February is here, and Family Day weekend is quickly approaching. So it’s time to start planning how you and your family will be spending the extra day off. Many cities and organizations across Northeastern Ontario are hosting a variety of Family Day activities, so there is something for everyone to make the best of the long weekend.
Every year, the Friends of Killarney Park organization hosts their Winter Weekend in Killarney Provincial Park. You’ll be able to take part in guided hikes and snowshoeing (and you can rent equipment on-site). On Saturday, you can stay up late and go stargazing at the park’s observatory, while on Sunday the Friends of Killarney Park provide a complimentary BBQ lunch that’ll help keep your energy up while you continue enjoying the great outdoors. The weekend culminates with a Dinner at Killarney Mountain Lodge—make sure to reserve a spot! There is no shortage of things to do, so make sure you visit the Friends of Killarney Park website for a full schedule of weekend events!
Up in Timmins, there is also a long itinerary for the Family Day weekend. One of the highlights of the weekend is the Timmins Fur Council Free Ice Fishing Derby on Porcupine Lake for kids under 16. Register to take your kids out for a day on the water, and everything will be provided—holes will be pre-drilled in the ice and there will be rods and tackle to go around. Just bring out your kids for some fishing fun.
If fishing isn’t your thing, the Porcupine Ski Runners Club in Timmins is offering a half-price Family Day special on rentals and trail fees from 9 am to 6 pm, so the whole family can spend the weekend exploring the many kilometres of groomed trails in the area.
Trails in Timmins are also primed and ready for the annual Snowmobiling “Snowarama for Easter Seals Kids” fundraising event. If you have a sled, make sure to start collecting pledges to support Easter Seals on Sunday, February 16, while enjoying this classic Canadian winter sport.
Fishing derbies are noticeably a popular activity for the Family Day weekend. The Friends and Family Ice Fishing Day takes place at the Lake Laurentian Conservation Area in Sudbury on February 16. And the Family Day Weekend is recognized by the provincial government as a weekend that does not require a license to fish, so for any lake or derby your family shows up to, there’s no extra work to get out on the lake and try to reel in the biggest catch!
Even if you aren’t headed to any specifically scheduled Family Day events, there is no shortage of activity for families throughout Northeastern Ontario. Whether indoors at places such as Science North, or outdoors doing any of the listed winter activities, pick a spot on the map and check out Northeastern Ontario’s website to see what opportunities you can take advantage of on the long weekend!
