'Tis la saison

MONTREAL — It's time for a break from the hustle and bustle. Here's how north of the border celebrates Christmas.

OLD MONTREAL
Chateau Ramezay presents "Christmas at the Chateau," which features authentic table settings and decorations, holiday storytelling, bread-making workshops, Christmas carols and, if weather permits, snowshoeing in the Governor's Garden. Dates and times of activities vary through Jan. 3. And if you hang your holiday stocking on one of the chateau's many fireplace mantles now through Dec. 30, come back between Jan. 2 and 6 to see what Santa has left you. In addition, if you consider the holidays synonymous with good food, pay a visit to the new temporary exhibition "Let's Eat: The Traditional Food of Quebec." Hours are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. $9 for adults, $7 for seniors, $6 for students and $4.50 for children. At 280 Notre Dame St. E. Call (514) 861-3708 or visit www.chateauramezay.qc.ca.

The Centaur Theatre presents the third installment of "Urban Tales," eight staged holiday stories that take place in an urban setting. Dec. 16 through 19. Tickets cost $26 for adults, $20 for seniors and $17 for students and those under 30. At 453 St. François Xavier St. Call (514) 288-3161 or visit www.centaurtheatre.com.

Pointe a Calliere Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History presents its very popular holiday event "Who is the Real Santa Claus?" Here you'll meet costumed actors who portray different versions of "Santas" from around the world. There's Babushka, who teaches you how to say "Merry Christmas" in Russian; Melchior, one of the Magi kings who followed the star to Bethlehem; and Black Peter, who rewards bad children with turnips and lumps of coal. Meet the one and only Santa Claus as well. The Santas lead a 45-minute guided tour about Pointe a Calliere in English at 12:50 and 3 p.m. today, Dec. 12, 13, 19, 20 and 26 through 30. At 350 Place Royale. $13 adults, $9 seniors, $7.50 students and $5 children 6 to 12. Call (514) 872-9150 or visit www.pacmusee.qc.ca.

The animated IMAX holiday adventure "Santa vs. the Snowman 3-D" returns to the Montreal Science Centre IMAX Theatre through the New Year. $12 adults, $11 students and seniors, and $9 children 4 to 12. Call (514) 496-4724 or visit www.montrealsciencecentre.com.

Oh, how fancy! Sir George Etienne Cartier National Historic Site presents the 21st edition of its "A Victorian Christmas," a look at Montreal holiday celebrations circa 1860. The bilingual event, between 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. weekends, features live costumed characters dressed in their finest Victorian-era threads. Also offered is "The Night Before Christmas" Story Hour, a reading of the Clement Clarke Moore holiday classic at 11 a.m. in English Dec. 12 and 19 (reservations required). Open 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Cost is $7.30 for museum admission and live activity. At 458 Notre Dame St. E. Call (514) 283-2282.

Throughout December, Old Montreal's Extravaganza offers choirs and carols, a decorated skating rink, a traditional market, free sleigh rides, nativity scenes, outdoor movies, lighted displays and an outdoor New Year's Eve ball with fireworks at Place Jacques Cartier. Call Tourism Quebec at (877) 266-5687 or visit www.christmasextravaganza.info.

Karaoke buffs to the front of the "¦ pew? Notre Dame Basilica presents its very popular annual "Christmas Sing-Along" with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15 and 16. Adult tickets range from $28.22 to $78.01. Discounts available for those 15 to 30. The basilica also hosts a 90-minute behind-the-scenes guided tour of the neo-Gothic church to areas usually closed to the public, including the sacristy and the Casavant organs. In English at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 27, 29, 31 and Jan. 3. At 110 Notre Dame St. $15 adults and $4 ages 7 to 17. Reservations required at (514) 842-2925 or visit www.basiliquenddm.org. Also visit www.osm.ca.

Notre Dame de Bon Secours Chapel presents Les Choralies, traditional and popular Christmas carol performances presented by a variety of choral groups at 1:30 and 3 p.m. weekends through Dec. 20. Admission is free. At 400 St. Paul St. E. Call (514) 282-8670 or visit www.marguerite-bourgeoys.com.

DOWNTOWN
The Montreal Planetarium looks to the stars for a little holiday inspiration with "The Longest Night," its annual holiday multimedia presentation that explores the origins of Christmas traditions and their relation to the seasons. For ages 9 and up. English shows Tuesday through Sunday at 2:30 p.m. through Dec. 31. $8 adults, $6 students and seniors, and $4 youths 5 to 17. At 1000 St. Jacques St. Call (514) 872-4530 or visit www.planetarium.montreal.qc.ca.

