The Town of Petrolia is encouraging families to have fun in the community during the long weekend as several Family Day weekend activities are planned.
Free activities will be held at the Petrolia YMCA from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. Open gym sessions will also be available from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. for residents to play basketball or dodgeball. Attendees are reminded to bring indoor shoes.
The Petrolia Heritage Advisory Committee will showcase displays from local historians during its open house on Saturday at Victoria Hall from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.
On Sunday, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 216 will host its monthly fundraising breakfast from 9 a.m. until 11:30 p.m. Adults pay $12, it's $6 for kids between the ages of six and 10, and children under the age of six eat for free.
Free public skating will be available at Greenwood Recreation Centre from 1:50 p.m. until 2:50 p.m.
On Family Day Monday, New Life Assembly Church will host a free breakfast between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. in its gymnasium. A free screening of Inside Out 2 will also be shown at 8:30 a.m. in the Friendship Hall. The church is located at 421 Oozloffsky St.
More activities are scheduled throughout the day on Family Day at the YMCA. Two free swims will be held from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Bouncy castles and games, provided by the Lambton Central Petrolia Optimist Club, will be set up in the gymnasium from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. The optimist club will also host a low-cost lunch at the YMCA from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.
Free public skating will be available at Greenwood Recreation Centre from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.
The Petrolia Lions Hall will host free family-fun Bingo (sponsored by the Lions Club of Petrolia) from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m.
"We're really looking forward to seeing everyone come out and we're really thankful for all of our community partners and our sponsors who helped us put on these great events for the town," said Director of Parks, Recreation, and Facilities Julie Bullock.
With the recent snowfall, there should be plenty to work with for the annual snow sculpture contest, for those who haven't entered a submission yet.
Bullock said this year's theme is woodland animals.
"Your main product has to be snow but you can use other things to dress up your snow sculptures and just send those photos in to twagner@petrolia.ca," said Bullock. "We look forward to seeing all those photos of the snow sculptures."
The contest runs throughout the month of February but the deadline to submit a photo is on Monday at 4 p.m.
Families can participate by building their sculpture at any time throughout the weekend but photo submissions must be emailed by 4 p.m. on Monday.
Prizes will be awarded by the Lambton Central Petrolia Optimist Club.
Bullock said submissions vary each year and can range from 10 to 30 participants.
Usually, free movie screenings are offered at Victoria Hall during the Family Day long weekend. However, due to ceiling and auditorium repairs, screenings will be held sometime in March.