Things to do in Montréal: January 16 to 22

With the crisp cold air and the bright shining sun, it’s easy to see the magical aspect of Montréal in the winter these days. It’s time to take full advantage of this world of extremes, where days of playing in the snow at Parc Jean-Drapeau or ice fishing in the Old Port give way to toasty warm evenings in a theatre or at a show bar.

Winter wonderland

The winter’s most amazing dance party is finally back for its 2015 edition: Igloofest lights up the nights in the Old Port for four consecutive weekends starting on January 16. If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to dance the night away in -20 degree weather, now’s your chance! It’s even more fun than you can imagine. Check the site for the schedule and meeting place. If you like your outdoor time a little more mellow, head to the Old Port to try your hand at ice fishing – but make sure you reserve, it’s really popular. Or bring the whole family over to Parc-Jean Drapeau over four weekends starting on January 17, where the Fête des Neiges de Montréal turns the park into a snowy fun fair with activities including ice sculpting, skating, dog-sledding, zip-lining, along with a disco tube ice slide, lots of food trucks, live music, plays for kids and the West Coast Lumberjack Show, featuring all sorts of feats of strength and hardiness. Meanwhile, in the Quartier des Spectacles, the Luminothérapie light art festival presents free guided one-hour tours of the works that are part of the festival and its Luminous Pathway until January 31.

Hot, hot dance

You only have a couple more days to catch Bouge d’ici , the festival that presents the latest and greatest in emerging dance. Check out the cabaret closing extravaganza on January 17 at 8 p.m., hosted by the charming Amy Blackmore with performances by Chris Godziuk, Stéphanie Morin‑Robert, Maude Yargeau and more. Further eastward on the Plateau, Agora de la danse kicks off its winter/spring season with an exciting show by Montréal choreographer Lina Cruz: Imaginarium, ne pas nourrir les animaux! The show activates five dancers onstage with two live musicians in a kind of joyous, delirious form of physical poetry, to be seen to be believed.

Cozy movies

Phi Centre always has great films on the roster, and this week is no exception, with Félix et Meira (a love story set in Montréal’s Hassidic Jewish community directed by Maxime Giroux) on January 16 at 7:30 p.m. and The Tale of Princess Kaguya (an animated fairytale directed by Japanese director Isao Takahata) on January 19 at 7:30 p.m. Then, starting January 20, Phi presents the Metafilms Carte Blanche series, five nights of films highlighting favourites chosen by Montréal production house’s Nancy Grant and Sylvain Corbeil. On the menu are lots of French-language classics, including the black-and-white film À tout prendre, directed by Claude Jutras in 1963, which beautifully illustrates the 1960s intellectualism in Montréal. Meanwhile, at the SAT, the winter season of screenings launches on January 15 and continues until February 13 with a sensually immersive double feature in the Satosphere, including an allegory on a make-believe biochemical future and a work inspired by dystopic architectural landscapes.

Live music

Aside from the musical full-meal-deal that is Igloofest (check out the impressive lineup here), there are lots of acts playing indoor venues this week too. On Friday night, January 16, there’s a plenitude of local bands to choose from, including the unhinged jazzy rock of Nutsak at Brasserie Beaubien, The This Many Boyfriends Club at L’Escogriffe on Saint-Denis Street and a Lifers Records showcase at La Vitrola featuring Enforcers, Harriers, Nuke, Plus Minus and Lifespent. Pale Lips play Casa del Popolo on Saturday, January 17. Or if dancing’s on your mind, check out Mark Knight, Prok Fitch and Weiss at New City Gas, or Jimmy Be at Stereo. Chill to the relaxed folk rock of Joseph Edgar at Quai des Brumes on January 18. Then there’s Sam Smith at the Bell Centre on January 19, with opener George Ezra. Weyes Blood heats upDivan Orange on Tuesday night, January 20, while Couteau Papillon plays Casa del Popolo up the street. And don’t miss Slim Twig with opening act U.S. Girls at Bar Le Ritz PDB on January 21.