What to do during spring break in Gatineau? 10 ideas with the kids

Spring break is coming, and with it, the famous question:

What are we doing with the kids this week?

If you're looking for things to do during spring break in Gatineau , there's no need to plan a trip to the other side of Quebec.

Between Aylmer, Gatineau, the Outaouais and Ottawa , it is possible to fill the week with creative activities, animals, snow, museums and beautiful family outings.

For many families in the Aylmer and Gatineau area, the 2027 spring break will take place from March 1st to 5th . However, schedules may vary depending on the school and school service centre.

Here are 10 activity ideas to enjoy spring break in Gatineau with children — without having to fill every minute of their day.

1. Painting a ceramic tile in a real bus-workshop in Gatineau

To start the week with something completely different: heading to the ceramic painting bus at Ferme Éco des Champs, in Aylmer .

Yes, a real bus transformed into a creative workshop.

The children choose a ceramic piece from the available models, select their colours and sit around the large tables to create.

Cup, bowl, figurine, animal or small decorative piece: everyone can choose something that reflects their personality.

And most importantly:

No need to know how to draw.

The goal is not to create a perfect work.

The goal is to take your time, try out colours, discuss around the table and make something together.

Parents can obviously paint too.

That's actually what we recommend.

Because a recreational activity doesn't always have to be one where parents watch the children have fun.

Here, everyone can create.

Once your piece is finished, we'll take care of firing it. You can then come back to collect your completed creation.

Why do we particularly enjoy this activity during the break?

Because it works regardless of the weather.

Snow?

Cold?

Wind?

Grey day?

We get on the bus, settle down in the warmth, and paint.

📍 Éco des Champs Farm – Aylmer, Gatineau

🎨 Booking recommended: seats on the bus are limited.

2. Go see the farm animals in winter

Next, we get out the boots.

Because the farm doesn't disappear under the snow.

The animals are still there, and a farm in winter offers a completely different experience than one in July.

Children can discover animals in their winter environment, observe their behavior and simply enjoy a few hours outdoors.

Alpacas, goats, sheep, horses and other farm residents quickly make you forget that it's cold.

And for many children, being able to get close to animals remains much more memorable than a complicated activity.

The perfect combination for spring break

Do both:

Animals outside + ceramics inside, warm.

The children move around, get some fresh air and discover the farm.

Then we take off our mittens and snowsuits to go and paint quietly on the bus.

This is exactly the kind of outing we love at Ferme Éco des Champs: a little bit of nature, a little bit of animals and a lot of creativity.

Access to different areas of the farm may vary depending on the weather and winter conditions. Please check the visiting information before your trip.

3. Spend the day completely at the children's pace

Here's a relaxation idea that costs absolutely nothing:

Don't plan anything for a few hours.

No classes.

No set schedule.

No "hurry up".

We dress warmly and let the children decide.

Build a fort.

Digging in the snow.

Invent a track.

Build a snowman.

Look for animal tracks.

Transporting snow from one place to another for 45 minutes for a reason only children understand.

The week off can also be used to slow down.

We sometimes forget that for a child, an extraordinary day can simply be a day when no one asks them to look at the time.

4. Go explore Gatineau Park

For a real dose of fresh air, it's hard to beat Gatineau Park .

In winter, various trails are dedicated to hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, or winter biking. Permitted activities vary by trail, so the National Capital Commission recommends checking signage and conditions before heading out.

With young children, there's no need to turn the outing into an expedition.

Choose a short route.

Bring a snack.

A thermos.

And agree to stop and examine a piece of ice for ten minutes.

That's also what hiking with children is all about.

5. Enjoy Lake Beauchamp

Another interesting option directly in Gatineau: the Lac-Beauchamp Outdoor Centre .

The site offers the opportunity to enjoy a large natural space without necessarily leaving the city. Depending on conditions and the winter program, various family activities may be offered. Tourisme Outaouais promotes the site as a four-season destination offering family recreation in winter.

This is a good option for a family that wants to:

to get some fresh air,

to move,

then go home before everyone is completely exhausted.

Because during a week off, a two-hour activity can be more than enough .

6. Take advantage of the free activities offered by the City of Gatineau

Before you take out your wallet each morning, check what the City has to offer.

During the 2026 spring break, the City of Gatineau offered sports activities, library activities and various family activities in its territory.

The City also offers its "Enjoy Winter" program every winter, which includes various free activities in several sectors of Gatineau.

The exact schedule changes from year to year.

For the 2027 break , check the activities announced by the City as March approaches.

Our thing

Choose one free activity in the City and combine it with a single paid activity during the day.

You get a truly special day without turning spring break into a second Christmas.

