by the Great White North, including a Sugar Plum Fairy adorned with maple leaf motifs. The production features a scene where the Land of Sweets transforms into a winter wilderness, complete with choreographed routines mimicking ice skating and dog sledding. This innovative adaptation, first introduced in 1964, honors both ballet tradition and Canadian identity.
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Montreal Santa Claus Parade (Montreal)
What to Expect:
Bilingual parade celebrating Montreal's diverse communities
Description:
Montreal's Santa Claus Parade marches down Rue Sainte-Catherine, showcasing the city's vibrant multiculturalism. Floats represent various cultural communities, each offering their unique take on holiday traditions. The parade's bilingual nature shines through with alternating French and English announcements. Children can delight in catching candy canes tossed from passing floats. This parade, dating back to 1925, stands as a testament to Montreal's commitment to inclusivity and cultural celebration during the holiday season.
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Montreal Christmas Village (Montreal)
What to Expect:
Recreates a traditional Québécois village from the 1800s
Description:
Montreal's Christmas Village transports visitors to a 19th-century Québécois settlement. Costumed interpreters bring history to life, demonstrating traditional crafts and customs of early French-Canadian settlers. The village buzzes with activity as blacksmiths forge ornaments and bakers prepare old-fashioned holiday treats in wood-fired ovens. You can try your hand at candle-making using traditional methods. This immersive experience, established in 1994, offers a glimpse into the holiday celebrations of Quebec's past.
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Holiday Festivities at La Ronde (Montreal)
What to Expect:
Combines holiday themes with thrilling amusement park rides
Description:
La Ronde's Holiday Festivities blend the excitement of an amusement park with the spirit of the season. Roller coasters zoom past twinkling light displays, creating a unique fusion of thrill and holiday cheer. The park's Ferris wheel transforms into a giant snowflake, offering breathtaking views of Montreal's skyline. Visitors can enjoy a special "Polar Plunge" water ride, heated for winter enjoyment. La Ronde, opened in 1967 for Expo 67, continues to innovate its holiday offerings each year.
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Holiday Festivities at La Ronde
Christmas Concerts at Marie-Reine-du-Monde Cathedral (Montreal)
What to Expect:
Showcases rare 19th-century organ music
Description:
Christmas Concerts at Marie-Reine-du-Monde Cathedral resound with the majestic tones of its historic Casavant organ. The program features rarely performed 19th-century French-Canadian compositions, bringing centuries-old sheet music to life. The cathedral's neo-baroque architecture amplifies the organ's rich harmonies, creating an immersive auditory experience. Attendees can admire the intricate nativity scene crafted by local artisans. These concerts, a tradition since the cathedral's consecration in 1894, celebrate Montreal's rich musical and architectural heritage.
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Christmas Concerts at Marie-Reine-du-Monde Cathedral
Christmas at St. Joseph’s Oratory (Montreal)
What to Expect:
Hosts one of North America's largest outdoor nativity scenes
Description:
St. Joseph's Oratory presents a grand-scale outdoor nativity scene, one of the largest in North America. Life-sized figures, meticulously crafted by Quebec sculptors, depict the biblical story amidst a carefully recreated Bethlehem landscape. The Oratory's carillon, featuring 56 bells, chimes holiday melodies that echo across Mount Royal. Visitors can explore the Oratory's museum, showcasing centuries of nativity art from around the world. This tradition, begun in 1954, reflects the Oratory's significance in Montreal's religious and cultural landscape.
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Christmas at St. Joseph’s Oratory
Westmount Christmas Events (Westmount)
What to Expect:
Combines Victorian-era traditions with modern sustainability practices
Description:
Westmount's Christmas Events blend Victorian charm with contemporary eco-consciousness. The historic Westmount Conservatory hosts a display of heritage poinsettias, showcasing varieties popular in the 19th century. Carolers in period costumes serenade visitors along Greene Avenue. You can participate in a zero-waste gift-wrapping workshop using sustainable materials. These events, evolving since Westmount's incorporation in 1874, reflect the community's commitment to preserving its heritage while embracing modern environmental values.
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Saint-Bruno Christmas Fair (Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville)
What to Expect:
Focuses on locally-sourced, sustainable holiday goods
Description:
Saint-Bruno's Christmas Fair champions eco-friendly holiday celebrations. Vendors offer a wide array of locally-sourced, sustainable gifts and decorations, from hand-carved wooden ornaments to organic wool sweaters. The fair's food court serves up gourmet twists on traditional Québécois holiday dishes, all made with ingredients from nearby farms. Visitors can join a workshop on creating natural, biodegradable gift wrap. This fair, established in 2015, embodies Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville's dedication to combining holiday traditions with environmental stewardship.