Wondering what to do with the family in Moncton?

We’ve got you covered!

Well, hello there! This is your one-stop list for events, activities, attractions, and more in Southeastern New Brunswick!

MUST READ: 101 New Brunswick Summer Adventures for your Family

THE HOUSEKEEPING NOTES

This is a list of all kinds of family-friendly events & activities & ideas for outings compiled from dozens & dozens of websites, social media accounts, etc in the Greater Moncton Area. If you have an event or idea to submit, drop us a message!

The Pickle Planet Weekend Round Up began in June 2015 & hasn’t really ever stopped; we shifted a bit during the pandemic to ideas for fun at home and then monthly updates of our list.

Want to learn more about WHY this site exists? Check out our Facebook Page or this recent article in Inspired Me magazine.

WHAT YOU’LL FIND HERE

A roughly chronological list of events & activities happening, then some info on local attractions you might want to check out, details on swim times, local markets, and more.

Please remember to always check our source links for updates, and follow provincial & national health guidelines for safety during the pandemic.

Let’s get going, shall we?!

WHAT’S HAPPENING NEW BRUNSWICK DAY LONG WEEKEND 2021

A few final July events before we dive into August, as the New Brunswick Day Long Weekend spans both months for 2021!

Hubcity Theatre’s Shakespeare in the Park returns with performances July 29, 30, 31 at Centennial Park. This year’s play is As You Like It.

There’s a special ‘behind the scenes‘ opportunity to explore the Magnetic Hill Zoo on Friday, July 30.

Festival Inspire wraps up an incredible month of activity with a musical show at Captain Dan‘s on July 29, & a massive closing event at Euston Park Parlee Beach on Friday, July 30 with DJs, fire artists, & more from 6pm to 2am.

The Artists Village returns to Shediac, with nearly two dozen exhibitors at the Shediac Multipurpose Centre July 30 – August 1.

RELATED: Listen to Pickle Planet’s Jenna Morton guest on the Fundy Biosphere Reserve’s podcast!

And still with the Fundy Biosphere Reserve, they’re teaming up with MP Ginette Pettipas-Taylor to give away 1,000 tree saplings this Saturday, July 31! You can find them at the Dieppe Market (8am-10am), the Moncton Market (11am-1pm), & the Riverview Chocolate River Station (2-4pm).

There will be fireworks at Cape Tormentine Beach Campground on Saturday, July 31! Come by for ice cream at 8:30pm, with the fireworks expected to start around 9:30pm.

FIREWORKS & MORE!

New Brunswick Day (Monday, August 2) seems extra special this summer, as it comes just after the planned return to GREEN phase & the removal of pandemic protocols!

There’s a big provincial celebration planned for Fredericton, featuring a show by the Calithumpians (I know my kids LOVED this theatre troupe when they came to the schools before!), fun at Beaverbrook Art Gallery, live music from 5-9:30pm, and fireworks at 9:45pm. The day begins with ceremonies led by St. Mary’s First Nation. You can find all the details here: www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/thc/promo/nb_day_2021.html

Closer to Moncton, the Village of Hillsborough is also hosting a day of events, with activities from 2-5pm & fireworks at 10pm. Enjoy face painting, bouncy castles, live music, antique cars, & more – all at the Kiwanis Ball Field.

Farmer Brown’s Greenhouse also has a weekend full of activities planned, including firing up their pizza oven, biking & hiking on their trails, vendors on site & more. Follow their Facebook Page for all the details & updates!

MORE AUGUST EVENTS

The Rising Tide Festival is back with another amazing line up of community-based events throughout the Fundy region. We’ll have a special bonus episode of the Jenna & Tosh podcast & a full blog post soon with all the insider info you need – but until then, check out the list of events on their Facebook page & start making plans!

The Town of Riverview offers a ‘Hidden Secrets of the Riverfront’ tour regularly. Enjoy a short walk with lots of info about sights you see all the time. Upcoming tours on August 10 & 24, at 11am.

It’s Blueberry season!! Check out our Guide to local berry u-picks for some yumminess – and if you’re heading toward Saint Andrews, make the time to stop at McKay’s Wild Blueberry Farm Stand!!

The YMCA Mobile Fun team is back in action this summer, visiting several playgrounds in the City of Moncton each week day for a few hours of fun! Pop by & let staff lead the kids in some activities to burn off energy & socialize. You can find the schedule here; the program runs until Aug 20.

