Family Day in central Alberta

There will be interpreter-led and self-led activities offered indoors and outdoors. Specific activities will be adjusted based on the weather, but will otherwise include a scavenger hunt, games, arts and crafts, and more. Hot chocolate will be available for purchase.

Residents can also head to the Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery for Fiddling Around, a free afternoon of activities running from noon to 4:30 p.m.

The Central Alberta Chamber Orchestra (CACO) will perform a fiddle-focused program at 2 p.m., and will host an instrument zoo; attendees can learn about CACO’s instruments and create a piece of music for a musician to play.

Families can also build their own paper fiddle, or enjoy a museum and art gallery tour, including special displays from their collections. A temporary outdoor art installation will also be available to enjoy, titled “Music Between Us.”

Meantime, the Red Deer Rebels will take on the Edmonton Oil Kings at the Centrium. This Family Day matinee hits the ice at 2 p.m. and will include a United Way Sockey Toss and Paint the Ice postgame party.

The Sockey Toss fundraiser is a United Way initiative to collect warm socks for those in need in central Alberta. Attendees can bring their own or pick up a pair from community partners at the doors, then throw them on the ice during the second intermission.

Blackfalds

The Town of Blackfalds invites the community to Winterfest, a day of family fun including free skating, games, bingo, a movie and more. There will be a fundraiser barbecue for firefighter Bill Stock for lunch. The day will round out with a chance to skate with the Blackfalds Bulldogs, although a ticket to the day’s game is required for this event.

Activities run from noon to 3 p.m. at the Eagle Builders Centre for free, ahead of the Blackfalds Bulldogs face-off against the Brooks Bandits at 4 p.m.

Ponoka

The Town of Ponoka has partnered with the Calnash Ag Event Centre to host a skijoring event, where participants will have an opportunity to be pulled by horse while on skis or a snowboard. Horses will be provided, but participants will need to bring skis or a snowboard.

Here, attendees can also enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride, a bouncy castle, or warm up with some hot chocolate by the bonfire. The local Ponoka 4-H equine group will also be riding in the arena to highlight the program and skills developed through it.

At the Ponoka Aquaplex there will be a free public swim event from 1-5 p.m. In support of the Ponoka Food Bank, the Town will be accepting non-perishable food donations.

If swimming isn’t your family’s beat, check out the free public skating session taking place at the Ponoka Arena Complex from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Voluntary non-perishable food donations will be accepted here as well. Additionally, families are welcome to skate at the outdoor rink next to the complex, or the ice trail winding though Lions Centennial Park.

Finally, families will have a chance to win a Town of Ponoka swag prize pack by sharing a photo on Facebook, X, or Instagram of your family participating in an activity with the hashtag #TownofPonoka. Photos can also be emailed to events@ponoka.ca. Photos must be submitted on Family Day, Feb. 17, and the winner will be contacted the following week.

Lacombe

Free public swimming will be offered at the Kinsmen Aquatic Centre from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Stettler

At the Stettler Recreation Centre, activities will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., all free for the family to enjoy.

Pancake breakfast: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Family swim: 10:30 a.m. to noon
Music by Rhubarb Cabaret: 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
Face painting: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Hot dog lunch: noon to 1:30 p.m.
Family swim: 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Public skate with Klay the DJ: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Shinny: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Photo booth: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Mini’s Rave: 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Penhold

Head to the Penhold Multiplex on Feb. 15 for Love Bug Boogie, a family dance running from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $5 per person and available online, with proceeds supporting the Jessie Duncan Parent Society.

Innisfail

A variety of activities are being held in the Town of Innisfail for Family Day, beginning with a free family bowling night on Feb. 16. At Innisfail Bowling Lanes, join the Town’s Family and Community Support Services for a free hour of bowling between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Registration is required as space is limited and there is a limit of six people to a lane for an hour time slot. Please register by calling 403-227-3376 ext. 225.

Families are invited to learn to curl at the Innisfail Curling Club from 10 a.m. to noon on Feb. 17. All equipment will be provided and there is no registration necessary, although participant numbers will be limited based on capacity.

At the Innisfail Twin Arena, registered teams will face off for the Helping Hand Fund 3-on-3 Family Day Tournament. Funds raised will support the Dean Turnquist Helping Hand Fund. Please register by emailing deanturnquist@yahoo.ca and visit this website for more information.

Families can also join the Innisfail Kinsmen from noon to 3 p.m. at the Innisfail Arena for a Family Day barbecue. Attendees can also enjoy a warm-up station, wagon rides, and an all ages free skate.

Weather permitting, outdoor skating will also be offered all day at the boarded rink and skating loop on the northwest side of the Innisfail Twin Arena.

The Innisfail Aquatic Centre will host a free swim session, with two family-friendly sessions available:

1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Here, they will also be accepting monetary and food donations in support of the Innisfail Food Bank.

Olds

Public swimming at the Olds Aquatic Centre will be free. Public swimming will run 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and lane swimming will be noon to 1 p.m.

Sylvan Lake

A free public swim session will be held at Sylvan Lake’s NexSource Centre from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Family Day.

Preceding that is the Ice Dragon Boat Festival on Feb. 15 and 16, a chance to see a rowing event on ice as teams try to take home the championship title.

In addition to the practice rowing races, Saturday will see a WinterFest Farmers Market, roving circus entertainment and a comedy circus show. Sunday will include a beer gardens, fire dancer performance, fireworks, as well as the official race and an awards and closing ceremony.

On both days there will be a pass-the-poutine contest, free skating, s’more roasting, face painting and kids crafts to enjoy.

A detailed schedule is available here.

Edmonton (Legislature)

For those who happen to be in the Edmonton region this weekend, the Legislative Assembly is holding a celebration in the Legislature Building and Queen Elizabeth II Building Visitor Centre from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

In the Legislature Building, attendees can tour an open house, participate in a craft or enjoy storytime with Naomi McIlwraith.

In the Queen Elizabeth II Building, there will be magic shows, circus acts and musical and dance performances throughout the day.

Province-wide

Additionally, Alberta Blue Cross and Communities ChooseWell, operated by the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association, have partnered to provide a list of suggested activities to create meaningful connections while promoting your family’s physical, mental and emotional well-being.

“As we celebrate Family Day, it’s the perfect opportunity to get active and create lasting memories together,” says Matt Leung, Program Manager, Alberta Recreation and Parks Association.

The partners suggest the following family-friendly activities to try out this Family Day:

Outdoors

Explore your neighbourhood parks and trails on a winter walk.
Sign up for fun activities at your local recreation or community centre.
Discover a new park or playground to enjoy.
Strap on your skates and check out an outdoor skating rink or bundle up and go to a local tobogganing hill.
Work together as a family to draw a map of all your favorite places to move and play in your neighborhood—it’s also a fun way to plan adventures for when warmer weather arrives.

Indoors

Try out a tasty, new recipe and cook together as a family.
Plan a family game night with your favourite board games.
Family yoga at home—follow a guided beginner yoga session on YouTube.
Enjoy free admission at Alberta museums and historic sites on Family Day.
Give back to your community by volunteering as a family at a local organization.

by Ashley Lavallee-Koenig

Family Day in central Alberta

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