There is nothing like a horse-drawn sleigh ride to help get you through the dog days of winter.
The lineups were long at Sunnybrook Farm Museum for Family Snow Day as families waited for their chance to take a two-horsepower spin.
“We are new to Red Deer and we heard that this would be a good place to bring Carter on Family Day,” said Bryan Bazinet, who came with his not-yet-one-year-old son Carter, his wife Jamie-Leigh and mother-in-law Darlene Thompson.
“This particular spot, it seems like it’s the glue of the community. That’s what brought us here,” he said as he and Carter checked out the tractors and enjoyed watching the Percheron-drawn sleigh rides.
“We are enjoying it so far. The horses are beautiful, majestic, strong animals.”
Thompson was also happy to see so many come out to spend a day with their families.
“I think it’s absolutely wonderful for families to get out together,” she said.
“It’s a beautiful day. The cookies — amazing. And the hot chocolate — the ladies who are volunteering are absolutely wonderful.”
Thompson can now count herself an all-season fan of Sunnybrook Farm Museum.
“In the summer I came for my first time for the tractor pulling,” she said.
Originally from Montreal, she admits she wasn’t sure whether tractor pulling would be her thing.
“I just said to my husband, ‘Let’s go,’ she recalled.
“It was a Saturday and I loved it. I loved every minute of it. It was great. I was amazed at myself,” she said with a laugh.
After their circuit around the farmyard, many sleigh riders headed indoors for cookies and hot chocolate. Others checked out the museum’s impressive collection of farm machinery and historic buildings.
Family Snow Day was among a handful of activities that took place in the city. Kerry Wood Nature Centre organized Family Day Snowshoe Quest. Families could snowshoe a one-km trail with games and an obstacle course for a small donation.
Parkland Mall hosted a “FUNderful Family Day Celebration”. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., families could enter in a scavenger hunt that included games, activities and riddles for a chance to win a number of prizes.
At Cronquist House, at Bower Ponds, families could enjoy chili, desserts and hot chocolate from noon to 5 p.m.
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