Fireworks Competition

The International Fireworks Competition is always a fun affair!  This year the festival runs from July 1st to August 1st on Saturdays and Wednesdays.  Officially it is run by Laronde and with a ticket to the amusement park on a fireworks day you can get up close and personal to the fireworks.  You don't have to spend all that money to enjoy them though.  At the old port is a great place to view them as well as on mount Royal.  You can even enjoy them with the music by tuning into 105.7 FM.
The fireworks usually start at 10pm and last half an hour.

https://www.sixflags.com/larondeen/linternational-des-feux/program

Free Swim

Swimming is a great, cheap activity to do with kids.  I often bring my children to the community pool and one of the best things is that it's free!  Most communities have a pool you can use that is either free or very affordable!  In the summer it's easy to spot them but in winter there are many indoor pools that are equally as accessible!  They often provide life jackets for the new swimmers and sometimes even some pool toys.  To find the pools in your area simply log onto your city's website and look under sports and recreation.
The Montreal on the Cheap blog has also made a nice list of many pools in montreal: http://www.montrealonthecheap.com/2013/08/montreal-public-swimming-2013-season/

Make sure to call ahead to know when the family free swim hours are and if there are any specific rules like required bathing caps.  And also, the bonus of bringing your kids swimming is that usually bedtime that evening is very easy as it knocks them out! :)

Orchestra and Video Games

My kids loveSuper Mario Bros.  They've never played but for some reason adore them.  If I let them, they could watch clips of super mario bros on youtube for hours so when I saw this family activity I knew it was perfect!  Les Concerts Campbell is putting on a concert with an orchestra of 50 musicians playing themes from popular video games.  It's a chance to introduce kids to classical music with something they will actually listen to.  The concert is completely free and presented in Jarry park.

When:  Aug. 20th, 2011, 4:00pm
Where: Parc Jarry
Price: free!

http://www.accesculture.com/emplacement/ParcJarry

Pinocchio Play in the Park

Going to the theatre is a great family activity.  Theatre la Roulotte is putting on the play "Pinocchio" in French in parks around Montreal.  Here's a great opportunity to introduce your kids to theatre without having to spend any money.  These, like shakespeare in the park, are completely free.  The company is putting on shows until Aug. 23 around the city.

Price: Free!

Website: http://www.accesculture.com/activite/Pinocchio

International Hot Air Balloon Festival- Saint Jean sur Richelieu

The International Hot Air Balloon Festival is an annual event about 30 minutes away from Montreal in St. Jean sur Richelieu. There are 115 hot air balloons, including many special shapes, major shows, and a huge site that hosts an incredible variety of animation activities. There is a fair with rides for older kids and adults as well as a designated area for toddlers. There is face painting, a petting zoo, mini putt, concerts... too many things to describe in one post. It's also a family friendly area with changing tables, breastfeeding room and stroller rentals available.
Their website is very extensive and even offers tips for families with young children.
My kids loved this festival!  There was so much for them to do and see that they didn't get bored.
Address:

• 5, chemin de l'Aéroport, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Québec, J3B 7B5

Phone #:

• 450-347-9555

Price:

• 0-2: free
• 3-12: $7.00
• 13 +: $20.00 ($25.00 on Sat.)
• **Family rates available
• **Nine day passes available
• Parking: $7.00

Hours:

• Aug. 13 -21, 2011
• Weekends: 12:00 pm - end of the show at night
• Week: 1:30 pm - end of the show at night

Website: http://www.ballooncanada.com/

Virgin Radio- Movies in the Park 2011

Virgin radio 96 is offering movies in the park again this year in different parks across the city. All you have to do is bring your lawn chair and they provide the movie and even free food! Typically they are on Wednesday nights and the food starts around 7pm.

Price: free!!!

