Montréal and its partners announce the festive and free events that will punctuate the 2024 holiday season

The City of Montreal, Tourisme Montréal, the Ministère du Tourisme du Québec, the Secrétariat à la région métropolitaine (SRM) of the Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Habitation (MAMH), the SDC Montréal centre-ville and the SDC Vieux-Montréal are proud to announce, following an exceptional call for projects, the festive and free projects that will enliven our downtown core during the 2024 holiday season. Funding of $1.6 million will be granted to the 6 selected thematic events and to the New Year's Day flagship event in Old Montréal.

An innovative, streamlined call for projects for cultural organizations

In the spring of 2024, for the first time ever, all the partners jointly launched an unprecedented call for projects aimed at professional cultural organizations, enabling them to propose events more simply. By bringing funders together early in the process, the city aims to make it easier for cultural organizations to submit projects.A festive holiday season

From the 22 proposals examined by the backers, a jury selected a flagship event for New Year's Eve, as well as six themed events to celebrate the season. The main event, Festivités du 31 décembre, organized by the Festival Igloo, will take place on the Quai Jacques-Cartier in the Old Port of Montreal. On the program: free concerts from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. and a spectacular fireworks display just before the New Year countdown, preceded by a multimedia performance.

Place Jacques-Cartier comes alive from December 29 to 31 with Montréal Festif, an event produced by Aire commune. On the program: free outdoor concerts, themed installations and family activities during the day. The synergy between the signature December 31 event and the festivities on Place Jacques-Cartier will transform Old Montreal into a veritable holiday hub for celebrating the end of the year.

The Quartier des spectacles, meanwhile, will host the 4th Grand marché de Noël, organized by La Lutinerie, and the Festival Noël dans le parc, organized by L'Auguste Théâtre, which was previously held at Place Émilie-Gamelin.

Other activities are also planned in other Montreal venues, such as La manifestation de joie du temps des fêtes de Montréal la plus heureuse, le Noël doux organized by Festival Triste, both at Place du Village in the Ville-Marie borough, and Récits Divers at the Maison de la poésie.

Holiday events in brief:

Quotes

“We are proud to unveil the selected projects, which are the fruit of an innovative approach designed to facilitate the process for cultural organizations when it comes time to submit projects of this scope. The projects selected have a strong artistic vision and make room for key players in Montreal's cultural industry. These free events will provide Montrealers and tourists with a lively and attractive downtown core for the holiday season, as well as consolidating Montreal's reputation as a year-round festival city.”
- Ericka Alneus, Executive Committee member responsible for culture, heritage, gastronomy and nightlife

“In the imagination of our visitors, Montreal is a winter city, festive and lively. The end-of-year celebration of the Festival Igloo is perfectly in keeping with this spirit! In Montreal, we experience winter like nowhere else, and that's why Tourisme Montréal aspires to make Montreal an iconic holiday destination for local and international clientele alike. It's with great enthusiasm that we welcome this new event, which promises not only to be an unmissable gathering, but also a real breath of fresh air in the winter calendar.”
- Yves Lalumière, President and CEO, Tourisme Montréal

“Montréal centre-ville is proud to support free winter programming that will amaze young and old alike this holiday season. Our downtown has always been the place to gather and celebrate our culture under the open sky. This program reinforces that positioning, which contributes to our international reputation.”
- Glenn Castanheira, General Manager, SDC Montréal centre-ville

“Old Montreal is thrilled to become a focal point of the holiday season this year. These events will offer everyone magical moments in a unique historic setting.”
- Mario Lafrance, General Manager, SDC Vieux-Montréal

“The entire Igloofest Montréal team is honoured to take up the torch and orchestrate the December 31, 2024 festivities. We look forward to offering Montrealers an exceptional, spectacular and, above all, unifying event, in the image of our city. We invite all Montrealers to join us at the Quai Jacques-Cartier in the Old Port to celebrate the arrival of the New Year!
- Pascal Lefebvre, President of Groupe Multicolore