Spring 2025: Montréal cultural guide for families

L’Illusion Théâtre de marionnettes, Petite-Patrie
This outstanding creative hub for the marionette arts features many shows at its home in Petite-Patrie. What’s on this spring:
7 years and over: Conte du Littoral (March 18 to 27, 2025)

12 years+: Les veuves parallèles (April 3 to 5, 2025) 
4 to 8 years: Tommelise (April 29 to May 11, 2025) 
2 to 6 years: Soudain les îles (June 4 to 7, 2025)

TOHU, Saint-Michel
A creative hub for innovative and boundary-pushing contemporary circus arts, TOHU offers the best circus performances from here and around the world. What to see this spring:)

For all ages: Paperplane (April 10 to 21, 2025) 

For all ages: National Circus School Graduate Showcase (May 29 to June 8, 2025) 

Maison symphonique, downtown

Create unforgettable memories with your children by offering them a wonderful introduction to classical music in this iconic Montréal venue.

Ages 8 and up: Disney's Fantasia  (April 2 and 3, 2025)

Disney’s Frozen In Concert!  – March 23, 2025, Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier
Under the direction of Maestro Francis Choinière, the Orchestre FILMharmonique, the Chœur des Mélomanes and live vocalists invite you to journey into the enchanting world of Arendelle. Enjoy  the emblematic music of this Disney favorite, in perfect synchronization with the film. English with French subtitles.

Blue Metropolis International Literary Festival – April 24 to 27, 2025
The Blue Metropolis International Literary Festival program reserves a special place for young readers with a host of activities, events and exhibitions designed to open up the world of children’s literature for them to discover in locations across Montréal,

Festival Petits bonheurs – May 2 to 11, 2025, Maison de la culture Maisonneuve
This event designed especially for little ones 0 to 6 years and their families features performances, workshops, short films and exhibitions that encourage children to develop their creativity.

Parents and Kids Fair  – May 10 and 11, 2025, Palais des congrès de Montréal
Intended for parents of children aged 0 to 6, this is the perfect place to get information on education, daycare, recreation and family activities. You can also attend numerous conferences, children's performances, fashion shows, and other activities related to the world of childhood.

Festilou – May 11 to 25, 2025 
The 16^th edition of this youth storytelling festival offers something for the whole family with some 75 activities in different venues, including the Théâtre de l’Esquisse, over 20 Montréal librairies, four parks, Le Jockey bar, La Cenne and more. For children ages 4 years and up, parents and teachers.  

Montréal Comic Arts Festival – May 23 to 25, 2025
Canada’s largest comic arts festival, this exceptional event welcomes comic creators, publishers and their audiences to celebrate comic arts from here and abroad. Bilingual and free to the public.

Eurêka! Festival – May 30 to June 1, 2025, Parc Jean-Drapeau, at the foot of the Biosphère, Île Sainte-Hélène
At the end of May, Québec’s largest science festival sets up at the foot of the Biosphère for three discovery-filled days.  Featuring over 100 free outdoor activities for the whole family, including some fifty hands-on workshops and activities focussed on scientific creativity and experimentation, Eurêka! is free to the public. 

MURAL Festival– June 2025
This grandiose and incredibly popular urban art festival is back! Once again this year, walls along Saint-Laurent Boulevard will transform into an incredible outdoor art gallery for all to enjoy. 

Francos de Montréal – June 13 to 21, 2025, Quartier des spectacles
The best musical talents from the French-speaking world come together for this festive 36^th edition. Outdoor shows and concerts provide an excellent opportunity to sing, dance and have fun together as a family.

Festival sur le Canal – June 13 to 15, 2025, Esplanade du centenaire
Head to the corner of Saint-Patrick and Pitt Streets to enjoy some fresh air, live music and delicious food from local restaurants. Family-friendly and free to the public, it’s a great way to spend a weekend along the picturesque Lachine Canal. 

Montreal Museum of Fine Arts , Downtown

In the heart of downtown’s historic Golden Square Mile, the MMFA hosts top international exhibitions, and offers workshops for all ages on Saturdays and Sundays. Bring your family to enjoy an art experience on the major exhibition on now or the museum collections. Free for under 20 years. 

Now on: Joyce Wieland, Heart On (until May 4, 2025), Two by Two, Together  (until October 5, 2025),  Anri Sala: Ravel Ravel Interval (until April 27, 2025), Bad Girls Only: Women and the Seven Deadly Sins (March 26 to August 10, 2025), Worlds of Wonder: The Surrealist Journey of Alan Glass (April 17 to September 28, 2025) and Berthe Weill, Art Dealer of the Parisian Avant-garde  (May 10 to September 7, 2025). 

The PHI Foundation for Contemporary Art

Located in two heritage buildings in Old Montréal, the PHI Foundation for Contemporary Art presents a wonderful way to introduce young people to contemporary art, especially through workshops and guided educational tours led by the PHI Foundation’s educators, available in both French and English.

OASIS immersion, Palais des congrès de Montréal

Immerse yourself in the magical world of OASIS immersion! Three immersive galleries and two illuminated experiences fill this 2,000-m² multimedia space with dazzling effects to delight all ages. This spring, commune with nature during Root for Nature, a sensorial experience created in collaboration with National Geographic to highlight conservation and sustainable development issues. Or immerse yourself in the beautiful and luminous world of VAN GOGH – Distorsion, through over 225 paintings, drawings and sketches. Free for children 5 and under.

