Montreal in the hot months feels like the reason the sun exists – the city shines like a mirage full or music festivals, lively parks and revelers everywhere you turn. You don’t have to ask us twice to stay out of doors, and with these great activities, even the kids will agree. No TV show in the world compares to the fun to be had in the great outdoors…

The gorgeous 245 hectare natural park that is the Morgan Arboretum kicks the party off on May 10 with a hopping evening: Frog Songs: The Symphony of Spring invites you and yours to break out your flashlights and discover the amazing nocturnal life of amphibians from 7 to 9 pm. Join Chris Cloutier as he takes you down to a local swamp in search of our cold-blooded friends. On Saturday, May 18, from 8 am to noon, the arboretum sings spring’s praises with The Birds of Spring, in honour of the peak of the spring migration. The trees are alive with birds all over this beautiful park, and this excursion will introduce you to dozens of species.

Speaking of birds, the Parc des Rapides is a gorgeous natural site at the foot of the Lachine rapids, on the St. Lawrence River, with a tremendously diverse ecological zone. Since 1937 it’s acted as a migratory bird refuge – what’s special is that now’s the time to spot the nests housing the next generation of birdies. The park is home to 225 species of birds, 66 species of fish and 250 types of plants! Plus it’s free to visit.

May 13 kicks off the season of water fun at H2O Adventures, where you can rent any of 50 watercraft, from kayaks to pedal boats to canoes or electric motorboats. Take the kids for a fast ride along the St. Lawrence, or go more mellow and teach them how to canoe like our ancestors did – it’s a good way to give them a history lesson without them even knowing it.

While you’re in that neck of the woods, bike or stroll along the Lachine Canal to the Musée Plein Air de Lachine, an amazing, monumental sculpture garden that’s among the largest open air museums in Canada. The 50 works on view include some by André Fournelle, Michel Goulet, David Moore and Bill Vazan – and for once, this is a museum where kids are allowed to touch the art!

Take the fam sky high with Air Saint-Laurent, Montreal’s own seaplane service from Île Sainte-Hélène, at the foot of the Jacques-Cartier Bridge. Explore the city by helicopter, or aboard their famous Beaver, a seaplane that will take you over the Olympic Stadium, downtown, green spaces and parks galore before landing you back down, amazed.

The Botanical Gardens is natural bliss incarnate, and during the 1000 Days for the Planet, kids get to learn about the planet’s biodiversity every week from Tuesday to Sunday in an exhibition that mashes together science and art. Make sure you keep time to stroll through the picturesque gardens – from the Chinese garden to the rose bushes, it’s all blooming beautiful right now.

And for the simplest, quickest, quintessentially Montreal-est free fun in the sun, go use the swings on President Kennedy and St-Urbain, right in the Quartier des Spectacles. They’ll sing to you.

THE DETAILS

Morgan Arboretum, 150 chemin des Pins, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, (514) 398-7811

Parc des Rapides, corner 6th Avenue and LaSalle Boulevard, (514) 367-6351

H2O Adventures, 2985B St-Patrick, (514) 842-1306

Musée Plein Air de Lachine, Parc René-Lévesque, Lachine, (514) 634-3478

Air Saint-Laurent, departure points depends on the adventure, (514) 447-7950

Botanical Gardens, 4101 Sherbrooke East, (514) 872-1400

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This year, over the weekend of August 2-4, Osheaga turns beautiful Parc Jean-Drapeau, a quick metro ride away from downtown Montreal, into one big three-day party, headlined by Grammy winners Mumford & Sons, French pop-rock band Phoenix, stylish indie-rockers Vampire Weekend, and, in keeping with Osheaga’s penchant for bringing genuine legends of the 80s and 90s back to the music fest stage, none other than The Cure and New Order. Whoa.
The Osheaga site sprawls across the park, with two giant main stages at its open-air heart and smaller stages – usually set to a theme, from folk-rock to electronic dance music; yes, there’s something for everyone – surrounded by trees and views of the St-Laurent river and the city. Among the big names hitting the main stages are folk-revivalist act The Lumineers, British electro-pop makers Hot Chip, Canadian danceparty makers Tegan and Sara, and hip-hop’s latest and greatest, Kendrick Lamar, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, plus Big Boi and Azealia Banks.

The latest across-the-pond sounds of pop sweetness and light comes with 2012 Mercury Prize winners Alt-J, pop singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding, Jessie Ware and Ireland’s Two Door Cinema Club, sharing stages with American bands like Beach House, Explosions in the Sky, Jimmy Eat World and The Head and the Heart, along with Canadian faves like Diamond Rings, Misteur Valaire and A Tribe Called Red. Dozens more bands play the festival, with many acts still to be announced – see Osheaga’s site for the most up-to-date info.

