Anne-Charlotte PasseraSummer, summer, summertime activities in Montreal.
July in Montreal is one of the most festive month of the year. I like July! Want to know why?
It makes me think of chilling by the swimming pool while sipping on a bubbly drink. Dancing in the hot rain barefoot in the grass.
In Montreal, you can do all that and take a deep dive into the summer activities the city has to offer. Through music festivals, outdoor pools and drinking homemade smoothies, there are lots of fun things to do with the kids without breaking your piggy bank.
It doesn’t matter if you can’t get away from Montreal in July and hop on a plane to an exotic destination. Why not try a staycation instead?
Below is a list of fun and varied family activities to try out through the month of July in Montreal. And if that isn’t enough, check out the May and June edition for more ideas.
Montreal Festivals in July
Festivals are popular during the month of July in Montreal. Here are a few of them you can do with the kids without barely spending a dime.
They are a great place to go as a family to wrap yourselves in communal harmony. Also, they can be a great springboard for education whether yours or your kids.
Little mommy tip: Take a picture of your child when you arrive at the festival. You know, just in case you lose sight of your child. With the picture, it will be a whole easier to ask around if someone has seen him or her.
Festival Nuit D’Afrique: July 6-18 2021
A musical adventure through Caribbean, Latin and African rhythms. Celebrate the rich musical diversity through FREE family activities on the Place des Festivals (July 13-18th 2021).
Available for free and for the family: outdoor photo expo, concerts, specialty food stalls ($).
Check out their program HERE.
Montréal Complètement Cirque: July 7-17 2022
New show of Giants
The circus is coming to town with FREE shows July 7 to July 17, 2022 at 6 pm and 9 pm at Jardins Gamelin at Quartier des spectacles, the Esplanade PVM de la Place Ville Marie and Vinet Park near the Atwater Market.
If that isn’t enough, in the newly renovated Theatre de la Verdure at the Park Lafontaine, enjoy not one but 2 FREE shows on July 8th and July 13th at 7pm (doors open at 6pm).
Check out more of the program HERE.
Festival Just For Laughs: July 13-31 2022
Held on Places des Festivals, various FREE hilarious activities will be held for everyone to enjoy. The English part of this festival will take place from July 13th to 31st, 2022.
This festival has been around for a very long time and although you won’t want to take your kids to a paying show where they won’t understand a thing, you can still enjoy the outdoor portion of the event with them.
Moreover, the Festival is airing FREE events online which you can enjoy once the kids are in bed.
Check out their program HERE.
Fireworks Competition
By far one of the most popular festival of the summer, the annual International Fireworks Competition is a must see when you visit or live in Montreal in July.
Held weekly, teams from different countries battle it out with a one of kind firework show on music during 30 minutes.
Unfortunately, due the Pandemic, this event has been postponed until 2022. BUT, exceptionally, on labor day weekend (Sept 4th-5th), we will have a fireworks show to honor first responders and health workers. MARK YOUR CALENDAR so as not to miss this special event.
The best spots to watch the fireworks for FREE are by Au Pied du Courant or on Quai de l’Horloge.
Become an Olympian
Open all year long, the Canadian Olympic House in Montreal is the perfect place to visit in July if you want to get into the Olympic Spirit.
Not only you’ll learn about the Olympic history of the Canadian teams but you’ll also test out your skills on a bobsleigh, track or fencing.
Location: 500 West René-Lévesque Blvd.
Métro: Square Victoria
More information HERE.
Since the Summer Olympics are taking place in Japan this year, take your kids to O-Taku Lounge, a manga café.
While they devour Mangas, munch on some Onigiri. The cost to read is 5$ for the hour and you get FREE wifi while you are there.
Location: 3623 St-Denis Street
Métro: Sherbrooke
If Mangas are not your style how about some Japanese food. Kids got to eat right?
Japanese Meals
The following restaurants are within walking distance from the Canadian Olympic House.
Ramen Misoya – 2065 Bishop Street
Enjoy authentic Japanese ramen with rich broths and delicious chicken, pork or shrimp. Vegetarian options are available.
It’s the perfect place to eat on the go.
Biiru – 1433 City Councillors Street
Biiru is a japanese style bistro. The best way to enjoy is to taste everything. The last time we were there it was 30$ per person. However, if you have small kids, you don’t necessarily need to get them something and can just share it with them.
This is a fun way to share a family meal when no-one really knows what they want to eat and to taste different things.
Since the stylish interior is a bit small, tight and loud when packed, we recommend you take your lunch on the terrace. But in any case, it’s not a place where you go to spend hours on end, especially with kids in tow.
Nonetheless, the service and food is delicious. It’s a great pit stop.
If you’d like to take the Olympic experience one step further, check out THIS LIST of boredom busters to create your own family Olympics.
