Have some fun this Family Day long weekend! Participate in outdoor activities, enjoy activities at your local recreation centre, or celebrate B.C.’s diverse arts, culture and heritage. The BC government has provided funding to support more than 200 free activities in communities across BC.

“This year, more than ever, B.C. Family Day serves as a reminder of the importance of family and of safely spending time with those you love. As we all continue to do our part to bend the curve against COVID-19, our government is proud to support safe, free and affordable activities for families to enjoy in every corner of our province. As a gentle reminder this Family Day long weekend, stay local and spread love, not COVID-19.”

– Melanie Mark, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport

Whatever your interest, there’s something for everyone! Here are a few safe, free activities for your family to enjoy together:

A young girl touches an interactive display at the museum

Take a Virtual Visit to the Royal BC Museum

The Royal BC Museum is hosting a full day of digital programs to keep the whole family entertained. Join the Zoom webinars or catch the presentations on Facebook Live.

The morning starts with a behind-the-scenes look at their highly anticipated exhibition Orcas: Our Shared Future. Next up is an interactive art session: Animal Portraits for Kids. Learn about the extraordinary diversity of creatives in British Columbia and travel back in time to draw a portrait of the Woolly Mammoth. Just in time for lunch, follow along with Sabrina Currie (writer and creator of West Coast Kitchen Garden Blog) as she makes a borscht recipe inspired by her grandma. Then it’s off to the woods for A Walk in the Park: a virtual visit to two BC rainforests.

Join for just one session or spend the whole day at the museum! Learn more and register here.

Family Day Weekend Virtual Dance Party

Dance the Day Away

Get the family together and show off your moves during these virtual dance events:

Shake it out with the Port Moody Museum during their virtual dance party! Try Zumba at 10am, Hip Hop at 10:30am, or move along with your little ones during Kids Dance Fun at 11:15am.

Join the dance instructors from New Westminster’s community centres for some music and movement. Try a jazz dance class with Kathleen Carlsen, Zumba with Janice Stevens, or rock out at a virtual dance party with Rock ‘n’ Beau!

Family Fun on the Fraser

Enjoy Family Fun on the Fraser

The Fraser River Discover Centre in New Westminster is hosting a variety of free, fun, family-friendly crafts, games, and activities to celebrate the BC Family Day long weekend. Explore their exhibit galleries, get a look at an underwater world using DIY waterscopes, and learn more about the local ecosystem.

Admission is free but pre-registration is required and donations are appreciated. Learn more and register here.

Black and white striped paper cutouts of various shapes

Try a New Art Project

Create your own optical illusion during the Vancouver Art Gallery’s workshop “Cut, Colour, Compose: Op Art for Families.” Op Art, or optical art, is a kind of abstract art which uses lines, shapes, and colours to create illusions that play tricks on our eyes.

Sessions take place on February 15 at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm. Learn more and register here.

Lunar New Year at the Chinese Canadian Museum

Celebrate Lunar New Year

You can also celebrate Lunar New Year this weekend with the Chinese Canadian Museum. Lunar New Year, or Chinese New Year, falls on Friday, February 12 this year—the Year of the Ox. From Friday to Sunday, enjoy free admission to the Chinese Canadian Museum. Explore their exhibition A Seat at the Table, Chinese Immigration and British Columbia and participate in culture activities like story sharing stations and writing Chinese couplets with help from a master calligrapher.

Admission to the exhibition is free, but visitors are encouraged to reserve tickets in advance as there is a capacity limit due to pandemic safety regulations. Reserve your ticket here.

A woman wearing a mask holds a small child at a dinosaur exhibition

Where to Find Even More Family Day Fun

BC’s museums, galleries, cultural centres, and historical places are wonderful spaces for families. Visit the BC Museums Association website and check out this list of free Family Day activities.

You can also find more events in your local community on this list of events in each city from the BC Recreation and Parks Association.