The annual Montréal en lumière festival kicks off this week, with a free, fun outdoor scene for families at downtown’s Place des Festivals. There are some new features this year, including a giant interactive slide, children’s shows and costumed characters. Plus, the ferris wheel is back!

Also outdoors, check out the Ste. Anne de Bellevue winter carnival, which hosts family activities at Aumais Park on Saturday, then more family activities at Morgan Arboretum on Sunday.

For a winter escape, head to Butterflies Go Free at the Botanical Gardens, where live butterflies flutter around a tropical setting.

For a reality escape, check out the new animated movie The Secret World of Arrietty, which is all about a miniature family living under the floorboards of a human family.

Get the details on these events and more in I Spy Montreal’s weekend guide for Feb. 17-19. Plus, enter to win tickets to The Last Reef 3D, a new IMAX movie coming to the Montreal Science Centre.