Something for everyone at the Family Fun Day (with 24 photos)

People gather at the curb of Memorial Drive to watch the Family Fun Day parade.

Labour Day is for all working people, unionized or not, says Terry O'Connor, President of the North Bay Labour Council.

The labour council helped celebrate the last long weekend of the summer with a Free Family Fun Day at North Bay’s waterfront. The event featured a parade, live music, free hot dogs and hamburgers, and free rides on the Heritage Railway and carousels.

“There’s a free ticket for every child who wants to ride on the railway or carousel,” O’Connor said.

“The Family Fun Day is something the whole community can participate in.”

This Labour Day is the second year for the Family Fun Day. O’Connor explained he is pleased with the turnout of the event.

“Last year we gave out 1500 hamburgers and hotdogs, and I imagine this year we will surpass that number,” he said.

The Family Fun Day also featured a variety of music, with bands playing the Kiwanis band shell and the picnic shelter.

“There are rock bands for the younger people, I’m strictly a country music fan, like a lot of my generation,” O’Connor said.

“But for those who like to rock, there’s music for them too.”

While the Family Fun Day collected food for the North Bay Food Bank, it also held a free draw, with dozens of prizes donated by local merchants. 2000 free ballots were available with prize draws every 20 minutes throughout the afternoon.

“There must have been at least 50 businesses that have made donations for the event,” O’Connor said.

O’Connor said the Family Fun Day is a rebirth of a similar event the Labour Council used to hold which conked out ten years ago. The labour council plans on continuing with the Family Fun Day, and even have to start their planning early for next year.

“We started planning in March, but the committee says they will have to start in February next year.”