Have the merriest of Holidays just outside Montréal

In collaboration with Tourisme Cantons-de-l'Est.

Bromont

Not far from the ski hill, Vieux-Bromont is a picture-book destination with a pretty church and ancestral homes decorated in lights. Uncover the perfect vintage find on tree-lined Sheffield Street at La Belle Vieillerie, or handmade leatherwork, sculpted silver rings or cool wooden watches at the treasure trove EmaRose. Artisanal soaps, bath bombs, room sprays and indulgent body care goods live at Maison Oléa, while at the nearby M. & Mme. Swell you’ll find Quebec-made clothes and accessories, including the ties that made the brand famous in Montréal. After a final stop at L’Apothicaire, a mecca for tea lovers and spice seekers, pop into Désirables gâteries for a baked treat for the road.

Brome Lake

Christmas markets abound in the Eastern Townships, so which one you choose to visit really depends on timing and how far you want to drive. There are hopping ones in Cowansville, Valcourt, Stoke, Sherbrooke and so many more places, all great for shopping, exploring and feeling those twinkly feels. The one in Brome Lake comes highly recommended because while you’re there, you can also shop stop into the Boutiverre studio: amazing locally crafted blown glass pieces like lamps, vases and dishes, all made from recycled glass. Make it a day by tacking on a meal at Alizé, at Domaine Jolivent, where there’s also a nice souvenir shop full of finds.

Knowlton

Right next door to Brome Lake in the chic Victorian village of Knowlton is where you can purchase the area’s most famous export: Brome Lake duck. Level up your holiday spread with rillettes or pâté from Boutique Canards du Lac Brome, then go treasure hunting in the selection of boutiques, antique shops and pretty bakeries on the main strip. Once your appetite has been whetted, sit down to a yummy meal at Le Relais in the Township’s oldest inn, Auberge Knowlton, built in 1849. Fill up on comfort foods that pair perfectly with a glass of local red.

Sutton

Lunch at Sutton’s Brouërie or À l’abordage (with a pint of house beer, of course) is a great way to start an afternoon of leisurely shop hopping. You’ll find unique kitchenware, décor items and even little edible bits for the foodies on your list at Atelier-Bouffe. Speaking of edible delights, you can’t come to Sutton without spending time in the local institution, Rumeur Affamée: their fine gourmet products, from baked goods to cheeses, housemade cassoulets, tourtières and Christmas cakes, will grace any holiday table and make wonderful hostess gifts. Urbaine des Champs is the spot to pick up locally designed clothes and accessories (who doesn’t need an extra tuque?), while at Farfelu you’ll find crafts by dozens of local artisans and artists.

Frelighsburg

Among the province’s most famous food towns, Frelighsburg counts multiple foodie stops to fill those stockings. Beat & Betterave Nanobrasserie is a boutique brewery that offers feel-good pub bites enjoyed against a view of snowy Mont-Pinacle, where you can fill up before grabbing a few beers to-go for your holiday events. If you’re more of a wine person, stop into Clos Saragnat, an organic vineyard that produces a uniquely sweet straw wine made with dried grapes—the perfect digestif with a side of fruit cake. For local gifts of the non-edible kind, stop into Oneka: it’s a famous Quebec brand headquartered here whose beautiful soaps, shampoos and skin care products boast bewitching scents like cedar and sage or goldenseal and citrus.

Magog

This lovely town on the edge of Lake Memphremagog is a fine spot to tick boxes off your holiday gift shopping list. Local success story Bleu Lavande’s boutique in Magog is just the spot to pick up lavender creams, essential oils, soaps and more, all scented with lavender grown nearby. Savon des Cantons is a shop packed with colourful handmade soaps, bubble baths and shaving creams made with natural aromas like lilac, kumquat and oat and honey. La Grange du Parfumeur has also got scents down: this award-winning perfume shop is perfect for that thoughtful, refined, personalized, made-in-Quebec gift. Check the special holiday schedule before heading out. And when you’re done all that shopping, refuel at La Shop, on rue Principale—this beloved sandwich shop makes a duck-stuffed grilled cheese. Need we say more?

North Hatley

Known as one of the province’s most beautiful villages, North Hatley on Lake Massawippi is a picturesque site for some holiday prep. You’ll find gifts you’ll want to keep for yourself at Passerose, including elegant house linens, mohair throws and traditional quilts. The Emporium is a must for lovers of antiques and more. Design connoisseurs will be interested to know that North Hatley is where Atelier Bosc is headquartered—this renowned Quebec brand creates wonderful toys and furniture for kids made from hardwood and finished with hemp oil and beeswax. (You’ll have to head to the nearby town Waterville to buy some at Boutique Mandragore, however, as their studio isn’t open to the public.) To cap the day, treat yourself to an English afternoon tea by the fireplace in the comfort of the library lounge at the tawny Manoir Hovey.