Family Friendly Events This Weekend Near Moncton (Sept 11-13, 2026)
Welcome to one of the busiest, most fun seasons of all – fall in the Maritimes! The days are crisp, the big kids are back in school, the leaves will soon start to change, and there are SO MANY fun fall festivals & adventures to enjoy!
If you’re new to Pickle Planet, here’s what’s about to happen. You’re going to find an EPIC list of all sorts of family-friendly activities & events happening in & around Greater Moncton – from Salisbury to Shediac, Tantramar to Alma, Dieppe, Riverview, and more. We always include a source link to where we found the information so you can double check before you head out; sometimes weather or other changes pop up & we want you to have the latest details. We list events BY DATE, doing out best to find everything for the upcoming weekend then highlighting some upcoming events for the rest of the month. THEN you’ll find a list of info for the ‘always an option’ ideas, like bowling, swimming, skating, etc. Pickle Planet has been creating this list – all human work, done by one mom on a mission – since 2015. If you have a weekend, family-friendly event, please let us know – text listing in this round up are free! We do offer paid advertising as well & appreciate your support to help keep this resource available for local families.
Need a night out of the kitchen? Our friends at Feast Atlantic always have the inside scoop on local restaurant specials, promos, & more! Check out their list of back-to-school ideas!
WEEKEND FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
🎶 Levee on the Lake kicks off Thursday, bringing tons of fun musical events to Tantramar. There are lots of workshops, a Saturday morning children’s concert, folk songs for little folk on Sunday, and so much more! Most events are free, though spaces may be limited. Check out their full schedule & make plans to enjoy this fantastic festival!
🎨 Hom’Art Festival returns to 🦞 Shediac this weekend! The fun begins Friday afternoon with buskers, chalk art, live painting, and a fire show that night. Throughout the weekend enjoy buskers, music, public art, workshops, and more – including a Sunday Art Market at Parc Pascal-Poirier from 10am-2pm. (Most events are free.)
🎉 It’s the 40th annual Atlantic Balloon Fiesta in Sussex this weekend! Starting Friday at 5pm there are amusement rides, pony rides, petting zoo, music & more alongside the incredible hot air balloons themselves. The fun continues through the weekend – including a Touch a Truck event & BMX shows on Saturday & a Princess Tea Party on Sunday. Check their full schedule for details, and remember that weather can impact the balloon rides.
The fabulous instructors at Alison Dawn Voice & Music are ready for your family this fall! Riverview classes range from baby & toddler music & movement to youth musical theatre – and even adult lessons available, too!
🫶 There will be a joint Canadian Fallen Firefighters / 9/11 Memorial Parade hosted by the Moncton Firefighters Association between 3-6pm. There will be parade along Park Street, ending at Victoria Park for the memorial. (There will be street closures in the area during this time.)
🪅 Salisbury’s Gaxiola Mexican Restaurant & the Salisbury Arts and Culture Centre are hosting the 5th annual Festival of Día del Grito, celebrating Mexican Independence Day, 4pm-midnight. Drop by for music, folk dancing, karaoke, face painting, vendors, & more! (And we highly recommend a visit another day just to enjoy the food alone – SO good!)
🏐 2026 NORCECA Men’s Continental Volleyball Championship kicks off eight days of elite volleyball at the Avenir Centre, with men’s teams from Canada, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Mexico, Puerto Rico, & USA.
🎥 Spooky season is sneaking in at The Neptune Drive-In with the PG-13 rated Practical Magic starting this weekend’s double bill. Spa Weekend (rated R) plays second; gates open at 7pm, with showtime at 8:10pm.
🥞 The 📍Riverview Lions Club Monthly Pancake Breakfasts are back after a summer holiday – with the first community celebration Saturday, Sept. 12 supporting RHS Royals Football! (Next breakfast is October 3 at the Town of Riverview Fire Hall.) The breakfasts run from 8-11am; pricing for 2026 is listed as $13/person (kids 5 & under eat free), with family rates available.
🍂The Westmorland County Agricultural Fair’s Fall Fest takes place today, with a community breakfast, wagon rides, magic show, kids’ zone, & more by the arena in Petitcodiac.
📚 Many local libraries programming for children throughout the week & on the weekend. Moncton Library posted a fun look at their children’s programming for September on their Facebook page.
🧺 The Mandate Development Centre is hosting the 3rd Community BBQ & Fun Fair at Victoria Park, 1-5pm. Everyone welcome! They’re planning family-friendly events, live performances, games, information booths, & more.
