13 reasons to enjoy March break

On March 6 and 7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., enjoy two immersive tales that will make you dream: Conte d'un futur commun and MANITOU360. The former is performed by a storyteller (Delphine Descombien), a musician (Yoan Girard) and an illustrator (Maxime Hurdequint), with interactive fulldome illustrations (Louis Clément). MANITOU360 combines visual creation, electronic music and storytelling, co-written by Laetitia Troussel, Simon Lazarus and Joséphine Hurtut. Both take place under the famous SAT dome. The research and creation center, unique in Montreal, also offers free family activities. Children aged 9 and over can learn frame-by-frame animation. And on the SAT terrace, discover Sabrina Ratté's interactive work Cyberdelia, while enjoying maple taffy on snow. And that's not to mention Café SAT's free hot chocolate for kids from March 4 to 7!  

If you haven't yet visited the MEM - Centre des Mémoires Montréalaises, now's your chance. From March 1 to 9 (except Monday, March 3), you can leave your children aged 6 to 12 with the MEM team as part of the Catch you later, parents! School break childcare. Animators will offer them a variety of stimulating activities: a tour of the exhibits, a LEGO workshop, various games and a drawing session. You'll have two hours to discover the exhibits at this museum dedicated to the history of the metropolis. 

Place des Arts is going all out! For the occasion, it's transforming its public spaces into a festive setting to encourage children aged 3 to 10 to create, move and play.  There're also offering a host of free activities for the little ones: arts, crafts and pancake-making with La Tablée des Chefs, a workshop with the Verdun Circus School and the discovery of the digital work La Escuela on the screen mosaic. Children will also be introduced to the performing arts with the Rythmo Rigolo musical show. Finally, while you're there, get tickets for The Wizard of Oz, a ticketed show presented at Cinquième salle on March 5 at 2 p.m. and on March 6 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. 

Cultural outings for the whole family are well worth the detour, while we still have time during spring break. Cosmo, presented until March 2, is a wordless puppet show for toddlers. Its two creators, Mexican Haydeé Boetto and Quebecois Hélène Ducharme, use spellbinding music and twirling fabrics to poetically evoke the birth of the universe. Presented from March 8 to 18, L'enfant mascara, adapted from Simon Boulerice's novel of the same name, is aimed at high school students. Inspired by a true story, the play recounts a passionate drama and illustrates the reality of transphobia with sensitivity and accuracy.  

Two shows at Salle Pierre-Mercure are sure to attract attention for their high quality and accessibility to help teenagers discover classical music. On Sunday, March 2, at 3:30 p.m., the Ensemble Obiora-Sororité will celebrate the contributions of women to classical music. This concert, led by Canadian conductor Janna Sailor, features the voices of soprano Suzanne Taffot and singer Anuja Panditrao, and will feature works such as Rachel McFarlane's When Enchantment Comes, and Amy Beach's Gaelic Symphony. Presented on Thursday, March 6, at 7:30 p.m., Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition performed by the I Musici ensemble with pianist Alexandre Tharaud, conducted by Jean-François Rivest, is a lavish musical and visual spectacle accompanied by Natascha Turovski's animated film Tableaux dansants (Dancing Pictures). 

Fancy a trip to the movies with the kids? Don't miss the screening of Flow, on March 6, at 6:30 p.m., at the Cinémathèque québécoise. This animated film by Gints Zilbalodis, winner of numerous international awards (and twice nominated for an Oscar), features a cat who finds refuge on a boat occupied by other animals. Together, they learn to get along and overcome the challenges that lie ahead.  

On March 1 and 8, at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., L'heure du conte offers youngsters the chance to discover fabulous and inspiring worlds. The youngest are invited to Premiers pas, premiers contes, on March 6, at 10:30 a.m. The list of activities on offer is long and goes beyond storytelling. Children will be particularly interested in the Create a Video Game workshop on March 2 at 2:30 p.m., the Manga Quiz on March 5 at 2 p.m. and the Video Game Tournament on March 6 at 2:30 p.m. Finally, Toupie et Binou, Le film, will be presented on March 8 at 2 p.m. 

Révolution, Les Étoiles brings together the dancers seen on the popular TV show, under the direction of dancer-choreographer Lydia Bouchard. Combining dance, music and visual arts in spectacular numbers, it is presented several times during spring break, including February 28 at 8 p.m., March 1 at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., March 2 at 3 p.m., March 7 at 8 p.m., March 8 at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., and March 9 at 3 p.m. 

The festival returns this year with a rich spring break offering, presented by CN. The Loto-Québec Skating Loop overlooking the Place des Festivals, giant games and a dynamic CN Family Zone invite everyone to have fun and relax outdoors. From March 5 to 9, Télé-Québec arrives on the colorful site. Hop aboard the Petit train, have fun with the Télé-Québec mascots, sing along to Passe-Partout karaoke, meet Joanie Lamoureux from Le Safari de Joanie and her birds of prey, and play with Émilie Fournier from Hiveraganza: a program for outdoor play!    

On Monday, March 3, youngsters aged seven and over can take part in a fun workshop entitled Crée, joue et imagine! presented by ABL BLA LAB. On the menu: create a story as a group, design original bookmarks and build a collective game that will enrich the Esplanade Tranquille library. On Wednesday March 5, a children's film screening with Cinéma-Public will be followed by a mediation workshop. Finally, on Friday March 7, an introductory music workshop will focus on instruments from the small percussion family. This activity, aimed at children aged 4 to 8, will be presented in collaboration with the OSM. 

Whether you're an expert skater or an expert boot skater, you'll enjoy every moment of your winter on the ice. The Esplanade Tranquille refrigerated skating rink promises memorable sessions in a magical atmosphere, whatever the weather. After enjoying the fresh air, you can warm up with a well-deserved break at the Café Tranquille, located in the pavilion, which offers you, in addition to the refuge, good things to drink and nibble on. 

Can you imagine a spring break without slides? This year, you'll have to experience Les Glissades Gamelin, the urban sliding facility located a stone's throw from the Grande Bibliothèque and the Berri-UQAM metro station. With its six runs and free equipment rental service, it welcomes winter sports novices and regulars alike. What's more, the schedule is extended during March break! Les Glissades Gamelin will be open all week long: Monday, March 3 and Tuesday, March 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Wednesday, March 5 to Friday, March 7, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Saturday, March 8 and Sunday, March 9, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.  

To learn more about the many facets of Quebec's ski resorts, the Association des stations de ski du Québec (ASSQ) is offering educational videos, fun displays and enriching discussion with ambassadors on winter slopes in a converted container. Younger children (aged 12 and under) can also try their hand at snowboarding on La MOLLO, using learning snowboards without bindings. These activities take place on Saturdays and Sundays, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.   

LUMINO is made up of participative, contemplative and luminous works that make any visit to downtown magical. Don't miss Otomatta's new interactive installation, L'Orchestre Endormi, which allows the public to awaken the musical culture that lies dormant on Saint-Denis Street, and the two works at Place Émilie-Gamelin. With some thirty works to discover, make your way with the interactive map. LUMINO is a simple, free and rewarding way to get away from it all in the heart of Montreal and create memories for the whole family.