August truly does seem far away right now, so in the long lead-up to the Osheaga weekend, the festival presents some big-name, not-to-miss shows in Montreal: on May 24, see Iceland’s Of Monsters and Men, a huge hit at last year’s festival; The XX and Grizzly Bear on June 7; The National and The Barr Brothers on June 13; and The Tragically Hip and Sam Roberts Band on June 22. In the spirit of the fest, all show are happening outdoors during what we all hope will be sunny days at the Esplanade Du Centenaire du Canal Lachine – also a good reason to explore Atwater Market and the neighbourhood of St-Henri, just south of downtown Montreal. Now let’s get summer started early!

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THE DETAILS
Osheaga, August 2-4, 2013

Photos by Susan Moss

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(go green) Whether you’re here this week to relax, party or keep the kids entertained at the tail end of March Break, Montreal’s Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations have something for everyone. The massive parade begins on Sunday, March 17, at noon and moves east for blocks but throughout the weekend many pubs, bars and restaurants, whether they’re officially Irish or not, offer up special St-Patty’s drinks and dishes.

(sugar shack fun) Sugaring-off season is upon us and with it the return of fatty, syrupy sugar shack fare, done in traditional and gourmet styles or a mix of the two, such as at La Cabane, conveniently located in the Old Port, where you’ll also find outdoor activities like ice skating and ice fishing. Or get the real maple-syrup deal at the Montreal Botanical Gardens, where families can sample syrup on snow and find out where the sugary stuff comes from.

(on-stage spectacle) While March 16 brings UFC welterweight champion and local legend Georges St-Pierre to the Bell Centre along with six other UFC welterweight fighters in what’s sure to be one kind of grand spectacle, there’s also Rabbit in a Hat Productions’ boxing-centric Cornered, on at Bain St-Michel to March 17. Les Grands Ballets Canadiens presents Danz + Toot, a high-energy, highly contemporary program, March 14-23, the true story of Dead Man Walking is put into song by Opera de Montreal on March 16, and the true story of the “Queen of Gospel” is told in The Mahalia Jackson Musical, starring Montreal sensation Ranee Lee, at the Segal, to March 24. See contemporary dance Montreal-style at Agora de la Danse March 15-16 as choreographer Isabelle Van Grimde works with dancers, composers and musicians in Les Gestes. And lovely, luscious ladies from Montreal and across North America perform sexy, funny, circus-y burlesque of all sorts at cabaret Le Grand Burlesque Show, March 21-23 at Club Soda.

(film & art) The International Festival of Films on Art, March 14-24, screens documentaries, shorts and experimental films that focus on all forms of the arts: painting, sculpture, architecture, writing, dancing, music and more. Also check out free events such as the Zon’Arts exhibition at Place des Arts, where Diane Obomsawin’s animated films Fleur (2012) and Machine (2012) are being projected. For the full FIFA schedule and to buy tickets online, see the FIFA site. It’s also the last weekend to wander through Montreal’s underground city, connecting metro stations, office buildings and malls, to see the corridors adorned with intriguing art for Art Souterrain.

(music for march) The weekend opens with Montreal favourites Stars playing two magical nights at the Corona Theatre, March 15 and 16. Also on Friday, another Montreal favourite, Jerusalem in My Heart brings their unique, dramatic sound to Le National, and dance the night away to electro-beat of Mr. Oizo, A-Rock and Cherry Cola, at SAT. Saturday night is all disco all the time with the legendary Village People at L’Olympia. On Sunday night, mega-star Rihanna visits the Bell Centre on her Diamonds World Tour, with A$AP Rocky. On Tuesday, March 19, see Randy Bachman on his Vinyl Tap Tour, playing music and telling stories about the Guess Who and BTO, at Theatre Corona. Canadian rocker Matt Mays comes to Cabaret Mile End with with openers July Talk on March 20, while New York prog-rock-punk band Coheed & Cambria  and A Place To Bury Strangers are at Club Soda.

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(Famous Faces) Several big names have been announced for the 34th edition of the Montreal International Jazz Festival, happening June 28 to July 7 at classic music venues and outdoors on free stages. Naturally topping that list is the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, unleashing that diva voice and attitude on June 29 at Place des Arts. As always in the past decade or so, the festival branches out from jazz to include the jazz-influenced, like She & Him, the duo of Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward, playing July 3 with Camera Obscura, and, much to the delight of long-time fans, Scottish indie-pop group Belle & Sebastian, in Montreal for one of only two North American festival stops, on July 5. And American trumpeter Wynton Marsalis plays with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, on June 28.