Locations:

July 20th - Parc Berthiaume-du-Tremblay (Laval) for the screening of Due Date

July 27th – Centennial Park (D.D.O) for the screening of Never Say Never

August 3rd – Hampstead Park (Hampstead) for the screening of Arthur

August 10th – St-Thomas Park (Hudson) for the screening of Something Borrowed

August 17th – Pierre-Laporte Park (Greenfield Park) for the screening of Life As We Know It

August 24th – Bellevue Park (Pincourt) for the screening of No Strings Attached

August 31st – Vanier College for the screening of TBD

September 7th – John Abbott College for the screening of TBD

Website: http://montreal.virginradio.ca/Events/MoviesInThePark

Shakespeare in the Park: Macbeth

Free theatre in the park from July 28, 2011 - Aug. 21, 2011. Bring your older kids and teens to see a Shakespeare play right in your own neighborhood park. This year the repercussion theatre is performing the tragedy "Macbeth". It is absolutely free - although donations are accepted to help the troupe keep running. Just bring yourself a folding chair and enjoy the show!

Location: various parks around the city

July 28: Dorval, Parc Pine Beach, 7:30pm
July 29: Outremont, Mount Royal Cemetary, 8:00pm
July 30: Ville-Marie, Cabot Square, 8:00pm
Aug. 2-3: Westmount, Parc Westmount, 8:00pm
Aug. 4: Verdun, Parc George O'Reilly, 7:30pm
Aug. 5: Pierrefonds, East Community Centre, 8:00pm
Aug. 6: Parc La Fontaine, theatre de verdure, 8:30pm
Aug. 7: NDG, Parc NDG, 8:00pm
Aug. 9: Hudson, Parc Thompson, 8:00pm
Aug. 10: Kirkland, Parc Ecclestone, 8:00pm
Aug. 11: Cote St.-Luc, Parc Pierre Elliott Trudeau, 8:00pm
Aug. 12: Senneville, Parc Senneville, 8:00 pm
Aug. 13: Morin Heights, Parc TBC, 4:00pm
Aug. 14: Saint-Laurent, Parc Philippe-Laheurte, 7:30pm
Aug. 16: Parc Extension, Parc Howard, 8:00pm
Aug. 19: Beaconsfield, Centennial Park, 8:00pm
Aug. 20-21: Westmount, Parc Westmount, 8:00pm

Price: free!!

Dates: July 28, 2011 - Aug. 21, 2011

Website: http://repercussiontheatre.com/productions/shakespeare-in-the-park/

Free Family Movies in French

Here's a cool free family activities on the weekends especially when the weather doesn't cooperate.  Beaubien cinema is offering free screenings of family movies in the morning from June 25 to September 4.  The movies are in French so keep that in mind in case the little ones don't understand French.
The movies are shown Saturday and Sunday mornings at 10am.  Tickets can be obtained as of 9:30

Here is the schedule for the rest of the summer:

July 23 & 24: Megamind
July 30 & 31: Rango
Aug. 6 & 7: Rio
Aug. 13 & 14: Yogi L'Ours
Aug. 20 & 21: Frissons des Collines
Aug. 27 & 28: Kerity et la Maison des Comptes
Aug. 30 & 31: ?? Surprise ??

Where: Beaubien Cinema,  2396 Beaubien Est, Montreal, H2G 1N2

When: Saturday and Sundays at 10:00 am

Website: http://www.cinemabeaubien.com/fr/evenements.aspx

Musée des maîtres et artisans du Québec

The Musée des maîtres et artisans du Québec is a neat little museum in St. Laurent that is offering creative art workshops for families.  Each weekend there are worskhops that last about 1 hour that explore a different artisanal art form.  The main series on right now is focused on glass.  Glass painting, beading, and mosaic will all be explored on different days.  Families with children 7 and up can participate for only 10$ for the whole family (2$ extra per person if more than 4).  Other projects allow families with children 5 and up to participate.  Please make sure to call to reserve first.  Should be a fun way to get creative with the kids!

