Family Friendly Events This Weekend Near Moncton (Sept 18-20, 2026)
We are just days away from the calendar proclaiming it’s fall, but we’re here to let you know it’s all in on the Fall Fun when it comes to community events & activities in & around Moncton! Let’s take a look & plan your weekend, shall we?
If you’re new to Pickle Planet, here’s what’s about to happen. You’re going to find an EPIC list of family-friendly events, activities & things to do in and around Greater Moncton – from Salisbury to Shediac, Tantramar to Alma, Dieppe, Riverview, and more. We list events BY DATE, starting with the upcoming weekend, followed by some highlights for the rest of the month and our ‘always an option’ ideas like bowling, swimming & skating. We include source links so you can double-check details before you head out, because weather & other changes happen! This list has been created by one mom on a mission since 2015. Have a family-friendly event to share? Text listings are FREE, and paid advertising helps us keep this resource available for local families.
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.
🦋 It’s the last weekend of the season for Butterfly World & The Boardwalk! Today the driving range is open 10am-8pm, with the Boardwalk & Butterfly World 4-8pm.
Ivan Daigle will perform a free concert in Salisbury’s Highland Park on Friday, Sept. 18 at 6pm.
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 –
(opens Sept 25) - 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 Saturday – haunted nights in late October!)
- Boyle Family Farm – Moncton – 🐴 (Corn Maze opens Saturday – scary nights to come!)
(opens Sept 25)
A quick PSA is you’re out & about in Moncton today: Codiac RCMP are holding a mock exercise in & around downtown. You might see any number of emergency personnel and vehicles from Assomption Blvd up to Wheeler, across to Botsford.
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! It’s also the first day for the African Safari themed corn maze at the Green Pig Market – and they have oodles of pumpkins, yummy fall drinks, & more!
Riverview’s Harvest Fest plans today include a pancake breakfast at the Coverdale Masonic Temple (8:30am start time)
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.
🦋 It’s the last weekend of the season for Butterfly World & The Boardwalk, including the driving range! Open 10am-8pm today & tomorrow.
GolfZone & TekZone at Magic Mountain are scheduled to open noon-6pm.
🛝 Our friends from the YMCA Mobile Fun crew are back for a final Block Party before summer officially ends! Head to Moncton’s Lewis Park today, 2-4pm, for bouncy castles, games, petting zoo, magic, & more – free & fun for all!
Tantramar’s Fall Fest 🎆 fireworks have been rescheduled for tonight, 8:30pm!
🦋 It’s the last day to enjoy Butterfly World & The Boardwalk, this season! Open 10am-8pm.
GolfZone & TekZone at Magic Mountain are scheduled to open noon-6pm.
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!
Maple Hills’ Sunday afternoon basketball sessions take place from 4-6pm.
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.
👕 The annual Moncton Multiples Consignment Sale – open to everyone! – is happening at the Moncton Coliseum Sept. 26.
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 is always a fantastic fall option.
Want to craft a little fall staycation without a lot of travel? Head to Albert County! Consider a weekend at Broadleaf Ranch! Themed glamping units, horseback rides, go kayaking at the Hopewell Rocks, head to Alma for some sticky buns & seafood – all while the trees start to change into the most magical colours!
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? Our friends at Feast Atlantic always have the inside scoop on local restaurant specials, promos, & more!
Deep deals on October 3! The annual Grapevine Events Fall/Winter Pop Up begins Friday, October 2 – but if you can’t drive down to Saint John until Saturday morning, that’s okay — most items are 50% Saturday (open 10am-2pm) & with 200 local families selling items, there are always lots of treasures still to find. Be sure to tell your Johner Mom friends, too!