The AURA Experience at Notre-Dame Basilica of Montréal, Old Montréal

This multimedia experience created by renowned Montréal studio Moment Factory immerses the whole family in a captivating visual and musical universe, projected onto the neo-Gothic architecture of Montréal's Notre-Dame Basilica. Free for children 5 years and under.

SAT, Quartier des spectacles 

Exhibitions and immersive experiences come together in this creative laboratory dedicated to the development of digital culture. At the heart of the Satosphère, you and your teens and kids can enjoy a true audiovisual experience.  Sign up for free creative workshops, where kids aged 5 to 17 can explore artistic and digital practices in a fun, hands-on way!

Redpath Museum, Downtown

Head over to the McGill University campus to discover incredible specimens of extinct animal species, fossils - including impressive dinosaur skeletons sure to impress young and old alike - and collections from ancient Egypt, including mummies. Suggested contribution of $10 (adults only)

Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal Archaeology and History Complex, Old-Montréal

The Come aboard! Pirates or Privateers? permanent exhibition is sure to delight budding sailors (5 to 12 years old) thirsty for knowledge and adventure. More of a landlubber? With Archaeo Adventure youngsters can follow the steps of an archaeologist and experience a simulated archaeological dig through the construction site, the tent and the laboratory area. l Exhibitions on display: Witches – Out of the Shadows (until April 6, 2025) and The Heart and Soul of Saint Henri  (until May 11, 2025). Free for children aged 4 years and under.

Château Ramezay – Historic Site and Museum of Montréal, Old Montréal

The permanent exhibition Life at the Château: Splendour and Misery in New France offers an immersion into 18th-century Montréal that's sure to intrigue children of all ages. Free admission for children 4 and under.

Marguerite-Bourgeoys Historic Site, Old Montréal

Step back in time to the city’s beginnings and meet some of Montréal's most symbolic figures at this historic site. Take in the permanent exhibition, Meet Margeurite! where children can learn more about this extraordinary woman hailed as the “Mother” of the 17th-century colony.  Free for children 12 and under.

Écomusée du fier monde, Village

At the heart of a spectacular public bath converted into a museum, youngsters can discover the industrial and working-class history of the Centre-Sud district. Free for children 6 years and under.

MEM – Centre des mémoires montréalaises, Quartier des spectacles

This brand-new, inclusive and innovative museum and civic space celebrates the voices of citizens past and present, highlighting the identities and stories that define "montréalité". Discover the permanent and temporary exhibitions Montréal, Detours – Urban Experiences produced in collaboration with Urbania (until December 2025), A Mile in My Shoes (until August 31, 2025), Still Here! Indigenous Peoples’ Voices in Montréal (until February 23, 2025) in addition to the MEM's public spaces with your family. Free admission for children 12 and under, and special rates for teenagers 13 to 17.

La Maison Saint-Gabriel, Pointe-Saint-Charles

Head southwest of Montréal to visit a three-hundred-year-old farmhouse, where you'll get a glimpse of rural Montréal between the 17^th and 20^th centuries. There are many family activities offered this summer in addition to guided tours for ages 6 years and up.

Montréal Science Centre, Old Port of Montréal

For budding scientists of all ages, the Montreal Science Centre offers fun and enriching exhibitions for all age groups. This spring, to celebrate its 25th anniversary, check out the brand-new permanent exhibition Nanualuk – Northern Expedition, an immersive quest into the Canadian Arctic filled with enriching interactive challenges, along with the 5 permanent exhibitions and the film Australia 3D: The Wild Continent shown at the IMAX®TELUS cinema.

Exporail, the Canadian Railway Museum, Saint-Constant

This museum on Montreal's South Shore offers permanent, temporary and virtual exhibits to introduce visitors to the fascinating world of railways. Children can climb aboard various train carriages, take a ride on a miniature train, and participate in the numerous thematic activities held throughout the year. Free admission for children 2 years and under.

Smith House (under construction until March 2026), on Mont Royal

Why not round off a wonderful walk on the “mountain” with a visit to Smith House to take in the free exhibition, The Thousand Faces of Mount Royal: Olmsted, the Visionary? Here, you’ll experience an ode to the mountain and the photographers who have immortalized it through their lenses, from the vision of the architect of Mount Royal Park to the shots of celebrated photographer William Notman, with a few of today's Instagram photos thrown in for good measure. There’s no lack of things to do as a family on the mountain, plus plenty of other fun activities designed to awaken your senses and help you get in tune with nature.

Ecomuseum Zoo, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue

The only outdoor zoo on the island of Montréal, here you can observe native Quebec animals in their natural habitat. Wolves, hawks, and other magnificent creatures: keep your eyes peeled! 

Day Camps

Registration for summer day camps is open! If your kids want to immerse themselves in Québécois culture with local hosts, refine their artistic talents, or learn a new language – all while you explore the city – here’s a curated selection of fun and safe Montréal day camps to keep them active and happy, whether for a day or an entire week.

Original article in French by Laure Juilliard, adapted into English by Dawn Bessey-Gans.