LES JARDINS GAMELIN: ALWAYS A GOOD PLAN!

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Concerts, dancing, fun, games, relaxation: Les Jardins Gamelin is the place to be in Montreal for all of that and more. Until September 29, the site is home to 16 series of events and activities of all kinds, and they’re always free. So no matter how often you come back, you’ll always find something fresh – a different ambiance to suit any mood or time of day.

Here are a few tips and ideas to make the most of your time in Les Jardins with friends, co-workers or family. Enjoy your summer!

The best of world music

In Les Jardins Gamelin, you’ll dance the night away, hear great live music from new and established artists and enjoy daily DJ sets – it’s no exaggeration to say that music is central to the Jardins Gamelin experience. If you love world music, you’re in luck this summer! Don’t miss these three great series: Apéros Criollo (Tuesdays, 6 to 9 p.m.), the DJs of the Tupi Collective every Wednesday (Mercredis de Tupi, noon to 2 p.m.) and Mmm – Montréal musique du monde (Thursdays, noon to 11 p.m.).

A great place for families

Life is good for families in Les Jardins Gamelin! Every Sunday morning, join les Matinées familiales avec Petits Bonheurs for fun, stimulating creative workshops for kids 12 and under. Also on Sundays, children are invited to Ma petite cabane, a cozy little house where artist Iris Debauve tells captivating tales. All summer, La Maison jaune is open for play, discovery and crafts – tons of fun, for hours.

And if your kids are a little older, why not recruit them for the giant werewolves game on June 15? Be prepared for all kinds of thrills and chills!

Grab a bite!

In the heart of the action and surrounded by lush vegetation, it’s a special place to pull up a chair and enjoy a snack and a cold drink – whether it’s lunchtime, happy hour or the weekend. Pick your spot on the enormous patio and sample delicious takes on traditional snack-bar fare, created by chef Dominic St-Laurent and his team. There’s something for everyone, with a children’s menu and several vegetarian and vegan choices, like the Japa dog, the vegan “pulled pork” sandwich and the delicious Beyond Meat burger. Yum!

Let it all hang out!

Up for a party? Getting together with your friends? There’s so much to do in Les Jardins Gamelin! Saturday night is time for the Soirées Salsafolie serie, on Montreal’s biggest outdoor dance floor. If you have two left feet, fear not: instructors from some of Montreal’s best schools will be there to teach you how to do it! At the end of the short lesson, the DJ takes over, spinning great tunes for dancing the night away under the stars.

For some laughs, and to challenge your buddies, drop by on Sunday evenings between 7 and 9 for trivia night with the Quiz Randolph, a weekly event with plenty of epic moments in store. Whether you play solo or as a team, you’ll need all your knowledge to triumph in this hilarious trivia game!

Healthy body, clear mind

Looking for a little peace and quiet, if only to recover from your busy weekend? Come down to Les Jardins Gamelin for morning yoga and meditation led by Justin Lapointe, in the serie Inspirez, expirez.

Tuesdays at 7:30 a.m., refocus with full-conscience meditation. Wednesday at the same time, tone up with Hatha Flow yoga. Both classes are open to all, regardless of level. Just show up at the small central stage – and don’t forget your yoga mat.

It’s easy being green!

Did you know that vegetables are grown and butterflies bred in Les Jardins Gamelin? The social greening organization Sentier Urbain is behind the design and maintenance of the seven themed gardens and sixty-plus planters found throughout the space. From the Nordic garden to the hanging garden, from the bountiful forest to the greenhouse, there’s a wealth of different plants – edible, nectar-producing, aromatic – that let you take a virtual trip from Abitibi to West Africa in seconds.

Gardeners of all levels, from novices to experts, are invited to the Côté Jardins series of free workshops and talks. Presented twice weekly (Tuesdays at 5 p.m. and Sundays at 11 a.m.) and led by experts, the activities explore a variety of environmental topics as well as the latest innovations in urban agriculture.