Kash Evans, 3, zips down a slide at the Family Leisure Centre during Monday's Family Day activities. Hundreds of Hatters lined up for free skating, swimming, and activities during the annual event.--NEWS PHOTO EMMA BENNETT

COLLIN GALLANT
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Hatters displayed an early onset of spring fever on holiday Monday, packing into the Family Leisure Centre and blanketing Police Point Park, as well as parks and playgrounds around the city, to celebrate Alberta Family Day in warm weather.
Hatters Ron and Lena Furgala hosted their daughter's family for the long weekend and decided to cap off the visit with a family skate in the afternoon.
"It's so nice to have them here and we decided to come down for a skate on their way out of town," said Ron Furgala, who brought grandchildren Jakob, 9, and Alexa, 6, to the Family Leisure Centre.
"It would have been nice to do it outside but there's no snow around," mused Lena Furgala.
At the Leisure centres, families took part in free swimming and skating, a bouncy castle for the kids, and watched clowns make balloon animals as well as visited booths set up by McMan Family and Youth services, the Food Connection and Alberta Health Services — the main sponsors of the event, along with the City of Medicine Hat.
"McMan supports families and this is basically a free and fun event for families to come out and enjoy," said Leah Barr, a program supervisor with McMan Parent Link Centre.
The afternoon also featured draws for a mountain bike, family swim passes and food baskets.
Barr said that past events have brought in more than 2,000 participants but that number might drop off considering temperatures were brisk, but well above freezing.
"You couldn't have asked for better weather in February," she said.
The lack of snow forced a change of plans at Police Point Park Interpretive Centre, where the usual free rentals of snow shoes and cross-country on the February long weekend gave way to other activities.
Still, cars overflowed the parking lot as Hatters streamed in to partake in cocoa and hot dogs provided by the Kiwanis Clubs in Medicine Hat and other activities aided by park staff and the volunteer efforts of the Katimavik members currently stationed in the city.
Some youngsters went on suggested orienteering missions, complete with prizes at the end. Many others simply strolled around and enjoyed the scenery.
Among them was Sandra Hanson, who along with husband Joe and daughter Chelsea took their new golden retriever Tucker for an extended walk in the sunshine.
"We decided to take the dog for a bigger walk than usual," said Hanson. "We hadn't been down for a while and thought it would be a good chance to get out."
Marty Drut, an interpreter with the park, said that Family Day usually brings in a big crowd, and even without the snow, Hatters showed up in droves.
"It's been a pretty busy day," said Drut, standing beside busy craft stations where children created popsicle stick teepees decorated with symbols of their own families.
Elsewhere in the centre, kids built bird and bat houses.
"We usually just do birdhouses," said Drut. "But this is the international year of the bat, and we'll be doing more bat activities throughout the year."
Along with events at the Family Leisure Centre and Police Point, both YMCA locations in the city provided family-oriented activities throughout the day.