⛳ GolfZone & TekZone at Magic Mountain are scheduled to open Saturday, noon-6pm.
🎪 New Hope Church (on the Homestead Road) is hosting a Family Fun Day, 2-4pm, with a dunk tank, LEGO scavenger hunt, inflatable obstacle course, games, treats, & more.
🤼 IHW Wrestling is back at the Coverdale Centre in Riverview; doors open at 6pm.
🎉 Mexican Celebration Day 2026 is happening outside the Avenir Center, with food, music, and more!
🍀 The 5th annual Irishtown Family Fun Day takes place Sunday from noon till 4pm, with bouncy castles, games, market, corn boil, music, & more.
The Peter McKee Community Food Centre is hosting a gathering at the Centennial Rotary Lodge (at Centennial Park) Sunday from 1-3pm, with face painting, a fire truck to visit, and more.
🏀 Maple Hills’ Sunday afternoon basketball sessions take place from 4-6pm.
📍 Tantramar’s Fall Fest is happening Sept. 16-20 with all sorts of family fun!
🐴 The Albert County Exhibition is Sept. 17-20, with so many fantastic events & activities planned. Mechanical bull rides, Junior Farmer Olympics, carnival rides, horse shows, magic shows, and so much more!
🍂 Cap-Acadie’s AutomneFest takes place Sept. 18-20.
🍂 Riverview’s annual Harvest Fest is Sept. 18-20, with lots of great activities for all ages. We’re especially intrigued by Mr. Mark’s presentation of The Adventures of J.S. Box, a fun exploration of childhood play and imagination on Saturday afternoon & Punk Goes Country at the Skatepark Saturday night!
🏐 Moncton is hosting the 2026 NORCECA Men’s Continental Volleyball Championship Sept. 18 & 19 at the Avenir Centre. These are elite Olympic hopefuls, with teams battling to secure world championship spots. You can take in the paid games inside, or check out the fan fun outside! The outdoor free activities are from 1-7pm on Friday & 9am-7pm on Saturday.
🎶 Ivan Daigle will perform a free concert in Salisbury’s Highland Park on Friday, Sept. 18 at 6pm.
📍Salisbury’s 🍂 Harvest Fest takes place Saturday, Sept. 19. Start with a pancake breakfast, then head to Highland Park from 1-4pm for a BBQ, corn boil, petting zoo, games & more. There are also 🎆 fireworks planned for 8pm!
🍂 Main Street Moncton’s Good Day Gifts & Housewares is hosting a Fall Market in the shop and outside in Oak Lane on Saturday, Sept. 19, from 10am-3pm. This is always a great gathering of makers & fun finds!
🍂 Farmer Brown’s is always a great fall visit, and their annual market day is taking place Sept. 19, 10am-4pm.
The Afro-Caribbean Festival of New Brunswick takes places Sept 19, noon-8pm, and Riverfront Park.
📍Salisbury’s annual 👟 Terry Fox Run will be at Highland Park on Sunday, Sept. 20, starting at 12:30pm.
🍂 Riverview’s annual Fall Family Fun Day is scheduled for Caseley Park on Sunday, Sept. 20, 1-4pm. Enjoy live music, bouncy castles, laser tag, face painting, corn boil & BBQ, & more!
🎡 The PEI Carnival Company is setting up in the Mt. A King Street parking lot Sept. 25-27, a bonus event for 📍 Tantramar’s Fall Fest!
🧺 EasyVolunteer is hosting a BBQ at Riverview’s Caseley Park Saturday, Sept. 26, from noon – 3pm.
🏒 The Wildcats return to home ice Sept. 26.
Our 2026 Guide to Apple Picking, Corn Mazes, & Pumpkin Patches is updated! Here are few spots to keep on your radar – check the post for full details, including when they open for the season & what they offer!
- Irishview Orchard – Moncton – 🍎
- Appleview Orchards – Salisbury – 🍎
- Uris Williams & Sons Apple Orchard – Saint Antoine – 🍎
- Apples by the Baie – Bouctouche – 🍎
- Belliveau Orchard – Memramcook – 🍎🎃
- Les Petits Fruits de Pré-d’en-Haut – Memramcook – 🍎🎃
- Le Verger Goguen – Cocagne – 🍎🎃
- La Fleur du Pommier – Cocagne – 🍎🎃
- Trueman Blueberry Farm – Aulac – 🌽🎃
- Green Pig Market – Salisbury – 🌽🎃 (Corn Maze opens Sept. 19!)
