Free Play Groups & Drop In Sessions in the Greater Moncton Area
Every parent, grandparent, and caregiver should keep this list of FREE, drop-in playgroups and indoor play options around Moncton handy! You never know when you’re going to need a ‘get out of the house for free’ plan.
(This post was updated Fall 2022. Many free programs that were suspended during the pandemic have yet to resume. We’ll update as we confirm more options. If you run a free, drop-in program for families, please let us know!)
WEEKDAYS
The gym at the Crossman Centre (99 Wynwood Drive) is a hidden gem of community fun! There’s an indoor walking track that welcomes strollers daily from 11am until 1pm. On Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, there’s open gym time for kids from Grades 5 to 8, 3:30-4:45pm. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays there’s open gym for parents & tots from 10am until noon.
BCG Dieppe offers drop-in programming for youth, with its calendar updated monthly. Check their Facebook page or website for the most recent details.
The Moncton Coliseum also offers indoor walking. Depending on what events are taking place, the Coliseum is open from 9am to 4pm on weekdays from October 1 to March 31. Call 857-4100 for more info.
And don’t forget your local library – a wonderful place to visit any time, with the Moncton library now open seven days a week with its fantastic kids’ section!
The Early Childhood Family Resource Centre of Westmorland-Albert runs numerous free programs for families, as well as hosting drop in fun in their playroom near CF Champlain. (They used to host weekly playgroups in Riverview, Salisbury, & Memramcook, too, which were forced to stop during the pandemic. Fingers crossed they’ll return!) There are more than a dozen Family Resource Centres in New Brunswick, all with the mission of offering free, educational programming to families with children under the age of six. Check out the organization’s website for details on other locations in the province.
WEDNESDAYS
Sunny Tots takes place on Wednesday mornings from 10am to 11:30am at Sunny Brae Baptist Church on Elmwood Drive – or at a local playground when the weather permits! A snack is provided for the kids, and there’s tea and coffee and company for the adults. (Resumes Sept 21, 2022 after a short end-of-summer break.)
A reminder these are the free indoor play options in the Greater Moncton Area; there are lots of other great attractions and events for family outings. Be sure to check Pickle Planet’s weekly event round-up for ideas! You might also want to check out our Riverview Scavenger Hunt and our list of Playgrounds, Parks, and more.
