What to do this weekend with the kids in Greater Moncton (Jan 16-18, 2026)

How’s everyone making out with winter in Greater Moncton so far?! We have oodles of ideas for indoor & outdoor fun, and we’re back on track with our weekly round ups of events & activities to keep you & your family making the most of your time together.

Please remember: We curate this information from social media pages, websites, & more. We include the SOURCE LINKS so you can DOUBLE CHECK before heading out; with winter weather & life, sometimes events are forced to adjust their plans & we don’t always have the chance to update this post. We list special events by date, then have a section filled with links to attractions that you might want to consider, ending with a look ahead to some events we’ve found for the rest of the month. Anyone with a family-friendly weekend event is welcome to submit the information to be included; graphics and/or stand-alone social media shout outs are offered as part of our advertising packages.

Hockey Day in Canada – Moncton is underway, with the special celebrity & alumni game taking place tonight at the Avenir Centre. Tickets are just $10/each with lots of fun to be had! Game time is 7:30pm.

As part of the hockey fun, the Canadian Blind Hockey association is hosting its Eastern Regionals here this weekend, the first-ever blind hockey tournament held in New Brunswick. There are games at the Moncton Coliseum today through Sunday, as well as a special event Friday, 10am-2pm, to introduce blind or partially sighted youth to the parasport.

Fridays are for Fun on Ice in Dieppe! Head to the oval at Place 1604 for bonfires, music, & more every Friday night this season. Tonight, it’s laser night with D & C, starting at 6:30pm.

Also in Dieppe, there’s a new free program at Amirault School gym with drop in fun Friday nights, 6-8pm, as part of Dieppe Moves. Check their schedule for who is welcome each week (some sessions have age/gender guidelines) and what sport you can expect to play.

Looking for a reason to eat out? Flip Burger Fest is underway this month! Dozens of area restaurants have special creations on their menus. Check it out! You can also search for great local restaurant specials & inspiration on the Daily Feast, a local website.

Today’s the big Hockey Day in Canada – Moncton celebration! The fun kicks off with a parade from the Moncton Market at 11:30am, travelling up Main Street to the Avenir Centre. Then there’s lots of music, family activities, and food vendors outside and a university women’s hockey game (UdM vs. Dal) at 1pm (tickets required), followed by the Wildcats vs. Chicoutimi at 7pm (tickets required). Running alongside it all will be a day-long live broadcast from outside the Avenir Centre with Sportsnet’s Ron MacLean, Kevin Bieksa, Ken Reid, Evanka Osmak, Elliotte Friedman, David Amber, and Kelly Hrudey on Saturday, with local segments broadcast between that day’s NHL games which are featuring Canadian teams. Find the full schedule of events on the city’s website here.

There’s a pancake breakfast at the Salisbury Lions Club, 7-10am.

Coverdale Masonic Lodge is hosting a pancake breakfast in Riverview, 8:30-11am.

Riverview’s R&R team will host a guided dog-friendly walk in the park at 10am, meeting at the Robertson Street entrance of Mill Creek Nature Park. This leashed walk will include a stop at the lookout where pups can enjoy a ‘trick for a treat’ moment.

We always love checking out the amazing programming at local libraries! The Dieppe Public Library has a toddler (ages three to six) storytime in English today at 10:15am, followed by a toddler storytime in French at 11:15am. Call the library to register: 506-877-7945. These sessions happen throughout the month!

There are lots of great events at the Moncton library, too – including Saturday’s Scrabble Club, teen D&D sessions, youth book clubs, and more. Sunday there’s chess club & more, too!

Artful Wares in Dieppe is hosting a beginner’s sewing workshop, open to ages 12 & over – for those with a machine to bring. Cost is $50; materials will be provided along with instructions to create a reversible coaster.

Searching for something to do with older kids? Maybe a chocolate tasting session at Moncton’s LaRouère is in order! They offer mini Chocolate Salons on Saturdays at their St. George Blvd shop. It’s a great way to learn about their creations while enjoying a little treat.

The Université de Moncton’s Opera Workshop presents Hansel & Gretel at the Capitol Theatre tonight at 7pm.

Keep the hockey fun going with an afternoon game, Wildcats vs the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.

The Université de Moncton’s Opera Workshop presents Hansel & Gretel at the Capitol Theatre again today at 2pm.

It’s Make Something Sunday at the Owens Art Gallery! Use a pastamaker to make prints. This is a free, drop-in event for children with their adults.

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!

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 aquarium with 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.

OUTDOOR FUN

Sleigh Rides

Obviously this is a very weather-dependent activity, so you may or may not make those sleigh ride dreams come true this season, but here are a few options to check out:

The YMCA & City of Moncton keep expanding their mobile fun events! We’re thrilled to share they’ll be bringing the fun to Lewisville Park on Saturday, January 24 from 2-4pm. Expect sliding, skating, fire pits, free hot chocolate, and more!

The Town of Champdoré is holding an Outdoor Day on Saturday, January 24 at the Fernand-Léger Outdoor Rink. Starting at 1pm there’ll be free hot chocolate, popcorn and treats, live music, bonfire, skating, sliding, and more – including fireworks planned for 6pm!

There’s a fantastic temporary exhibit coming to Resurgo Place, featuring the stories of nearly a dozen Canadian teenagers whose creativity changed the world. It opens Jan 24 and runs until April 26.

Home Depot hosts kids’ DIY workshops the second Saturday of every month – but spaces are limited, so you need to watch for the registration to open for each one! February’s event is already full, but March’s registration opens Feb 16.

The Salisbury Library has a family craft session planned for Saturday, January 24 at 10:30am, and sensory play session on Friday, January 30 at 10am.

The Atlantic Short Track Speed Skating Championships are taking place in Dieppe, January 31-February 2. Free to attend, with some of the top speed skaters from the region, hosted by the local Codiac Cyclones Speed Skating Club.

We usually keep the ‘looking ahead’ to events happening in the same month, but we’re going to start adding some Winter Carnival and March Break ideas as we find them, too!

  • ❄️Riverview Winter Carnival returns January 30 – February 8, with loads of fun for everyone!
  • ❄️ Shediac’s Winter Carnival takes place January 30 – February 8. You can find an overview of the schedule here.
  • ❄️ Fundy’s February Frolic is February 11-16.
  • ❄️ Dieppe’s Friendship Festival is generally at the end of January.
  • ❄️ Moncton’s PolarFest returns February 13-16, with lots of free family fun at Centennial Park and a new element of snowmobile trickery by the Avenir Centre.

The Capitol Theatre hosts French children’s performers Coucou Passe-Partout on March 6, with two shows at 11am and 3pm.

On Sunday, March 8 there’s a fantastic children’s entertainment group, Tunes & Tales, coming from PEI to play the Capitol Theatre. The performance is at 3pm; perfect way to cap off March Break!

(And don’t forget Shrek: The Musical, running February 21 to March 1.)

We’re working to refresh our Winter Fun post & add in more details here about sliding hills, ski rentals, and more. Happy weekend everyone, and thanks for following & sharing!

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