ABERFOYLE – The Optimist Club of Puslinch has organized another Family Day Winter Classic for Feb. 21 from 1 to 4pm at the Optimist Rink and outside the Puslinch Community Centre here.
The day features human bowling, giant slingshots and a host of other kid-friendly activities.
Wait, what? Human bowling?
“We put large water jugs on the ice as bowling pins. The kids sit on a saucer-type sled wearing a helmet, and we push them toward the pins,” explained Ken Williams, one of the Optimist organizers.
“The bottles go flying everywhere and the kids just love it.”
And the giant slingshot?
The Optimists have rigged a slingshot using two fence posts as anchors. Kids make snowballs, pack them in a cup in the slingshot mechanism and fire them off at a target.
“There are no prizes,” Williams said. “The person who laughs the most is the winner.”
The Puslinch Optimists have organized a Family Day event for some 10 years and decided not to run it last year because of all the pandemic restrictions.
Normally the event would spill inside the community centre as well, with entertainment and warming centres.
“So this is a cut-down version but everything is free and for the kids,” Williams said.
“We’re so pleased to be able to do something for the community at last.”
Human bowling takes place from 1 to 2pm at the rink, followed by a family skate from 2 to 4pm.
In the park there are several events running concurrently from 1 to 3pm, including:
- a bonfire and marshmallow roast;
- archery;
- giant slingshot;
- horse-drawn sleigh rides;
- Bombardier school bus rides;
- fire department safety demo; and
- snowshoeing.
There’s also a nature walk from 1 to 3pm on the Wayne Stokley Trail, free hotdogs and hot chocolate for the kids, and the fun wraps up with a scavenger hunt at 3:34pm.
“Bring your masks and skates and come on down,” Williams said.
“I think it’s time we all had some fun.”
