MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE – 25 Winters of Playing Outdoors

MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE

From February 29 to March 10, join in the festivities for this anniversary edition celebrating 25 years of innovative outdoor winter play. The tradition continues this year with the return of the iconic CeraVe Skating Loop, a festival staple that Montrealers have truly claimed as their own. With its immersive skating rinks, themed activities, fun entertainment and vibrant musical atmosphere, MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE invites you to lace up your skates and make this winter a season you’ll never forget!

“More than ever, Montréal wants to truly experience winter rather than simply enduring it. Combining the gourmet program, numerous indoor shows, an outdoor site, Nuit blanche and spring break, MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE is a major gathering that proves that Montréal is a festive city, even in winter.” – Jacques Primeau, festival’s general manager

“Download the MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE app and you won’t be able to take your eyes off our fantastic programming. An endless selection of activities will keep you on your toes between now and the big day! If the festival were somewhere else, you’d probably even take a plane with your family to go! So hop on the métro and come have some fun! We can’t wait to see you there!!!” – Alexandra Diaz, spokesperson for the 25th edition

Rediscover two unique musical skating rinks

Eagerly awaited every year, the innovative CeraVe Skating Loop will be back this year at the Place des Festivals. This one-of-a-kind aerial skating loop offers festival-goers a breathtaking view of the cityscape. Over 300 metres long and lined by enchanting LED light tubes, the iced path also has an exciting musical vibe! To warm up after a few laps, skaters can head over to the chalet de patin Tim Hortons, where skates will be available for rent, as well as to the bistro SAQ, a heated area offering gourmet delights, wines, spirits and hot cocktails in a friendly atmosphere.

The Rogers DJ Booth will get the CeraVe Skating Loop and all of the Place des Festivals grooving with local DJ sets every night!

On February 29, versatile DJs will get festival‑goers dancing to the sound of today’s biggest hits at the multi-genre night. On March 1, dance to the end of the computer world at the Y2K night. On the docket: Eurodance, oldies and hip-hop hits from the turn of the millennium! On March 2, we’ll celebrate the Nuit blanche in party mode with an EDM and electro night featuring the renowned Cloverdale and indigenous artist Pøptrt from the Mohawk nation. On March 3, get ready for inline skating with a totally country night! On March 6, it’s kids’ night at the Place des Festivals, with Kleancut’s Loop program grads taking over the turntables. On March 7, get carried away by an evening fusing punk + afrobeat + Latin styles, accompanied by a dance performance. The festival will also offer a nostalgic nod to the golden years of punk rock with Sno Jam ‘24, a compendium of the best of the ‘90s, ‘00s and more recent hits from this musical genre. On March 8, we celebrate International Women’s Rights Day with programming that is 100% by women, including Canada’s LYKX, the first woman to win the REDBULL THRE3STYLE! On March 9, a 100% disco night features Bolarinho and his discorinho, along with KIINJO. On March 10, the festival comes to a proper close with a vintage funk, jazz and soul mood with Lexis!

Already a popular spot since opening last November, the Place Loto-Québec skating rink at the Esplanade Tranquille will get even cooler during MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE, thanks to free activities and entertainment that are definitely worth checking out, including Brille! by Red Lips District. Including Alex-Anne Aubé-Kubel, this six-skater troop invites you onto the ice to twirl and shine with them. A few players from the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL Montreal) will be on-site on March 1 to skate and meet festivalgoers. You also won’t want to miss the interactive ice experience Au bord du lac Tranquille by Mirari and Normal Studio.

Music lovers will get to appreciate the diversity of ICI MUSIQUE outdoors, thanks to the musical mood and DJ sets specially created for the occasion and presented by Radio-Canada’s top music radio hosts. ICI MUSIQUE will be taking over the Place Loto-Québec skating rink at the Esplanade Tranquille on Thursdays and Fridays from 6 to 8pm and on Saturday, March 9, from 2 to 4pm, with DJ sets prepared and hosted by Olivier Robillard Laveaux, Samian, Philippe Fehmiu, Alexandre Courteau and Catherine Pépin.

Tons of fun, sports and gourmet activities
Discover the array of fun activities set up on the Place des Festivals, such as the défi de vitesse Tim Hortons, featuring a new skating “drag strip” that will test your abilities with the help of an indicator light. It’s the perfect place to stretch your legs! The Grande roue Loto-Québec is where it’s at to get some fresh air and see the Quartier des Spectacles from a whole new perspective. And who knows, you might even climb aboard the lucky passenger car and win an instant prize and an entry in the grand prize draw! Characters inspired by the show KURIOS Cabinet of Curiosities will greet the public at the Cirque du Soleil’s heated booth. Chez Canton, a pop-up restaurant in the heart of the Place des Festivals, is the spot to meet up with friends and family for a delicious fondue or a comforting soup. Last but not least, the Festival’s Sugar Shack is the ideal place to relax after all the thrills to savour taffy on snow and other maple products in a warm, inviting atmosphere.

Culture in the streets
The entire outdoor site comes alive during MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE. Don’t miss the Barantanga’s light-up drums, a dazzling lit-up drum street performance, and Stonda, a drum ensemble with dynamic choreography that fuses music from places far and wide and adapts it to Brazilian instruments. Be on the lookout for Uplift 514, an energetic collective celebrating the rich cultural and dance heritage of Afro-descendant communities.

A source of beauty and wonder, the projections on the walls of the WILDER – Espace danse building and UQAM’s Pavillon President-Kennedy building enhance the festival’s outdoor site every year. This year, experience a new collaboration with MUTEK in Last Species on Earth by Shonee, a Montréal artist originally from Costa Rica who explores human control over animals and the environment in this beautiful and tragic artwork. Also on display is a projection inspired by the visual branding of the 2024 edition, created especially for the festival by visual artist Caitlin McDonagh. The piece Montréal d’hier et d’hiver by multidisciplinary artist Karine Lanoie-Brien will be back this year in collaboration with the National Film Board of Canada (NFB). It digs into the archives of winter to illustrate the great love affair between Montréal and ice skating.

And don’t forget the Luminothérapie walk, a Quartier des Spectacles Partnership event, which once again this year will decorate the outdoor site with its colourful, majestic works along Sainte-Catherine Street West.

For more information visit: www.montrealenlumiere.com