Thanksgiving week is one of the better family weeks in Greater Montreal. A handful of standout autumn attractions wrap up by Sunday, so if you have been putting off the Old Port Fair or a Laurentians day trip, this is your window. Here are seven picks for the week, with the most urgent ones up front.

Old Port Fall Fair

Nearly two dozen rides, midway games, seasonal food, and a waterfront backdrop that looks especially good after dark. This one closes Sunday October 18, so Thanksgiving week is your last real shot. Kids who love the energy of a classic fair will get exactly that here, minus the long haul to an off-island location.

WHERE: Clock Tower Quay, Old Port of Montreal (Old Montreal, walking distance from the metro)
WHEN: Through October 18. Check old-port.ca for hours and ride details.

Tonga Lumina, Tremblant (Last Chance!)

The immersive evening light show at Mont-Tremblant resort closes October 17, which makes this your absolute last weekend for it. The walk winds through the forest with projection-mapped trees and ambient sound, and it lands beautifully for kids in the 5-and-up range. Budget a full day: the Tremblant village is pretty in fall foliage, and there are restaurants and outdoor patios around the base.

WHERE: Tremblant resort, Mont-Tremblant (about 1.5 hours northwest of Montreal)
WHEN: Through October 17. Book ahead at tremblant.ca.

The Magic of Apples, Saint-Eustache (30th Anniversary)

Celebrating its 30th anniversary this season, this apple-picking destination near Saint-Eustache (about 30 minutes north of the city) offers tractor rides, a mini farm, a giant corn maze, and pick-your-own apples, pumpkins, and squash. The Thanksgiving long weekend is the peak draw, but the orchard stays open into October, so early-week visits are less crowded and just as scenic.

WHERE: Saint-Eustache area, approximately 30 minutes north of downtown Montreal. Verify the address and hours at their website before heading out.
WHEN: Open through fall. Weekdays after the long weekend tend to have shorter lines.

Festival du Nouveau Cinema: Children’s Program

Canada’s oldest film festival wraps October 18, and its children’s program is the quieter highlight that families tend to miss. Short films and features from around the world, screened at Cinema du Musee, Cinematheque quebecoise, and Concordia University. If your kids are comfortable in a movie theater and curious about stories from outside their usual screen diet, this is a genuinely low-cost, high-reward afternoon.

WHERE: Multiple venues downtown and in the Quartier des Spectacles
WHEN: Through October 18. Check nouveaucinema.ca for the children’s program schedule and ticket prices.

Piknic Electronik, Last Weekends (Jean-Drapeau)

Piknic Electronik runs one last time this Sunday October 18 at Parc Jean-Drapeau. The format is family-friendly by design: a big outdoor daytime music event with food trucks, open lawn space for running around, and electronic music that skews accessible rather than intense. It has become a ritual for Montreal families who like a relaxed outdoor afternoon with a soundtrack.

WHERE: Parc Jean-Drapeau, Ile Sainte-Helene (Metro Jean-Drapeau)
WHEN: Final date: October 18. Check piknicelectronik.com for times and ticket info.

Wild Asia IMAX at the Montreal Science Centre

The Science Centre’s giant-screen IMAX is always worth it, and the current Wild Asia documentary is a good one for families with kids who are into nature, animals, or just the visual experience of watching elephants and tigers at 70 feet. The Old Port location means you can pair it with the Fall Fair (see above) for a full half-day out.

WHERE: Montreal Science Centre, Old Port, 2 rue de la Commune Ouest (Old Montreal)
WHEN: Runs all October. Check montrealsciencecentre.com for showtimes.

Phenomena Festival: Puppet Shows and Spectacle

The Phenomena festival of performance art is happening in Mile End and Le Plateau, and its puppet shows and theatrical spectacles are especially strong for families this year. The festival blends visual performance, puppetry, and physical theatre in ways that land well for curious kids, and the Mile End neighborhood itself is worth a wander before or after a show.

WHERE: Venues in Mile End and Le Plateau-Mont-Royal (check phenomenafestival.ca for the full map)
WHEN: Running this week. Check phenomenafestival.ca for dates and tickets.