June 21 is the last day of school for young Montrealers and, coincidentally, the first official day of summer!
Summer in Montreal is the perfect time to explore the city with the kids. Lush parks, science festivals, ice cream… Here are a few suggestions on how to make the most of summer in Montreal with your little ones.
A trip to the park…
Parc du Mont-Royal
Start with a visit to Parc du Mont-Royal. Here, you can stroll around Beaver Lake, go pedal-boating, fly a kite, or simply enjoy a family picnic.
The park is high up in the river breeze, and you can stroll in the shade (very important for Montreal’s hot hot hot summer).
On Sundays, you can go picnicking at Tam Tams, for a bit of a party feel (with the kids).
Parc La Fontaine
Parc La Fontaine smells of cut grass, ponds and BBQ sausages. And, as a bonus, you can hear (and sometimes see) the frogs…
This is Montreal’s Central Park : vast green spaces, picnic areas and free shows at the Théâtre de Verdure.
Parc Jean-Drapeau
For those looking to cool off, the Parc Jean-Drapeau pool or Verdun beach are perfect options.
In addition to the Biodôme, there are water playgrounds where children can have fun in complete safety.
You can also pedal-boat on Lac-des-Cygnes, for sport and instant nostalgia…
To get there, take the river shuttle from the Old Port (Vieux-Port-Île-Sainte-Hélène), which costs $6/passage for adults and free for children aged 11 and under.
Festivals and summer events
Piknic Électronik – Petit Piknic
On Sundays, June 22, July 13 and August 14, babies are introduced to the Montreal culture of the iconic Piknic Électronik summer party with Petit Piknic afternoons.
From noon to 3 p.m., there will be games, music and activities for the whole family.
Where? Parc Jean-Drapeau
When? Sundays, June 22, July 13 and August 14, from noon to 3 p.m.
How much?
Pied-du-Courant Village, Playa del Courant
From June 5 to September 6, Pied-du-Courant Village is an urban beach with French fries, music and games for the little ones in the early evening… and all with your feet in the sand.
When? Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening until September 6, starting at 5 p.m.
Where? at Village Pied-du-Courant: from Papineau metro station, follow rue de Lorimier under the bridge, then head east along the riverbank to reach the main entrance (to see the playa on Google Maps, click here!).
How much? Free admission between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., $5 afterwards.
And, all summer long, save the monarch butterflies with your family!
Montreal is (never enough) green and rich in biodiversity, and in summer we appreciate our island’s green spaces so much that we want to help protect them…
Under the direction of the Espace pour la vie Insectarium, the Mission Monarque program was born, which is “a participatory science program that documents the reproductive success of the monarch butterfly”.
The data collected is invaluable for research to help save monarch butterflies from extinction. Send your monarch photos to the Mission Monarque website to participate! Go here!
Exhibitions
Espace pour la vie
Espace pour la vie is a must-see. The Botanical Garden, Biodôme, Planetarium and Insectarium offer a multitude of fun and educational activities for the whole family. Children will love discovering ecosystems, stargazing and exploring butterflies and other insects.
Pointe-à-Callière Museum
The Pointe-à-Callière Museum immerses visitors in history with interactive exhibits on pirates and privateers, and much more.
Montréal Science Centre
At the Centre des Sciences, on the Old Port of Montreal, kids can do science experiments, learn about the world, history, dinosaurs… and, on the way out, grab an ice cream or an
Taste of summer
Food truck festivals
There are plenty of food festivals, culinary events and short-lived places to grab a bite to eat with the kids.
Our recommendation is Les Premiers Vendredis: Music, 50 food trucks, 2 music stages… It’s Canada’s biggest street food festival, and we’ll be able to taste it all, in the warm night, on Friday and Saturday night!
When? July 4 & 5, August 1 & 2 and September 5 & 6, from 4pm to 11pm
Where? in the Parc Olympique
How much? free admission
Creameries
Public markets
We visit public markets like Marché Jean-Talon, for flower stands, local flavors, local strawberries, lunch stands…