What to do with the kids in Greater Moncton this weekend (Jan 31-Feb 2)

The weekend is here & there’s so much to do! Let’s dive in!

It’s here, it’s here! Riverview’s 50th annual Winter Carnival kicks off this weekend! As part of our partnership to promote the 10-day, 65-event festival, here’s a quick review of some of the family-friendly events planned. Find the full schedule on the Town’s website: www.townofriverview.ca/events/winter-carnival

  • Fri. Jan 31 ☕Hot chocolate & fireworks at Winter Wonderland Park
  • Sat. Feb 1 🛹Pancakes, skateboards, pool party & bingo
  • Sun. Feb 2 🧭 Snowshoeing, cookout, & geocaching
  • Mon. Feb 3 🤘 Battle of the Bands Pt 1
  • Tues. Feb 4 🧑‍🎤 Battle of the Bands Pt 2
  • Wed. Feb 5 🔥 Bonfire & youth snowshoeing
  • Thurs. Feb 6 🪩 Stuffie sleepover & pre-teen dance
  • Fri. Feb 7 ⚡Glow skating (oooh, this one is going to be so fun!)
  • Sat. Feb 8 🥞 Pancakes & discovering guiding
  • Sun. Feb 9 🧘Sound healing for families

We have details on this weekend’s events below – and you can visit our Guide to Winter Carnival for more info!

Sunday is Groundhog Day! We have a few fun craft ideas on our blog post, and links to some of the more famous prognosticators.

WINTER FESTIVALS 2025 – A quick list!

Today’s the annual Radiothon, raising money to support pediatric patients at The Moncton Hospital. You can hear amazing testimonials all day long on New Country 96-9 & Q103. To donate, you can call or go online.

Riverview’s 50th annual Winter Carnival kicks off today, National Hot Chocolate Day, with Ignite! ✨ If you haven’t been before, think of this as a winter block party – with music, skating, hot chocolate, and fireworks! Everything takes place at Riverview’s Winter Wonderland Park (5 Quinn Court), starting at 6pm.
❄️ Swamp Bear Joel Palmer’s ice sculptures will be on display
🍁 Briggs Maple will be selling taffy on the snow ($3/stick)
⛸️ The oval will be open for skating & there will be sledge skates to try
☕ Free hot chocolate & s’mores (while supplies last – bring your own mug!)
🎶 Family-friendly tunes spun by DJ Krista Jay
🚚 Mama K’s Food Truck will be there, too!
🎆 Fireworks are planned for 7pm (which means there’s no sliding on the toboggan hill for the evening; plan another visit to enjoy that!)
NEW for 2025 — Join the Hot Chocolate Express!

Since Jan 31 is National Hot Chocolate Day, eight businesses around town are offering free hot chocolate from 5-7pm, so you can warm up on your way to Ignite. You can find a list on their website, or use the Driftscape app & look for the little cocoa mug to see where they are.
The town is also operating the Hot Chocolate Express this year, providing free transportation to and from the event, with free hot chocolate and chances to win carnival swag! The Hot Chocolate Express will pick up/drop off passengers at locations across East & West Riverview. The service is free, but space is limited; you can head to the Town’s website to see the stops & book your seat!
(If the weather isn’t cooperating, Ignite moves to Feb 1. Watch the town’s social media for updates.)
Friday nights are always awesome with Dieppe’s Fun on Ice! ⛸️🎶This weekly event brings free music, bonfires, skating, & more to the Place 1604 Oval every Friday! This week, Kelsey Albert is providing the tunes, and next week it’s DJ Chris featuring Acadian music. They have skates & helmets you can borrow, too. The fun happens 6:30-8pm. You can check their site for cancellation info if you’re curious about conditions.

