What to do with the kids this weekend in Greater Moncton (Aug 29-31, 2025)

Woo hoo – it’s the Labour Day long weekend! Students head back to schools starting Tuesday (depending on your school, your child might have a staggered entry & a different first day) & summer events wind down.

LAST CALL!! A reminder/warning that this is the last weekend for a lot of summer activities – like Magic Mountain & the municipal outdoor pools! Keep reading for details!

School Bus Craft

We usually list these ideas in our ‘attractions & more’ section, but thought we’d move them up this week just to highlight a few things – and to remind you reading all the way through these rounds ups is a must! 🙂

Markets & More

The Moncton Market & the Dieppe Market are both open on Saturday mornings, with fantastic options for local goodies.
Many smaller communities also have markets & great hidden eating gems, like Salisbury’s growing market/antique scene and the Green Pig Country Market, as well as the Old Church Farmer’s Market in Hillsborough.
Shediac’s Sunday market is a must visit! More than 70 vendors, live music on the stage, a great seating area, & so much fun!
A cool spot to shop & enjoy a riverside stroll is the Starving Artist Cafe in Moncton.
Magnetic Hill Wharf Village is still open for the season.

FUN EATS

Tambayan Cafe is a 2D cafe in Riverview.
Add a photo booth shoot to your sweets order at Click & Chew in Dieppe.
We’re always down to pretend we’ve hopped a plane to France with a trip to Tony’s for pastries. They have three great spots to explore – the original bistro on McLaughlin, Dieppe, and now in Downtown Moncton!
Crumbl FOMO? Head to our own The Cookie Jar in Dieppe! It’s super cute & yummy – and right next to the awesome Bennic Dairy Bar for ice cream creations!
Halo Donuts & lostandfound ice cream are next door neighbours on St. George Street, another great combo.
And if bread & pastries are what you want, Co Pain Artisan Bread Company is where you need to go!

Now, on to the weekend events!

Elsipogtog Powwow 2025 kicks off tonight, with family events and fireworks. There are lots of fantastic events planned for Saturday & Sunday, too!

If you’re a fan of baseball, the Salisbury/Petitcodiac Minor Baseball Association is hosting a slew of end-of-summer championships between the fields in both communities this weekend.

And for the football fans, Harrison Trimble is hosting L’Odyssée tonight at 7pm. (You can find the Moncton Purple Knights football schedule online for the season. We do our best to add the high school games here when we catch the dates!)

Local artist Jared Betts will be at Chapters with his book featuring highlights from his last 20 years as a creative.

Today & tomorrow are the last days to enjoy Moncton’s outdoor pools for the season!

September Craft: An Apple Tree

New Brunswick’s Filipino Association is hosting Summer Pinas-saya at Centennial Park today, 10am-7pm, with vendors, games, music, & more. Free entry!

The Shediac Centre for Speed is hosting Atlantic Monster Nationals this weekend, with a Demolition Derby on Saturday & Burnouts on Sunday.

Elsipogtog Powwow 2025 continues today & tomorrow.

Comedian Steve Hofstetter (author of Ginger Kid & a Nobel Peace Prize-nominated comedian with more than a billion views on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram) is doing a show at the Empress Theatre tonight. (The show is recommended for ages 14+) Sunday he’ll stop by Chapters to sign his books!

The Mom Market is back at the Ian Fowler Oval today, 4-9pm. Lots of vendors will be set up in the heart of downtown.

It’s the last day to enjoy Moncton’s outdoor pools for the season! And remember – Magic Mountain is closing after this weekend, too!

tips for taking the kids to magic mountain moncton pickle planet

Everything you want to know for family fun at Magic Mountain

The Shediac Centre for Speed wraps up the Atlantic Monster Nationals today.

Today is the final day for the Elsipogtog Powwow 2025.

A reminder that comedian Steve Hofstetter will be at Chapters to sign his books today, 11am-12pm.

We didn’t see many events scheduled for Monday, but this is your reminder it is a holiday – most stores will be closed. So make your plans now for any last minute school supplies, clothes, and groceries you need to be ready for the week ahead!

NEW PLAYGROUND ALERT!! Did you see our share on socials? Cap-Acadie has the most incredible new play space! The Rémi Cormier playground is at Père-Edgar-T.-LeBlanc School in Grand-Barachois and it is like nothing else around here! (A reminder school playgrounds aren’t accessible during school hours, but the public is welcome at other times.)

The community listed a few other local spots to enjoy; check them out!

