From a trip to the local sugar bush, to free skates or a Lightning game, Londoners have a long list of activities available to keep them busy this Family Day.
The provincial holiday, which falls on the third Monday in February, is intended to give Ontarians some much deserved time with loved ones.
Those looking to spend the day outdoors can do so at the Kinsmen Fanshawe Sugar Bush from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. or at the free skating rinks at Victoria Park and the Covent Garden Market. Skates can be rented at Victoria Park for $7.
Storybook Gardens' 250 metre skating trail will be open for the day. In addition to skating, the interactive park is offering a BBQ pancake breakfast and horse-drawn wagon rides. The Family Day festivities run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Regular admission rates apply.
The Carling Heights Optimist Community Centre will run family-friendly activities from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. It begins with a free pancake breakfast and continues with kids crafts, basketball, and pickleball. The South London Community Centre is offering open gym sessions from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Museum of Ontario Archaeology will be open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Kids can earn a junior archaeologist certificate by testing their knowledge on the new feature exhibit, partake in various crafts or help build snow snakes on the museum grounds (weather permitting).
Museum London will be offering free family programming from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and the Children's Museum will be open from 10a.m. to 5p.m.
In a matinee game, the London Lightning will host the KW Titans at Budweiser Gardens. Tip-off is 2 p.m.
Anyone who was hoping to use the day to catch up on errands are out of luck. Grocery stores, shopping malls, including White Oaks Mall, Masonville Place, and Westmount Shopping Centre, will be closed for the day. The LCBO, Beer Stores, and the Labatt Retail Store downtown will also be locked up.
Banks, schools, and provincial and municipal government offices will not open their doors. However, there will be mail delivery, as Family Day is not a holiday for federal employees.
The LTC will be running on a Sunday schedule.
Regular service returns on Tuesday.