Saturday is PACKED with fun for the family! Let’s start with a quick review of what’s happening for Riverview Winter Carnival:

  • There’s a pancake breakfast with entertainment at Bethel Presbyterian Church (600 Coverdale Road). Open 8:30-11am, cost is $30 for a family of five (or $12/adult, $5/youth, children under five free).
  • The 2025 Frozen Open, presented by Surface Skateshop, runs from 1-6pm. There will be competitors at all levels – including this year’s new category, the OGs for those 35+ – with cash prizes on the line. Free to watch so get out & support this amazing indoor skateboarding facility & competition!
  • If you’ve wondering if Ringettemight be the sport for someone in your family, check out the free Try It Day (hour, really!) at the Upper Byron Dobson Arena from 1:45-2:45pm. You’ll need a pair of skates and a helmet; all the rest including a warm welcome and lots of on-ice fun is provided.
  • At 2pm, head to the Pat Crossman Aquatic Centre for the freeCoconut Carnival Pool Party. This is a blast from the past; expect the pool deck to be decked out like a hot Hawaiian paradise!
  • Wrap up the fun with a kids’ Bingo at the Riverview Lions Club, with lots of fun prizes and snacks. Admission is a donation to the food bank; the fun begins at 6:30pm and lasts an hour.

It’s another Saturday morning filled with crafts & rock wall climbing (ages 7+) at BGC Dieppe. Check their social media for all kinds of great programming!

MAGMA is offering an afternoon of family-friendly activities on Saturday, from 1-3pm. Register in advance by emailing sarah.arthur@magma-amgm.org to join in photo frame decorating, snacks, and a viewing of Encanto at their building on Church Street in Moncton.

REMINDER: If you have a little in your life, now’s the time to start thinking about picking up some Valentine’s Day cards for their class! February 14 is just around the corner!

And speaking of spreading love and friendship, check out the fun at Kept on Main starting today! They have a DIY bracelet making station set up; create two for a minimum $5 donation and $3 per additional bracelet. The funds raised will go to local charity. Pop in anytime they’re open from now until February 15 to take part.

Indoor inflatables & family fun while raising money for a playground? Yes, please! Head to the Hillsborough Legion to take part in the Mini Fun Fest. It’s $10 entry for unlimited bouncy play from 1-4pm; bring extra cash for cotton candy, popcorn, and other treats.

The Wildcats host the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles on Saturday at 7pm.

The Town of Riverview has a series of snowshoe events planned this winter, including a Family Snowshoe Adventure today. (Call 506-387-2024 or register online; spaces are limited.) Join Town staff at Mill Creek Nature Park at 11am for a guided tour, making your way along the trails to the Lookout where the local Scouts are holding a cookout. The event ends at 12:30pm. Please note: This event is open to all & is meant to be accessible to beginners and children, ideally ages six or older. (Child-wearing is allowed.) The town will provide the snowshoes.

You can join the Cookout at the Lookout without snowshoeing, too! The 1st Moncton BPSA Traditional Scouting group will be at the Mill Creek Lookout from 11:30am-2:30pm, offering Beavertails (Woodland Flats Pastry), roasted Starbursts (Campfire Comets), Caramel Marshmallow (Trailblazer Bombs) and a refreshment to warm you up! Please note: this is while supplies last – and you’re encouraged to bring your own picnic for lunch, too!

Teens with a taste for art might enjoy signing up for the watercolour workshop with Ji Hyang Ryu this afternoon.

And Sunday is your first chance to claim alimited edition 50th anniversary Winter Carnival geocoin. Geocaching is free & a great way to get out exploring the area!

🛷🐴Sleigh rides are back at Dieppe’s Rotary St-Anselme Park for the season! Every Sunday until March 2, you can enjoy a ride through the trails and a hot chocolate at Café Inclusio. Cost is $5/person (free for children ages four & younger; please bring cash to pay on site). There will also be bonfires at Maison Doiron, too. Rides available 1-4pm. (Private group rides are available; cost is $160 for 30 minutes. Contact Michel Breau at 506-866-8291 or Lindsay Hicks at 902-718-6736 to book.) The park has a sliding hill, trails for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, fat biking, and walking, as well as outdoor skating, too; you can check the conditions for each on their website.

🏊‍♀️ The indoor splash pad at the YMCA North End is an amazing option for kiddos – with public openings every day of the week! Check the schedule as times vary day-to-day; cost to attend for non-member is $6.

