Anne-Charlotte PasseraWhen November comes, it’s hard to beat the desire to hit the temporary hibernation mode. So here is a list of things to do in Montreal with kids this November to let you survive until at least the holiday month, December.
For more ideas, you can always head back to our October activity issue or fast forward to December.
This article was originally written in 2019, you know, before things changed. Although it has been updated, some activities might function differently than before 2020 or force you to have your vaccination passport. However, the intent of this article and the monthly activity issues is merely to give you ideas on what you could do. Even though some activities have been canceled, I’m leaving them in for when things go back to normal. I will reevalue them next year.
SPECIAL EVENTS TO ATTEND WITH KIDS
As it is somewhat an offbeat month, there isn’t much going on event wise. Here are three worth mentioning that you can do with your kids in Montreal.
Circus, physical theatre and clowning
FREE show of The Librarian on November 20, 2021 in downtown Montreal. More information HERE.
The Librarian invites children to discover the passion of reading and the power of the imagination. After the show, head on over to your local library, sign up your child for a FREE library card (if you haven’t already done so) and check out what kid-friendly activities Montreal libraries offer. These activities are usually free and take place all year long.
Other shows by Le Gros Orteil are available for children and not all are in Montreal. View calendar.
Blending clowning, theatre and the circus arts, Le Gros Orteil performance company creates high-quality shows for young audiences. Improvisation, truthful emotions and interaction with the audience bring our shows to life.
Le Gros Orteil
Illumi
Illumi is back for a third edition. It’s a nocturnal journey that takes place in Laval where you’ll be dazzled by millions of LED bulbs. It’s a very popular and appreciated event for families.
This year you can experience it in two ways, either by car (no passport required) or on foot (passport required). On some special nights you can experience on foot with your dog. I don’t know how safe it is because some dogs get scared at night with a lot of people around and all the lights. At least, now you know it’s possible. Dogs are however allowed in the car at all times.
It seems now that no matter when you decide to go, as this event is held until January 2022, the price won’t change. But it’s still $10 more person than it was last year.
Cost: $31.75 on foot per adult, $41.75 per car including driver + extra per passenger. Yikes!
Purchase your tickets HERE.
Salon du livre
A book fair (FREE) from Novemver 25th to 28th 2021 at the Palais des Congrès where you can meet authors and discover new genre with your kids. More about this information HERE.
SPECIAL PARENT & CHILD ACTIVITY
I don’t know about you, but I find November to be depressing. If I were living in the United States at least I would have Thanksgiving to look forward to. Instead, I am in Canada where it’s rainy and cold. So here are some actual November family activities you can do with your child to beat the fall blues and force you to just get out of your house.
Strom Spa Massage
Did you know that at Strom Spa on Nun’s Island you can get a massage with your child? It is for children under 16 and of course, you have to get a massage with them in the same room, duh! Massage with a child is all you can get there as kids aren’t allowed in the Spa itself. It is an expensive experience, but pending on the type of medical benefits you get with your company you can get the massage partially reimbursed. Learn more about this activity here.
UPDATE: This just came in! Now you can actually experience the Spa with your little one as well on certain Saturdays. How awesome is that! Click here for more information.
Cooking Class
Kids love to eat right? At least my Blondie Bear sure does. How about taking them to a cooking class?
If you want another type of experience for your child without costing an arm and a leg, check out the President’s Choice Cooking School held in Provigos across town. They have classes for different age groups, even for adults at a cost of roughly 10$ and up. I had found other cooking classes ranging anywhere from $75 to $150 but thought it was way too expensive.
UPDATE: This activity has been canceled due to the Pandemic.
Don’t worry! I found these two places where your children can take part in a cooking class activity:
- Lincoln Apartment Bakery (Verdun), passport is required. Price range between $38 and $60 for a class.
- C’est moi le chef. It’s $23 for a parent-child, all you have to do is buy your own ingredients and watch the course on line live or on replay. Check out their courses HERE.
Code & Coffee
An original idea offered by Code & Café, at a cost of $17.50 per participant (starting age is 6 years old), to learn how to code. Workshops offered for all levels every weekend. Book HERE.
THINGS TO DO IN MONTREAL WITH KIDS THAT ARE FREE
It’s November and it can be depressing, I hear you! But you can still get out of the house and enjoy the outdoors or do activities for FREE with the proper motivation. There are plenty of things to do and here are a few examples to motivate you.
Mont-Royal Park
Mont-Royal Park will almost always be on our monthly to-do list. It’s a great place to go to enjoy the outdoors and escape the city without having to leave it. It’s easily accessible on foot (if you are not afraid to walk) from subway stops Peel or Mont-Royal or you can grab the 11 bus from the Mont-Royal subway stop to take you all the way up there.
