Ten thousand kids a day can't be wrong! That's the number the Montreal International Jazz Festival attracts daily. They come to this family-friendly event to learn, listen, and have fun. Never considered taking your family to a jazz festival? You just might want to reconsider.

Within an 11,000-square-foot musical play area, there's a giant piano, a trumpet slide, a guitar ladder, a clarinet tunnel, a drum blackboard and a xylophone. Then there are the talented face-painters and mask-makers who magically transform eager faces. Clowns, jugglers and acrobats stroll through the crowds, while parents and kids ply the numerous arts-and-crafts tables. The twice-daily concerts are informative, inventive and just plain fun!

Worry-Free Adventure

But that's not all. Parents and children alike will relish the sounds of top-class jazz, blues, gospel, Cajun and world music. The 29th edition of the Montreal Jazz Festival (June 26-July 6, 2008) just may be the best party on the continent.

The festival is well-organized and safe. In fact, all of Montreal- very cosmopolitan and very French- is safe and family friendly. There's plenty of storage for strollers, so taking little ones along is a breeze. Changing tables and children's toilets are conveniently located, so that's not an issue. And there are tents for arts and crafts and face-painting.

Families are a common sight at the ticketed indoor concerts as well. For this year's complete lineup, which changes up till the last minute, check the official website at www.montrealjazzfest.com often for postings. Call for information at 888/515-0515 or 514/523-3378 (in Canada) or reserve tickets at www.ticketpro.com(866/908-9090, 514/905-0070). And many of the concerts are even free!

A Continental Experience & Accoutrements

When it's time for a break, check out the other treasures of Montreal:

The Biodome (514/868-3000) presents a Tropical Forest, Laurentian Forest, St. Lawrence Ecosystem and Polar World under one roof- a discovery for kids and grown-ups alike. Sights, sounds and interpreters bring these complex and colorful ecosystems to life.

There are rides from the young and old atLa Ronde. Call 514/397-2000 for details and a schedule. La Ronde also boasts a lovely amusement park and an artificial lake surrounded by lots of green. A 10-minute walk or shuttle ride takes you to a small sandy beach and another artificial lake on Ile St. Helene. Parks are wonderfully sculptured and offer a chance to picnic, bike or take leisurely walks.

Montreal also has North America's only Insectarium (514/872-1400), with thousands of insects, some of which are astonishingly beautiful, especially in the butterfly house. Fun and educational,a free shuttle bus links the Biodome, Metro and the Insectarium.

*A Museum Pass provides entry to nearly 30 sites for one price, including the Museum of Fine Arts, with its interactive children's displays.Also included is Pointe-a-Calliere, an archeological museum featuring a tour through an actual dig and a lively multimedia show.

Cross the Jacques Cartier Bridge to Ile St. Helene and use your pass at the Biosphere (800/363-7777), a natural-resources museum housed in a geodesic dome. The Biosphere's child-oriented activities and resources, including a supervised crafts room, are topnotch.

Details, Details

The Jazz Festival mirrors the excitement, the diversity and the phenomenol spirit of Montreal. Travel north for the quickest and cheapest route to a European experience (with the Canadian dollar at par to the U.S. dollar, it's not the bargain it once was, but it sure beats the Euro!) Introduce your children to another culture and another language. Walk the cobblestone lanes of Vieux Montreal, sip an espresso in the city's popular cafes, catch the mimes and street performers, or just enjoy the sounds of the French language. Montreal is, after all, the second largest French-speaking city after Paris. It's also a gastronomic wonder, a place where smoked meats and bagels -- as well as baguettes -- are a specialty.

Families are welcome at B&B's represented through the B&B Downtown Network (800/267-5180). Typically, these are two-room suites.

The Montreal Jazz Festival's Travelers' Line (888/515-0515) is staffed by bright and helpful folks willing to assist with your trip- accommodations, car rentals, whatever. Prices will be higher during the festival, but it's still easy to find a reasonably pricedroom for two people with an additional c. $10 (Canadian) for a cot. Call ahead if you need a crib, third bed, etc.

For more information, request a Montreal Tourist Guide, free from Infotouriste (800/363-7777). This is a "must have" for quick references on everything in Montreal. Visit www.tourism-montreal.org.

Some very useful guidebooks include: Cheap Thrills: Great Montreal Meals for Under $10, by Nancy Marelli and Simon Dardick, Vehicule Press, 1998; Lobster Kids' Guide Exploring Montreal, by John Symonds, Lobster Press, 1998; Smart Shopping Montreal, by Sandra Phillips. Published by the author, this is the best buy for anyone wanting to know what to buy in Montreal and how much to pay.

Special Events for Summer 2008

Families looking for a few laughs can break away from the spirit of Jazz for the Just For Laughs Festival. Sponsored by Vidéotron, this year's schedule runs from June 27th to July 20th and features Emmy Award-winning comedienne Kathy Griffin. Joan Rivers, The Late Late Show’s Craig Ferguson, Saturday Night Live alumnus Jimmy Fallon and actor Jeremy Piven are also scheduled to entertain among many others.

But anyone who's a fan of Griffin's knows her material isn't exactly kid-friendly. Your kids can still get in on the fun with special events for children as young as 2. Enjoy workshops, activities, and street performances including Z'arq, Gags Screen, Victor's World and Comedia Terrace. After side-splitting laughs, check out the Just For Laughs Museum for a history through comedy with the guided Abracadabra! Exhibit or Immortals of Comedy.

There's something for every age at this comedy festival. To find a complete list of entertainment options, please contact the Just For Laughs Box Office by calling

514/790-1111 or visit www.hahaha.com for event and museum information.

- Susan Finch

Kaleel Sakakeeny is a contributing editor at FamilyTravelForum.com and travels extensively with his family from his Boston base. Janet Strassman Perlmutter is a regular contributor to Booming. Her travel writing has appeared in publications nationwide.