This year, Family Day is Monday, February 15th. For many of us in Mississauga, it’ll be a holiday, but that could mean different things to different people. That’s why we’ve put together a two-part list of Family Day activities that’s sure to include something for everyone.

PART 1: Three things to do for Family Day, if you have an actual family

You sleep in luxuriously late - perhaps even until 7:30AM. You take your time and enjoy your coffee; you even get to drink more than half of it before your tiny humans descend, groggy but already impatient, from their second floor bedrooms.
“I’m bored.”
“When are we leaving?”
“You promised we would do something fun today!”

We’re going to help you fulfill that promise.

1. Kids Fest Toronto
9am-6pm

Don’t be fooled by the word “Toronto” - this is actually at the International Centre in Mississauga. We know you don’t have a lot of time to spend endlessly researching your options, so here are a few of the highlights.
Pony rides. A petting zoo. More than thirty inflatable rides. Minions from Despicable Me. 
Adults $8, kids $25, or a family pass (2 kids, 2 adults, 2 plush carnival prizes) for $80. 
Is there a bouncy castle? You bet your behind there’s a bouncy castle.

2. Family Day Skate at Celebration Square
12pm-4pm

Buskers, face painting, skating, and sweet, sweet BeaverTails all await you at Celebration Square. You’ll be having so much fun, you’ll forget all about the fact that it’s -10 and you’re outdoors.

3. Even more skating (and swimming) at local community centres

Maybe you’d like to get your skate on, but avoid the crowds at Celebration Square. Great news - you can head to your local community centre for some free skating. If skating’s not your thing, take advantage of free swim! Click here for a list of participating centres and their schedules.

PART 2: Four things to do for Family Day, sans Family

We know this weekend sounds pretty packed - the NBA All-Star Game, Valentine’s Day, a two-hour special celebrating 20 seasons of ABC’s “The Bachelor” - and come Monday, you’re going to be pretty exhausted. We understand. There’s no “I” in “team,” but there’s definitely one in “Family Day.” Other people might have to get up at sunrise, bundle their tiny spawn in hundreds of layers, then go out into that harsh, crowded world of non-stop fun-filled activity. You don’t have that kind of responsibility. Here’s what you can do.

1. Put off taking the trash out

Waste collection is one day later due to the holiday. That means for once, you actually have a legitimate excuse when your significant other/parent/housemate tells you to wheel the carts out to the curb. “I’d love to, honey, but the government told me to wait.”

2. Sleep in

You (probably) don’t have to go to work. You don’t have to go to school. Most places are closed. You have no earthly reason to set an alarm. This is the perfect opportunity to let your body recover from the stresses of the previous week, or from that late Sunday night you had because you knew Monday would be a day off.

3. Go to the mall

Okay, you’ve slept in until about 11AM. Now you’re bored. Guess what actually is open today, from 11AM to 6PM? That’s right - Square One. While all the parents and children are out doing actual things (see above), you’ve got the mall all to yourself.

4. Watch the Grammy Awards

What better time than a statutory holiday to veg out in front of the TV and quietly judge celebrities for their bizarre speeches and red carpet antics? Also, even though Adele isn't nominated - her smash hit album, 25, was released after the September 30th cutoff - she'll still be performing, and it's going to be fantastic.  The Grammy Awards are on at 8PM on Monday, February 15th ET on CityTV and CBS. For all you cord cutters out there, rumour has it that you might even be able to stream the show live from the CityTV website.