Beaches & Pools of Montreal
The month of July can be hot and humid in Montreal. Luckily, there are plenty of pools and water jets to freshen up for FREE. Montreal’s city pools are usually free to access except on week-ends or if they are “special”. You’ll have to check with your local pool to see if such is the case.
Here is a list of parks worth checking out for pools and water jets:
- Père-Marquette Park: water jets
- Park Nicolas Tillemont: kiddy pool
- Laurier Park: pool
- Jarry Park: pool
- Jean Drapeau: pool ($)
- Baldwin Park: water jets and pool
For a different type of experience: check out AQUAZILLA, located on Ile Sainte-Hélène.
Montreal at the beach
Nothing beats the white sandy beaches of Mexico or Cuba. The closest “real” beach to Montreal is about a 5 or 6-hour drive, but you’ll have to cross the American border and drive through Maine.
There are no salty water beaches in or around Montreal. Therefore, you’ll have to make do with fresh water instead.
If you’re not barefoot, then you’re overdressed. Unknown.
You can discover our extensive list of them in our September Activity issue. But here are a few more to add to the list.
- Plage de l’Est, located at the northern tip of Montreal.
- Jack Layton beach, Hudson
Dogs allowed off hours on the beach. Access is FREE.
- Jules Léger Park, Saint-Anicet. Swim in the prestine waters of Lake Saint-François and pretend to be somewhere exotic.
If you’re looking for a long weekend escapade and willing to drive a bit further for a “beach” vacation, head on over to Ontario.
Ontario Beaches
- Sand Banks Provincial Park (4hr+ drive)
Two beaches allow access to dogs all day long inside this provincial park. You won’t feel like you are at a lake as it’s so big. The water continues well beyond the horizon line. There are sand dunes and even waves!
- Bluffers Beach (5hr+ drive)
It’s not the French Riviera that’s for sure but it will still make you feel like you are at the ocean with its long stretch of soft sand beach. Also, it’s close to Toronto.
FREE to park on weekdays. No dogs allowed during the day.
Parenting tip: Anti-UV clothing is a good solution to protect children from the sun, especially if they have skin irritations or allergies to sunscreen. In addition, they are effective because they protect before, during, and after swimming. This avoids having to continually reapply sunscreen.
Fruit Picking
July is the perfect time to pick cucumbers and zucchini, but I doubt kids would find that entertaining. I could be wrong.
You’ll have better luck picking fruits instead. In order to do so, pick fruits that are firm and brightly colored. A dull hue indicates that the fruit is aging. You don’t want that.
For your kid’s sweet tooth, here is a list of places where you can go and pick: strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries all less than 1 hour away from Montreal. No animals allowed.
The farms around Montreal
There are quite a few farms to pick from around Montreal if you want to go fruit picking. Below is a list of some of them based on their popularity, cost, and location.
A. Bélisle & Fils – Strawberries + Raspberries
Location: 710 25e Avenue, Saint-Eustache
Cost: You pay by the basket. As it wasn’t open yet when I was writing this article (in June), they couldn’t give me the cost for 2021.
Ferme Forget – Blueberries + Strawberries + Raspberries
Location: 7901 Marcel-Villeneuve Avenue, Laval
Cost: Per basket. Bleuberry $8 1L, Strawberry $12 1L, Rasberry $7 1L.
There is an entrance fee of $3,50 per person (3 years old and up). If you actually buy the basket that you have filled with what you pick, you won’t have to pay the entrance fee.
Also, you can visit the animal farm and learn more about what it takes these days to run a farm and grab a bite to eat at their little snack bar. Don’t forget to bring your picnic blanket!
Ferme Marineau – Blueberries + Strawberries
Location: 4356 Dagenais Boulevard W., Fabreville
Cost: $14 for a 4L basket for 2 people.
There is a 15 minute walk to access the fields. If you want to picnic, you have to do so in the designated area, not in the fields.
Quinn Farm – Strawberries + Blueberries
Location: 2495 Perrot Boulevard, Notre-Dame-de-L’Ile-Perrot
Cost: $10 entrance fee. 4L basket: $12, 2L basket: $8
Due to the Pandemic, you have to book online. Yes, reservation is required.
Recipes with your fruits
In the June activity issue, I shared a delicious strawberry tart recipe to be enjoyed with the family. After your fruit picking experience, you don’t have to eat it all at once. No, you can actually freeze them. They will retain their nutrients, thus you can enjoy your favorite fruits for the next 6 months.
Here is something different to try. A FROSÉ (strawberry slush) by Sugar and Charm. It’s for grown-ups but you can replace the alcohol part with fizzy water.
Ingredients:
- 2 and half cups of rosé
- Lemon juice
- Ice cubes
- 10 frozen strawberries
Mix in blender and serve. You can add a little bit of maple syrup or sugar to sweeten the drink. Cheers!
