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It’s getting to be that time of year again—when midterms are fading from memory and finals are just far enough away that panic mode hasn’t quite set in yet. The time of year when the snow begins to fall and the Canada Goose jackets come out. The time of year when Montreal lights up (literally) with holiday spirit, regardless of the American students insisting that Thanksgiving hasn’t even happened yet. It’s never too early to start celebrating the holidays, especially in a diverse place like Montreal. The city has a wide variety of attractions to fit any interest—from Christmas sing-alongs to fireworks in the Old Port—so that anyone looking for a little extra cheer before exams will not have to look far. 

Few things invoke feelings of coziness as much as bright, colourful lights against a pitch black sky, which is something Montreal has in spades throughout the holidays. If you need a little break from studying, take a stroll down McGill College and take in all the lit-up trees and wreaths along the sidewalk. The Christmas tree at Place-Ville Marie perfectly tops off the whole scene, and a holiday-flavoured coffee from Second Cup thrown in makes for an awesome start to the season. Another wonderful winter attraction Montreal has to offer is its skating rinks. Popular rinks such as Beaver Lake on Mont Royal or Bonsecours Basin in the Old Port offer outdoor fun for skaters of any level. Whether you’re going to show off your moves, or are just stepping onto the ice for the first time, the amplified music and good company guarantee a fun afternoon. 

It’s hard to get through December without shopping, but Montreal has some fantastic craft markets to peruse if the Eaton Centre isn’t your thing, though a photo with Santa is a great way to re-live your childhood. The Christmas Craft Fair presented by Pam Davy at St. Phillips church happens on Nov. 26, and promises homemade jewellery, pottery, soaps, and decorations. There is also the longer-running Salon des métiers d’art, which begins on Dec. 3 and goes until Dec. 22 at Place Bonaventure. It has been called the biggest professional craft show and sale in Canada. 

If Christmas carols are your favourite part of the holidays, the CBC hosts a sing-in from the church of St. Andrew and St. Paul every year that you definitely won’t want to miss. This year, it’s on Dec. 4, admission is free, and the performance is broadcast to the rest of Canada. There are also free Christmas choir concerts Saturdays and Sundays at 1:30 and 3 p.m. from Dec. 4 to Dec. 31. Les Choralies de la Chappelle Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours blends historic vignettes with classic Christmas favourites to create a show which will delight any music or holiday lover. Again, admission is free. 

Although the annual Santa Claus parade has already passed, there is the smaller Plaza St. Hubert’s Christmas parade, dubbed by some the “Other Christmas parade.”  Some prefer this to the more crowded Santa Claus parade downtown, because it starts at 7 p.m. instead of 11 a.m., and offers a chance to drive in an antique fire truck. And, if you like parades, you might also like the Telus Fire on Ice fireworks in the Old Port, which happen every Saturday in December at 8 p.m. The show is called a pyro-musical, and is choreographed to music, which makes the trek down to the Old Port completely worth it. Last but not least, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts presents a Christmas tree display with over 35 different trees for those with an eye for decoration, or anyone looking for ideas for their own tree. The display runs from Dec. 3 to Jan. 2, with free admission. 

Montreal boasts some of the best Yuletide attractions around, so grab a friend, grab a hot holiday drink (nothing says Christmas spirit like an eggnog latte), and make a trip out to see what the city has to offer.