The information below was published in February, 2010. For current March Break activities in Montreal, visit our Things to Do page.

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Aside from neighbourhood activities, there are special events like the Semaine de la Musique, which features musical performances for kids in venues all over the city, the International Children’s Film Festival, the Reptile show, lots of great deals for family skiing, Butterflies Go Free and Disney on Ice: Princess Classics.

Events and Activities: Feb. 27 to March 7
Events Ongoing Through March Break
Events by Area
Camps

Events and Actvities: Feb. 27 to March 7

Feb. 27 and 28: Montreal High Lights Festival has lots of family activities in Old Montreal on weekend days from noon to 4 p.m. For more info on specific activities and the schedule, see this I Spy Montreal post.

Feb. 28, 3 p.m.: Les Voyages de Belva, a musical theatre show about the travels of Belva, who introduces several musical instruments and styles of music, at Maison de la Culture Côte des Neiges, 5290 Côte-des-Neiges Rd., call 514-872-6889.

Feb. 28, 11 a.m.: Fiestango, a musical show for children age 3 and up, about three cousins who receive a big trunk that sends them on a big adventure. Presented as part of Outremont’s Coussins et Croissants program, at Centre Communautaire Intergenerationnel, 999 McEachran Ave., Outremont. Cost, $7 per person.

Feb. 28 at 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m. or 3:30 p.m.: Workshop on volcanoes, to learn about volcanoes and make your own volcanic eruption, at Redpath Museum, 859 Sherbrooke St., McGill University. Cost is $6 per child, free for adults (please bring correct change). Register by calling 514-398-4092.

May 1, 10:30 a.m.: Alice in Wonderland, a children’s production, in English, at Centaur Theatre. Read full description and buy tickets.

March 7 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.: Pierre par Pierre, a puppet theatre show for age 3 to 6, at Place des Arts. The show aims to pique children’s curiosity about inanimate objects, like stones. Presented by Spanish theatre company Home Dibuixa. Cost $12/person. Check schedule and buy tickets.

March 7 at 3 p.m.: Skarazula, a musical show for ages 6 and up at Stewart Hall in Pointe Claire. More information.

March 6 and 7: Le Salon des Reptiles: a showcase of all kinds of reptiles, with an educational purpose (this is not an event for buying or selling reptiles), at Collège de Maisonneuve, 2700 Bourbonnière St., between Pie-IX, Nicolet, Hochelaga and Sherbrooke. Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., March 6, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., March 7. Salon des Reptiles website.

Events Ongoing Through March Break

Feb. 18 to April 24: Butterflies Go Free, butterflies fly free in a tropical enclosure at the Montreal Botanical Gardens. More information. Read I Spy Montreal review and see video here.

Feb. 27 to March 7: Festival International du Film pour Enfants à Montréal. Children’s films from around the world for a range of ages will be screened either in French or with French subtitles at Cinema Beaubien, 2396 Beaubien St. E. See the schedule of the film festival.

Feb. 27 to March 7: La Semaine de la Musique: A variety of children’s musical/theatre shows will be presented by Jeunesses Musicales du Canada, in venues throughout Montreal during March break week. Most shows are in French, some are in English. Click here for the schedule of shows.

Feb. 27 to March 7: TOHU and the St. Michel Environmental Complex are hosting outdoor and indoor activities during March break. Outside, there is sledding for young and older kids, kicksledding, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Inside there are 30-minute circus workshops for all ages from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and guided tours of TOHU for age 8 and up. More information about TOHU’s March break activities.

Feb. 27 through March 7: Granby Zoo is open daily through March 7. Many of the animals are used to winter weather, and can be seen in the snow. Visitors can also see the indoor facilities for animals like elephants and giraffes, and see the regular indoor exhibits. Watch a video preview. More information on visitng Granby Zoo in the winter.

Feb. 27. through March 7: Ski Deals: Many Montreal-area ski hills will be offering special family pricing for lessons and passes during March break. This Montreal Gazette article offers a great breakdown of facilities and prices at five local ski hills (Mont. St. Bruno, Bromont, Mont Rigaud, Mont Tremblant and Vallée Bleu).

