This article written in french by Corinne Prince was automatically translated using AI
The Petits Bonheurs festival team in Laval is celebrating both its 15th anniversary and the City of Laval’s 60th by offering nearly a hundred free shows and workshops for little ones across the region, from May 1 to 11.
To mark this doubly meaningful year, the festival’s activities will take place in a dozen different venues, in collaboration with 16 local community organizations.
For the first time, Petits Bonheurs will present two shows and two workshops at the Espace citoyen des Confluents, a new neighborhood service center in Saint-François that opened in November 2024. To highlight this major addition to the area’s services, all presentations at this location will be free of charge.
“We’ve never hosted this many shows before,” says Julie Doneda, coordinator of the youth program at the Maison des arts de Laval (MDA). “11 different shows and 39 performances—that’s a huge number! This is largely thanks to the festivities we’re able to organize with support from the City’s 60th anniversary. On May 10 and 11, the final weekend of the festival, there will be a full lineup of activities at the MDA, showcasing creations developed with the City’s support.”
Laval-Based Collaborations
On the final two days of the festival, more than a dozen free activities will be offered at the MDA to wrap up the celebration, which is geared toward children ages 0 to 6.
Three Laval-based theatre companies are involved in this special edition. Théâtre Incliné created the immersive installation Poissonneries, which will be accessible almost throughout the entire festival. Théâtre Fêlé will host the closing celebration on May 11, complete with surprises and a culminating parade. Théâtre Omnivore will offer a musical theatre workshop for children aged two and up.
In addition to these special collaborations, the trio will present their youth-focused productions: Momo le chameau (Théâtre Fêlé) and Juju et Marcelle (Théâtre Omnivore), which have previously toured Laval parks in summer, as well as Jour Bleu, Théâtre Incliné’s brand-new creation.
“This year, we’re especially able to showcase Laval’s own organizations, something we can’t always do since they don’t always produce content specifically for young children,” says Julie Doneda. She also praised the City of Laval’s Early Childhood Creation Support Program and emphasized the importance of fostering creation for this audience.
Program Highlights
All art forms are included in the 2025 Petits Bonheurs lineup—from performing and visual arts to circus, dance, and puppetry.
Outdoor presentations also play a key role this year, with the participatory juggling workshop L’art des poïs at Parc Chopin, and the shows Payzages (dance-theatre) and Hiatus (circus arts), presented in the MDA’s courtyard.
The Petits Bonheurs festival will take place from Thursday, May 1 to Sunday, May 11, all across Île Jésus.
More info: https://www.laval.ca/culture/activites-culturelles/evenements-festivals/petits-bonheurs-laval
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