Face painting is a favorite activity at the Tillsonburg Community Centre’s Family Day celebration, and it’s back this year. In this picture from last year, volunteer Kate Nesbitt paints Leia Radev’s face. (File Photo)
Robin Krafft, Post Contributor
The Town of Tillsonburg is hosting many free events for Family Day on Feb. 16 at Annandale House National Historic Site and the Tillsonburg Community Centre.
Observed by several provinces on the third Monday of February, Family Day highlights the significance of family connections and spending time with friends, relatives or chosen family.
Annandale House NHS, located at 30 Tillson Avenue, will have a “Wooly” Family Day and Open House featuring free activities for all ages from 10 am to 3 pm. Culture and Heritage Programs Coordinator Kathleen Watkin is excited about the event.
“Families are invited to enjoy a variety of historical family games, a hot chocolate station, and a sweet treat,” Watkin said. “Visitors will also have the opportunity to create their own pom-pom animals. Knowledgeable guides will be available throughout the house to answer questions, and guests can participate in our annual family scavenger hunt. In addition, the exhibition Threads of the Past: Wool Artifacts from Our Collection will be open for viewing.”
At the Tillsonburg Community Centre (45 Hardy Ave), various events are happening from 9 a. m. to 4 p. m., including inflatables, face painting, a mobile zoo with reptiles, balloon artists, and a magic show. A full schedule is available online along with signage at the event. Families are encouraged to use the east entrance off the large parking lot.
The rink is open for ice skating and families can also enjoy free swims from 10 – 11:30 a. m. and 1:30 – 3 p. m. Pre-registration is required for swimming due to capacity limits which can be done online. Visit the Town of Tillsonburg FB page and use the link; or call 519-688-9011 if you encounter any issues with registration.
The town has been celebrating Family Day for over ten years now, with about 1500 people enjoying last year’s events. Manager of Recreation and Program Services Julie Dawley explained that offering different types of activities allows for both quiet/creative moments as well as active/physical fun but emphasizes that spending time together is what matters most.
“Our goal is to create a welcoming, low-pressure atmosphere for families to feel included and really enjoy their time as a family,” Dawley said. “For recreation staff, we just love to see families laughing, moving and making memories; that’s what the heart of this event is.”
Thriver Company will be providing free dance classes: ages five and under from 9 – 10 a. m., and ages six and over from 10:30 -11 a. m. It’s an excellent chance for kids to try something new!
Oxford County Library has organized a story stroll, offering a break from the excitement, atop the rink (Memorial Spectator Seating). Katelyn Bennett, Literacy Program Specialist at the Tilsonburg branch, hopes to keep the story under wraps, but mentioned it ties into this year’s Family Literacy Day theme: Make Family Time Meal Time. The story stroll features enlarged panels displaying sections of a story along with actions families can do as they follow arrows through it.
- Following recipes together can help build early literacy skills while having fun,” Bennett said. “On our website (OCL. net) we’ve got booklists if families want more cooking ideas. We’ll also provide flyers at the event with additional links and resources.” Recreation staff often volunteer alongside their families during this event; Dawley estimated she painted around 250 little faces last year. Volunteers are welcome at both locations-the community centre and Annandale House-so call if you’re interested in helping out. While volunteers play an important role, Dawley noted that none of this would happen without generous sponsors. “Without our sponsors’ support, we couldn’t do it,” Dawley said. “Every smile we see means everything thanks to these people.” “These simple moments in life mean so much,” Dawley said. “You get time to slow down and truly appreciate your family!” Source link
