25+ Things to Do with the Kids in Greater Moncton this Weekend
There’s a shift in the weather; fall is quickly wrapping up its early stages and it’s evident in the weekend’s events that Halloween is close at hand!
For a full list of Halloween events, be sure to check Pickle Planet’s Guide to Halloween in the GMA. You can find it here. (We’re including any Halloween events happening this weekend in this round up, but you might want to start planning ahead for next weekend, too!)
As always, please be sure to double-click through to the source links for up-to-date information before heading out to an event or activity; we can’t always update when weather or circumstance changes plans. We create these round ups based on information available early in the week. The list is in chronological order, but some events happen over multiple days. We only list them on the first day they happen, so be sure to read through!
STARTING FRIDAY
If you’re interested in a spooky outing, consider a flashlight tour of the corn maze at the Green Pig Market in Salisbury. You can try it out Friday and Saturday nights; that’s the last of the flashlight tours scheduled this season. The market is also a fantastic place to visit during the day for the regular maze and the smaller mazes – which can be a great daytime or after-school excursion if you’re looking to beat the crowds! (PS: Did you know they have a pumpkin blaster? SO fun!)
Boyle Family Farm is also hosting a haunted corn maze this weekend; a kid-friendly version from 10am until 5pm, and an ‘adult fright night’ version from 6-9pm. Admission is $10.
It’s the last weekend to visit the apple orchard at Belliveau Orchard in Memramcook, and the final weekend to head to the pumpkin patch at Les Petits Fruits de Pré-d’en-Haut; check their Facebook page for updates.
Friday night the Town of Riverview is hosting a free family movie in the community hall. Enjoy Toy Story 4 on the big screen!
If you’re looking to restock the book shelves before Christmas, be sure to make a visit to the annual Bookstravagnza fundraiser for Laubach Literacy New Brunswick. Browse more than 20,000 used books, with children’s books just 50 cents a piece and paperbacks for $1!
STARTING SATURDAY
Looking for an awesome non-Halloween event?! Be sure to make time for the Tech Trek this Saturday morning! Our family LOVED this event last year; lots of hands-on and interactive displays that showcase some of the incredible science & technology organizations and jobs right here in our community. Check out our interview with one of the organizers, Josiah from Brilliant Labs. Pickle Planet is honoured to be a sponsor of this year’s event.
Trinity United Church in Riverview is holding a fun Fall Fair on Saturday. Everyone is welcome to enjoy carnival games, a petting zoo, BBQ, and more, starting at 10am.
Another non-Halloween event happening this weekend is the annual Wellness Expo, with lots of great presenters and workshops, including one with clutter coach Kim Sneath, who you might remember from her visit to our home in the winter!
The Riverview Knights of Columbus are holding a fundraising pancake breakfast at the Dan Bohan Centre in Riverview on Saturday morning. Money raised will support Coats for Kids. Stop by between 8am and 10:30am for a great meal, with music provided by the Sussex Avenue Fiddlers and Friends! (Children six and under can eat free; older children $3.50, adult $7.)
The Mama Movement, a new exercise studio focused on women trying to conceive, pregnant and postpartum, is holding a momsgiving brunch on Saturday morning. Check the Facebook event for details on what’s planned!
The Moncton Library has lots going on this weekend (as it does most weekends!), including an Acadian toy session, Robotics with Snapology, and Brazilian storytime on Saturday, Science Sunday, and more.
Close to the Heart has lots of great workshops happening at the store; this weekend it’s an introduction to solid food and baby led weaning with Dr. Sarah Hardy Walsh, NB, IBCLC.
The Peter Mckee Food Bank is holding a Junior Chefs program that starts this Saturday. Each session is $5, for ages eight to 12. Contact Adam at 506-866-0244 or adam.obrien@foodepot.ca to register.
One of the best-loved Moncton Halloween events begins this weekend: Boo at the Zoo! This is a fantastic fundraiser with various Halloween displays geared to different age groups scattered around the grounds, as well as bouncy castles, pony rides and tattoos (extra fee), and more. Admission for a family of four is $40; there are various rates for children, seniors, and adults. (Free for those three and under.)