If you have a dog, head on close by to Mount Summit where dogs are allowed off leash at certain times of year or during certain hours. See it as a miniature version of Mont-Royal. Discover where else to go for fun walks with your dogs (and kids) HERE.
Local Library
Did you know that Montreal has one of the best city library system? OK, well that is my opinion but here are some of the reasons why:
- it’s FREE for kids to get their library card and I think $3 for adults. The card needs to be renewed every 2 years.
- every weekend are held FREE activities for kids ranging from sushi making, a petting zoo, yoga or even photography classes.
- they have a kids’ area for them to play with toys and all kinds of board games. This is great if you want to discover new board games without having to pay for them.
I personally love the Guy-Favreau library located right outside the subway stop Rosemont (orange line). Click HERE to find your local library.
Swimming
Many youth centers offer FREE access to their pools on certain days and during certain times. If you can’t afford to pay for swimming lessons, need extra swimming time to develop your child’s skills or you just love to play in the water as a family, this is a perfect activity for you. Personally, I find this to be a great activity, a fun thing to do with kids and I’m glad that Montreal allows us to do it for FREE.
The Père-Ambroise pool is especially nice and one of the benefits of going there is that you can hit the library before or afterward which is located right on top of it! Apparently, there might be a cost of 2$ for non-members to use the pool. Otherwise, just look up your local youth center to see if they have a pool. Most of them will have a FREE access to it. We go to the one at Père-Marquette.
Ice Skating
A lot of arenas will let you skate for FREE if you have your own ice skates. At Père Marquette, once again, you can do that on weekends in the evening. It’s isn’t very long, but is just enough to get your blood flowing. The arena is open all year long. Check your local arena near you to see if they offer that as well.
Once again, this a great activity to do with kids in Montreal when you live on a budget and can’t afford skating lessons.
MUSEUMS WITH KIDS
I don’t know why as kids we always find going to the museum to be part of some sort of punishment. It doesn’t have to be. Here is a list of a couple museums you can check out with kids in Montreal.
Musée Pointe à Caillère
A new exhibition has opened up at Musée Pointe-à-Caillère in the Old Port of Montreal: It’s Circus time!. If you can’t make it this month, don’t worry. The exhibition is here until March 2022.
Olympic Experience
Next years Winter Olympic Games will take place in China. Do you think you have what it takes to become an Olympian? You can live the Canadian Olympic Experience right HERE in Montreal. So dress comfortably, bring your sneakers and test away. For kids ages 7 and up.
Redpath
Have you been to the Redpath Museum on the McGill campus? Yeah, me neither. My father took my kids there though and loved it. Apparently, they are having discovery workshops for kids every Sunday this Fall. It cost $10 (+tax) per kid and free for 1 parent with a child. For more information, HERE is the schedule.
OUTDOOR FAMILY ACTIVITY
Parks
Aside from the Mont-Royal Park, there is:
- Maisonneuve Park;
- La Fontaine;
- Jean-Drapeau Park
to enjoy the view of the city, the skate park (FREE) in front of the Olympic stadium or the Botanical Gardens($$). You can leisurely go to these places all year long.
There are always plenty of things to do with kids in the parks of Montreal despite the cold weather. Playing in the leaves can be one of them or chasing after squirrels is always a winner, especially with our Nouki.
Parcours Gouin
Located in the Ahuntsic area, every other Saturday are held FREE outdoor discovery activities for kids of all ages from 2pm to 4pm. A GUEPE educator-naturalist will help you discover, as a family, what is hidden in the environment that surrounds you. On the agenda: activities on nature, DIY and scientific experiments.
More information HERE.
Alouettes Football Game
Enjoy a game of Canadian Football and cheer for the Alouettes. You can buy your tickets HERE. As it is loud, it is recommended for kids 8 and up. They do have a kids section for them to explore and do activities.
THINGS TO DO OUTSIDE OF MONTREAL
If you are more of the adventurous type, you can always leave Montreal and make a weekend out of it.
Rent a chalet
There is nothing better than hanging out with family and friends in a log cabin drinking hot cocoa or something stronger by the fire. We went to this one last year in November who also had an outdoor jacuzzi! Yes, there was already snow.
Québec-Christmas Market
Starting on November 25th, you can attend a German-inspired outdoor Christmas market in Québec City. Why not make it a weekend out of it? The old town is beautiful this time of year and is a great way to start your holiday season on the right foot. More information HERE.
PI-O Amusement Park
Last but not least, why not try out an indoor amusement park right outside Montreal? This is a great place for your little ones to run around freely.
More information HERE.
If you liked this post, make sure to share it with your other mom friends. If you have other family activity suggestions, comment below.
This is so helpful, thanks for taking the time to write this!
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