The best Christmas markets in Montreal

Time Out Market Montréal’s an expert at collecting the best of what’s local under one roof. The Marché de Noël Signé Local is running from December 3 to December 11, with 44 vendors (more than 140 brands)—all 100% local, of course—will be made available via Signé Local. Organized with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, there will be loads of handcrafted products and gift ideas for your loved ones. It gets better, too: The Market will unveil a brand new holiday menu on December 5. 

Taking place in one of Montreal’s coolest neighbourhoods that’s home to the coolest street in the world this year, the inaugural edition of Verdun’s Holiday Market will be taking place at the Verdun Auditorium from December 17 to 18. Organized by le Collectif Créatif Montréal—a group of artisans, creators and designers from Montreal and surrounding areas—it’ll no doubt be one of the more festive events of the season for shopping.

Since November 26 and every weekend until December 20, the Montreal Christmas Village takes over the Atwater Market. Aside from the chalets featuring Holiday treats and trinkets, families can enjoy a visit to Santa’s workshop, buy a Christmas tree, sample Sugar Shack fare, and—during the Before Times—catch choir performances along with a kid-friendly Elves’ Kingdom to entertain your kiddos. This year, it's all about the snacking, shopping and gifting.

Taking place November 19th to December 31th from Thursday to Sunday (and until 1am on New Year’s Eve), downtown Montreal’s Quartier des spectacles will be overrun with one of the city’s biggest Christmas markets to date. With as many as 61 vendors for goodies and foods as well as over 150 free activities to take part in, there’s tons to do, but if you want to simply stroll through and pick up a steaming cup of mulled wine? Well, that’s on the table too.

Twice as big as last year, Montreal’s greatest farmers’ market will be transformed into a sprawling village that’ll be home to all things Christmas from November 26th to December 18th. The big drawcard here is, true to form, food: Fill up on cookies, gingerbread and Christmas cupcakes in between picking up your gifts for the holiday season. Be sure to bring the kids if you think they’ll want to see the elf house that’ll be set up.

This year marks the sixth edition of this supremely popular craft fair, and it’ll be taking place on two weekends, November 26 and 27 as well as December 3 and 4. You won’t be disappointed: Its contingent of 85 vendors from Montreal and the rest of Quebec descend on Locoshop Angus with one of the largest selections of potential gifts you’ll see this season: You’ll find clothes, home accessories, Christmas-themed products, and a whole lot more.

Pop Montreal is best known as a music festival, but the organization has extended to present literary, art, and fashion festivals, all under the Pop umbrella. It is also the organizing body of Puces Pop, a craft show that features Montreal artisans who make everything from cards to clothes to pottery to hand-carved toys—like real-life elves. Just be warned, it’s a victim of its own popularity: Puces normally gets extremely crowded, but lucky you, this year's winter edition is taking place over two weekends—December 9 to 11 and December 16 to 18—and is perfect for Christmas and all gift-giving occasions thereafter.

One of the city’s longest running craft fairs, the Salon des Métiers d’Arts features over 350 exhibitors in the Montréal Olympic Stadium. In English, it is called the Montreal Craft Show, but you’re more likely to hear it referred to as Salon des Métiers, or simply Métiers. Getting a stall at Métiers is very competitive, so you know you’re seeing the best of the best when you visit. This year, it's running from December 8 to 18.

Explore the outer regions of Montreal with a trip to the Assomption Christmas Market. It’s an hour drive from Downtown Montreal, but worth the journey. Running from November 25 to December 23, once you’re there, you’ll find rows of adorable shacks filled with Christmas-themed products. Cultural activities run throughout the market’s four weeks of operation. Check out their program and try to catch a performance of the traditional gigue Québécoise.

Make a weekend out of this trip and treat yourself to a mish mash of European traditional activities and products—all nestled in the heart of Quebec City. This year, it's taking place from November 24 to December 23. The grounds are designed to mimic historic German Christmas markets with wooden kiosks featuring crafts, treats, and beer. While you’re there, check out the impressive antiques shops in the old town centre.

Run out of Lavel’s Centre de la nature from December 2 to 4 and December 9 to 11, this Christmas market north of Montreal is a great spot to expand your search even further for great local gifts from a variety of artisans. They’ll also be selling trees, and if you’ve got a pooch, you’re welcome to bring it so long as it’s on a leash!

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Back for its third edition, this Christmas market that’s a 45-minute drive out of the city offers a wide range of options across the three weekends it takes place: From December 2 to 4 it’s all about vendors selling their wares, December 9 to 11 it’s a mix, and December 16 to 18 is entirely devoted to the best of Christmas food a drink (plus a poutine or two). Watch folk dances, see choirs perform, and more.

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Taking place over four weekends, Longueuil becomes an illuminated Christmas village that’s full of festive winter activities like holiday song and dance, hot and fresh food, cup after cup of hot chocolate and mulled wine, and—of course—goods like jewelry, cosmetics, and other local products made by more than 70 exhibitors. It’s family-focused, but ate nights ought to enjoy the Chalet-Bar they’re setting up. Dates have yet to be announced, though; stay up to date on their website.

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