Glissades Gamelin © JALQ Photography | Montréal en Lumière © Benoit Rousseau
PRESS RELEASE
Montreal, February 5, 2026 — This March break, the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership invites families to play outside and experience the joys of winter to the fullest in the Quartier des Spectacles. An extensive program of free activities for every taste is offered all week. Visitors of all ages can learn a new winter sport with Les Glissades Gamelin, discover new luminous works with LUMINO, have an original skating experience with the interactive video projection Le coffre à jouets dégivré on the Esplanade Tranquille skating rink, and feast and fete with MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE. There are also a multitude of activities indoors and in cultural venues: come to the Grande Bibliothèque, Complexe Desjardins, the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal (MAC) and Place des Arts to make great memories. Thanks to its many free activities, the Quartier des Spectacles is the perfect destination for a fantastic March break with the whole family!
Until March 8, 2026
Place Émilie-Gamelin
Free admission and equipment loans
Families can get a free introduction to multiple sliding sports at this fun and welcoming facility. The site will be open during the day all week, from Monday to Friday starting at 10 a.m., in addition to its regular weekend hours. Everyone is invited to slide down the slopes on a sled, snowskate, snow scooter or, for the youngest sliders, a beginner’s snowboard, available courtesy of the Quebec Ski Areas Association. Then, take a break in the heated chalet, L’Après-glisse, and enjoy a sweet or savoury snack as well as a games library. A great new feature this year is L’Inter-glisse, a free shuttle bus connecting Les Glissades Gamelin and the Esplanade Tranquille skating rink, for quick and easy access to both of the Quartier’s winter sports sites.
March break hours for Les Glissades Gamelin:
Shuttle schedule:
March 6, 2026, from 4 to 8 p.m.
Place Émilie-Gamelin
For one exceptional evening, Kermesse LUMINO is taking over Place Émilie Gamelin! People of all ages will be immersed in a festive world imagined by Diffusion FAR, where light becomes a source of joy and wonder. On the program: fluorescent face-painting, a clown show, luminous animations, juggling and a comedy DJ—all together to make this fun, family-oriented event a memorable one. For the occasion, the public is invited to wear luminous accessories. Les Glissades Gamelin will remain open during the event.
March 4 to 7, 2026, from 2 to 8 p.m.
MEM – Centre des mémoires montréalaises
For the 16th edition of LUMINO, the MEM – Centre des mémoires montréalaises invites families to a creative paper lantern-making workshop. inspired by the centre’s exhibition, How Well Do You Know Your Chinatown ? Participants will design Chinese lanterns based on original illustrations by Montreal artist Ravy Puth. The finished lanterns will be hung along the windows of the Belvedere, forming a collective installation lighting up the MEM and Sainte-Catherine St. West.
Until March 8, 2026, from nightfall to 11 p.m.
In the Quartier des Spectacles and downtown
Le coffre à jouets dégivré, each evening at 6:30, 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. on the Esplanade Tranquille skating rink
Kids will be amazed by the colourful installations lighting up the Quartier. They include Chronoharp by Amigo & Amigo on the Promenade des Artistes, a playable musical installation; Stargate by Chalk River Labs on the Place des Arts Esplanade, for capturing spectacular photos; and Le coffre à jouets dégivré, the new interactive video projection by Montreal studios Ottomata and Doki, making the Esplanade Tranquille an incredible place to play.
Open daily, free admission
Special hours from March 2–8, 2026: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Esplanade Tranquille
The Esplanade Tranquille pavilion will host several free activities for kids. On March 2 at 1 p.m., there will be a crafting workshop for making suncatchers with Lézard Créatif; on March 6 at 1 p.m., enjoy an introduction to juggling with Cirque Hors Piste. No reservations. Space is limited—first come, first to have creative fun!
Meanwhile, the excellent Esplanade Tranquille skating rink will be open daily starting at 9 a.m. Kids can explore the art of skating with the Jardin de glace (ice garden), a playful space open each Sunday morning for learning while having fun. Café Tranquille and the games library, located in the pavilion’s Grand salon, welcome visitors looking to take a break, enjoy a snack and play some board games while warming up by the fire and admiring the fantastic view of the rink.
February 27 to March 7, 2026
In the Quartier des Spectacles
Montréal en Lumière returns this year with plenty of activities for March break, presented by Baffin. The Village Gourmand, presented by Miele in collaboration with Radio-Canada, is an essential stop for families. It includes Frèloca : Duel Gourmand, junior version, and cooking workshops by 1, 2, 3… Je cuisine ! On the outdoor site, families will find a wealth of activities: roving performers, giant marionettes, large-format games, multidisciplinary workshops and the Télé-Québec mascots. Finally, teens can try their hand at making music with a pair of workshops led by Antoine Corriveau and Virginie B: DJ IGLOO LOOP and La Relâche en chanson.
From February 28 to March 8, young people are invited to the Grande Bibliothèque for a variety of fun creative activities. L’heure du conte (story time, in French), the Lâche ton fou party, a graffiti knitting workshop and playful cinematic moments are all on the program.
March 1 to 8, Complexe Desjardins welcomes young children interested in exploring the world of the circus with numerous activities, circus workshops, face painting and circus shows.
March 3 to 6, the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal (MAC) hosts a creative workshop series called MAC en famille, where parents and kids discover the exhibition Éloges de l’image manquante, in which seven artists explore contemporary issues related to imagery and the dynamics that shape narratives.
March 3 to 7, Place des Arts invites children ages 3 to 10 to an immersion in circus magic. A host of free activities are on the menu: magic shows, clown routines, circus and cooking workshops, immersive works, face painting and games. At the same time, the play Pinocchio (in French; ticketed) is running in the Cinquième Salle from March 5 to 7—a great way to end the day.
The Quartier des Spectacles is the cultural heart of Montreal, boasting North America’s largest and most diverse concentration of cultural amenities. The Quartier’s 1 km2 of urban space delights audiences year round thanks to nearly 80 performance venues and creative spaces and 50 annual festivals. The district also showcases innovative urban installations and cutting edge digital art and lighting design. The Quartier des Spectacles positions Montreal as an international leader in urban animation, making it a prime destination for culture and tourism.
The Quartier des Spectacles Partnership, founded in 2003, is a non-profit organization with more than 85 members active in the district. It is responsible for animating the Quartier des Spectacles by programming cultural activities, managing and animating public spaces, providing distinctive illumination and promoting the Quartier as a must-visit cultural destination. The Partnership benefits from the support of the Ville de Montréal.
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Please include full captions and credits.
Mélanie Mingotaud
Communications Mingotwo
melanie@mingo2.ca
514 582-5272
Chloé Goldstein
Quartier des Spectacles Partnership
chloe.goldstein@quartierdesspectacles.com
514 812-2193
