Ideas to Celebrate the Holidays
Discover our team's favourite festive activities, perfect for creating memorable moments with family, friends, and colleagues.
Go See the CPKC Holiday Train
The CPKC Holiday Train is back in 2025, bringing the magic of the season across the country with must-see stops throughout Quebec and Canada!
Adorned with thousands of sparkling lights, this legendary train will travel the rails from November 19 to December 21, offering new performances and even more moments to delight kids and adults alike.
A suggestion from Jean-François Mathieu
A Visit to One of Quebec's Many Christmas Markets
Nothing says «holiday magic» quite like enjoying a cup of hot chocolate in good company at a lively Christmas market.
These markets pop up all across the province, making them the perfect place to support local artisans, find unique gifts, and enjoy delicious regional treats.
A suggestion from Mélanie Di Stefano
A Winter Adventure — Staying Active During the Festive Season!
My recipe for the perfect active holiday outing near Beaupré.
Start with a half-day of skiing at Mont-Sainte-Anne, followed by an afternoon on the dozens of kilometers of fatbike trails in the same areas. Then, wrap up your day at the Brasseur des Monts microbrewery, where you can enjoy great local food and exclusive beers.
There's a good chance you'll run into me!
A suggestion from Dominic Lajoie
The Vision Board — Creating Our Future Together
For kids and adults alike!
For us, it was small frames that represented our dreams and projects for the coming year. We were very proud of the result!
Examples of reflection questions:
- What is one thing I'd like to improve in my life this year?
- Which values or emotions do I want to feel more often?
- What places or activities do I want to discover this year?
- What memories or experiences do I want to create with my family, my partner, or my friends this year?
What to prepare:
- Your A4 canvas
- Magazines, newspapers, printed photos, inspiring quotes
- Glue, scissors, markers, and tape
- Ribbons, glitter, stickers, and assorted decorations
Mix together good company and a bit of introspection to visualize your individual and shared aspirations for the year ahead. Make sure you have plenty of supplies, treats, and good music on hand.
A suggestion from Lillya Bougherfa
A Musical Tradition, Unique to Every Family
Christmas music is more than just atmosphere, it's a tradition. Here are a few favourites from our team.
« Damien Robitaille's album, Bientôt ce sera Noël is, by far, the family favourite at home. Beautiful original compositions, and not just the same songs we hear everywhere. »
« I have something that's part of our family heritage. Every December 23, the first thing I do is play the song 23 décembre by Beau Dommage and send the link to my brothers and sisters, for three simple reasons.
- The band's drummer used to live near us in Laval.
- My sister once dated said drummer.
- My last name is Côté.
We suspect that the "Monsieur Côté" in the song may actually be my late father. We never got confirmation that he was the one mentioned, but the story is plausible, which is why it became a family tradition. »
Suggestions from Olivier Maltais and Alain Côté
Playing «Le jeu de la boulette» — Fun for Everyone!
Nothing beats a moment of humour and humility quite like miming a famous character in front of your team.
«Le jeu de la boulette» is simple. Each participant writes down three well-known characters (fictional or real) on small pieces of paper, then crumples them into little balls. Each round, a player from each team draws a boulette and has one minute to make their team guess the character, uncrumpling included.
The game unfolds in three rounds:
- Round 1: Say anything you want... except the character's name.
- Round 2: You can only use one word.
- Round 3: No words at all, only mime!
A round ends once all the characters have been guessed. Each correct answer is worth one point.
A suggestion from Benoit Champagne
Host a Holiday Cookie Exchange!
Choosing which recipes to make during the holidays can be a real challenge. A quick search on Google turns up thousands of delicious options, but time is limited and everyone has their own favourites.
A cookie exchange is the perfect solution! It's an activity that works for all ages, and once your guests head home, you're left with a mountain of cookies to share with family or offer to your next visitors.
If everyone shares their recipe, you can even pick your favourites to bring back next year.
A suggestion from Karina Lemay
Try Austrian-Style Sledding at Le Massif de Charlevoix
Looking for a winter activity that's a little out of the ordinary? Le Massif de Charlevoix offers an Austrian-style sledding run that combines thrills with spectacular mountainside views.
The experience lasts about two hours as you race down a 7.5 km trail — the longest of its kind in North America — with breathtaking scenery and curves that make the ride truly exhilarating.
Share this unforgettable moment with your family, friends, or colleagues. The activity is open to ages 10 and up, and for safety reasons, helmets are mandatory.
A suggestion from Nicole Mauric
Karaoke to Bring Out the Singer in All of Us
The best thing about karaoke? No one expects you to sound like Céline Dion or Elton John. That's exactly what makes it so fun, absolutely no pressure to perform.
With your family, friends or colleagues, share a truly special moment. Let loose, sing at the top of your lungs, go off-key without shame and laugh, often at yourselves! There's nothing better for unwinding and creating memorable moments together.
Whether you stick to Christmas songs or belt out your favourite hits, karaoke is a must for any holiday get-together.
A suggestion from Émilie Carbone
Surprise in the Kitchen — A Tasty Tradition to Try!
Holiday meals are always something to look forward to, and every family has its classics. But what if this year you changed things us just a little?
Without overhauling your entire holiday menu, try adding a surprise recipe each year. Whether it's chosen at random or planned, it's the perfect excuse to cook together as a family, with friends, or even with colleagues. A genuine moment of connection, filled with laughter, teamwork, and delicious discoveries.
« Over the past few years, we've created our own little Christmas Eve tradition with a family dinner (parents, kids, and grandparents) featuring beef Wellington. Gordon Ramsay's recipe is particularly tasty and a big favourite in our home! »
A suggestion from Mélissa Courtois
A Festive (and Almost Free!) Holiday Centrepiece
The DIY trend shines especially bright during the holidays, so why not take a walk outdoors with family or friends to gather the elements that will make up your centrepiece?
Pinecones, spruce branches, bark, greenery, and even a few pretty stones can become beautiful natural accents. Combines with your existing decorations — Christmas ornaments, colourful garlands, candles or artificial snow — they’re all you need to create a unique, festive and fully personalized centrepiece.
Once you're back from your nature «shopping», gather around the table with your finds. Grab some pliers, scissors and glue, and let creativity do its thing!
A suggestion from Karina Lemay
A Marathon of Christmas Classics
Whether you are watching them for the first time or the twentieth, holiday classics are always worth revisiting.
« Every year, I watch this Christmas classic with my family: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. It's a movie that works just as well for the young as it does for the not-so-young, and it's both hilarious and heartwarming!»
If you're looking for more inspiration, here's a list of 30 timeless holiday films to rediscover.
A suggestion from Keven Garneau
Suggestions From Other Groups in Our Ecosystem
Explore the festive activities suggested by the other groups in our Alan Allman Associates ecosystem. Each team has contributed its own list of holiday favourites to discover and share.
From everyone here on our teams,
happy holidays!