Updated with information from a press release Feb. 10.
Monday, Feb. 17 is Family Day and the Town of Ponoka has a variety of family-friendly activities planned from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lions Centennial Park.
The cost of admission is a donation to the Ponoka Food Bank.
If necessary due to inclement weather, activities will move into the Ponoka arena complex.
“So far the weather for next Monday looks favourable for an outdoor event at this time of year, so we’re optimistic that all of the planned activities in the park will go ahead without any weather-related concerns,” said Mayor Rick Bonnett, in a news release.
Last year the hay rides and bonfire were cancelled due to frigid temperatures and the event was moved indoors at the Arena, he says.
“We think Mother Nature will be on our side this year and it should be an enjoyable event for all of the families that attend.”
The skating trail in Lions Centennial Park is open and people are welcome to come and skate all day.
Hot dogs and hot chocolate will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Kids can come get their faces painted from noon until 3 p.m. and there will be hay rides from 1 to 3 p.m.
If you start to get chilly you can warm your hands by the bonfire, which will be going from noon until 3 p.m.
There will also be free swimming at the Ponoka Aquaplex from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
The town doesn’t typically host fireworks on Family Day and none are planned for this year. The one-time exception was in 2017, for Canada’s 150 anniversary celebration, which the town received special grant funding for.
It usually sponsors fireworks for Canada Day and Ponoka Day in the Park in August. In 2019, it funded one night of fireworks at the Ponoka Stampede and for Almost Midnight Madness, in partnership with the county, in addition to the Stampede and Canada Day.
Sponsors for Family Day activities in Ponoka include the Ponoka Lions Club, the Ponoka Food Bank, the Ponoka Home Church, and the Ponoka County Regional Fire Service.