Pancake breakfasts, ice skating and a variety of other family friendly activities are sure to keep everyone in the London-area entertained this Family Day.
The East Lions Community Centre is taking care of breakfast for the annual provincial holiday, which falls on the third Monday in February. The rec centre at 1731 Churchill Ave. is offering a free pancake breakfast starting at 9 a.m. There will also be an open gym session and arts and crafts at no charge until noon. A free recreational swim is being planned for 10 a.m. Anyone interested in participating in the swim can register through Play Your Way online.
The Kinsmen Fanshawe Sugar Bush in Thorndale is also offering breakfast, wagon rides and education tours on Family Day. Reservations are required to spend the holiday at the non-for-profit sugarbush.
Public skates are being held at two city arenas free of charge. Skates run from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Earl Nichols Recreation Centre and Stronach Community Recreation Centre. Roller skating is also being offered at the North London Optimist Community Centre from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Registration is required. People who would rather get outside to skate can head to the rinks at Victoria Park from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. or at the Covent Garden Market from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. – weather permitting.
Storybook Gardens is also offering skating on its refrigerated 250 metre skating trail from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is $4.50 per adult and $3.50 per child, with skate rentals available for $6.50 per person on a first come, first serve basis.
The Museum of Ontario Archaeology will be open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with indoor and outdoor activities including guided gallery tours, spirit rock painting sessions with Ojibway artist Jeffrey (Red) George, and a maple tree tapping demonstration. Regular admission rates apply.
London’s Children’s Museum is challenging families to spend quality time together playing oversized games. Families can participate in super Snakes & Ladders, oversized checkers, and giant Jenga. Families can also choose to build forts or contribute to a large-scale art piece. Activities run 10a.m. to 5p.m.
The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority is hosting a Celebrating Natural Connections event at Fanshawe Conservation Area from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The free Family Day event will include birds of prey shows, snake shows, guided hikes, a scavenger hunt, a drumming circle, a pop-up library, horse drawn carriage rides, and campfires.
Grocery stores, shopping malls, including White Oaks Mall, Masonville Place, and Westmount Shopping Centre, will be closed for the day. As will the LCBO, Beer Stores, and the Labatt Retail Store downtown.
Sports fans can take in a Knights game at Budweiser Gardens on Family Day. London will be taking on the Windsor Spitfires. The puck drops at 2 p.m.
Banks, schools, and provincial and municipal government offices will not open their doors Monday. However, there will be mail delivery, as Family Day is not a holiday for federal employees.
The LTC will be running on a holiday schedule. With the exception of Route 93, the Express Routes will not be operating. In addition, Routes 102, 104, and 106 will also not be operating.
Everything returns to normal on Tuesday.