🏊‍♀️ For indoor swimming, there are public options at the YMCA Greater Moncton (love their small, warmer pool for little ones – Friday public swim 7-8pm, Saturday public swim 6:30-7:45, & Sunday public swim 2-3pm – thanks to the City, Friday & Sunday swims are just $3/person), the Pat Crossman Aquatic Centrein Riverview (Saturday public swims, 2-3:30pm), and the Dieppe Aquatic Centre (with the awesome sloped entry & pirate ship splash zone!).

👧 Hop! Skip! Jump! is perfect for little ones, as well as the cool climbing wall & laser room for older kids.

🎳 Bowling is always a fun idea! Go retro vibes with Marvelous Holy Bowly in Riverview, check out glow bowling times at Fairlanes in Moncton, or head to Bowlarama & its awesome arcade in Dieppe. (We recommend calling ahead to book in advance so you’re not disappointed.)

🎨 Creative mood? Try DIY Studio to paint your own pottery!

🪨 Want to move as a family but need to be indoors? Try a visit to FitRocks Climbing Gym!

🔫 Book laser tag at the Sportsdome or Marco’s!

🛹 Riverview Indoor Skatepark & Riverview Youth Centre are a great space to learn to skate or practice your skills!

🛹 There’s a borrowing program at YMCA North with skateboards, helmets, and protective gear for use on their great outdoor ramps when weather permits.

🔐 Up for a challenge? Room Escape Atlantic usually has a few non-scary, kid-friendly options & Mystery Moncton Mystere is great for the teens & up. There are also online options you can purchase to play on your own time, like … Motive for Murder audio game — A great ‘any time of day’ option for the true crime fans who are up for a little hometown sleuthing. Download a whodunnit set in Moncton!

💥 Gamer in the family? The Comic Hunter hosts Friday Night Magic Modern sessions,  Sunday Lorcana Locals & Pokémon sessions, Monday Star Wars Unlimited Weekly Play & lots of other gaming events.

🎲 If board games are your family thing, check out the great shop on Moncton’s Main Street, Board Miniatures! The have a standing paint and play tabletop session on Sundays. (And for amazing board games selection, don’t forget our friends at Scholar’s Choice.)

🐟 Bass Pro’s 12,000-gallon freshwater aquariumwith striped bass, Atlantic sturgeon, trout, perch, and more is always fun to visit, especially when you need an indoor option.

🏫  Resurgo Place is a spot we love to visit again & again; history, hands-on science & arts, & special programming, too!

📚 Local libraries are always a great spot to visit, with lots of programming for all ages – and also another rainy day must visit option.

🤘 BGC Dieppe is always a great place for families to connect.

🎧 There’s a roughly one hour iTour of downtown Moncton’s historical & cultural locations you can use to help you explore – a great way to add a little movement, a little history, and a little fun to your family outings! Be sure to check out all the amazing public art installations around the downtown core, too!

🦙 Llamazing Adventures is a great way to get out & get moving! Take the llamas for a walk!

Wondering what to do with littles during the week? The Early Childhood Family Resource Centre de Ressources à la Petite Enfance hosts several fabulous drop in programs & playgroups – including Musical Mondays in Sackville and Wednesdays in Riverview & Cap-Acadie.

Years ago one of my parenting heroes, Ann Douglas, asked me to share ideas on thriving through the winter with little ones at home. Here are a few of the ideas I shared back then:

Weekly Activity Grab Bag – Outdoor & Indoor Versions

  • Pick 10 outdoor winter activities you could do as a family & write each one on a piece of paper or craft popsicle stick. Designate one day a week as your Outdoor Adventure Day. When it’s time, choose your adventure for the day! Ideas could be building a snowman, using food colouring to draw in the snow, checking out a new sliding hill, borrowing snowshoes at the park,  outdoor skating, etc.
  • Make a similar grab bag idea of indoor activities, too! This can be especially helpful if you’re home during the day with little kids. Write out 30 ideas – make play dough, mail a card to a friend, rainbow scavenger hunt, etc – that are easy activities and make sure you have the supplies on hand. (Tuck these away in a bin if necessary.) Each morning or afternoon, pick another activity. There’ll be an element of mystery and luck to keep both adults & kids entertained.