For more on local playgrounds, check out our Playground Profiles – with a new profile posted each Tuesday!

Acadie Rock returns August 13 – 20, with amazing shows around the area.

Watch for lots of celebrations on August 15 / le quinze août (a national day of celebration of the Acadian culture), including the traditional tintamarre (parades)!

Salisbury’s annual community celebration takes place August 19 – 22. Watch their Facebook event for details & updates!

MUST READ: Why you want Ashley Hannington to pierce your kid’s ears

Did you grab tickets yet to the Sunflower Festival? It’s coming up August 20 – 29 at the Green Pig Country Market in Salisbury. (Check out their plans for their annual corn maze, pumpkin blaster, & more while you’re there – and their new ice cream stand with yummy treats & an awesome mural!)

Sackville’s Street Chalk Art Festival returns August 27 – 28. We love seeing the creations pop up all over town!

One of our favourite events of the year takes place Saturday, August 28 – the annual Pride Parade for Greater Moncton Area!

Flying kits at Fort Beausejour – #57 on our list of 101 New Brunswick Summer Ideas!

OUTDOOR & INDOOR SWIMMING POOLS

The newly refurbished Lion Ken Gabbey Pool in Riverview is amazing! If you haven’t been, make plans to go pronto! There are open swim times every day of the week – including free swims on Fridays!

The City of Moncton’s East End pool (35 Fergus Street) is open daily from 11am-7pm, with parent & tot sessions on Tuesdays & Thursdays between 10 & 11am. Admission is $2/person, free for those aged three and under. (It’s just $1/person after 5:30pm & $1/adult for the tot session.)

Centennial Park’s new beach is also a great outdoor option in Moncton. Open 11am-7pm daily; admission is $5/adult, $3/seniors and children ages three to 12 – under three is free. There is a sandy play area, with washrooms and showers available. Centennial Park is located at 801 St. George Blvd; the address for the pool is 15 Rotary Park Lane.

Salisbury Lions Pool is a great community pool with preschool, parent & tot, & open swims. You can find their schedule on their Facebook page. Call 372-9132 for information.

Petitcodiac’s community pool is found at 23 Corey Ave and can be reached at 506-756-3127. A great spot for updated information is the community’s Recreation Department’s Facebook page.

Hillsborough’s heated outdoor public swimming pool is next to the village’s skate park and elementary school playground (7 School Lane) and can be reached by phone at 506-734-3702.

And if you’re up for spending money on the ultimate local splash experience, head to Magic Mountain. Even little ones can enjoy several features at the water park, including four slides at the Puddle Jumpers Pond, and a splash pad pirate ship, lighthouse, and whale.

Looking for indoor swimming? The YMCA, Dieppe Aquatic Centre, & Riverview Aquatic Centre are all great options. And don’t forget the YMCA North End’s indoor splash pad, too!

MORE OUTDOOR IDEAS

Did you see that Riverview now has a beach volleyball court? So fun!

The Town’s Mill Creek Challenge is another great way to get out & explore – and you might even win ice cream!

Dieppe’s Rotary St-Anselme Park has a host of fun events happening this summer, including the craft beer container BarBu on site (open 5-10pm Monday-Thursday, 3-10pm Friday & Saturday), Active Tuesdays, Storytime & Art in the Park with the library Wednesday afternoons (registration required), and the Olympic Games on the big screen July 23 through August 8 each night at dusk (around 9pm). Get all the details here.

Want to check out the Tidal Bore & learn more about it? Staff from Resurgo Place are on site 20 minutes before the phenomenon arrives at Bore Park (between 9am & 6pm); they’ll be there Friday morning at 9:45am & Saturday at 10:39am. More details here.

There’s a new Culture & Heritage Scavenger Hunt for the City of Moncton – check it out & you could even win a prize.

Up for an evening stroll? Check out Festival Inspire’s Art in the Dark installations! A new work of art – visible at night – is set up each week until the end of August. You can visit STILE Fashion on Main Street for the lovely Chantal Larocque’s Face of Nature, Canvas Moncton for Jieun June Kim’s Underwater School, & Riverfront Park for Thu Ho’s Monarch butterflies made in resin.

Looking for a new outdoor adventure course? Check out Off Grid Adventure in Anagance. We can’t wait to try it out!

