There will be no shortage of activities this long weekend in Petrolia as the town prepares to host its annual Family Fun Days.
Director of Marketing, Arts, and Communication Laurissa Ellsworth said most of the activities will be free.
"There are a couple that have a low cost but otherwise, they are sponsored by some great businesses in and around Petrolia," she said. "It's pretty amazing to be able to bring families out and have them keep their wallets in their pockets. We really appreciate that, when we can do it."
The festivities will kick off on Friday with a free showing of Wicked: For Good at Victoria Hall at 7 p.m.
The Victoria Playhouse Petrolia Foundation sponsored movies on Saturday and Sunday as well. A screening of The Tigger Movie will start at 1 p.m. on Saturday, and Karate Kid: Legends will be shown at 7 p.m. on Sunday. Children under 13 are asked to have an adult with them.
The Petrolia YMCA will host an open gym from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday.
Ellsworth said for the first time, the town opted to include a YukYuks show, which will feature comedians Ian Sirota, Fiona O'Brien, and Patrick Haye.
She said the three comics often joke about relationships and parenting.
"We thought for Family Day and Valentine's Day, it might be a perfect fit," she said.
Tickets for the Saturday night show at Victoria Hall are $20 (plus tax). As of Thursday, tickets were still available through the Victoria Hall Box Office.
On Sunday, the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 216, will host its monthly family fundraising breakfast from 9 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. The cost for adults is $13, $6 for kids aged six to 10, and children under the age of six can eat for free.
Free public skating will be offered at Greenwood Recreation Centre from 1:50 p.m. to 2:50 p.m. on Sunday, and from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and between 1 p.m. and 2:50 p.m. on Monday.
Also on Monday, New Life Assembly Church, at 421 Oozloffsky St., will host a free Family Day breakfast from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. The church will also provide a free screening of Dog Man at 8:30 a.m.
The Petrolia YMCA will offer free facility access from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. and five free swims between 10 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. Families are encouraged to call ahead to book space at (519) 882-2232.
The Lambton Central Petrolia Optimist Club will have bouncy castles and games set up in the YMCA gymnasium from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. A low-cost family BBQ will also be available at the YMCA from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.
The Petrolia Lions Hall will host free family bingo from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Lastly, this winter has proven to be useful for the annual snow sculpture contest.
"Fortunately, we've actually had snow for this year," said Ellsworth.
The contest began in January and will continue until February 16 at 4 p.m.
This year's theme is Winter Olympics.
While the main "ingredient" must be snow, participants can incorporate paint and props into their snow sculptures.
Ellsworth said they've seen a steady flow of sculpture submissions.
"Some of them so far have been pretty crafty. It's pretty amazing what you can do when you give a fairly broad subject, and then the snow actually appears so that they can make use of it."
Prizes are sponsored by the Lambton Central Petrolia Optimist Club. Submissions (including a photo of the sculpture) can be emailed to twagner@petrolia.ca by the Family Day deadline.