- Boyle Family Farm – Moncton – 🌽
Ongoing Family-Friendly Activities in Greater Moncton (Indoor & Outdoor)
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
- The Magnetic Hill Zoo is open seven days a week right now!
Llamazing Adventures is a great way to get out & get moving! You can take the llamas for a walk all through the year.- Boyle Family Farm is open for private bookings & special occasions.
- Trueman Blueberry Farms has an outdoor play area, a train that circles the property, amazing treats, and more!
The City of Moncton has four designated spaces for wheeled fun (skateboarding, BMWX, etc.): the Downtown Skate Park on Assomption Blvd., the Renton All-Wheels Park on Noel St., the Lewisville Skate Park on Glenmoor Dr., and at the YMCA Moncton North on Twin Oaks Dr.- 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. The all wheels park is open daily till dusk. 
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! (And we hear it’s just been updated, too!)- Be sure to check out all the amazing public art installations around the downtown core, too!
- There are pickleball & tennis courts at four city parks; you need to bring your own rackets, balls, and/or paddles. Find them at Candlewood, Lewisville, East End, and Alexander Parks. You can register for a code to use the equipment kept on-site for the Shuffleboard Court at Fairview Knoll Park. Basketball courts are found at 19 different city parks & playgrounds.
- Poley Mountain’s bike park will open June 6 for the summer season.
INDOOR IDEAS
Resurgo Place is a spot we love to visit again & again; history, hands-on science & arts, & special programming, too! (Closed on Mondays.) The current temporary display is all about dinosaurs!
Homarus Centre in Shediac is open until October 11, then closed until the summer. Touch tanks for the win!
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.
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. Reach out to them to book a tour (minimum five people, 24 hours notice required) or to find out when they’ll be open: info@mr21.ca or call 506-800-3194.
Local libraries are always a great spot to visit, with lots of programming for all ages – and also another rainy day must visit option.
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 Centre in Riverview, and the Dieppe Aquatic Centre (with the awesome sloped entry & pirate ship splash zone!). (The Dieppe pool will be closed June 22 to September 18, 2026.)
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 at the Pit Stop! There are more than 50 cars you can choose from & more than 30 tracks to try – it’s not a little kid game, but it’s great for an outing with the teens.
Riverview Indoor Skatepark & Riverview Youth Centre are a great space to learn to skate or practice your skills!
The indoor walking track at YMCA Moncton North is open to the public daily, free of charge.- The indoor walking track at the Crossman Centre is open to youth 12+ daily 3-5pm (and sometimes later) & for parents with strollers 10:30am-12:30pm daily.
Bowling is always a fun idea! Head to Bowlarama & its awesome arcade in Dieppe, Fairlanes in Moncton, or Marvelous Holy Bowly in Riverview.
Book a booth at GG Bistro for some gaming fun & great eats! Maybe even book a visit with Game On mobile fun!
Creative mood? Try DIY Studio to paint your own pottery or the 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! 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.
CAFES, RESTAURANTS, & FUN PLACES TO EAT WITH KIDS IN GREATER MONCTON
There are more & more awesome places to take a break and enjoy a meal locally! Here are a few top picks you might want to try:
- Book a booth at GG Bistro for some gaming fun & great eats! You might think a place with consoles at the table would be basic pub food, but you’d be wrong. The food will blow you away!
- Tambayan Cafe is a fun 2D cafe in Riverview with yummy treats, coffee, fries, & more.
- Add a photo booth shoot to your sweets order at Click & Chew in Dieppe; super fun idea for a special celebration or any day.
- 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 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 on St. George Street & in the North End is always on our family wish list.
- And if bread & pastries are what you want, Co Pain Artisan Bread Company is where you need to go!
- Looking for some whimsy? Head to Shediac to visit Adorable Chocolat & Bistro Moque-Tortue.
- Candy Depot Moncton on Mountain Road & Freak Lunchbox at Champlain Mall have oodles of funky candies & more!
- Have you checked out Blend Point Cafe in Dieppe yet? They have some killer milkshake creations!
- LaRouère Chocolat is a fantastic local chocolatier – and they have a series of cold drinks for the summer that sound amazing! Iced Choco, Aquapanela, Iced Caramel, and Iced Mocha.
- Magnetic Hill Wharf is open again for the season, with gift shop and ice cream open on weekends in May
- In search of a special? Check out The Daily Feast for great overview of local restaurants, their deals, & more.
