Feb. 10, 2019 — The City of St. Catharines is preparing to serve up a smorgasbord of free fun for young and old alike on Family Day.
From skating at Seymour-Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre to an exploration of history at the St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre there will be no shortage of ways for families to come together and enjoy some quality time on Feb. 17.
Skating
Join Mayor Walter Sendzik and City Council members from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for the Mayor’s Free Family Day Skate at Seymour-Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre. Skating will be free however regular rules and supervision requirements will apply. Other public skating programs, such as Pre-school Stick and Puck, will run throughout the day. Visit www.stcatharines.ca/skating for details.
Swimming
Make some waves without making a splash in the family budget. Multiple free leisure swims will be offered at the St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre throughout the day. Free swims will take place in the leisure pool from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.; 11 a.m. to noon; 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.; and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The lane pool will be open for free swims from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Normal supervision and admission requirements will be in effect, visit www.stcatharines.ca/swimming for more information.
Pop Up Play Tent Fun Zone
For some additional fun over at the St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre families can check out the City’s Pop Up Play Tent Fun Zone featuring crafts, activities and the ever popular Big Blue Blocks, from noon to 5 p.m.
St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre
The museum is gearing up to give families a special glimpse behind the curtain this Family Day with tours of behind-the-scenes spaces in the museum’s collection that aren’t usually open to the public. Tours will take place at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.
For the little ones the museum is offering Toddler I-Spy Tours, offering a fast-paced and fun tour through the gallery specifically aimed at children aged three to six. Toddler tours will take place at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Visitors can also celebrate Black History Month with the museum’s Follow the North Star Exhibit examining the dramatic stories of fugitive slaves who arrived and settled in St. Catharines. The museum will offer guided tours to the exhibit on Family Day at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.
Visit www.stcatharines.ca/museumevents for more information.
FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre
Free family fun won’t be in short supply at the PAC either with an array of activities, including the chance to meet some real furry friends in the facility lobby. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. the centre will team up with Vansickle PetValu to pack lobby with an array of activities such as face painting, STEM video games, the chance to get acquainted with the furry animal ambassadors of Therapy Tails Niagara and the opportunity to touch the giant puppet from The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
The PAC recital hall will play host to a free finger-puppet drop-in workshop from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and free drop-in animated short films will screen in The Film House from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., followed by a screening of the family classic Babe with a $2 donation to Australian Wildlife assistance.
Visit www.firstontariopac.ca for a full list of the PAC’s Family Day offerings.
Closures
The following City facilities will be closed on Family Day, Feb. 17:
• City Hall and City administrative offices
• Enterprise Centre
• Dunlop Drive, West St. Catharines and Port Dalhousie Older Adult Centres
• Russell Avenue and Port Weller Community Centres
St. Catharines Transit will operate on a holiday schedule for Family Day. Visit www.yourbus.com for more information.
To report fallen trees, slippery roads and sidewalks, blocked catch basins and sewer backups call 905.688.5600 and follow the prompts. Power issues and outages can be reported to Alectra Utilities at 905.684.8111.