When:

• Saturdays and Sundays
• 2 pm

Where:

• 615, avenue Sainte-Croix, Saint-Laurent, Montreal Qc H4L 3X6

Cost:

• 10$ for a family of 4, 2$ per extra person

Phone Number:

• 514-747-7367 ext. 7204

Website:

• http://www.mmaq.qc.ca/programme_famille_en.htm

The Centre de la Nature - Laval

The Nature Center in Laval is a really nice place for famillies with young children to go. It has a little farm with pigs, cows, horses, donkeys... you name it! Kids can even take a pony ride for $3.00. There is also a little train that takes you around the park for $3.00/person. Aside from a lot of green space there is a lake where you can rent canoes or kayaks and two great parks with a lot of different games for kids. There are also two pools on the edge of the park (for big and little kids). It truly is a place you can spend the whole day in! Bring a picnic lunch or grab some lunch at the little restaurant.
My kids review: They had a great time! There were so many little activities for them that they couldn't get bored. We went from looking at the animals, to riding on the train, to playing in the park, to looking at fish and turtles in the lake and back to the animals... It was a busy and very fun day!

Address:

• 901, avenue du Parc, Laval (Québec) H7E 2T7

Telephone #:

• 450 662-4942

Price:

• Entrance to the park is free! $3.00 fee for pony rides and train rides.

Hours:

• Everyday from 8:00 am - 10:00 pm

Website: http://www.info.ville.laval.qc.ca/ms/centre_nature/index.html

Labyrinth in the Old Port

The Labyrinthe du Hangar 16 is a huge maze right in Old Montreal. There are lots of winding hallways to go through with obstacles to climb, slide down or figure out! Kids and parents of all ages will enjoy this adventure with a pirate theme. It takes between an hour to an hour and a half to complete it. They are open from mid-May to Halloween. Unfortunately, due to the obstacles, strollers or wheelchairs cannot go through the maze.

Location:

• The Shed 16 Labyrinth is located at Clock Tower Pier Entrance of the Old Port of Montréal, near Berri Street.

Phone #: (514) 499-0099

Price:

• 3 and under: free
• 4-12: $10.50
• 13-17:$13.00
• 18-59: $14.00
• 60 +: $13.00
• ** Coupons available on their website and the POM guide as well as family rates

Hours:

• Everyday from 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

Website: http://labyrintheduhangar16.com/en/index.html

La Ronde

The major theme park of Montreal, La Ronde is definently a place every family should go at least once. It has over 40 rides and attractions including quite a few rollercoasters. There is a special area designated for younger children but the park is more geared for older kids. It's quite an expensive outing but if you intend to go more than a couple of times you can buy season passes. They are selling mid-season passes right now for $53.00 if you buy it online, which is only about $19 more than a one day pass. Another way to save a little money is to bring your own picnic lunch because the snack areas are pricey.

Price:

• 2 and under: free
• Person 54'' or more: $38.98
• Less than 54'': $25.50
• After 5pm (except fireworks nights): $24.95
• Over 65: $25.50
• **** Most tickets are $5.00 less if bought online
• ****Many coupons available (details on website)

Address:

• 22 Chemin Macdonald Île Sainte-HélèneMontréal (Québec) H3C 6A3

Hours:

• Everyday: 11:00am-9:00pm (until 11:30pm on fireworks nights)

Website: http://laronde.sixflags.com/larondeen/

Beach - Parc Jean Drapeau

A beach right on the island. Great especially for those without access to a car. Nice beach, clean water, volleyball courts and play structures for little kids. There are picnic areas as well as a restaurant on site.

Location:

• Parc Jean Drapeau on Ile Ste.-Helene

Price:

• 5 and under: free
• 6-13: $4.00
• 14 +: $8.00
• 65+: $7.00
• Family: $20.00

Hours:

• June 19 - Aug. 23
• 10 am - 7 pm

Website: http://www.parcjeandrapeau.com/54-The_Beach-event.html

Beach - Cap St. Jacques

A really fun, clean beach to bring the kids too. It's not too big and the water is shallow for quite a long distance so little kids can enjoy the water too. There's lots of sand to build great sand castles and life guards are on duty.

Address:

• 21115, boulevard Gouin Ouest, Pierrefonds

Price:

• under 5: free
• 6-17: $3.00
• 18 +: $4.50
• parking: $7.00

Hours:

• everyday 10am - 7pm

Website: Cap St. Jacques beach