Family Day fun scheduled all over Medicine Hat

Warm temperatures and family-friendly activities are on tap throughout Medicine Hat on the Family Day holiday Monday.

Police Point Park, the YMCA and Family Leisure Centre all have annual celebrations and activities planned, while Environment Canada predicts unseasonably warm temperatures will continue into next week.

At Police Point, the Nature Centre’s annual Kiwanis Family Day program begins at 11 a.m. with hot-dog roasting and free cocao and cider.

Weather permitting, free snowshoe and cross-country ski rentals will be available.

Craft activities include bird feeder construction and decoration. Informational programming includes story walks on trails and an inside display exploring “wetland wonders.”

Activities continue until 4 p.m.

The YMCA of Medicine Hat is encouraging families to disconnect from cellphones and other technology to enjoy quality family time. Both locations are open Monday, with the downtown location opening from noon until 4 p.m. as a fundraiser for its Strong Kids campaign, which helps subsidize membership and admission costs.

Patrons paying $4 individually, or $10 per family, will have full access to the pool and climbing wall. Other activities, plus a book and bake sale, will also benefit the program.

The Family Leisure Centre will stage a Family Day Fiesta on Monday from noon to 5 p.m. with all-day swimming, free skating, craft activities to create maraccas and sombreros, prize-games, and Tot Time. Admission is $2.

Also featured along with assigned gym times are dodgeball, basketball, kickball and floor hockey, as well as Zumba demonstrations.

A bouncy castle course will be set up in the new fieldhouse.

The February long weekend is also a free-fishing weekend in Alberta, meaning no licence is required according to Fish and Wildlife officials, though Medicine Hat Fire Services is warning against venturing out on frozen bodies of water.

Warm temperatures have left much of the ice in the area unstable and dangerous to people and pets.

Weather-wise, possible rain and daily high temperatures of 7 C and 9 C are predicted for Saturday and Sunday, changing to mixed sun and cloud on Monday with a forecast high or 11 C.

That continues Tuesday, with possible snow that evening and more seasonable temperatures around freezing point further on in the week.