Snow Day Stash

  • Make sure you’re not caught off guard by snow day; fill a bin with items that will get you through a day stuck inside! Things you might want to include are mini cereal boxes & funky spoons, supplies for one hands-on activity (a craft or a science experiment), a family movie and special treat, deck of cards or another small game, like Yahtzee or Boggle, snow day storybooks (The Snowy Day, Sneezy the Snowman, Yeti Files, etc.), and funky paper plates, cups, napkins that will give it a party feel AND save you from dishes!

Family Game Night Tournament

  • Make this winter all about family time by setting up a Family Game Night Tournament. Create a leaderboard you can have on the wall all winter long. Mark the games played and the highest scores/winners. Build up momentum by playing each week, working towards a great Family Showdown over the March Break. Have something at stake for the winner, like choosing what take-out you’ll have to celebrate as a family.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3 & TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2025

Anglophone East Schools Battle of the Bands is back at the Riverview Arts Centre, Monday and Tuesday night. Amazing talents from across the region! Admission is $5.75/students, $11.50/seniors, & $13.80/adults. Music 6:30-9pm.

BONUS: More than 25 Riverview businesses will be offering Winter Carnival specials & promotions. A great time to shop & support local! Check out the Town’s website – townofriverview.ca/warmspecials - for all the details! (We’re digging the 50% sale at Dayzee’s & Ergon Thrift.)

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2025

The Riverview Scouts invite you to join them for a traditional bonfire roast and singalong with musician Chris Glidden at the Mill Creek Lookout. They’ll be there 6:30-8:30pm.

There’s also a youth guided snowshoe walk, 6:30-7:30pm, in Mill Creek Nature Park. You can borrow snowshoes from the Town or bring your own – and if there’s not enough snow, this will just be a nature walk! Registration isn’t required, but if you have questions, call 506-387-2024.

BPW Moncton is hosting a night with local, female authors. Six women will have five minutes each to tell you about their works, then the floor opens for a Q&A. A great event!

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025

Calling all stuffies! It’s time for your sleepover at the library! These are always the cutest nights. Children can bring their stuffed friends to the library Thursday night at 6:30pm for a cozy night of stories and a craft, then leave their little besties behind for some overnight shenanigans with the librarians. Pick the stuffies up Friday, between 1 & 5pm; they usually have some stories to tell!

For those who’ve aged out of the stuffie games, there’s a pre-teen dance tonight, too! BGC Riverview is hosting a dance and lip sync battle for ages 10-13 at the Coverdale Rec Centre, 6:30-8:30pm. Admission is $5 cash at the door.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2025

Grab your neon best & lace up for the Family Glow Skate! What can you expect? Lots of lively music, dazzling glow lights, and so much colour & fun! (Remember, you need a CSA-approved winter helmet on the ice – not a bike helmet.) The skate is in the Upper Byron Dobson Arena, which has a maximum capacity of 300, so get there early to ensure your skating spot. Family skating is from 6-7:30pm.

Older kids – ditch your ‘rents & do your own turn under the lights from 7:45-9pm! The Youth Glow Skate is sure to be an epic time.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2025

Pancakes are always a great way to start a Saturday! Head to the Riverview Lions Club for a full meal dished out with the Royal Rush Dragon Boat team. Cost is $10/person or $30/family, with proceeds going to the Lion’s Sick Children’s Fund and Crossroads for Women. Serving 8-11am.

Wondering if Girl Guiding might be a good fit for your family? Get a taste with a drop-in event with hands-on activities inside and outside the Coverdale Rec Centre, 10am-3pm.

Chapters Moncton has a LEGO make & take happening Feb 8 at 1pm. There are 100 kits to giveaway!

There’s a Beyblade tournament coming up at Property Guys on Saturday, Feb 8. The top eight players will earn a spot in the championships this summer!

Roller Disco returns to the Moncton Coliseum with tunes from the 2000s on Feb 8.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2025

Wrap up an incredible Winter Carnival with a relaxing, rejuvenating experience with sound exploration. ECE & yoga teacher Trish will lead families through this session. Bring your own mat, blankets, and pillows to relax. Register online or call 506-387-2024 to book your free space.

Visit Pickle Planet Moncton again next week for more fun ideas for family outings in Greater Moncton Area – and be sure to share this resource with your friends, co-workers, family, & more!

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