Winter FunDays
Popular Family Event Returns to Marina Park This Month
Story by Kris Ketonen, Photos by Chad Kirvan
Showshoeing, skating, arts and crafts—people of all ages will find something to love at this year’s Winter FunDays. The popular (and free) city-run event returns to Marina Park this winter, running from 2 to 4 pm on Sundays from January 4 until March 15.
“Each week we have indoor and outdoor programming,” says Brayden Cassidy, the city’s community program developer. “The indoor programming will be taking place at the Baggage Building Arts Centre, and it will feature a new creative project led by CAHEP, which is Community Arts and Heritage Education Project,” Cassidy says. “There will also be hot chocolate indoors, so after you do the outdoor program, you can go warm up with some arts and crafts and hot chocolate.”
Each Sunday will also include a different outdoor activity. “We have things ranging from snowshoeing and dog sledding to snow-ga, which is snow yoga,” Cassidy says. “We have winter science at Science North. We have nature exhibits with the Boreal Museum. [...] We also have a partnership with the Rainbow Collective, which is really cool. It'll take place on March 1—they'll be doing a Pride skate, and we'll have some Pride crafts indoors.” Other events being planned include fat biking, and the Marina Park skating rink will also be open.
Cassidy says Winter FunDays give people a chance to get out and do something during what can be a pretty isolating time of year. “It gives everyone an opportunity to participate in something different and free and fun, that is both indoors and outdoors,” he says “So if you really don’t like being cold outside, you can still go inside and connect with your community and take part in something free.”
The schedule for all of this year’s Winter FunDays is still being worked out, but updates will be posted at thunderbay.ca/winterfundays, and on the City of Thunder Bay Culture and Events page on Facebook.
