St. Catharines' Family Day long weekend activities

Start planning your Family Day weekend with a fun-filled lineup of skating, swimming and other recreational programs being hosted by the City of St. Catharines.

Aquatics at the St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre

The City is running free leisure swims throughout the day on Family Day, Monday, Feb. 16 from 7 a.m. to 6:25 p.m. at St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre, 425 Carlton St. Admission and supervision standards in effect. Reservations are highly recommended on stcatharines.ca/ActiveSTC.

Leisure Pool free swims on Family Day:

• Morning: 7 to 7:55 a.m.; 8 to 8:55 a.m.; 9 to 9:55 a.m., and 10 to 11:25 a.m.
• Afternoon and evening: 12:30 to 1:25 p.m.; 1:30 to 2:25 p.m.; 4:30 to 5:25 p.m.; 5:30 to 6:25 p.m.; 7:30 to 8:25 p.m.

St. Catharines residents can make reservations starting at 9 a.m. two days before the scheduled swim. Everyone can book a reservation at 9 a.m. the day before the swim.

Public Skating

Public skates will take place over the entire weekend, from Friday, Feb.13 to Family Day Monday, Feb. 16, at Bill Burgoyne Memorial Arena, 192 Linwell Rd., and at Seymour-Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre, 240 St. Paul St.

For skate times and for more information, including how to pre-register, visit stcatharines.ca/ActiveSTC. Search “public skating” and “Feb. 16”.

Family Fun Day at St. Catharines Farmers Market

Come out to the St. Catharines Farmers Market on Saturday, Feb. 14, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Market Square, 91 King St. From 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., enjoy some Valentine’s Day programming fun where young shoppers can decorate our market table with fun colours and craft a Valentine’s “plant”.

Recreation Programs

Pre-register the family for activities on Family Day at Port Weller Community Centre, 1 Bogart St. Reminder that adults must stay on-site with children during activities.

Kids aged two to 12 can explore the Big Blue Blocks and Blue Track from 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. by pre-registering at stcatharines.ca/BigBlueBlocksAndBlueTrack.

Register kids aged two to 12 at stcatharines.ca/FamilyDayBoardGames for a Family Board Game Bonanza, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., including Giant Connect Four, Snakes and Ladders, Connect Four, Washer Toss, and many more. The gym will be open from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Everyone aged six and older can enjoy Family Pickleball from 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Balls and paddles are available. Spaces are limited. Book a spot for each person in your family at stcatharines.ca/FamilyDayPickleball.

St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre

St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre, 1932 Welland Canals Pkwy., is open its regular hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., over the Family Day long weekend through Monday, Feb. 16. Family Day programming will be offered Monday between 9 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. with drop-in activities for families all about maps and moving around St. Catharines. Jumping off from the museum’s temporary, “You are Here” map exhibit, visitors will discover St. Catharines’ history and learn mapping and wayfinding skills.

Admission is by donation. No registration required. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Collections tours are first come, first served.

Activities include:

• Map-themed story time and music session (9:30 to 10:30 a.m.; 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.)
• Old-time map-making craft (10:30 to 11:30 a.m.; 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.)
• A skill-testing wayfinding adventure around the museum, including mapping, compass orienteering, and land surveying (ongoing throughout the day)
• An interactive kids’ gallery tour all about transportation (11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.; 2:30 to 3:15 p.m.)
• A once-per-year chance to explore behind the scenes in the Collections vaults, best for ages 12 and older (On the hour 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., but not at noon)

City facility closures on Family Day

The following City facilities will be closed for Family Day on Monday, Feb. 16:

• City Hall and administrative offices
• St. Catharines Enterprise Centre
• Dunlop Drive and West St. Catharines Older Adult Centres
• Russell Avenue Community Centre
• Victoria Lawn Cemetery administrative offices (visitation is always available from dawn to dusk