Here are some free, family-friendly events during Grand Prix weekend

Fast cars and family-friendly events take over Montrealfor Grand Prixweekend with lots of ways tocelebrate the unofficial kick off of festival season.

The Plateau-Mont-Royal, Old Montreal and the downtown core are offering freeactivities 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 aspecial unlimited passis being sold for $13.75 this weekend.

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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.

March des clusiersis selling Quebec products in a pop-up marketplace on the western tip of the area atPlace du Gnie.

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 Carlisaid 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 alsobecomepedestrian-only for a few weekends thissummer. 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 onbuildings while merchants bring their wares intothe street. DJs, buskersand food vendors make the street an outdoor party.

The street closure coincides with the Fringe Festival, which is set up in Park des Ameriquesat the intersection of Saint-Laurent Boulevardand 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 festivalartists doing storytellingand puppet making," Blackmoresaid.

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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 McCordmuseums, 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-Nol Desmarais Pavilion(the museum's main building).