February is a month most of us look forward to after the holidays. The days get longer, the sun is stronger, and spring is just around the corner. Besides Valentine’s Day, most Canadians look forward to the first stat holiday of the new year – Family Day weekend!
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It can be so hard to agree on what to do, especially if your children vary greatly in age. I have compiled a list of winter activities you and your family will enjoy. Keep reading for all the best Family Day outdoor activities in Ontario.
When Is Family Day Weekend 2025?
Family Day occurs on the third Monday in February. This year, Monday, February 17th, is Family Day.
In Canada, Family Day is not a statutory holiday. However, it is in provinces that observe it, like Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and New Brunswick.
What’s the Point of a Family Day?
It’s a day off from work/school to spend quality time with your loved ones learning new skills, partaking in activities and socializing without interruption.
What’s There To Do During the Family Day Weekend?
Plenty. From visiting relatives, museums, and art galleries to seeing a show, enjoying outdoor winter activities, to even working on STEM projects at home. There’s even an awesome 105,000 sq ft indoor bike park in Markham that you can check out, or for a preview into spring, step inside the Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory. It’s smaller than the one in Niagara and not as congested.
The entire purpose of this weekend is to unplug and spend quality time with your loved ones!
At BushLife, we love the outdoors, and this is where our focus for the post will be. Being in Ontario, let’s look at what’s there to do.
Winter Sports
There are plenty of winter sports in Ontario to take advantage of. Some family favourites are fat biking, snow tubing, skiing, outdoor skating, snowmobiling, winter hikes, and ice fishing.
Ice Fishing
A sport where all ages can participate and learn a new skill set and bond is ice fishing. Ontario offers license-free fishing during the Family Day Weekend (February 15-17, 2025). Please note that conservation limits apply, as does the type of species you target.
Snow Tubing
An absolute favourite at any age is snow tubing. It is both exhilarating and tiring, especially if there are no lifts. Snow tubing can be done alone or as a group, depending on where you go. These are everlasting memories!! Here are a couple of the best snow tubing parks to try.
BARRIE
- SKI SNOW VALLEY in Barrie is known as one of Ontario’s best snow tubing places. They have 14 chutes, 3 lifts and a Kid Zone for children under 42″.
KITCHENER
- CHICOPEE TUBE PARK in Kitchener is another exciting spot. It features a thrilling tube slope of 900 feet and a lift.
Fat Biking – The Latest Outdoor Sporting Craze!
There are many winter biking places in Ontario. Fat biking can be done on any trail, but be careful if it’s a shared trail with snowmobilers. These are not safe trails, and riding them is not fun! Many resorts offer groomed trails for a set price, along with bike rentals. Two favourites are:
ALGONQUIN
- OLD RAILWAY BIKE TRAIL in Algonquin features a groomed 12 km trail from Pog Lake to Cache Lake. The best point of access for parking and heated bathrooms is from Mew Lake Campground. Don’t have a fat bike? Not to worry; you can rent one from the Algonquin Outfitters.
UXBRIDGE
- DURHAM REGIONAL FOREST in the Town of Uxbridge features 16 km of trails, some of which are groomed. The trails can get hilly but do suit all skill levels. Best of all, it’s free!
Outdoor Ice Skating
Almost every city or town has an indoor and/or outdoor skating rink for you to use. Some are free, and others charge a small fee. There are several unique ice skating spots in Ontario if you’re looking for a change of scenery. Here are just a few to get you started.
Remember that ice conditions change rapidly. Be diligent about checking the ice status before heading out, and make sure you bring safety ice picks with you if you’re skating on any frozen body of water.
HAMILTON
- COOTES PARADISE MARSH in Hamilton. The Princess Points offers stunning views of the harbour and Hamilton’s cliffs. It’s a perfect spot for an ice hockey game or learning how to skate. There is a fee for parking if you’re not a member of the RGB.
BRAMPTON
- GAGE PARK SKATING TRAIL in Brampton opens from 10 am to 10 pm daily and is free. Parking can be difficult, but once on-site, expect to find a food truck, skate rentals and, depending on the night, a DJ.
PEMBROKE
- LV FOUR SEASONS TRAIL in Pembroke features a transformed 1.5 km natural ice trail that cuts through the forest. The Thursday and Saturday night skates are extremely popular simply because the trail is lit with string lights and torches.
