(play outdoors) No matter what the weather, the first weekend in March in Montreal is made for staying social outside: the 14th Montréal en Lumière is a festival of free outdoor activities for all ages – including an ice slide and ferris wheel! – food, music, theatre and dance shows, and other entertainment, including Nuit Blanche, a whole night of free activities around town on March 2. Since there’s still some snow and ice in March, it’s also perfect for  snowshoeing on Mont Royal, ice skating and ice fishing at the Old Port, slipping and sliding around the Olympic Park Winter Village, and digging in to the environment at Parc Jean-Drapeau where the Biosphere’s special spring break activities keep kids enthralled.

There’s also the option of sitting back and watching the on-ice action at the Bell Centre: Montreal Canadiens hockey season continues, the team’s history unfolds at the Montréal Canadiens Hall of Fame, and Disney’s Rockin’ Ever After takes centre ice on March 6-10 (in English March 7 and 10).

(art activities) Explore the country of Peru at Montreal Museum of Fine Arts with activities and guided tours for families – the museum’s newest in-depth special exhibition, Peru: Kingdoms of the Sun and Moon, delves into the landscape, culture, art and history of the colourful, fascinating country. Figure out the science behind the art of music at the Montreal Science Centre’s interactive Musik: From Sound to Emotion exhibition, on only until March 10 and coupled with even more music-oriented activities for spring break, like a school of rock n’ roll, music therapy, and over a hundred instruments there for the playing. And sit back, relax and follow the journey of the monarch butterfly in 3D IMAX film Flight of the Butterflies.

(sweetness & light) The natural world is in the spotlight at Montreal’s Space for Life, an activity-rich site encompassing the Botanical Gardens, Biodome and Insectarium. Quebec’s sugaring-off season is in fine form until March 31 at the Botanical Gardens: learn about maple trees and the harvest while getting a taste of real maple syrup and taffy. The light of summer comes in on wings at the Butterflies Go Free exhibition, featuring 2000 live butterflies and moths from around the world, until the end of April. And go behind the scenes at the Biodôme, March 2-10, discovering what makes five different ecosystems and the creatures that live in them healthy and sustainable – roam among 4,500 animals and 500 plant species with the experts right there to answer as many questions as kids can come up with.

(circus & theatre) Be awed and entertained at the 34th Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain, an eye-popping buffet of amazing circus acts in an internationally touring circus show featuring acrobats, trapeze artists, jugglers, clowns, contortionists and more from around the world, to March 3 at La Tohu. Keep young eyes and ears captivated by the on-stage drama and storytelling at Centaur Theatre’s children’s series: on March 16, see Panadream Theatre’s high-class puppet show Chris’ Crazy Cabaret, and on March 23, see spring in with Little Rabbit and His Friends.

And hear a symphony like no other at Pointe-à-Callière’s Port Symphonies, which challenges a composer to use a variety of ship horns, train whistles and percussion found in the harbour of the Old Port – March 3 and March 10 at 1:30 p.m. And stay to visit the Pointe-à-Callière history museum, March 2-10, for a variety of multi-media and hands-on spring break activities focused on the history and archaeology of Montreal. Also at La Tohu, see family-friendly circus show Mi Otro Yo, March 5-10 at 2 p.m., and learn a few circus tricks with free workshops and outdoor activities, March 2-8.

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