It’s a festival that displays an abundance of diverse and exceptional music, which many Montrealers cherish. The 37th edition of the Montreal International Jazz Festival will take place from June 29 to July 9, featuring 175 indoor concerts as well as free outdoor concerts. But that’s not all; they will offer several family-friendly activities designed to get kids interested in music.

Parc Musical at L’esplanade de la Place des Arts will be completely redone for the first time in 25 years. The park will have a new design, new games, and surrounding music will be added. The giant piano is coming back, but with a new look. An outdoor musical playground and slides will be added. It will be open every day from noon to midnight.

The Family Club is back again with new activities, workshops, crafts, picnic tables (for the first time), restaurants as well as a giant turntable that will spray soft mist jets to refresh children. A new workshop in collaboration with the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal (MAC) will also take place. The Family Club can also be found at L’esplanade de la Place des Arts and is open every day from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Children of all ages can join The Little School of Jazz for a dynamic, bilingual, interactive show with the festival mascot Ste. Cat. There are two shows every day at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at the Grande-Place of the Complexe Desjardins.

Families can also take part on walking tours through downtown Montreal that tells the story of jazz and its connection to the city from the 1920s until the foundation of the International Jazz Festival in 1980. This 2.7 kilometre historical guide starts in front of the old Windsor Station and ends at the Maison du Festival in the centre of the festival’s action. The tours take place on July 1, 2, 3, 9 and 10 and cost $17 per person. To purchase tickets or find more information, visit jazztoursmontreal.eventbrite.ca.

For more information about the festival, visit montrealjazzfest.com.