Looking for something fun to do with the kiddos on British Columbias first-ever Family Day? Choose from our list of events and make it a day off to remember. Note: admission rates vary according to age and number of participants, and in some instances, pre-registration is required; check venue websites before heading out.
BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum
Half-price admission gets your family a hefty dose of sporty fun. Climb the wall, run the track, kick the ball and drop the puck in the Participation Zone. Get your picture snapped with Shaun Whites 2010 Olympic snowboard. Explore the new Vancouver 2010 Gallery and Hall of Champions. Also: Family Day colouring activity and scavenger hunt. 10am to 5pm; Gate A, BC Place, 777 Pacific Boulevard; BCSportsHallOfFame.com
Eric Litwin at Childrens Arts Festival
The New York Times bestselling author will meet fans and perform stories from his popular Pete the Cat series at Richmonds Fifth Annual Childrens Arts Festival. Stick around after the performance to explore the festival, which features artist-led creativity classes (puppet making, cartooning, acrylics, and animation), family skating, balloon twisting, face painting, origami, and live entertainment. Performances at 10:30am, 12:30pm and 3pm; the festival runs 10am to 4pm. Richmond Cultural Centre, 7700 Minoru Gate, Richmond; ChildrensArtsFestival.ca
Cypress Mountain
Cypress Mountain caps off a weekend of family-centric programming with free magic go-around carousel rides, a kids terrain park, meetings with Gnarly the Bear, a kids colouring contest, chocolate fondue snowshoe tour, live entertainment, pizza, and more. All weekend: 50% off scooter and child lift/trail tickets. Activities 9am to 4pm; mountain open 9am to 10pm. Top of Cypress Bowl Road, West Vancouver; CypressMountain.com/family-weekend
Grouse Mountain
Family Day at Grouse includes a pancake breakfast, snow painting station, scavenger hunts, a puck shoot-out, Terrain Park Jams and a special family après dinner in the Timber Room (not to mention 50% off lift tickets). Pancake breakfast at 7:30am; childrens activities run 9am to 4pm; skiing and snowboarding from 8:30am to 10pm. Grouse Mountain, 6400 Nancy Greene Way, North Vancouver; GrouseMountain.com
Mt. Seymour
Mt. Seymours Ultimate Family Day Experience includes 50% off lift tickets, 50% off Discover Lesson Packages, and 25% off Next Step Lessons. Also: childrens crafts and activities, Bear Cubs lesson demo, free popcorn and hot chocolate, lots of prizes and games, and a fire pit with marshmallows for roasting. Ski hill open 9am until 10pm; family activities run 10am until 2pm. Mt. Seymour, 1700 Mount Seymour Road, North Vancouver; MountSeymour.com
Vancouver Aquarium
The Vancouver Aquarium will offer extended hours on Family Day, giving visitors extra time to check out the beluga whales and dolphins, Goldcorp 4-D theatre, Penguin Point, marmosets in the Graham Amazon Gallery, and The Secret World of Sharks and Rays, which launches on Feb. 7. 9:30am to 6pm; 845 Avison Way; VanAqua.org
Trout Lake Opening Celebration
Trout Lake Community Centre marked their grand opening with a big party last year, and theyve decided to celebrate all over again with program demos (arts, sports, and dancing) and live music. 11am to 3pm; 3360 Victoria Drive; TroutLakeCC.com
YogaButtons
Vancouvers first yoga studio for both kids and adults will donate all of their Family Day revenue to Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver. Watch for giveaways throughout the day and an extra 10% off all purchases, with every single cent going to charity. First class at 9:30am; last class at 6:30pm. 2525 West Broadway; YogaButtons.com
Science World at Telus World of Science
Imaginations will soar in Science Worlds Family Day KEVA Building Challenge, in which family teams construct wild and creative towers from KEVA planks. Also: burgeoning Sherlocks and Watsons can learn all about fingerprinting at the Ballooning Prints station in the Connection Zone. 10am to 6pm; 1455 Quebec Street; ScienceWorld.ca
British Columbia ski resorts
Consider spending your Family Day skiing on one of our provinces world-renowned hills. BC residents will get 50% off of lift tickets on a wide selection of slopes near and far, including Whistler Blackcomb, Big White Ski Resort, Apex Mountain Resort, Fernie Alpine Resort, and more. For a full list of participating ski resorts, visit CWSAA.org/marketing/bc-family-day.html