Resorts
For families looking for indoor and outdoor activities or can’t agree on what to do, resorts are a great compromise. They offer numerous activities for all ages and skills and provide you with ample opportunities for some much-needed R&R.
HUNTSVILLE
- DEER HURST RESORT in Huntsville is a fantastic place for families. There are plenty of activities for children of all ages. From indoor activities like swimming, an indoor pool (the water is a bit cold), escape maze, rock climbing, arcade, or take your adventures outside and try your hand at disc golf, snowmobiling, fat biking and more. My children loved this place!
NIAGARA FALLS
- GREAT WOLF LODGE in Niagara Falls has a massive indoor waterpark with waterslides, tubes, a lazy river and more. Access to the waterpark is limited to guests, which means no huge crowds or lines!
Top Winter Festivals in Ontario for Family Day 2025
Before the Family Day weekend, check your local city or town website for fun Family Day 2025 events. Many municipalities offer free swimming, skating, or indoor events.
BLUE MOUNTAINS
- Family Day long weekend at BLUE MOUNTAINS is jam-packed with family-friendly activities, from live music & entertainers to fireworks and more. They haven’t posted their itinerary yet, but we’ll update it here when they do. Blue Mountains is a ton of fun, but it can get busy, and parking can be hard to find. The best thing is to go early to beat the crowds!
OTTAWA
- WINTERLUDE in Ottawa will host an Igloo Fest, Snowflake Kingdom, Mini Powwow, and Sparks Street this year. Snowflake Kingdom was a family favourite the last time we went. At the time, it featured massive ice sculptures, snow carvings, snow tubing and an introduction to winter sports. This year’s itinerary has not been posted as of yet. There are many free family activities for kids to participate in.
HILSBURGH
- ELLIOT TREE FARM in Hilsburgh is hosting its annual Maple Syrup Experience. You’ll walk the sugar-shack trails to watch and learn how maple syrup is processed. Of course, there are many opportunities for tasting! The entry fee includes an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast with their award-winning pure maple syrup. Yum! Before you leave, don’t forget to stop at the Maple Syrup Museum.
GRAVENHURST
- GRAVENHURST WINTER CARNIVAL is holding an annual family day celebration with live music, demo derbies, polar dip, snow sculptures, snowmobile puddle jumps and unique games like their first-ever cardboard box races. On Friday, February 14th, celebrate Skokie’s birthday with free pizza, cake and prizes!
Best Family Day Outdoor Activities in Ontario
Especially important these days, spending time with family brings togetherness and happiness. These family day activities allow for stronger bonds and give insight into your family’s needs and loves.
There are so many unique and exhilarating outdoor activities for families to partake in during the Family Day weekend. Not everything needs to be costly to have a good time! Don’t forget to check locally for free indoor activities or events.
I hope this post helps you with planning your Family Day adventure. In the comments below, I would love to hear what some of your best family experiences were.
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Never heard of family day weekend . We do have this holiday here in the US. Its great that Canada values family time. I an sure many family will appreciate the fun activities guide you presented. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for your kind words! I totally get it โ Family Day weekend isnโt something everyone knows about. Itโs one of those lovely traditions that some parts of Canada observe, where families get together and just enjoy each other’s company. Itโs all about making those special memories!
Lots of fun things to do, even in the winter. Thank you for putting this together!!
There is no shortage of things to do, just need to be motivated to embrace the cold. Thanks for reading my post!!
Excited to visit again someday. Thanks for sharing!
I think it’s great that there’s a family day for everyone to get together, especially for families with busy schedules who can’t spend much time together. Fat biking sounds like an interesting and exciting activity. Thank you for sharing your list of outdoor activities and events taking place on that day.
Thanks so much for your comment and for checking out my post! Fat biking is seriously a blastโdefinitely a fun way to slow down and enjoy some quality time with the fam. Hope you get to try it out!
What a fun list, thank you! Would love to do snow tubing someday!
Awe, you’re quite welcome! Snow tubing is definitely a family fave, even for those who have never tried it! The rush of flying down the hill is such a blast! I really hope you get a chance to go soonโit’s a total must-do!