(Jazz Style) Though the festival loves to mix and match musical ways, it’s jazz that still makes up the majority of festival acts. Several great musicians play three hours of jazz at saxophonist-composer Wayne Shorter’s 80th Birthday Celebration on June 29 – including Shorter himself! Ever-popular Pink Martini blends jazz with swing, pop and suave ways on June 27. One of Canada’s greatest jazz voices, Holly Cole returns to the festival with her new album and jazz standards, June 27-29. Saxophonist Joshua Redman comes back complete with a quartet and string section and a new album on June 29. Grammy-winning guitarist and singer George Benson plays his smooth greatest hits from the ‘70s and much more on June 30. And the world-touring Preservation Hall Jazz Band gets everyone’s toes tapping to Dixieland on July 5.

(Top 5 Picks) As everyone’s taste is different, it’s hard to say what is a must-see at this year’s festival, but Aretha Franklin is probably a sure bet. Can’t go wrong with Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings either, who always get the crowd dancing to their classic soul, modern R&B sound – see them July 3. Also on July 3, a double bill featuring New Orleans singer-pianist Dr. John and singer and multi-instrumentalist Leon Russell playing classic blues and ‘70s folk-rock is not to be missed. The saxophonist son of John Coltrane returns to Montreal with his Ravi Coltrane Quartet, playing June 28 after a five-year absence. And Oliver Jones shows us why he’s a jazz great and piano genius in a solo show on July 5. As the fest approaches, more acts are sure to be announced – big names and lesser knowns as well as major free outdoor concerts – so we’ll be adding to this list as summer approaches…

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THE DETAILS

Montreal International Jazz Festival, June 28-July 7, 2013

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From our beloved and storied hockey franchise the Montreal Canadiens to our surging soccer team the Montreal Impact, from hometown UFC hero Georges St-Pierre to the power and spectacle of the Grand Prix and the thrilling athleticism of the Rogers Cup, Montreal is a year-long destination for sports fans. And if you’re coming to town for the big game and you need a place to stay, we can help with that too.

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Liam Maloney is a photographer who specializes in editorial and long-term documentary work. Though he travels the world for work, Montreal will always be home for him and we were thrilled to hear that he was interested in spending a day shooting some outdoor hockey games for us.

For these photos, Maloney visited rinks in Verdun, the Plateau and Little Italy. If you’re looking for a complete list of Montreal’s outdoor and indoor ice, make sure you check out the great Patiner Montreal website, which not only maps out all of the city’s rinks, but offers interactive information on ice conditions, hours of availability and more. Game on.

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First up, Ice Fishing in the Old Port. What I love most about Ice Fishing in the Old Port is doing for hearty laughs and good instagram photos, what the founders of Montreal did bitterly for survival probably in this exact spot hundreds of years ago. Back then many did not survive. Today on the other hand, we can enjoy the 300, 000 feet of ice in heated shelters, and all the materials necessary to catch species like walleye, perch and burbot. Check out their website to find out how to reserve. Big groups and families welcome!

Aptly nicknamed “Chess on Ice” – curling is a game of strategy, wit, and ice sweeping. Back in the 18th century, Scottish soldiers would play this sport out of modified cannonballs. At the Stewart Museum on Ile-Sainte-Helene you can slide and brush your way back in time with costumed instructors, cups of hot broth, and ye ol’ tales around a crackling fire. I don’t know if it’s against the rules, but how much fun would hot toddies and old-fashioned curling be? Especially when there are period costumes involved. Check out the details here.

I remember the first time I went snowshoeing as a child; I was convinced that this is what like walking on the moon felt like. I’ll admit that when I went snowshoeing last year, logic held no place in my heart and still thought the same thing. Starting January 5 and going all the way until March 9, strap on a pair and see the wonders of Montreal from Mount Royal in a 75 minute guided tour on snowshoes. The family-friendly trek starts shortly after sunset, and it might not take you to the moon, but from atop the mountain you’ll certainly feel a lot closer.

Many Canadian children learn to skate before they learn to walk. Nothing beats gliding atop frozen water like a wintery Jesus and pretending you’re Joannie Rochette. Montreal has tones of places to skate this winter: The beautiful Bonsecours Basin with the Montreal skyline in the background, Beaver Lake surrounded by the urban wilderness of Mont-Royal, the winter wonderland of Parc Lafontaine, or the hockey loving Maisonneuve Park. Hate the cold? Try Le 1000 Atrium at 1000 De La Gauchetiere West for an indoor simulated skating experience sans frostbite.