Donat-Robichaud Playground @ Donat-Robichaud School (2632 Acadie Road, Cap-Pelé)
Shemogue Playground @ Shemogue Golden Age Club (5654 Route 15, Shemogue)
Cormier-Village Playground @ Cormier-Village Cultural and Sports Centre (645 Route 945, Cormier-Village)
Serge-Porelle Park Playground @ 17 Arthur Lane, Cap-Pelé
Saint-André-LeBlanc Playground @ Saint-André-LeBlanc Centre (932 St-André Road, Saint-André-LeBlanc)

Not in Cap-Acadie, but Parc Brookridge Park is another newer space you might not have explored yet – but should!

A reminder that you can find profiles of dozens of local spaces on our Playground page … and speaking of playgrounds … Did you catch our announcement that the YMCA Block Parties are continuing with two events this fall?! So fun! Mark Saturday, September 20 on your calendar & head to Sumner Park for lots of free, family fun!

These attractions & fun ideas are always worth checking out! Look for the for our TEEN & TWEEN picks!

REMEMBER: We’re not always able to update if there are changes due to weather, etc. Please click through the links & call ahead to confirm details for yourself when making plans!

OUTDOOR FUN

💚🌊It’s your last weekend to take in all the fun at Magic Mountain! (We don’t see any fall dates for mini golf, arcade, or amusement ride fun right now, though we’ll keep checking as sometimes the non-water options are available for a bit longer.)
💚🎥Drive In Movies are perfect fall outings, especially with teens! Check out what’s playing at Shediac’s Neptune Drive In & the Sussex Drive In. (In Shediac this weekend, it’s Freakier Friday, followed by the new Lilo & Stitch, while Sussex has the same films in the opposite order.)
The Magnetic Hill Zoo is open daily.
The Boardwalk is open (with Butterfly World, driving range, go karts, bumpber cars & boats, mini golf, batting cages, paddle boats, and more) generally has a few days open in September.
Jump to the Sky is a new inflatables adventure space in Grand Barachois.
East Coast Karting is open (weather permitting). Check their Facebook for updates & details!
DYK There’s a borrowing program at YMCA North with skateboards, helmets, and protective gear for use on their great outdoor ramps when weather permits.
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!
Faith First Mini Horses offers pony walks & cuddles; check their site and reach out for availability.

INDOOR FUN

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), the Pat Crossman Aquatic Centrein Riverview, 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.
Burn off energy at SkyZone Moncton; half-price entry on Tuesday nights, and Glow Zone on Fridays & Saturdays.
Resurgo Place is a spot we love to visit again & again; history, hands-on science & arts, & special programming, too! (Closed on Mondays, including long weekends.)
MR21 is ‘low key Moncton’s best kept secret’ as my kids say. An incredible visual presentation that tells the history of the Acadian community in a beautiful cathedral in downtown.
Local libraries are always a great spot to visit, with lots of programming for all ages – and also another rainy day must visit option.
💚🎥 Check out what’s playing at Cineplex in Dieppe or Trinity!
The Bunker on Main Street in Moncton is a great indoor golf option & does have times kids are allowed.
Riverview Indoor Skatepark & Riverview Youth Centre are a great space to learn to skate or practice your skills!
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.)
Book a booth at GG Bistrofor some gaming fun & great eats!
Creative mood? Try DIY Studio to paint your own pottery!
We’re loving all the workshops and invitations to imagine at the Maker Hub in Riverview. Open Wednesdays through Sundays.
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!
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.
Need to unleash some anger? Book a session at the Wreck Room!
Teens & youth (ages 12-25) can book a two-hour spot at Riverview’s Sound Lab for just $2/person. The lab has professional recording software, an electric guitar, bass guitar, electric drum kit, keyboard, microphones, & two amps.
Gamer in the family? The Comic Hunter hosts Friday Night Magic Modern sessions, Sunday Lorcana Locals, Monday Star Wars Unlimited Weekly Play & lots of other gaming events.
Board Miniatures also hosts regular table top sessions for various games & free board game days, too!
BGC Dieppe is always a great place for families to connect, with lots of programming open to everyone.
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.
Our friends at 506 Elite Allstars have a great space for kiddos looking to bounce around and burn off energy while learning tumbling and cheer moves. Check out their new member trial package & their upcoming events.

The Atlantic Balloon Fiesta is happening in Sussex September 4-7.

Hom’Art, Shediac’s art festival, returns September 4-7 as well.

Travel to You Zoo is hosting a Back to School Barn Party on September 6! In addition to spending time with the animals, you can enjoy horseback riding and face painting. A great outing for the whole family!

The Moncton Multiples Consignment Sale returns to the Moncton Coliseum on Saturday, September 13. You need to pre-purchase tickets for the earliest entry, but from 11am-1pm it’s free entry. This is a great way to shop from local families to outfit kids with clothes, toys, shoes, books, & more. The earlier you go, the better the selection, but it’s always worth a visit in our opinion!