On an unusually warm Family Day, many Hatters and their loved ones spent some quality time outside, enjoying a hotdog roast, free hot chocolate and a scavenger hunt around scenic Police Point Park.--NEWS PHOTO ZOE MASON
zmason@medicinehatnews.com
On a warm and sunny Family Day in Medicine Hat, several free events around the city provided family fun that included outdoor education, sports and recreation and quality time with loved ones.
With temperatures hitting 10 degrees in the afternoon, it was a perfect day for the annual Family Day events at Police Point Park, where the Kiwanis Club of Medicine Hat and the Medicine Hat Interpretive Program hosted a free event.
Volunteers at the nature centre handed out free hot chocolate and cookies and sold tickets for the outdoor hotdog grill, which invited families to roast their own hotdogs over a cozy bonfire.
President of the Medicine Hat Kiwanis Club Perry Bergum says Kiwanis took a more active role this year after receiving a $1,500 vibrancy grant from the City of Medicine Hat, which allowed them to give away free refreshments.
The event included a workshop where children built birdhouses and feeders for local species like robins and wrens.
The interpretive program also put on two scavenger hunts, one geared toward families with younger children and one for families with older children.
Participating families were also eligible to win a prize draw that took place after the end of the event. Available prizes included a popcorn gift set and a set of soup mixes and bowls.
“Last year, even though it was minus 20, myself and my colleagues were still out walking the trails, bundled up to the nines, but we still had some people come out and participate which was lovely.”
This year, with the last bit of the warm spell holding for the holiday, Donnelly says the weather has boosted both engagement and enjoyment.
“We’re reckoning we could easily have 600 families,” she said. “We’re looking forward to meeting everyone and just having some nice conversations and seeing people out enjoying the park.”
Donnelly says as a single mother herself in the past, she was always grateful for free, local events that gave her and her family something to do together on the holiday, and she’s happy to be a facilitator for such an event now.
“That’s what today is all about – spending time with family and community.”
Big Marble Go Centre also played host to a variety of free family fun on Monday.
Recreation program co-ordinator Rebecca Hirsch says sponsorship from Big Marble Farms allows them to keep the annual Family Day itinerary free for families.
Thanks to the warm weather, attendance was trending higher than previous years when Hirsch spoke to the News in the mid-afternoon.
“On average, based on previous years, we tend to get about 1,500 people. We are pretty much at 1,000 and we’re not even halfway through the day,” she said.
The Big Marble Go Centre event included public skating, swimming, bouncy castles, Nerf gun wars and a variety of o0ther games and activities. This year’s event also introduced a new feature, Kindermusik, a hands-on music learning experience for young children hosted by local lessons provider Progressions Music.
“It’s a blast to put events like this together. We work with some great people and it’s a full team effort to see it through.”
Monday, the YMCA also held a variety of free activities including crafts, bouncy castles and a family stretch. The facility also opened its rock wall and held a photo contest for a chance to win a free annual family membership.