This is the second and final weekend for The Clayspace’s Jack-o-Lantern painting event. Check out their Facebook page for details on booking your spot Saturday to paint a clay pumpkin (these aren’t ordinary pumpkins, but true works of art you can personalize!) that will be ready for pickup next weekend. The cost is $40 plus tax per pumpkin; family discounts available.
Another Halloween tradition is the Keillor House Museum’s Haunted House! You can make your way through all three floors of the historic home – but watch out for the ghouls & ghosts. The Haunted House is open this Friday and Saturday, as well as next weekend. We don’t recommend taking young children to this, but it could be a fun outing with the teens in your life!
The Village of Saint-Antoine is hosting a community event on Saturday with Art Richard, who always puts on a fantastic singing performance for the kiddos!
Grey Cove Veterinary Health Centre’s 3rd annual Haunted Hospital Experience takes place Saturday with a kid-friendly afternoon version from 2-4pm (lasts about 15 minutes, not counting any lineup) and scarier fare from 6-9pm. Admission is by donation at the Greater Moncton SPCA; please note, this is not a pet-friendly event.
Bass Pro Shops’ Great Pumpkin Celebration kicks off Saturday. You can grab a photo with the Peanut Gang and enjoy some crafts and games. Check their site for full details!
Another great non-Halloween activity this weekend is the opening of a new exhibit at Resurgo Place (which is always a great family outing!). Come Saturday to see an exhibition all about Hockey, including a visit Saturday from Wild Willie and a chance to win tickets to a Wildcats game if you wear your jersey! The exhibit includes a shootout challenge, interactive stick handling skills display, a chance to record play-by-play, and more. (The exhibit runs until January; the special opening is 10am-noon on Saturday; regular admission fees apply.)
The Wildcats host the Titan Saturday night at the Avenir Centre.
STARTING SUNDAY
The Walk to Remember, an event to recognize pregnancy and infant loss awareness month, takes place Sunday afternoon at the Moncton Hospital. Gathering begins at 1pm in the Atrium near the clinics; everyone is welcome for this free event. Donations will be accepted to support the Maternal Fetal Care Unit, a place near & dear to our hearts here at Pickle Planet HQ.
Sunday is the annual Wishmaker Walk for the Children’s Wish Foundation. The event is happening at the Kay Arena; there will be costumed characters walking, too!
La Bikery hosts its annual Tweed Ride on Sunday. Don your last-century look and enjoy a relaxed ride around town. There will be a picnic gathering at Riverfront Park to end the event!
If you’re heading to Fredericton this weekend, or have mom friends in the city, be sure to check out The Mom Boss Marketplace happening on Sunday afternoon. Lots of fantastic family-focused vendors in one spot!
Did you see? We posted our Guide to Indoor Skating in the GMA – so many free and inexpensive opportunities to hit the ice with the whole family! As long as tournaments aren’t taking over the rinks, the City of Moncton offers free skating on Fridays both the Superior Propane Centre (10-11am) and the Kay Arena (10:15-11:15 & 3:30-4:30), Dieppe offers free skating Fridays at the Centennial Arena (9:45-10:45am for preschoolers with sticks, 3-4:30pm) and Riverview welcomes skaters 12 and under for free from 4-5:15pm on Fridays. You can also skate free on Sundays at Centennial Arena (1-2pm), AJL Centre (2-3pm), Petitcodiac (1-2:30pm – free for six and under). For more options for paid skating times throughout the week and the weekend, check out our guide!
Free Indoor & Outdoor Ice Skating in the Greater Moncton Area
We hope you have a wonderful weekend, whether you stay close to home or take in lots of these great events. Mama Pickle is on the road again this weekend, heading to a conference of other East Coast bloggers, influencers, podcasters, vloggers, and more – there’s sure to be some great behind-the-scenes sharing happening over on our Instagram account. Why not follow along! Jenna’s giving one of the conference presentations on Saturday afternoon, all about how Pickle Planet helped her find her identity after becoming a New Brunswick mother of three.
You can also find more ideas on family fun in our MEGA GUIDE of all the local attractions, including links to public swimming sessions, bowling, local arcades, and much more!
