Here’s how to celebrate New Year's Eve for free in Montreal and Quebec City

Fireworks explode over the Jacques Cartier bridge during New Years Eve celebrations in Montreal, Monday, January 1, 2018. (Graham Hughes / The Canadian Press)

To celebrate the New Year, a number of artists will be taking to outdoor stages in Montreal and Quebec City on Tuesday to offer free shows to the public.

In Montreal, revellers are invited to the Quai Jacques-Cartier in the city's Old Port, as part of Igloofest.

Singer Robert Robert will kick off the musical evening at 8 p.m. on the Videotron stage. The group Alaclair Ensemble, DJs and musician CRi will accompany the crowd until the countdown to 2025.

Montreal’s public transit agency (STM) is also extending its service hours on New Year's Eve on the orange, green and yellow lines. Most of the last metros on these lines will run between 2:40 a.m. and 3 a.m. in the early hours of the morning. The detailed train departure schedule is available on the STM website.

In Quebec City, a festive evening is being organized by the Festival Toboggan.

The Place de l'Assemblée-Nationale will be entertained from 7:30 p.m. by singer BoBo OnO, followed by the group Quimorucru.

Kaïn will take to the stage at 9:30 p.m., and La Bottine souriante will play for fans until the new year.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Dec. 31, 2024.