There definitely won’t be a shortage of fun to be had this Family Day weekend.
The City of Barrie is hosting the ninth annual Family Day Winter Adventure on Monday, Feb. 19 at the Barrie Community Sports Complex, located at 2100 Nursery Rd., in Midhurst.
The event, which will run from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., and will feature a variety of activities and live, family, friendly entertainment including DJ Delta Juliet, horse-drawn sleigh rides, broom ball, kick-sledding, circus performers, nature crafts, a bonfire warming zone, guided forest therapy walks, axe throwing (for kids over the age of 10), tobogganing and fire performers.
Earlier in the weekend, the city will host Nature in Winter 2024 at Sunnidale Park.
The free event is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 17 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the city park’s Dorian Parker Centre, where visitors will have the opportunity to embrace nature and join in celebrating the beauty of Nature in Winter with indoor and outdoor activities for all ages.
Participants can enjoy the city’s Nature Play Trailer and make some "snowball soup" in the portable nature play kitchen and Speaking of Wildlife will be on hand to help guests learn about local animals.
The Barrie Public Library will be on hand to host an outdoor activity, and will be offering access to their birdwatching and snowshoe kits.
Forest Bathing with Beth will teach visitors about the benefits of nature in a restorative activity. Two mini sessions will be offered and registration is required. If you are interested, register for the 11 a.m. session or the 12 p.m. session.
“Family Day is the perfect opportunity for families to be active together in the great outdoors,” Mayor Alex Nuttall told BarrieToday. “Once again, we are offering a range of free activities that highlight our beautiful city and capture the essence of community, while providing families with multiple opportunities to create lasting memories close to home.”
The downtown Barrie hot cocoa trail is a great way to warm up after all that outdoor fun on Saturday and Sunday. The winter tradition showcases some unique and creative hot chocolate inspired beverages and dishes by local coffee shops, cafes and restaurants.
Another way to keep warm this weekend is to bust out your wand and head over to the Holly library branch, where you can try to solve a series of puzzles, find clues and work to escape the Harry Potter room ... all within 20 minutes! Test your courage and quick thinking in the Harry Potter Escape Room. This event is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 17 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Also at the Holly branch, visitors are invited to get dressed up in matching clothes, go casual or wear their Sunday best as they take advantage of a green screen and have a family photo or two taken.
On Sunday, Feb. 18, staff at the Painswick branch host an afternoon of board game fun from 2-4 p.m.
Local anglers can take advantage of some free fishing this Family Day weekend, as it is one of only four weekends in the year you can fish in Ontario without a license.
Conservation licence catch limits, size limits and sanctuaries and fishing regulations are still in effect. Anyone who may require equipment can take advantage of the TackleShare program through the Barrie Public Library or other loaner sites.
All three Barrie recreation centres (Allandale Recreation Centre, East Bayfield Community Centre and Peggy Hill Team Community Centre) will offer a variety of drop-in activities from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Family Day. Activities include fitness classes, open swims, aquafit, stick and puck, hockey, public skates, pickleball and basketball, to name just a few.
To view the schedule, visit barrie.ca.
If you prefer to be a bit more creative, the MacLaren Art Centre is hosting a Celebration of Diversity. The first event will take place at MacLaren from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., where families will be able to explore the current exhibitions, as well as enjoy a printmaking class using monotype, stamping and collagraph printing to create unique family portraits.
A second event will be held at Shak’s World Community Centre (59 Maple Ave., in downtown Barrie) from 12-3:30 p.m., where families can participate in a creative painting and embroidery project followed by live entertainment.
Just outside of the city, Horseshoe Resort in Oro-Medonte has an “unforgettable” Family Day Weekend planned. In addition to the usual skiing and tubing fun, the resort is set to welcome back children’s performers Sonshine & Broccoli on Monday, Feb. 19.
Described as “brilliant performers whose music and energy are infectious” by Chris Kennedy of the Royal Ontario Museum, best friends Lisa Sonshine and Brock Burford have always made their fans feel like part of the family with their upbeat and interactive performances.
The Simcoe County Museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and will be offering outdoor activities including snowshoeing, tobogganing and access to the skate trail, weather permitting.
Affected services on Family Day:
- Barrie Transit will operate according to the regular Sunday service schedule. Visit myridebarrie.ca for details.
- Curbside collection: There will be no garbage, organics, or recycling collection on Family Day in Barrie. Collection during the week of this holiday will occur one day later for the remainder of the week. Visit www.barrie.ca/CurbsideCollection for details.
- Barrie City Hall will be closed.
- Parking: Downtown parking (on-street and lots) is free on all statutory holidays. Waterfront parking is enforced 24/7/365; residents must display their permits and visitors are required to pay $10/hour (daily maximum: $50). Visit www.barrie.ca/Parking for details.