Feb. 27 to April 11 (weekends only): Sugaring off from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., including animation for kids, at Cap St. Jacques Nature Park ecological farm, 183 Cap St. Jacques Rd., Pierrefonds. Call 514-280-6743.

Feb. 28 to March 7: Montreal’s major parks will be offering special March break activities. More information.

Feb. 28 to March 5: Special workshops, shows and activities at La Grande Bibilothèque, 475 de Maisonneuve Blvd. E. More information.

March 1 to 5 at 2 p.m.: Free activities will be held at 2 p.m. at Chapters Pointe Claire, Indigo Brossard and Indigo Laval. Monday, March 1: Board games, for all ages; March 2: Make Your Own “Wimpy Kid” Journal and other fun crafts, for age 6 and up; March 3: Princesses and knights are invited to create their own accessories and dress up in costumes, age 6 and up; March 5: Storytime with Chester the cat, age 5 and up; March 5: Create a Mad Hat (inspired by Alice in Wonderland) and be part of a tea party.

March 1 to 5: Free activities at Smaland (the kids’ play area) of Ikea Cavendish; activities include picture frame decorating, movie day, soccer day, musical chairs, etc.. Go to the Ikea Cavendish website, look under Smaland, then click on “kids’ event calendar”.

March 1 to 5 at 2 p.m.: Koko Le Clown, silent movies accompanied by  music played by students from Université de Montréal., at Cinématheque Québécoise, 335 de Maisonneuve Blvd. E. More information.

March 3 to 7: Disney on Ice: Princess Classics at the Bell Centre, show times are 11 a.m., 3 p.m., 7 p.m., depending on the day. Most performances are in French, some are in English. Check schedule and buy tickets.

March 1 to 5: Atrium Skating rink, 1000 de la Gauchetière St.,  has a special schedule, as well as magic and face painting from March 1 to 5 p.m. Check the activities page for more details.

Municipal Activities:
Many boroughs and towns have organized children’s activities during the March break period, and have posted the information on their websites. Click on the links below to find out what’s being offered in that area (not all boroughs/towns are listed below – only those whose websites link to March break information).

Beaconsfield
Brossard
Dorval
Côte des Neiges-Notre Dame de Grâce
Hochelaga-Maisonneuve
Ile Perrot
LaSalle

• Look for the “Vacances d’Hiver” link to download the program of activities.

Laval
Longueuil
Plateau Mont-Royal
Southwest Borough
St. Léonard
Ste. Anne de Bellevue

• Click on the Relâche Scolaire link to download the program.

Town of Mount Royal

• You can download the programs for the recreation centre and the library.

Verdun

• There’s a “2010 school activities” listing, where you can download the program.

WestmountCamps

Check municipal and town websites for information on municipal March break day camps. The following places offer day camps or a program of activities during March break.

The Ecomuseum: Animal Apprentice day camp, ages 7 to 12.

Cosmodome, 2150 Laurentides Blvd., Laval.

Fête des Mitaines, Camp GUEPE, held at Bois de Liesse and Pointe aux Prairies Nature Parks, age 5 to 12.

Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art day camp, age 6 to 11.

Louise Lapierre Dance School, 1460 Mont Royal Ave. E., age 5 to 15.

Enfant et Compagnie, 4687 Lavoisier Blvd., St. Léonard.

Centre Notre Dame de Fatima, 2464 Perrot Blvd., Notre Dame de l’Ile Perrot, age 5 to 12.

Horizon Roc, indoor rock-climbing, 2350 Dickson St., Montreal.

Le Salamandre Art Centre, 1090 Pratt Ave., Outremont, age 6 to 12.

Lambda School of Music and Fine Arts, 4989 Sources Blvd., Pierrefonds.

Parc des Rapides outdoor nature camp, age 7 to 12.

Tennis13, 1013 Highway 13, Laval.

Sunny Acres Day Camp, John Abbot College, 21275 Lakeshore Rd., Ste. Anne de Bellevue.

YMCA day camps are offered at several locations.

Equitation Elysée, 1901 Fief St., St. Lazare, age 6 and up.

Patro le Prevost Community Centre, 7355 Christophe Colombe Ave., Montreal.

Visual Arts Centre, 350 Victoria Ave., Westmount.

Acrosport Barani, 1365 Dagenais Blvd., Laval.