Place des Arts plays host to a number of holiday shows. Les Grands Ballets Canadiens presents its annual holiday production of "The Nutcracker" on various dates and times Dec. 12 through 30. Tickets range from $17.95 to $101.22. Then ring in an elegant New Year with "Salute to Vienna," an annual tradition held the afternoon of Jan. 1. Ticket prices range from $49.88 to $94.88. Finally, if you need a unique gift idea, the Broadway musical smash "Mamma Mia!" returns to Montreal Jan. 5 through 10. Tickets range from $54.15 to $71.87. Call the PdA box office at (514) 842-2112 or visit www.pda.qc.ca.

The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts has a collection of 35 trees decorated by local groups that reflect Quebec's cultural diversity. Through Jan. 3. Free admission. Free Christmas concerts organized by the Volunteer Association of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts feature the Petits Chanteurs du Mont-Royal today, Concerto Della Donna Dec. 13 and the Sainte-Anne Singers Dec. 20. All at 3 p.m. A free workshop from 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 13 lets kids make their own holiday cards with an animal theme. At 1380 Sherbrooke St. W. Call (514) 285-2000 or visit www.mmfa.qc.ca.

For a truly one-of-a-kind holiday gift, visit the 54th edition of Salon des Metiers d'Art du Quebec at Place Bonaventure, which features unique arts and crafts gift ideas in wood, glass, metal and more created by more than 400 artisans. This year features 56 new exhibitors. Now through Dec. 22. Free admission. Call (514) 861-2787 or visit www.salondesmetiersdart.com.

EAST END
The Montreal Botanical Garden features festive and colorful holiday foliage with its annual "Christmas at the Garden" event held in the main exhibition greenhouse through Jan. 3 Select dates offer free concerts and choral music as well. Open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday (and Mondays during the holiday break). $13.50 for adults, $10 for students and seniors, $6.75 children 5 to 17 and $2 children 2 to 4. At 4101 Sherbrooke St. E. Municipal parking costs $10 for the day. Call (514) 872-1400 or visit www.ville.montreal.qc.ca/jardin.

The Montreal Biodome presents "Caillou Discovers Winter," holiday activities that herald the season of snow with storytelling, a winter-themed exploration area where kids can pretend to ice fish, and photo ops with the very animated TV character Caillou himself. The place is great to soak in some warm-weather rejuvenation in the Tropical Rainforest ecosystem when the North Country winter weather begins to get you down. Holiday activities continue through Feb. 14. Closed Mondays. $16 adults, $12 students and seniors, $8 youths 5 to 17 and $2.50 children 2 to 4. At 4777 Pierre De Coubertin Ave. Call (514) 868-3000 or visit www.ville.montreal.qc.ca/biodome.

SURROUNDING
The Montreal Biosphere offers "Green Christmas," eco-friendly holiday activities and creative workshops for kids. DIY Eco-Design workshops let you create gifts and holiday wrapping using recycled and eco-friendly products, or you can even make some edible gifts as well. Workshops are held today, Dec. 12, 13, 19 and 20. Green Tips on how to cut down on holiday over-consumption are available at the Biosphere`s Ecoological House, a totally self-sustaining eco-friendly structure. And today is also the last day of the Recycling-Artists Eco Fair, creative designs of clothing and home decor made from recycled products by 52 Quebec artists. Holiday events continue through Jan. 3. On Ile Ste. Helene of Jean Drapeau Park. $12 adults, $8 students and seniors, and free for children 17 and younger. Call (514) 283-5000 or visit www.biosphere.ec.gc.ca.

St. Joseph's Oratory offers its annual display of nativity scenes from around the world through April 25. This year's display features 180 nativity scenes from 111 countries. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission costs $4. The place gets packed on weekends during the holiday season. Carillon recitals by oratory carillonist Andree-Anne Doane are held at noon and 3 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and at noon and 2:30 p.m. Saturdays. The annual free Christmas concert by the resident Petits Chanteurs du Mont Royal boys choir is held 2:30 p.m. Dec. 21 in the crypt. Christmas Eve and Midnight Mass admission requires assigned tickets. At 3800 Queen Mary Road. Call (514) 733-8211 or visit www.saint-joseph.org.

Tohu, Circus Arts City presents its holiday show "Semianyki," a family-friendly circus performance by the Russian circus troupe Teatr Licedei. Dec. 16 through the New Year. Adult tickets cost $26.25 to $42; children's tickets range from $17.85 to $27.30. Call (514) 376-8648 or visit www.tohu.ca.

Exporail, the Canadian railway museum presents a "Railway Christmas," holiday activities with trains of all sizes in mind. The Toyland Express is a one-fifth scale model train that carried young passengers at Eaton's Toronto department store during the 1950s. It's on display through Jan. 10 as are a collection of vintage toys and miniature scale trains. The holiday activities continue through Jan. 3. Exporail is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends during winter and Dec. 22, 23, 28, 29 and 30. $16 adults, $13 seniors, $10 students and $7 children 4 to 12. At 110 St. Pierre St. in St. Constant on Montreal's South Shore. Call (450) 632-2410 or visit www.exporail.org.

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