Family Day in Whitecourt

Last weekend’s three-day break was a fun-filled one as Whitecourt and area families of all sizes got out to enjoy Family Day. Rather than having everything jam-packed into one day, the Town of Whitecourt and community sponsors, Rotary Club of Whitecourt, and Primerica (Amanda St. Pierre) kept the fun going Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

Things kicked off on Saturday at lunchtime at Rotary Park with many different things to get into. The always popular ice slide was back, with children, and some brave chaperones, climbing the hill, taking a seat and letting out a squeal of excitement as they took turns sliding down the two icy handcrafted creations. A dinosaur ice sculpture made the perfect perch to pose for a picture, and ice blocks were on hand for building forts.

Those who hadn’t seen the skating oval near the concession building yet got to see it for the first time and lace their skates up to give it a whirl. A stocked fire pit beside it kept everyone toasty. Nearby there were tables set up with volunteers offering deliciously fresh fried Bannock.

To warm up, attendees grabbed hot cocoa and a bite at the free barbeque. Also on Saturday were sleigh rides. Families lined up for their turn to climb up onto the wagon and be pulled around by two beautiful horses from Cactus Patch Ranch. To handle the large crowd, two wagons were going simultaneously.

Crokicurl was another fun event to try out. Created in 2016 by two Canadian ladies and played for the first time in Winnipeg, the game blends two favourites; curling and the Crokinole board game. Water jugs with frozen coloured water inside made for the perfect “stones” to play with. A coloured ice surface with pylons frozen in place gave attendees a chance for some friendly competition.

There were various games to try, including a scavenger hunt with prizes up for grabs. The hunt had families use their smarts to decode clues. A code translator was provided along with the first word to translate, which led them to the following location, with six spots to find in all, spread around the park site.

Many of the activities remained the following day for families that couldn’t make it to Rotary Park on Saturday. Crokicurl and the scavenger hunt remained accessible to those who went on Sunday, extending the fun. The ice slide and skating oval will remain usable as the weather conditions allow.

On Monday, there were two more events for families to enjoy. Free public skating at the Scott Safety Centre ran midday. All residents needed to do to participate was bring along a donation to the Whitecourt Food Bank. After skating, families went downtown to the Vista Theatre to watch a movie at 2 pm.

Mild temperatures and light snow on Saturday brought many families out to enjoy the afternoon together. The purpose of Family Day is to celebrate the importance of family life while celebrating the many families within the community. Given the attendance, Whitecourt definitely enjoyed the celebration!