Fireworks set to make BIG return at Montreal’s Old Port this New Year’s Eve!

‘Tis the season of Montreal announcing its celebrations for the 2024 holidays!

And among the long list of free festivities set to brighten the city, is an event that many have been longing for: midnight fireworks at the Old Port on New Year’s Eve.

The island hasn’t experienced this for a while now — since the Montréal en Fêtes decided last year to permanently end their holiday festival near the city’s waterfront, after the organization also cancelled its 2022 edition while it reviewed its financial feasibility.

On Tuesday, the City of Montreal announced that Igloofest is now set to host the Dec. 31 festivities.

“Montréal centre-ville is proud to support free winter programming that will amaze young and old alike during the holidays,” said Glenn Castanheira, CEO of the SDC Montréal centre-ville, in a press release. “Our downtown has always been the perfect place to gather and celebrate our culture in the open air.”

“This programming reinforces this positioning, which contributes to our international reputation.”

Funding of $1.6 million will be granted to the six selected thematic events and to the flagship event on New Year’s Day in Old Montreal, announced the City.

This all began in the spring of 2024 where, for the first time, all partners jointly launched an unprecedented call for projects for professional cultural organizations so that they can propose events more simply.

By bringing together funders from the beginning of the process, the press release said that “the City aims to facilitate the submission of projects for cultural organizations.”

Among 22 proposals reviewed by the funders, a jury selected a flagship New Year’s event as well as six themed events to celebrate the season.

New Year’s Eve

This event is set to take place on the Jacques-Cartier Quay in the Old Port of Montreal.

Free concerts from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. and those highly anticipated midnight fireworks display is already on the program.

Montréal Festif

Place Jacques-Cartier will also come alive from Dec. 29 to 31 with Montréal Festif.

On the program: free outdoor concerts, themed events and family activities during the day.

“The synergy between the Dec. 31 signature event and the festivities on Place Jacques-Cartier will transform Old Montreal into a true holiday hub to celebrate the end of the year,” the City wrote.

Grand marché de Noël

The Grand marché de Noël will also make its big return — for their fourth edition — at the Quartier des spectacles from Nov. 22 to Dec. 30, 2024.

The event, a place filled with merchants, music, and fun for the entire family to enjoy.

Other activities are also planned across the city:

• La manifestation de joie du temps des fêtes de Montréal la plus heureux
• Le Noël doux (both at Place du Village in the Ville-Marie borough and Récits Divers)

“In the minds of our visitors, Montreal is a wintery, festive and lively city,” said Yves Lalumière, President and CEO of Tourisme Montréal. “The Igloo Festival’s year-end celebration is perfectly in line with this spirit!”

“We are enthusiastic about this new event, which promises to be not only a must-see gathering,” he added. “But also a real breath of fresh air in the winter calendar.”