No Break from Fun this March in St. Catharines

A photo of swimming, skating, blue blocks and museum history of cooking

Looking for some March Break fun right here in St. Catharines? Enjoy City swimming, skating, recreational programming, and museum activities from March 10 to 14.

All program rules, restrictions and requirements are listed at stcatharines.ca/ActiveSTC. Regular program fees apply and are available online.

Swimming

Leisure swims and aquatic fitness activities will be available throughout the week at the St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre.

Regular admission and supervision requirements for children will be in effect, and pre-registration is required. Residents can make reservations starting at 9 a.m. two days before their scheduled swim. Non-residents can book at 9 a.m. the day before their planned swim.

Pay-as-you-go swimming lessons will be offered from March 4 to 30, 2025, for children aged three to 12 years. Lessons are $6.03 per session, per person, with three skill levels to choose from; Just Getting Started, Learn to Swim, and Skill Development.

More details, including rates and supervision requirements, are available at stcatharines.ca/SwimmingRequirements.

Skating

Public skating will be available at City arenas during March Break:

Bill Burgoyne Arena

March 8: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
March 11: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
March 12: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Seymour-Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre

March 10: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
March 11: 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
March 12: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.
March 13: 12:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.

Pre-registration is highly recommended. Wristbands will be issued upon arrival at participants’ reserved time and must be worn on the ice. No equipment rentals are available, and the arena does not provide skating aids. Children 12 and younger must be supervised by an adult during public skating.

Free family fun at Port Weller Community Centre

Some special family-friendly programming will take place during the week at Port Weller Community Centre. No-cost activities include:

Big Blue Blocks and Blue Track – March 10, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. – Kids can build and play with Big Blue Blocks and race their own Hot Wheels-style cars on the new Blue Track. Parents must stay on-site to supervise their children.
Family Gym – March 14, 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Various balls and sports equipment will be available for active play in the gym. Parents must supervise their children.
Family Trivia – March 13, 2:30 p.m. – A friendly competition with small prizes. Parents must reserve a spot for each family member attending.

St. John Ambulance Babysitting Course

Future babysitters can take the course on March 15 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre. The course is for youth aged 11 to 15 years and costs $75.

Pre-registration is required at stcatharines.ca/BabysittingCourse.

St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre

The St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during March Break, offering drop-in programming by donation.

This year’s theme is The History of Food, best suited for children aged six to 12, accompanied by an adult.

The Great Canadian Food Lab – March 10 to 14, 10 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. – Hands-on food-based experiments exploring scientific discoveries that changed how we eat.
Maple Syrup and More! – March 10 to 14, 11 a.m. to noon – Learn how to tap a tree, collect sap, and explore different types of sugar.
March Break Adventure Book – March 10 to 14, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – A self-guided activity booklet available in the museum lobby.

Bring a packed lunch and enjoy it at the museum. No registration required. For more information, visit stcatharines.ca/MuseumMarchBreak.

Special event: World Water Day display

In celebration of World Water Day, the City’s Environmental Services team will have an interactive display set up in the lobby of the St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre on March 13 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Visitors can take part in trivia games for a chance to win prizes. The team will also be demonstrating stormwater pollution using the Enviroscape model, providing an engaging and educational look at how water moves through the environment and how pollution can impact local waterways.