Water & sport summer activities near Montreal
You can’t go through the entire summer in Montreal without doing some water or sport activities, right? Of course, none of them are free and can be expensive. Perhaps your kid’s birthday is coming up. Why not spend money on doing an activity together rather than buying material things that will end up hidden under a bed or lost in a closet?
Paddle Lachine Canal
Take a guided tour in a kayak on the Lachine Canal for $75 per person (price includes taxes, equipment, lockage fees. Lunch not incl.) This 3-hour tour will take you on a discovery path through the nooks and crannies that make up the historic “Cradle of Industrialization”, according to the website of Lachine Canal Nautical Centre.
Tours are only available on: Tuesday 11:00AM-2:00PM & Saturday 9:30AM-12:30PM.
A minimum of 3 participants is required for the tour to take place. Book your spot HERE.
Otherwise, for a more affordable option, rent a paddleboat for 1 hour. The cost is $25. Personal flotation devices are available for babies up to 20lbs, that’s the smallest. They are not mandatory and you can bring your own.
Are pets allowed?
Yes, as long as they are well behaved and pose no threat to other guests. Dogs must be kept on a leash and any mess must be picked up by the pet owner.
Free parking is available along St. Patrick Street, Thomas Keefer Street and Charlevoix Street.
Acrobranche – zip lining
What kid doesn’t want to be Tarzan? At least for a few hours. Tree climbing and zip-lining is always a fun summer activity to do with kids. There are a few places where you can do just that throughout the province of Quebec.
The main company is Arbraska which has locations across Quebec and a few just outside Montreal. The closest one seems to be in Mont-Saint-Grégoire.
This activity is available for children 5 years and up. Prices vary between $32 and $42 (taxes not included). This is a great activity for your children to strengthen their motricity skills and learn to overcome some fears.
Batiscan River Park
Only 30 minutes from Trois-Rivières, the Parc de la rivière Batiscan will charm you whether you are a thrill-seeker or looking to relax in nature.
This park is divided into 3 sectors that offer several activities such as Via Ferrata, tree climbing, zip lines, canoe, kayak, and paddleboard rentals (to be determined for the 2021 season), access to the river, fishing, hiking, and even nature interpretation activities guided by biologists. (According to their website)
To enhance your stay, camp on one of the intimate wooded sites by the river. Dogs are allowed in this park at no extra charge. They’ll especially like taking a dip in the clean water.
Water Tubing & Rafting
We took Junior white water rafting for his 12th birthday with New World Rafting in the Laurentians. It was a thrilling experience and I even got over my fear and jumped off a cliff, hanging on dearly to my son, into the river. That was pretty badass. Big Boss was too chicken to try. Let’s leave it at that!
True, it’s not a cheap activity but for a birthday, it was quite an experience. One my son still remembers, 9 years later.
The cost is $82 for an adult and $62 for children (6-16). The price includes the equipment and a picnic on the beach. For extra $, you can even get pictures of your expedition.
During 4 hours you’ll make your way through 3 levels of difficulty along a 10km stretch of the Rivière Rouge.
Sleeping on site is also available when you participate in their activities in your own tent or in colorful tent-cabins (not available right now due to the Pandemic).
Animals of Montreal
Discover the wild animals of Canada such as moose, elk, bison, wolves, bears… in their natural environment at the Omega Park.
It’s a great family activity to do less than 1h30 away from Montreal depending on traffic. Learn more about this wonderful place in either our May activities guide or our article on Animals of Montreal.
Otherwise, head on over to De Maisonneuve Park (near Rosemont Boulevard) where the sheep are back in town. Every weekend, FREE activities are provided for you to learn more about sheep farming and if you are up for it, try a yoga session ($) with the sheep.
Hot July brings cooling showers, apricots, and girly flowers.
Sara Coleridge
Lavender Fields for ever
Hitting the lavender road in the South of France might not be an affordable vacation option for you and the family.
Lavender fields color the region of Provence in France purple each summer and make us want to hop on a plane to take in the gorgeous sights and smells.
Oddly enough, you can find Lavender Fields outside Montreal, less than 2 hours away.
Lavender attracts bees but repels mosquitoes and flies. Hey, you can’t have it all. Finding a spot in a lavender field is ideal if you’re looking for a place to picnic with a boho vibe. Try Sharkcootery to complement your family picnic.
The best time to enjoy the lavender fields in bloom in Quebec is in July and you can do so in various places.
Joie de Lavande – Knowlton
This little lavender field is located in Knowlton. Joie de Lavande is farely new but you can actually pick lavender. From what I gathered from their website, the access seems to be FREE.
Location: 50 Mont Echo Road, Knowlton
More information HERE.
Champs de Rêves – Hudson
A Labyrinth, mosaicultures, and a lavender field. That’s what you’ll find at Champs de Rêves in Vaudreuil-Dorion, Quebec.
