What to do with the kids in Greater Moncton this weekend (Nov 21-23, 2025)

It’s Christmastime in the city! This weekend includes many of the most beloved local traditions – Riverview’s annual light display, the Antler Breakfast, the Royale Greater Moncton Santa Claus Parade, Turners at the Coliseum, and so much more! Grab your hot chocolate or jolly juice & let’s get planning!

If you’re new here, a reminder: we list special events by day, then have a section for ongoing attractions, followed by a look ahead at upcoming events so you can plan ahead. As always, please click through the source links we provide before heading out; we don’t often have time to come back and update if there are changes due to weather, etc. And we do this every weekend – so be sure to save, bookmark, and come back!

The Antler Breakfast is a Moncton tradition – I’ll never forget my first time seeing the sidewalks filled with people heading to work, wearing antler headbands! Hundreds of people come out to enjoy a fantastic meal and holiday cheer, with proceeds going to support Christmas in the Pedway – a special event for children with medical needs, allowing them to enjoy Saturday’s parade with a special view!

The 50th Annual DNA SWAG Dieppe’s High School Hockey Classic Tournament is happening this weekend. To mark the milestone, the Hockey Hall of Fame will bring the 4 Nations Cup to Dieppe’s UNIplex; you can stop by 10am-2pm to visit.

Turners at the Coliseum opens today, 2-9pm, with more than 300 vendors and so many amazing finds! (FYI: Today will be busy; the quietest times are usually Saturday evening before and during the Santa parade.)

Santa arrives at Champlain Place today!

Shediac will host the Tree of Hope lighting ceremony at Pascal-Poirier Park at 6pm, with the Santa parade happening at 7pm.

Active Riverview’s R in R team is joining forces with the YOUth Drop-In folks to host a walk from the Riverfront Trail Gazebo to enjoy the lights. Meet at 7pm; everyone welcome.

Bring your supplies and paint happiness rocks together at the Riverview Lions Club, 6-9pm.

Magnetic Hill Wharf Village is open for all your seasonal shopping & strolling needs from 5-9pm tonight. Their light displays and decorations look amazing!

New Business Alert! KidStrong is opening soon on Granite Drive. It’s a program that helps kids build strong bodies, minds, and characters through weekly 45 minute classes led by expert coaches. Sign up now for details & special rates!

BHome is hosting another fabulous pop up market – this one with a pet focus! Pop in 9am-3pm.

This is your weekly reminder that all our local libraries have amazing programming for all ages – like today’s collab at Moncton Public Library with Brilliant Labs, helping kids ages eight to 12 learn Scratch to create and play a video game (registration required) or the drop-in photo magnet workshop in the afternoon.

Mastermind Toys has some upcoming in-store sessions including a LEGO make & take today, 1-3pm (while supplies last).

There’s a group art workshop for children today, 2:30pm at Bar55. Reach out in advance to book your spot.

There’s a Manga Expo planned for CCNB Dieppe today & tomorrow.

Magnetic Hill Wharf Village is open noon-9pm today, with the First Baptist Carollers at 6:30pm – and a visit from Santa from 6:15-7:45pm, too.

And the big event today — the Royale Greater Moncton Santa Claus Parade! You can find all the details in our Guide, but here are a few quick details: the parade begins at 5pm – don’t forget early road closures & fun zones; RCMP will be collecting food bank donations & Canada Post will collect Letters to Santa; and several business will have special hours & events (hot chocolate with Kevin at the Capitol, Tony’s on Botsford staying open late, & Moncton City Hall’s open house). More info in our post:

Looking for some help with Christmas this year – or know someone who is? Maybe you’re looking to give back? Check out What Kids Need Moncton’s Snowflake Station, the Salvation Army, and Moncton Headstart’s Toyland. And we’re looking forward to seeing what’s happening with the Sue Stultz & Moncton Firefighters Turkey Drive this year!

Want to encourage your own family to think of others? When the kids were younger we loved the Reserve Advent Calendar, filling up a box for the local food bank with one item per day. The Pizza Mill in Salisbury is doing a similar idea right now; pick up box from them, fill it with donations for Helping Hands, return it for a pizza voucher!

Trueman Blueberry Farms is hosting a Holiday Vendor Market today, 11am-4pm. The farm also has train rides, Christmas trees, photo ops, their amazing ice cream & treats, & more every Friday to Sunday until December 21.

Holy Trinity Parish of the Ukrainian Catholic Church is hosting a Festive Christmas Market in Moncton, with food, vendors, workshops, & more, 11:30am-4pm.

Brunswick Royal Realty is hosting a visit from Santa at the Salisbury Lions Club, 2-4pm. There’ll be hot chocolate, toys collected for Crossroads for Women, and a chance to get your photo taken with the jolly old man.

The Moncton Wildcats host the Charlottetown Islanders this afternoon.

Cap-Acadie will light a Tree of Hope tonight, 6:30pm, at Parc Tidiche. There’ll be hot chocolate to enjoy, too!

Searching for cozy shops filled with holiday charm? Here are a few we know are bursting at the seams with cute ornaments, local gift ideas, and photos ops: Kept on Main, Gifts Galore, BHome, The Painted Pineapple, Wheaton’s, MacArthur’s Nursery, & Magnetic Hill Wharf Village. There’s also the country charm of Green Pig Market and the thrifty vintage finds at Recollections by Jazz Antique Mall in Salisbury. And you can find Santa at Bass Pro (you can book your visit & free photo online, up to a week in advance) and Champlain Place.

These attractions & fun ideas are always worth checking out! Look for the 💚 for our TEEN & TWEEN picks! Some of these are still great with littles, too, but we know it can be tricky to come up with ideas the older kids will enjoy – or can be sent to on their own.

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

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. They also now have a race car simulator! There are more than 50 cars you can choose from & more than 30 tracks to try – it’s not a little kid game.
  • 💚🛹 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 Bistro for some gaming fun & great eats!
  • 💚🎨 Creative mood? Try DIY Studio to paint your own pottery or the new Art Time Cafe for drawing & more!
  • 💚🪨 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.

Wild Lights opens Friday, November 28!

The Dieppe Public Library is now taking registrations for a children’s workshop November 29 with Precious Abygail Dedam, who has Mi’kmaw and Acadian roots, sharing dances, traditions, and ancestral knowledge, 10am-noon.

Thomas Williams House will again host a holiday tea this year, with eight sittings over two weekends, starting November 29 & 30.

Roller Disco returns to the Coliseum on November 29.

Loopy Wool is hosting a needle felting workshop creating felted penguins on November 29.

The Dieppe Arts & Cultural Centre is hosting a Holiday Art Market on November 29, 10am-4pm.

The 4th Annual Sleigh the Holidays Pop-Up Market at Canvas Hotel is November 29.

There’s a craft fair with 70+ vendors at Riverview’s Coverdale Centre on November 30, 9am-3pm.

The Coca-Cola Holiday Caravan is coming to Atlantic Superstore on Main Street! Stop by Sunday, November 30 from 4-6pm to visit with Santa & enjoy a special treat!

The Capitol Theatre has dozens of amazing holiday shows this season, including the fabulous Jill Barber on November 30.

 

 

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