The B.C. government is going all out to provide free community events for the province's first-ever Family Day on Feb. 11, 2013

The Vancouver Art Gallery will be hosting a full day of activities starting at 11 a.m. for all ages, including face painting, a hockey shootout and local artists. Juno-winning band Said The Whale will be headlining a concert at 6 p.m.

Victoria will see a day of concerts in the Inner Harbour including Current Swell. Ageless rock band Trooper will also be there for a good time, not a long time.

People in Nanaimo can enjoy a free skate or free swim at the community centre and arena on Third Street from noon to 5 p.m.

Admission is free from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Prince George's Exploration Place.

Swimming is free at the Parkinson rec centre 10 am to 3 p.m. in Kelowna. There will also be "activity zones" for the family to enjoy.

The free activities in Kamloops come a day later on Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Tournament Capital Centre.

Check out more ideas for B.C. Family Day:

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  • Skiing

    More than a dozen <a href="http://www.cwsaa.org/marketing/bc-family-day.html">ski hills</a> are offering B.C. residents 50 per cent off lift tickets on <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/01/14/when-is-bc-family-day-2013_n_2435651.html">Family Day</a>, Feb. 11, 2013.

  • Richmond Celebrates Hockey Day

    <a href="http://richmondoval.ca/hockeyday/">Richmond Celebrates Hockey Day</a> at the Richmond Olympic Oval goes all day Feb. 9, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. The celebrity ball hockey game at 11 a.m. features hockey legend Guy Lafleur. At the Vancouver Canucks alumni game at 4 p.m., you'll see players from the last 40 years.

  • Vancouver Boat Show

    The <a href="http://www.vancouverboatshow.ca/">2013 Vancouver International Boat Show</a> runs from Feb. 7-11 at BC Place and Granville Island.

  • Fishing Derby

    The first annual <a href="http://www.ctrcanadaderby.com/">Kootenay Lake B.C. Family Day Fishing Derby</a> is on Feb. 9, 10, and 11, 2013. It's guaranteeing $10,000 in prizes including $5,000 for the longest rainbow trout and $2,000 for the longest Dolly Varden trout.

  • Said The Whale concert

    Hometown talent Said The Whale will be playing outside the Vancouver Art Gallery at 6 p.m. on Feb. 11.

  • Trooper concert

    Trooper’s coming for a good time, not a long time. They'll be playing Victoria's Inner Harbour on Feb. 11. Ra McGuire and Scott Brown of the band perform in Ottawa in 2007.

  • Shopping

    OK, not the most inventive Family Day activity but you could get a lot done at <a href="http://www.metropolisatmetrotown.com/">Metropolis at Metrotown</a>, B.C.'s biggest mall.

  • Shopping

    Bonus for kids and tired parents: the <a href="http://www.metropolisatmetrotown.com/events/ride-metropolis-express">Metropolis Express</a> is a steal for a suggested donation of $1 for a five-minute ride around the ground level.

  • Vancouver Aquarium

    The <a href="http://www.vanaqua.org/">Vancouver Aquarium</a> will be open extended hours on the Family Day weekend Feb. 9-11. Get close and personal with this little fella!

  • Chinese New Year celebrations

    Chinese New Year coincides with the Family Day long weekend. Take the family and check out some Chinese dancing or Cantonese opera at the <a href="http://www.aberdeencentre.com/en/activities.php?m=2&y=2013">Aberdeen Centre mall</a> in Richmond, B.C.

  • Get Together concert

    Get started early with the <a href="http://get-together.ca/index.php">Family Day Get Together concert</a> on Sunday Feb. 10 from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the Pacific Coliseum. The all-ages event features artists Above & Beyond, Hardwell, Morgan Page, Dyro and Dannic.