Here are some free, family-friendly events during Grand Prix weekend
Events, art, markets, shopping and more throughout Montreal as festival season kicks off
Fast cars and family-friendly events take over Montreal for Grand Prix weekend with lots of ways to celebrate the unofficial kick off of festival season.
The Plateau-Mont-Royal, Old Montreal and the downtown core are offering free activities for families that capitalize on the safe outdoor space this weekend's road closures create.
Anyone planning on venturing downtown should remember that it'll be gridlock. It's best to take the Metro — a special unlimited pass is being sold for $13.75 this weekend.
Here are some activity options divided by area of town.
Old Montreal
Saturday would be the best day to go to Old Montreal because it's when most events are taking place.
Marché des Éclusiers is selling Quebec products in a pop-up marketplace on the western tip of the area — at Place du Génie.
For families who love science, the Eureka! festival is on all weekend with presentations, shows and experimentation workshops. It's in the area around the Science Centre.
Spokesperson Martin Carli said it's a great chance for kids to interact with scientists and take part in science experiments.
"It's a festival which is very hands on. You'll do stuff, you'll manipulate, you'll experiment. And everything is free," he said.
The cobblestoned Saint-Paul Street will also be pedestrian-only all weekend.
Plateau-Mont-Royal
Saint-Laurent Boulevard will also become pedestrian-only for a few weekends this summer. For the past five years, the June event has revolved around the Mural street art festival.
From Sherbrooke Street to Mont-Royal Avenue, artists are creating large-scale art pieces on buildings while merchants bring their wares into the street. DJs, buskers and food vendors make the street an outdoor party.
The street closure coincides with the Fringe Festival, which is set up in Park des Ameriques at the intersection of Saint-Laurent Boulevard and Rachel Street until June 18.
On Sunday, an event called Mini Fringe takes place in the park. Amy Blackmore, the director of the Montreal Fringe Festival, says parents and kids are welcome to take part.
"We have festival artists doing storytelling and puppet making," Blackmore said.
Downtown
On top of the Grand Prix site around Crescent Street, the city has set up what it's calling "An Open-Air Museum" on Sherbrooke Street.
Between the Fine Arts and McCord museums, 72 artworks have been set up in the spirit of Expo 67 to reflect a message of peace.
It serves to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Expo 67 and Montreal's 375th anniversary.
The Museum of Fine Arts is offering a free guided tour in English at 2 p.m., rain or shine. Space is limited so it's best to register early.
Tours meet in the lobby of the Jean-Noël Desmarais Pavilion (the museum's main building).
with files from CBC's Daybreak and Nantali Indongo