Want to take the kids fishing but not really sure where to start? You can find the provincial rules on their website, but basically anyone under 15 doesn’t require a license for recreational fishing (salmon is a different story). If you want a little help, head out to Robby’s U-Fish in Memramcook. You bring your own rod(s) & pay for what you catch in one of three ponds on his property. Call ahead to book & ask your questions: 506-758-2316.

Looking for ideas on hikes & waterfalls? Turn to Hiking NB for amazing details on trails throughout the province & check out the Waterfalls of NB Facebook group for inspiration. You might also want to take a look at this map with more than 500 waterfalls marked!

Most kids love animals – and there are some fun options locally to consider. Boyle Family Farm offers a petting zoo on Saturdays (9am – 3pm) & horseback rides. Llamazing Adventures is full of funky options to spend time with their crew. Broadleaf Ranch is a lovely place for a trail ride; we highly suggest an overnight stay in one of their themed glamping cabins if you can! And of course, the Magnetic Hill Zoo is a traditional favourite!

Farmer Brown’s is always hopping with workshops & of other fun options for families. (Plan to grab some of their delicious pizza while you’re there, if you can!)

Maghill Paintball is a fantastic option with teens. A two-hour rental (birthday party package) available!

TreeGo is a fantastic family outing, especially with older kids (ages 7+) who love a challenge. Find them within Moncton’s Centennial Park. Also at the park you can sometimes book to climb the wall at Camp Centennial.

Town of Riverview residents can borrow fun outdoor games & equipment all summer through a loan program. Badminton sets, giant outdoor Connect 4 game, Jenga blocks, Spikenet, & more!

East Coast Karting is an outdoor 600-metre track with options for all skill levels. You might also want to check out the action at Riverglade Motorcross and the Petty International Raceway for events & programs, too!

The Boardwalk offers go-karts, mini-golf, driving range, bumper boats, batting cages, & Butterfly World.

Speaking of mini-putt, there’s a course in Shediac you might want to check out!

The City of Moncton offers three awesome areas for riders to bike, skate, or scooter: CN Sportplexe Bike Park (55 Russ Howard Boulevard), the Downtown Skate Park (by Riverfront Park), and the Renton All-Wheels Park (280 Noel Street). (And of course all the amazing trails!) Dieppe’s Rotary St-Anselme Park & Splash Pad offers awesome biking trails and options, too.

Don’t forget to take time to enjoy local parks & playgrounds. Here are a few of the large spaces to explore, with trails & occasional activities planned. You can also check out our Playground section for dozens of profiles of local spaces to play!

•  Centennial Park
• Mapleton Park
• Irishtown Nature Park
• Rotary St-Anselme Park
• Dover Park,
• Mill Creek Nature Park Dobson Trail
• Highland Park
• Woodland Trail
• Sackville Waterfowl Park
• Fundy National Park
• Kouchibouquac Park

Did you know the Hopewell Rocks are less than 40km from downtown Moncton? And if you’re heading there, you’ll pass by the amazing Albert County Museum, which is so far from the stuffy connotation of the word ‘museum’ as you can get! Maybe you’ll spy Tom Collins’ ghost at the jail or hear the Old Judge in the Court House! Be sure to pop over to Wendy Johnston Pottery, too. (Cape Enrage is open for the season, too, with ziplining, rappelling, new fossil tours, & more. A bit further drive, but what an adventure!)

FREE MUSIC

The City of Moncton’s Acoustica concert series is back. Enjoy free music Tuesday nights in Victoria Park, starting at 7pm.

Riverview’s Art in the Park brings music to Caseley Park on Wednesday nights, 7-8:30pm, starting August 4.

In Sackville, the tunes flow on Thursday nights at Bill Johnstone Park. The line-up is on the town’s website.

Shediac offers free music on Wednesday & Thursday nights at Pascal Poirier Park. Check the calendar for who’s playing when!

Memramcook’s free summer music series takes place on Thursday nights at the Monument-Lefebvre.

MOVIE NIGHT

Cineplex has theatres in both Dieppe & Moncton, with new releases back on the big screen!

Shediac’s Neptune Drive In is a New Brunswick institution. This weekend, it’s Snake Eyes followed by the 1986 classic Top Gun!

The Sussex Drive In is also a fan favourite; consider camping there for the weekend, as well. This weekend, catch Black Widow followed by Cruella. (Next weekend it’s Spirit Untamed & Black Widow on the big screen, with a triple feature on Sunday for the New Brunswick Day long weekend.)

