FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY THIS SEASON IN LES JARDINS GAMELIN!

Montreal, May 15, 2019 – Get ready to wear a big smile – the 5^th season of Les Jardins Gamelin is almost here! The Jardins will once again be home to a cornucopia of free activities for the whole family, including kids and teens. Each weekend from May 30 to September 29, Montrealers of all ages will rediscover the Jardins’ welcoming atmosphere, original setup and cultural activities for families. A wonderful way to take a break, if only for a few hours, from the urban bustle.

FOR THE LITTLE ONES

La Maison jaune will return, welcoming young children to its space designed just for them, complete with plenty of activities for children from infancy to age 12. There will be games, crafts and creative workshops on Jardins-related themes, all led by an experienced facilitator. Outside the Maison jaune visitors will find shady places to relax, hopscotch, beanbags, construction games and a self-serve library.

Every Sunday morning, children are invited to take part in the Matinées familiales, the family mornings presented by the Petits bonheurs organization. Kids and their parents can enjoy professional shows and beginners’ art workshops. Children can express their creative talents with dance, singing, music, theatre, puppetry, circus, architecture, visual arts and much more. All workshops are designed by professional artists, and all are free of charge, with no registration required.

Among the dozens of activities slated for June, kids can take a percussive journey with Gotta Lago during Percufolies (June 2). Participants will get to explore instruments from five continents. With the Jeu de mains, jeu d'empreintes dans la terre, a creative workshop that's a little bit dirty but a whole lot of fun, children will draw with clay and a variety of vegetable matter found in the Jardins. Ceramic artist Marie Serreau will be there to guide them (June 9). Lastly, Théâtre Bouches Décousues presents Ma petite boule d'amour, a heartwarming show for toddlers about a brown bear who adopts a white bear cub, as told and sung by its author, Jasmine Dubé (June 23).

Every Sunday morning throughout the season, Iris Debauve will introduce children to the joys of reading with the Ma petite cabane activity. Imagination rules in the storyteller’s little house, where each book is a portal to a captivating universe. The activity is mainly intended for kids under 5, but it’s great for anyone who loves reading.

FUN FOR TEENS

Les Jardins Gamelin also offer plenty of ways to entertain young teens, with the series T’as de beaux jeux, every Sunday with facilitators from Randolph, the gaming pub. Tons of activities to enjoy outdoors with one of Montreal’s biggest gaming communities.

Every afternoon, the Club de jeux Randolph introduces players to selections from Randolph’s vast collection of mystery, creative and role-playing games. A team of passionate gamers leads young people through discovery and the finer points of strategy. To mix it up, there’s a new theme every week. Come have some fun solo or with friends, and you could win a great door prize. Ages 7 and up.

In the evening, young people are invited to put together a team, give it a wacky name and test their knowledge with Quiz Randolph, a trivia game based on general knowledge. Get ready for lots of laughter and heated competition for the prize!

New this season: on three occasions, there will be extra-large version of the multiplayer werewolves game, Loups-Garous. As always, gaming pros from Randolph will lead the way as more than 60 people populate the mythical werewolf-infested village of Thiercelieux. This special version of the game, designed for large groups, lets players be a simple villager or a werewolf. The goal: survive, one night at a time! For ages 10 and up. Same-day, on-site registration required.

GREEN LIVING FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

Celebrating nature in the city, every Sunday morning the Sentier Urbain organization offers family-friendly urban agriculture and garden-exploration workshops. Côté Jardins is aimed at parents and children. Together, they can attend educational workshops where they will learn about the environment and agriculture, while putting some of their new knowledge into action with the help of Sentier Urbain’s facilitators. Parents: now you’ll have some help when it’s time to plant your balcony garden or weed the vegetable plot!

Sentier Urbain also invites budding gardeners to tour the seven themed gardens in Les Jardins Gamelin, as well as the butterfly tent, a small insectarium where free-flying butterflies live. Three workshops on butterfly life cycles and morphology will be held over the course of the season (June 9, July 14, September 8). Each workshop will conclude with a flight of butterflies.

FOLLOW THE LITTLE STONE CREATURES INHABITING LES JARDINS GAMELIN

The Gamélites are back! The Pictographe collective, which created the charming stone characters, is proud to introduce a new member of the family, a baby Gamélite. Children will love their lively personalities and original adventures, bringing a whimsical touch to the Jardins. Keep an eye out for them – they could be anywhere. Follow their adventures on Facebook all season.

FAMILY MEALS

Check out the Jardins Gamelin terrasse, where you can share a snack with your kids. Get together on the large, verdant terrasse with the people who matter most and enjoy snacks created especially for families.

ABOUT LES JARDINS GAMELIN

In the spring of 2015, Place Émilie-Gamelin showed a new face to Quartier des Spectacles residents and visitors with Les Jardins Gamelin, open from May to September. A large, green and inviting civic space in the heart of downtown, Les Jardins Gamelin return every year with an original temporary layout and a versatile set of facilities. The space’s unique, accessible and human-scale programming, which has now completed five seasons, has become a part of daily life for residents and visitors, making Les Jardins Gamelin an inclusive gathering place in true Montreal style. The initiative, led by the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership, is produced in collaboration with Pépinière & co, Sentier Urbain and numerous partners, with the financial support of the borough of Ville-Marie.

ABOUT THE QUARTIER DES SPECTACLES PARTNERSHIP

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 is supported by the Ville de Montréal.

For more information, visit quartierdesspectacles.com

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MEDIA RELATIONS

Marie Lamoureux | marie.lamoureux@quartierdesspectacles.com | 514 923-6772