Several family-friendly activities will be taking place throughout the City of Brantford during the 2025 Family Day long weekend.
The festivities will kick off with the inaugural Winter Fun Fest downtown in Harmony Square on Sunday, February 16.
Residents of all ages are invited to get out and participate in a host of activities running from 12:00 to 8:00 p.m., including:
- A Free DJ skate party, presented by Grissin Bon Ltd.
- Carousel Rides
- Fire pits with s’mores
- Face painting
- Horse-drawn trolley rides through the downtown (two-dollars per person, from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m.) and,
- A fireworks display at 7:15 p.m.
For those looking to warm up in the chilly weather, Conestoga College will also be in attendance serving hot chocolate.
Over at Wilfrid Laurier University’s One Market building, the school will be celebrating its 25th anniversary in Brantford with a Purple and Gold Party from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m.
The event will feature even more free family-fun activities such as face painting, balloon animals, bouncy castles, giant Jenga and Connect 4, corn hole, mini-putt, entertainment and complimentary cupcakes while supplies last.
The university is asking that attendees enter through the doors at the corner of Dalhousie and Market Streets.
Jennifer Middleton, Brantford’s Special Events Supervisor, said that she’s looking forward to the big event.
“We have quite a bit going on and there’s really something for everybody, so we’re just thrilled to be able to offer an exciting day to the community,” she said. “We’ve been missing a real Family Day event since the pandemic, so I think it’ll be a nice opportunity for our residents to celebrate and stay local. Plus, it’s nice because everything wraps up at a reasonable time on Sunday, and that gives people the chance to enjoy some of the other activities on the holiday Monday before going back to school.”
As far as the Monday, February 17, 2025 festivities go, locals have three more events to look forward to on the holiday including:
- Public swim and skate at the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre
Swimming will be open to the public from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Regular swim rates and swim admission requirements do apply.
The public skate will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission per person is $4.45 for residents ages five to 54, or $4.10 for those over 55. Admission for children ages four and under is free.
Please note that for those with a Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre facility membership, skating and swimming is free, and those who have a pool membership can also swim for free.
- Bell Homestead National Historic Site Family Day Toonie Tours
Residents can now pre-book their family for a guided tour of Alexander Graham Bell’s home. Tours can be booked for between 9:00 a.m. and noon, as well as, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Admission is two-dollars per person, however children four and under are free.
To book your tour, call 519-756-6220, or email bellhomestead@brantford.ca
- Pickleball Tournament at Doug Snooks Eagle Place Community Centre
Hosted in partnership with Pickleball Brantford, the City is holding a family pickleball tournament where parents and grandparents will be teamed up to play alongside their child or grandchild.
The event runs from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and team registration is $20 per team. Categories and schedules will be based on skill levels.
Space for teams is limited, so be sure to register before Wednesday, February 12, 2025.
Councillor Gino Caputo, who first brought the resolution for seasonal festivals forward to Council back in 2023, said that overall, he’s looking forward to this year’s Winter Fun Fest.
“The City is excited to kick off the first event in the new Brantford Fun Fest series, a new initiative that I was very pleased to see Council support,” said Caputo. “As Brantford continues to grow, we’re proud to offer high quality amenities and experiences for our community to enjoy. We are also working on finalizing and announcing plans for a summer festival. I look forward to welcoming the community to these new events.”
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