7. Spend a day at a museum in Gatineau or Ottawa

Some days in March are magnificent.

Others…

less.

If the mercury drops or the weather turns unpleasant, take advantage of one of the great benefits of living in the Ottawa-Gatineau region:

museums.

You can easily choose a museum based on your child's interests:

🦖 nature and animals

🚀 science and technology

✈️ aviation

🚜 agriculture

🎨 arts

🏛️ history

💰 Money and the economy

Ottawa Tourism also recommends interactive museums among its winter and spring break family activities.

Rather than trying to see everything, let each child choose a few rooms or exhibitions.

The outing becomes much more enjoyable when no one is trying to "profit" from every square meter of the museum.

8. Go to the library… and let the children choose

The library deserves its place during a week off.

Especially between two big outings.

During the break, Gatineau libraries regularly offer activities for children, teenagers and families; this was notably the case in the 2026 municipal programming.

But even without any special activities, you can make it an outing.

Each child chooses:

• a book,

• a comic book,

• a documentary,

• or something he would normally never have chosen.

  
  

Then back home with blankets, snacks and quiet reading.

Not every day off needs to end with completely exhausted children in the back seat of the car.

9. Have a "tourist day in our own region"

We often live near places we never visit.

The break is a good excuse to change that.

Simply cross over to Ottawa and pretend you're on a trip.

A walk in the city center.

Market By.

Museum.

Hot chocolate.

Small pastry shop.

Walk along the river.

Photo in front of a place you usually drive past without stopping.

Ottawa is also promoting museums, outdoor activities and family outings as the main options during spring break week.

And since the school calendars of Quebec and Ontario do not always coincide, some activities in the region can cover several weeks around school holidays.

10. Create THE perfect day off: outdoors + indoors

If we were to create our ideal day off with children, it would probably look like this:

The morning

We dress warmly.

Let's go outside.

We walk.

We're playing in the snow.

We visit the animals.

At noon

We eat.

We slow down.

We're warming up.

The afternoon

Let's get out the paintbrushes.

We choose a ceramic.

We paint.

We're chatting.

We're taking our time.

And the children leave knowing that they can come back to collect their creation after it has been baked.

No need to visit three attractions in the same day.

An outdoor experience + a creative indoor experience is already a lot.

And that's exactly what you can do at the Ferme Éco des Champs in Aylmer .

So, what to do during spring break in Gatineau?

Here is our summary.

To create: painting on ceramics.

To see animals: visit a farm.

To play in the snow: simply go outside.

For exercise: Gatineau Park or Lac-Beauchamp.

To save money: keep an eye out for free activities in the City.

For a cold day: museum or library.

For a change of scenery: a short day trip to Ottawa.

For a truly different outing: combine farm animals and ceramic painting.

Spring break week at the Ferme Éco des Champs

This break, come spend some time with us in Aylmer, Gatineau .

You can enjoy the farm and discover our ceramic painting workshop bus .

An outing that is equally suitable:

to young children,

to school-aged children,

to teenagers,

to the parents,

than grandparents who want to enjoy the break with their grandchildren.

And you don't need to be an artist.

All you need to do is choose a room, a few colors, and start.

Book your break activity

📍 Aylmer Fields Eco Farm – Gatineau, Quebec

🐐 Farm Animals

🎨 Ceramic painting

🚌 A true mobile workshop bus

❄️ Winter family outing

→ Book a ceramic painting session

→ Plan a farm visit

As space for ceramics is limited on the bus, we recommend booking your time slot in advance during spring break week.

Frequently Asked Questions

What to do with children during spring break in Gatineau?

Among the possibilities: ceramic painting, a visit to a farm and its animals, winter hiking, playing in the snow, museums, libraries, and municipal activities. Gatineau and Ottawa make it easy to combine indoor and outdoor activities.

What original activities can I do during spring break in Gatineau?

The Ferme Éco des Champs in Aylmer allows you to combine a farm visit with a ceramic painting activity in a real bus transformed into a workshop.

What to do during the break if it's cold or snowing?

Opt for an indoor activity such as ceramic painting, a museum visit, or a trip to the library. A cold day can also be divided between a short outdoor activity and a creative activity indoors.

Are there any free activities during spring break in Gatineau?

Yes. The City of Gatineau usually offers various free or drop-in activities during the winter and spring break. The program varies from year to year; check the municipal schedule before heading out.

When is spring break 2027 in Gatineau?

In several schools within the Centre de services scolaire des Portages-de-l'Outaouais, the 2027 spring break is scheduled from Monday, March 1st to Friday, March 5th, 2027 inclusive . However, please check your child's school calendar.