For a colorful and scented experience walk through the 20 acres that have been developed so far and enjoy the scenery all done by the owner, including sand sculptures.
With over 25,000 lavender plants and other calming herbs, the owner doesn’t plan to stop there anytime soon. He is just getting started.
Open from July 1st to September 30th.
Location: 1620, D’Aoust Street, Vaudreuile-Dorion
Cost: $10 per person or $25 for a family.
Maison Lavande – Saint-Eustache
Maison Lavande is a popular spot for Montrealers. It’s located in Saint-Eustache, less than a 1 hour drive from Montreal.
For a boho-chic experience, don’t forget to wear your long floral dress, straw hat and bring your camera. It will be hard to resist not striking a pose there.
They also have a boutique where they sell their popular products.
Location: 902, Chemin Fresnières, Saint-Eustache
Cost: $10 adults, $5 for kids, no dogs allowed
Bleu Lavande – Magog (Stanstead)
I love the beauty of the site as it sits on top of a hill.
Pioneer in the culture of Lavender in Quebec, Bleu Lavande has over 100 000 lavender plants. It’s supposedly the largest lavender garden in Canada and the second one in North America. Curious to know where the largest one is? I was but it was hard to find the answer.
It turns out that the largest lavender farm in North America is located on San Juan Islands.
The San Juan Islands are an archipelago in the Pacific Northwest of the United States between the U.S. state of Washington and Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.
Wikipedia
On one of the islands, you’ll find the certified Pelindaba Lavender Farm, the largest in the country that has an on-site distillery to extract essential oils. They use them to make 200 handcrafted products.
You can visit Bleu Lavande from July to mid-August as they have 3 different types of Lavender so they always have one of them in bloom. The best time to go is in July.
Munstead English Lavender typically blooms in mid-July and Afghan Lavender in August, while Lavandin blooms at the beginning of September (from website).
It was FREE when we went there last August. I’m not sure if it was due to the Pandemic or because it was August. In any case, we truly enjoyed the site and we were even able to bring our dogs along with us for FREE.
A bike loaded with gourmet snacks and drinks travels around the site.
Their boutique is the perfect place to refill on essential oils and cleaning products.
Note: a little lavender spray on your linens will make your dogs a little coockoo. Don’t worry, it doesn’t last too long.
Location: 2525 Principale West Street (Route 112) in MAGOG
Cost: $15 for adults, FREE for kids under 12.
Things to do with Lavender
You can’t go to a lavender farm and not bring some home. What would be the point in that?
Lavender essential oil helps improve circulation and has a calming effect. All you need to do is draw up a warm bath, add a few drops of lavender essential oil, and relax in it.
After relaxing and if you want to make sure you get a good night sleep, try out the recipe below by Les Trappeuses.
Good night sleep recipe
Aromatherapy at its finest. I’ve tested this recipe at home for my husband and I and my kids as well. It works really well.
Ingredients which you can order from Les Mauvaises Herbes the shop of Les Trappeuses:
- 10 ml of vodka or witch hazel hydrolate
- 5 drops of lavender essential oil
- 5 drops of basil or ravintsana essential oil
- 20ml of water previously boiled
In a glass or aluminum spray bottle, put the vodka or witch hazel hydrate and essential oils. Shake the bottle.
Before each use, shake the bottle and spray lightly on your pillows and sheets.
Outside Montreal in July – summer activities
Of course, sometimes taking a small road trip can be fun as well. Why not head on over to the picturesque town of Chambly and visit a fort on the River Richelieu. Afterward, jump in the air in a park in Mount-Saint Grégoire at Upla. It is a brand new playground 45 minutes from Montreal.
Leap into a suspended world of nets and a tree village at the foot of Mount Saint-Grégoire. Other than the aerial village, there is a labyrinth connected by suspension bridges, in which seven colourful houses, some of them two-story, are hung from trees.
Cost: $100 for a family of 4, free for children under 2 and 65+.
Duration: 2 hours
Food available on site. It is strongly recommended to reserve your tickets online.
Otherwise, if you are not afraid of the dark, experience the Nocturnal Walk in Park Coaticook. It’s called Foresta Lumina and costs 20$ per person.
Visit the capital of Canada
Take the week-end off and head on over to Ottawa.
You can cruise on Rideau Canal and learn about Canada’s history, visit the Bytown Museum or even better, the Canadian Museum of History. They have gorgeous pieces from the First Nations. Also, that museum has a room specially designed for kids.
Enjoy your summer. Don’t miss out on our next activity issue: Montreal in August. Sign up for our Newsletter or check back with us next month.
[…] Or, take a family outing and go pick-your-own. I tell you more about it in our list of family activities for JULY. […]
[…] Explore […]
[…] Montreal in JULY […]
[…] Montreal in JULY […]