Dieppe’s Outdoor Cinema is back, showing free family movies at Place 1604 on Thursday nights. Shows begin at dusk.

MORE INDOOR ACTIVITIES & IDEAS FOR FAMILIES – INCLUDING TWEENS & TEENS!

There are several spots that generally often indoor walking, with many tracks being stroller-friendly (at least at certain times). Check with the Moncton Coliseum, Crossman Centre/Kay Arena, & the UNIplex in Dieppe for current information.

• The public libraries are starting to return to regular programming. Check your local location for storytimes, teen groups, and more!
• Marco’s Clinic is a great spot for basketball & laser tag! (It’s just across the parking lot from our next spot.)
• FitRocks Climbing Gym has great courses for all ages. Perfect for any combination of climbers.
• DIY Studio is a great spot for a paint-your-own pottery outing. We’re thrilled to see they’re getting a bigger space soon!
• Also on the move, SkyZone has its signage up again on St. George Blvd, near Hillcrest School. Woo hoo!
• Hop Skip Jump! is open with reduced capacity, but no reservation required.
• Bowling is always fun! Bowlarama in Dieppe offers gutter blockers for kids & an awesome arcade section.
• The new YMCA Moncton North has an indoor splash pad & playground!!
• Resurgo Place is closed Sundays & Mondays.
• Thomas Williams House offers tours and activities during the summer.
• Doiron House, celebrating Acadian community life in Dieppe, opens for the season June 3.
• Musée acadien at the University is open June through August, with guided tours, travelling exhibits, and more.
• HomarusEcoCentre opens for the season on July 7; be sure to plan to adopt your own lobster this season! (Don’t worry; the lobster doesn’t come home with you – but you learn all about its lifecycle!)
• The Riverview Indoor Skatepark is a wonderful place to learn & practice your skills; book a time and check them out!
• Escape rooms are great fun with older kids; check out the options at Room Escape Atlantic, Mystery Moncton Mystere, & at Shediac’s Le Moque-Tortue. 
• Timber Lounge offers family bookings, too. Another great option for tweens & teens (or a night out).
• Maghill Paintball is a fantastic option with teens. A two-hour rental (birthday party package) is available.

MARKETS & YUMMY TREATS TO EXPLORE

The Moncton Market & the Dieppe Market are both open on Saturdays from 8am to 1pm, with fantastic options for local goodies. For the summer, you can also visit the Moncton Riverfront Evening Market on Thursday nights. Many smaller communities also have markets & great hidden eating gems, like Salisbury’s growing market/antique scene and the Little Red Rooster Cafe at the Green Pig Country Market, as well as the Old Church Farmer’s Market in Hillsborough. For a little shopping & treats with a great view, plan a visit to Magnetic Hill Wharf Village.

Treat your tastebuds with a walk along St. George Street for Halo Donuts, Lost and Found Ice Cream, and maybe even a Taco in a Bag from Notre Dame de Parkton or something from Dolma. You’re also super close to Co Pain Artisan Bread Company & oodles of great restaurants! The Arches of St. George hold regular pop-ups with some of the neatest makers around. Treats, vintage finds, jewelry, and so much more! Pop up to Apple Art Gallery & their new shop, deux pépins.

Grab a meal from a food truck & pull up a picnic table. We loved enjoying some poutine from the Freaky Fryer while waiting for the Tidal Bore! You might be able to track down your favourite truck – or discover a new fave with this handy map! BeaverTails Mobile keeps popping up in fun places around the community; check out their page to see if you can make plans to visit them soon for a treat.

Plan an epic ICE CREAM CRAWL with our Guide to the Best Spots for an old fashioned hard ice cream cone! There are more than two dozen suggestions on our list – and growing!

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THE JENNA & TOSH SHOW

You can find all 125+ episodes of our podcast on this site – but be sure to subscribe on your favourite app to always get the latest conversations straight away! (Search for the ‘Pickle Planet Podcast’) We’ve wrapped our regular season, but have a special summer series recorded on site at the Albert County Museum!

#HistoryNB: Acadians in Albert County

#HistoryNB: The Ghosts of Albert County

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Something we forgot? Let us know! You can message us through our Facebook page.

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Need more ideas for fun with the family? Check out additional details for arcades, bowling alleys, and other attractions on Pickle Planet’s Guide to Family Fun in Greater Moncton.

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