Just because we can’t watch the NHL this winter, doesn’t mean we can’t get our fill of ice game. The Stars de Montreal is the Women’s hockey team! Remember these are many of the same women who have lead Canada to gold medal victory at the past three winter Olympic games. They’ll be playing home games December 8 & 9 plus January 19 & 20. Plus tickets are only $10!

If you’ve never tried Cross-Country Skiing before, chances are you’ve made fun of Cross-Country skiing. If ice fishing and curling doesn’t torch enough calories for you, then look no further than the deceptive nature of Cross-Country. This is a serious workout, and can be a fun challenge if you’ve never tried it before. Note: If you’ve never done it before, take a lesson because it’s far more difficult than just willing yourself forward. Check out trails on Mont Royal, Parc Maissonneuve, Cap Saint-Jacques or the Bois de L’Ile Bizard. Although if it snows enough this holiday seasons, there’s nothing stopping you from skiing anywhere really.

“Toboggan” comes from the French-Canadian word “tabaganne” which comes from the Native American (Micmac) word “topagan” which means, “sled.” Now, I would never claim to be a skilled tobogganist, but there is a certain art to it. The art being going fast enough to be “yay toboggan!” but not so fast you crash and smash your pelvis. Which my friend has done tobogganing. The best tobogganing in Montreal is on Mont Royal by Beaver Lake. Although all you really need is a snowy hill. So look, climb, and conquer. Be safe and wear a helmet!

Last but not least, my favorite winter sporting activity: Outdoor Aerobics during Igloofest. Put on your sleekest snowsuit, channel your best Fonda, and jazzercise yourself slimmer to the beats of the best DJs in quite possibly the coolest (pun not intended, and it stays) atmosphere ever. Also, instead of icky water like at a real aerobics session, you can refresh on breaks with not-water, ergo alcohol.

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Every year at the start of summer, Mont-Royal - a spirited shopping and dining street that slices the city from east to west, ending up at the foot of the beautifully green Mount Royal – closes to traffic for four days and opens the party grounds of artsy pedestrians.

Nuit Blanche Sur Tableau Noir is a block party extraordinaire, with live music, street food, kids’ games and animation all day long over the whole weekend. Its centerpiece, though, is the big street painting created by 40-something local artists, different every year. Over the night of Friday, June 8, between 10 pm and 2 am, this spontaneous community of creators will put pigment to pavement and produce artworks based on this year’s theme, J’aime mon voisin (I love my neighbour).

Anyone and everyone is invited to wander the avenue and watch the magic take shape. Take a gander, then when you get the munchies pop into one of Mont-Royal’s hundreds of restaurants for a bite – see how far your favourite artist has gotten when you come out! Walk a few more blocks, grab dessert; again, then a drink. It’s hard to think of a cooler way to bar-hop.

Music fans will have days full of entertainment too, with shows starting everyday at 3. Bands include the popular Philémon Chante, Kodiak, Le Husky and Polo et les Méchants Moinôs. While for families, the party culminates on Saturday and Sunday as kids are invited to make their own sidewalk art in the Parc des Compagnons-de-Saint-Laurent between 11 am and 5 pm. Plus, they can get cool face makeup. And if you ask nicely, maybe you can too.

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THE DETAILS
Nuit Blanche Sur Tableau Noir, June 7-10, 2012
Avenue Mont-Royal, between St-Laurent and d’Iberville

Isa Tousignant is contributing editor for Canadian Art, Montreal correspondent for Akimbo, and a freelance writer on art, culture, travel, design and shoes for everyone from enRoute to Canadian Business to herself.

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If you’re not sure what to do with the kids this season, why not whisk them away to the Fête des Neiges festival for some outdoor winter fun and tube sliding. This year, the slide features 11 sliding lanes with two “extreme sliding areas” that have a 12-foot high departure platform…

For those of you with a devil-may-care attitude, try the thrilling zip line where you can pretend you’re a superhero and fly down one of the four downhill ropes that are more than 300 feet long and 24 feet high. If you’re more athletic (I won’t judge) why not try a game of pick up hockey in the beautiful scenic ice rink over looking the frosted city of Montreal. Then, wind down with a horse and carriage jaunt or a nice relaxing dog sled through Parc Jean Drapeau.

