Archana Cini
Lookout Newspaper

  • Formation Fun Day returns to CFB Esquimalt on Sept 6, offering a free afternoon of food, entertainment, games, and family activities.
  • New attractions debut this year, including a toddler-friendly soft play zone.
  • The event fosters connection and belonging within the Defence Community by welcoming both newcomers and longtime residents.

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The countdown is officially on for one of the most anticipated Defence community events of the year: Formation Fun Day.

On Saturday, Sept 6 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., Formation Fun Day will take over the Naden Athletic Centre at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Esquimalt. The event will unite military members, veterans, base employees, and their families for a free fair-style afternoon of food, entertainment, games, activities, and more. This year’s event promises to be a little different — in the best way.

For Leah Pokocky, Personnel Support Programs (PSP) Special Event Coordinator, creating the 2025 Formation Fun Day experience meant listening first.

“When in the initial planning stages, it was really important to me to reach out to our local Defence community to see what was enjoyed in the past, what might have been missing, and what they would be sad to not see again,” she says. As a result, the 2025 event is set to include new activities for the youngest children, along with more opportunities for older attendees to build meaningful community memories. Families with toddlers will find plenty to love this year, with Tiny Toes Soft Play Rentals introducing a fenced, concierge-supervised play space designed for children five and under.

As Pokocky, a mother of an active two-year-old herself, puts it: “To find someone that safely engages your young child so you can actually finish your still-hot coffee… pure magic.”

Entertainment will include That Bubble Guy’s smoke-filled rainbow bubbles; Vancouver Island’s largest 100-foot inflatable obstacle course; along with photo opportunities with Ponies & Pipsqueaks Pony Sanctuary. Formation Fun Day 2025 will also include stories and sing-alongs from Enchanted Fables’ princess party professionals; performances by STAGES Dance and The Rising Circus; and live music by locals Mister Mojo and Stephanie Greaves. Vendors will also add to the fun, with the community’s Esquimalt Bake Shop, Saje Natural Wellness, Absolute Therapy, and more.

At its heart, Formation Fun Day is about people — it’s a reminder of the strength and resilience of the Defence community. For many, the annual event has become a chance to pause from the demands of service life and reconnect with neighbors, friends, veterans, and colleagues in a relaxed setting. For newcomers recently posted to Esquimalt, Formation Fun Day offers a doorway into the community, while for those who have been here for years, it’s an opportunity to celebrate their home.

“It can be challenging to find that sense of community or belonging when you move to a new place,” says Pokocky. “Formation Fun Day is about connection, whether that’s reconnecting with a shipmate, meeting someone new, or discovering what’s at the base and in Esquimalt.”

To Sarah Taylor, a local living in Esquimalt, Formation Fun Day means even more than a chance to reconnect. “My little one is turning two that weekend, and I’m so excited to start making memories with her at the event as she’s able to experience and remember more things,” she says.

Nikki Berti is also a Formation Fun Day regular, along with her 10- and 12-year-old children. “We love all the activities, especially the bouncy trampoline,” she says. “In general, it’s a great day out, and the fact that it’s free for the community is a big plus. We also like how we often bump into people we haven’t seen in a while!”

With food, fun, and community at heart, step right up on Sept 6 for a day of Defence community fun — on us.