Les Grand Ballets Canadiens' The Nutcracker is a 55-year Christmas tradition: see tell the story of Clara and her Nutcracker fighting baddies up at Place-des-Arts until December 30. There are plenty of matinee shows to take the kids to!
Still looking for last-minute gifts or activities to fill the hours? Just outside Place-des-Arts is the Christmas Market, with little booths selling hot toddies and artsy trinkets. There are activities for kids and giant polar bears and reindeer for family photo ops. Open until December 24. While you're there, pop by Impulse, an interactive display of 30 light-up seesaws that have returned to big open space on Jeanne-Mance.
Masson Street in Rosemont is also hosting a Christmas event on Saturday, with Santa's elves handing out candy and playing hide-and-go-seek at the St-Espirt Church on Masson and 6th Avenue.
Bringing the big top to the big rink, Crystal is the first-ever Cirque de soleil show on ice. Our heroine Crystal is on a journey of self-discovery that involves acrobats, ice skaters and a pickup hockey game that turns the rink into a pinball machine. Be among the first to see it at Bell Centre until December 31.
Speaking of skates and the circus, Patinoire is a one-man show at La Tohu that reminds some of Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin and Peter Sellers. Hard to believe that the creator and star was once a 24-year-old chemist who decided to gamble on a career change and joined the circus. Flash forward 24 years, Patrick Léonard (also a founder of troupe Les Sept Doigts) is wowing audiences in this funny as a multitalented, ukulele-playing clown on roller skates.
Tinder Tales is a storytelling show about the follies of dating, imported from Toronto for the first time tonight in Montreal. Organizer and comic Emma Wilkie chose Christmas of a theme, putting this catchy title to good use: Tinder Tales: The 12 Days of Christmas. The dozen storytellers include singer songwriter Claire Porter and comedian Tranna Wintour. The BYOB event is in a loft at 3655 St Laurent. Tickets are through Evenbrite.
And for those who love to see a little skin during this chilly time of year, there is Divine Danny D and Elle Diabloe's A Guide to a Very Sexy Christmas Saturday night at The Wiggle Room. Ho ho ho... burlesque performers include Miss Meow, Baron von Styck and Honey Dynamite.
And don't forget to tune into CJAD's cherished Christmas programming: A Paul Reid Christmas airs Sunday at 3pm and Christmas Day at 4pm, among other gems.