Canada celebrates Family Day on the third Monday of February. In provinces such as British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, this day is an official holiday. This holiday was first established in Alberta in 1900 to remind people of family values and to give parents more time to spend with their children. Simply, it is a great opportunity to enjoy the long weekend as our English school in Vancouver is closed on Family Day, February 18th.
There are all kinds of activities held on this day that is interesting for children of all ages and their parents. Many museums on Family Day can be visited free of charge, and almost all cultural institutions, stadiums and skating rinks reduce the price of entrance tickets.
Museum of Vancouver is free of charge on Monday, February 18th, which is open from 10 am to 5 pm.
Family Day celebration at Trout Lake – do not miss a chance to enjoy free live music, dancing, skating, cooking demonstrations, performances and much more on February 18th from 11 am to 3 pm.
Britannia Ice Rink gives an excellent opportunity to learn something new, especially when it is for free. On Monday, February 18th from 1 pm to 3:30 pm, you can celebrate Family Day with free ice skating, face painting, balloon twister and caricatures.
Family Festival at Marpole – This free and fun family event will include variety of activities such as live entertainment, games, face painting and balloon artists at Marpole-Oakridge Community Centre which takes place on Saturday February 16th from 11 am to 2 pm.
Another alternative to enjoy Family Day and the long weekend is to go to a ski resort or engage in winter sports – snowboarding, skiing, ice skating, tubing and snowshoe.
Grouse Mountain offers some fun activities on the Monday holiday: charity pancakes for breakfast from 8 am to 11:30 am, complementary snowshoe tours at 1 pm, live music from 9 am to 5 pm, and other regular activities.
Cypress Mountain organizes a Family Weekend Festival which takes place on February 15th until February 18th. The long weekend festival promises to be fun as it provides a variety of special activities such as fun family nights where you can enjoy hot chocolate, pizza deals around a fire pit and performances. This special event also offers face painting, balloon art, free popcorn, henna tattoos and much more.
Sea to Sky Gondola offers 50% off admission on February 16th until February 18th. In addition to the gorgeous view, on the other side of the mountain you can enjoy hiking, tubing, snowshoeing, an outdoor bonfire and there is also a cafeteria.