Weekend Guide: Kirkland Carnival! • Robinson Crusoe! • Celebration at Centropolis!

Robinson Crusoe, a pantomime for age 4 and up, is on in Beaconsfield this weekend.

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Friday, Jan. 27

Jan. 17 at 6:30 p.m.: Family Bingo night at Kirkland Sports Complex, 16950 Hymus Blvd., part of the city’s winter carnival activities (see under Saturday for more events). More info.

Jan. 27 to Feb. 12: Winter Carnival in Quebec City: The annual winter blowout featuring an international ice sculpting contest, snow village for kids, sledding, ice rafting, many outdoor games, parades and more.

Jan. 27 to Feb. 5: Snowfest in St. Lazare: A week of winter events, ending with the winterfest, a day of family friendly activities on Feb. 5 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Base de plein air Les Cèdres. See full schedule.

Saturday, Jan. 28

Jan. 28, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Kirkland winter carnival family day at Meades Park, featuring barbecue, sleigh rides, sledding, inflatables, games, face-painting and crafts until 2:30 p.m., ice sculpting and more. Also, from 2 to 4 p.m., there will be free skating in the arena with CBC personalities. More info.

Jan. 28, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.: Winterfest in Pincourt, featuring dog-sledding, sliding, tubing, ice sculpture, pedal go-karts, ice fishing, sleigh rides, skating and more at Olympic Park.

Jan 28 at 3 p.m.: Le Voyage, a puppet show for age 5 to 9, about a boy travelling with his mother through the snowy mountains of Japan, and what he learns along the way, at Mirella and Lino Saputo Theatre, 8370, boul. Lacordaire, St. Leonard. 514-514-328-8400. Watch a video clip.

Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 28 and 29

Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 28 and 29: Animal winter carnival at the Ecomuseum, featuring animal olympics, owl encounters, ice sculpting and other special activities.

Saturday, Jan. 21 to Feb. 5 (weekends): La Fête des neiges, the annual winter carnival at Parc Jean Drapeau, featuring many free outdoor activities including Akropark, acrobatic shows, hockey, giant foosball, kicksledding and more. For a fee, there is also dog sledding, sleigh rides and a zip line. Also at Park Jean Drapeau, you can visit the new snow village.

Noon to 4 p.m.: Celebrate winter at Centropolis Laval, a family event at the Centropolis ice rink featuring animation, games, a snow castle contest and an opportunity to meet some of the princesses from Disney on Ice. More info.

1 to 4 p.m. Montreal Museum of Fine Arts drop-in family art workshop, focusing on still life with dry pastels. Children can try using the art materials provided, with bilingual guidance from museum staff. Free. More info.

2 p.m. Chinese dragon workshop: Make a dragon to mark the beginning of Chinese New Year, at Musée des Maîtres et Artisans du Quebec in St. Laurent. Registration required. Cost: $14 per family. More info.

Sunday, Jan. 29

9 to 11 a.m.: Kinder Dome: Drop-in activities for children age 10 and under at Concordia’s Stinger Dome sports arena. Cost: $10 per child; bring running shoes.  More info.

11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m. Ninjas and Samurais: A workshop on ninjas and Samurais for all ages, with a craft, at McGill University’s Redpath Museum. Registration required. Cost: $7 per child. 514-398-4092.

1 to 4 p.m.  Animal Care Apprentice Workshop, for age 3 to 6, at the Ecomuseum. Children spend a half-day working with the zoologist, helping prepare animals’ meals, feeding, and making toys for the animals. Cost: $40 for members, $45 non-members (one child and accompanying adult). Registration required. More info.

2 p.m. A la belle étoile, a puppet version of Hansel and Gretel, in French, Maison Culturelle Montréal Nord, 12004, Rolland Blvd., 514 328-4000, ext. 5640. Free, passes required.

2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Canals, piping and juice boxes, a workshop for families at the Canadian Centre for Architecture that focuses on local and global water use. Free, but registration required. Also on Feb. 12 and March 4. More info.

3 p.m.: Robinson Crusoe, The Truth, a pantomime for age 4 and up, in English at Beaconsfield Recreation Centre, 1974 City Lane. Tickets $5, on sale at Beaconsfield Library, or call 514-428-4520.

3 p.m. Don Quichotte, malgré lui, a play for age 7 and up, based on the story of Don Quixote, in French, at Maison de la Culture N.D.G., 3755 Botrel St. 514-872-2157. Watch a video clip.

1 to 4 p.m.: Winter fun in Boucherville, featuring skating, sledding, music, a mascot and hot chocolate (bring your own mug) outside Pierre Laporte Sports Centre, 460 Chemin du Lac. Event runs every Sunday until Feb. 26. More info.

3 p.m. Ciel Variable, a show for age 5 and up, based on children’s drawings, at Maison de la Culture Côte des Neiges, 5290 chemin Côte-des-Neiges. Free, passes required. 514-872-6889.

3 p.m. Zorro, a play for ages 5 to 10, based on the story of the familiar character, in French, at Salle Pauline Julien in Ste. Geneviève. Tickets: $10.50. More info.

4 p.m. Les Fables de la Patère, a musical/clowning show, without dialogue, for ages 5 to 9 at Théâtre Outremont. Tickets: $13.10. More info and video clip.

Ongoing Montreal family events

Jan. 13 to 29: Le Projet Pupitre/The Pencil Project, a show for age 8+ about two students in the midst of a spelling test. Their minds wander as they discover that they can make sounds and rhythms with their pencils. In French at La Maison Théâtre. More info.

From Jan. 6: The Snow Village at Parc Jean Drapeau, featuring an ice hotel, maze and slide. Free for children 5 and under; $8.50 for children 6 to 12; $15 for students and seniors; $17 for adults 18 and over; $40 for a family pass for 2 adults and 3 children. Village is open 9 a.m. to midnight Sunday to Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. Thursday to Saturday. Tip: Skip on-site lineups by getting tickets online.

Jan. 14 to Feb. 26, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Winter carnival at Granby Zoo, featuring ice sculpting from 1 to 4 p.m., and fire-breathing performances 12:30, 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m., plus the opportunity to see many of the animals in a winter environment. More information.

Dec. 17 to Feb. 5: Winter activities at the Biodome, including a play called What’s that Egg?, featuring many animals, plus a rescue centre area for kids to help the animals, with mini-kitchen for preparing animals’ meals. See show schedule and get more info.

Dec. 17 to March 11: Mount Royal’s skating rink is open, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. More info.

Nov. 24 to March 11, 2012: Toys 2, an interactive exhibition of Toys at McCord Museum. Based on the success of last year’s exhibit, the museum has put together a new show, with free educational activity workshops.  More info.

Oct. 20 to March 11, 2012: Dinosaurs Unearthed, an exhibition of life-sized, animatronic dinosaurs with some interactive elements, including a self-guided tour for elementary-age children, at the Montreal Science Centre in Old Montreal. Adults $11.50, children age 4 to 12, $8.50, family $36.50.  More information.

10 a.m. to 10 p.m.: The Old Port outdoor skating rink is open. More info.

10:30 a.m. to noon: Tiny tots mornings at the Atrium indoor skating rink on Saturdays and Sundays. Families with children age 12 and under are invited to skate with the Atrium’s mascot, and try the mini hockey area. Guided tour of the Atrium skating rink.