For the fiscally conservative, there are lots of free things to take advantage of. Namely Human Foosball, which, of course, is priceless. Then delight in ice rinks, downhill skiing hills and a giant trampoline. What’s that you say? You need to cut loose? You feel like dancing? Fete des Neiges has the answer to your dancin’ prayers at their Boulatheque- which is like a discotheque but colder. All this fun stuff with a backdrop of artfully crafted snow sculptures in the picturesque park. There’s even inflatable games at the great Polar Circus or check out the Tiny Fingers workshop where children are taught the subtle art of snow sculpting.

If all that activity is making you hungry, explore the Skater’s Bistro for some hot toddies and hot (or iced) ciders. The Skater’s Bistro is known for their delicious smoked salmon, so it’s the perfect meal to complete the experience. If you have a sweet tooth, order the crepes. With all the fun things to do this winter at Parc Jean-Drapeau, all you need is to paint the town red to get rid of your winter blues.

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THE DETAILS

Fête des Neiges, January 21 to February 5, 2012

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(adventures in edutainment) Perhaps the biggest coup of the modern science museum was cornering the market on hands-on exhibitions – I mean, is there anything at the Montreal Science Centre that you’re not allowed to touch? Well, maybe the light switches. Among the many permanent science and tech fun and games at the centre right now is the Indiana Jones exhibition, a fact-meets-fiction adventure in archaeology. And rest your tired feet at the IMAX cinema, currently showing the intense Rescue 3D, an insiders’ view of rescue operations in humanitarian crisis situations, and, perhaps more suited to younger viewers, Born to Be Wild, a film that follows endangered animals in their natural habitat and what is being done to keep these species alive and well.

(natural wonders) Taking the kids to the park to burn off some of that endless kid-energy is a no-brainer, whether you’re on vacation or not – many of Montreal’s parks offer more than the standard swings and teeter-totters, however. Take the metro to Pie IX station for one-stop-family-fun at the Montreal Biodome, Botanical Gardens and Insectarium – tour various ecosystems, learn about biodiversity with hands-on exhibitions and contribute to a more environmentally sustainable future. Or take the metro over to Jean Drapeau Park and spend the day at the Biosphere, a fascinating eco-museum housed in a massive geodesic dome designed by Buckminster Fuller.

(fun fair) Nothing says pre-teen summer fun and freedom like being allowed to call two hot dogs and a head-sized ball of cotton candy a “meal” and then getting to ride the rollercoaster four times in a row. Because, hey, maybe the most important part of being a kid is learning from your mistakes. Amusement park La Ronde is like a safe zone for minor mistake-making and major fun. Of course, height requirements might mean you’ll have to opt for La Ronde’s more adorable rides like the Joyeux Moussaillons and Marais Enchanté, instead of scaring yourself and the kids silly on thrill rides like Goliath, Monstre, Super Manège and Ednor-L’attaque. All of which are AWESOME.

(water wings) It may be the end of the summer, but the weather’s still warm and sunny – perfect for family afternoons at the pool. The swimming pools and diving platforms at Jean Drapeau Park are perfect for swimmers of all ages and abilities. In town, north of the Plateau neighbourhood, the large pool at Jarry Park (the original home to Montreal Expos baseball) is free and open until August 26, and the smaller outdoor pool at picturesque Sir-Wildfred-Laurier Park (at Laurier and de Brebeuf) is open until August 28.

(hidden places and spaces) Pointe-à-Callière, Montreal’s museum of archaeology and history, is the kind of place that can make a person, even a kid, forget that museums were ever boring. During all of August, also known as Archaeology Month, the museum gives Family Exploration Tours for kids aged 7-12: learn about Montreal’s origins with a storytelling rat leading the way through the collection and underground caverns. In the last weekend of August, travel through time at Pointe-à-Callière’s 18th-Century Public Market, with farmers, craftspeople and entertainers evoking the spirit of 1750, plus tours for kids interested in the real-life work of archaeologists.

(feed the children) It’s not necessarily a truism that all kids love junk food – I’ve seen kids choose carrots and kale over french fries – but when on vacation, junk food often seems like the cheap and easy solution to the family-friendly meal problem. Thankfully, Quebec culture caters to the sweet-toothed and carb-craving – no need to hit up the big-brand fast-food joints here. Of course Montreal certainly has many a gourmet bistro and hip-and-healthy restaurant, but there’s no denying that this town is also a mecca for Quebecois no-nonsense versions of hot dogs (steamies at La Fleur, fries and poutine of all kinds at La Banquise), burgers and veggie burgers (there are many good ones, and I’m not opening that particular debate up here, but check out La Paryse as an option), and ice cream (with new joints popping around every corner it seems.)

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