For our apartments, we’d like a small Christmas tree—not too small, not too big. And some oranges to dry in the oven to make garlands, and chestnut cream to mix with yogurt to eat on weeknights.
And to pick all that up, we’ll obviously grab our little basket, make a list, and head to one of Montreal’s major public markets: Jean-Talon Market, Maisonneuve Market, or Atwater Market.
And during the holiday season, Jean-Talon Market and Maisonneuve Market are transformed for a few weekends into Holiday Markets—with all that entails.
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“THE HOLIDAY SEASON AT THE MARKET” AT MAISONNEUVE MARKET AND ATWATER MARKET
On our holiday shopping list—handwritten with a red or green pen with a ribbon tied to the end (a must)—there’s a Christmas tree, a spruce wreath, a turkey, cranberries, mushrooms, chestnuts, wines, cheeses, and a little extra magic to make everything come together perfectly on the palate.
At Maisonneuve Market, on November 28 and 29, 2026, there will be an artisan market, an outdoor market, and a little bit of everything. We’ll go there to pick out our Christmas tree and some Christmas ornaments handmade by local artisans.
The program is here;
November 28, 2026
- The Hummingbirds Sing Christmas, a roaming a cappella trio: 11:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- Christmas Choir: 1:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. (outdoors) and 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (indoors)
- Renard, a wandering singer-songwriter and storyteller with a guitar: 2:00 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- The Christmas Angel, a luminous figure on stilts: 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
November 29, 2026
- Les Draveurs Gaffeurs, a roaming clown duo: 11:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- Musimim Choir: 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- Visit with Santa Claus: 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- The Circus Elves, a roaming juggling act: 1:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.
- The Ice Blower, luminous characters on six-foot stilts, to the sound of the didgeridoo: 4:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
At Jean-Talon Market, every weekend from December 4 to 20, there will be a Holiday Market on the mezzanine. We’ll go there to pick up a panettone, some foie gras to cook, radicchio, and some really good coffee to drink while we cook.
The schedule of free activities is here;
- Friday, December 4: Les Hummingbirds sing Christmas carols—a roaming a cappella trio—starting at 1 p.m.; Les Cabaneux and their “ski-role,” sing-along songs and traditional Quebec tunes for the whole family, at 4 p.m.; and Chœur en commun, a 15-voice choir, at 5 p.m.
- Saturday, December 5: The Elf Mailman, Chef Pinphéas, a workshop for writing letters to Santa Claus, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Marie-Rose Kouadjo, singer-songwriter, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
- Sunday, December 6: the Muzi Choir, a 15-voice choir accompanied by jazz pianist Chantale Morin, at 11 a.m. on the mezzanine and at noon in the market; the Chorale des Intrépides, a choir of nearly 40 voices, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.; a visit from Santa Claus from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- Friday, December 11: Christmas Carols—classic Christmas tunes and whimsical anecdotes—from 2:00 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. and from 3:15 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.; the Chœur en commun at 5:00 p.m.
- Saturday, December 12: The Elf Mailman, Chef Pinphéas, a workshop for writing letters to Santa Claus, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.; the Épicéa violin trio from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sunday, December 13: the Muzi Choir at 11 a.m. on the mezzanine and at 12 p.m. in the market; a visit from Santa Claus from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.; the Chœur en commun starting at 4 p.m.
- Friday, December 18: Renard, singer-songwriter and storyteller, from 1:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. and from 2:15 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.; Christmas carols from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Saturday, December 19: Chef Pinphéas, the Elf Mailman, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; cooking workshops for kids with “C’est moi le chef!” on the theme “Clément the Snowman,” from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (registration opens two weeks before the workshop); the Chœur en commun at 4 p.m.
- Sunday, December 20: the Muzi Choir at 11 a.m. on the mezzanine and at 12 p.m. in the market; a visit from Santa Claus from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
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PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Where and When?
- Maisonneuve Market / November 28 & 29, 2026
- Jean-Talon Market / Dec. 4–6 / Dec. 11–13 / Dec. 18–20, 2026
What? Free admission
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