Trois-Rivières lies along the St. Lawrence and Saint-Maurice rivers, and its downtown grew around one of the first settlements of New France, founded in 1634. In late fall and winter the city trades its summer festivals for museum afternoons, a holiday concert in the cathedral and riverside trails. Each idea below comes from what the city, its museums and local organizers have posted for the 2026 season.

Musée POP

Exhibitions at Musée POP: The museum of Québec popular culture at 200 rue Laviolette is a fun, low key place to spend an afternoon side by side. Its signature exhibition, Attache ta tuque!, takes a playful ride through Québec culture, and Chasseur de cabanes shows Claude Guérin's photos of hunting cabins until March 21, 2027. En d'dans! La prison comme solution? looks at how the province's prison system has changed and displays artifacts from the old jail next door. Each of you can choose one favourite object to defend over coffee afterward.
Hours and Holiday Closures: Until June 23, 2027, Musée POP welcomes visitors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and until 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. It closes Mondays and Tuesdays and on December 24, 25, 26 and 31 and January 1 and 2, but opens December 27 and 30 and January 3 for a holiday break outing.

The grey stone Vieille prison of Trois-Rivières under a blue sky.

Inside the Old Prison

En d'dans! Guided Tour: The Vieille prison is a 19th century jail turned museum, and its guided tour, En d'dans! Rencontres derrière les murs, uses projections, sound effects and audio to tell the story of life behind its walls. The tour lasts about one hour, is open to visitors aged 8 and up, and the prison itself is open Saturday and Sunday only, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., through the winter. Places are limited, so reserve ahead. Roof repairs are under way this fall, and while the site stays open on its usual schedule, the temporary entrance is on rue Hart, with signs to guide you.

A Holiday Concert in the Cathedral

Noël en famille with the OSTR: The Orchestre symphonique de Trois-Rivières fills the Cathédrale de l'Assomption with holiday music on Saturday, December 12 at 7:30 p.m. Traditional carols and festive classics share the program, as Les Petits Chanteurs de la Maîtrise du Cap, led by Claire Bisaillon, and the OSTR choir, led by Myriam Leblanc, join the orchestra. Afterward, linger on the cathedral steps and talk over your favourite carol of the night before heading out for a late bite.

Rue des Ursulines leading to the domed Ursuline monastery in old Trois-Rivières.

Downtown Strolls and Holiday Events

Themed Walking Circuits: The City offers three self guided walks through the On This Spot website and app. Architecture et patrimoine covers 0.9 km of the heritage district from Terrasse Turcotte, L'Urbain spends 1.7 km on the downtown rebuilt after the great fire of 1908 and starts at parc Champlain, and Le Panoramique follows the riverbanks for 2.6 km from the Amphithéâtre Cogeco. Take turns reading the stops aloud.
Train des Fêtes Weekend: Downtown's festivities for the arrival of the illuminated holiday train are listed for the weekend of November 28 and 29. The event page still shows last year's program, so check it again closer to the date for 2026 times.
Marché de Noël: According to the regional tourism office, Tourisme Mauricie, the Sanctuaire Notre-Dame-du-Cap and La Maison des Grands-Parents host the 2026 Christmas market on December 5 and 6, with close to 70 local artisans and food producers. Shop for each other's stocking, and treat yourselves to a local food find for the walk home.

Winter on Île Saint-Quentin

Île Saint-Quentin Skating Trail: When conditions allow, this island park opens a 1.7 km skating trail, much of it lit for evening skating, daily from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. The 2026 opening date is not posted yet, so check the activity conditions on the park site first. Lace up in the Pavillon de la Rosalie, then warm your hands at one of the outdoor fire pits. The City notes that daily access to the island is free from November 1 to April 30.

The green spire of the Cathédrale de l'Assomption rising above Rue Bonaventure in Trois-Rivières.

Sample Date Itineraries

1. Museum Saturday: Musée POP exhibitions → En d'dans! prison tour → dinner downtown

2. Concert Night (Dec 12): Architecture et patrimoine walk from Terrasse Turcotte → Noël en famille at the cathedral

3. Market Weekend (Dec 5 and 6): Marché de Noël at the Sanctuaire → Le Panoramique riverside walk

4. Ice Evening: Sunset skate on Île Saint-Quentin → warm up by a fire pit → hot meal in town

Pro Tips for Memorable Dates

The Vieille prison opens only on weekends outside the summer season.
Use the rue Hart entrance at Musée POP while the roof work continues.
Download the On This Spot app before your walk so the stops load offline.
Storms, freezing rain or mild spells can close parts of Île Saint-Quentin, so check the conditions page.
The prison tour suits ages 8 and up, which matters for double dates with kids.

Museums with a sense of humour, a cathedral concert and an island skating loop make Trois-Rivières a warm place to share the cold months.

Last reviewed: October 2026

Photo credits: The Vieille prison by Fralambert, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Rue des Ursulines by Ymblanter, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Cathédrale de l'Assomption by Ymblanter, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.