Pickle Planet’s MEGA list of Things to do for March Break in Moncton 2018
Alright, folks – are we ready? It’s MARCH BREAK!
JUST WAIT! This is the 2018 list; if you’re here searching for 2023 March Break, CLICK HERE.
You might also want to check out our WINTER FUN list, our ARCADE FUN list, and our MEGA LIST of THINGS TO DO can help you start plannning.
Whether you’re as giddy as the kids or already stressed about managing the time, we’re here to help!
This is the third annual MEGA MARCH BREAK ROUND UP from Pickle Planet Moncton, your one-stop-shop for all the inside scoop on family fun in the Greater Moncton Area. We provide a weekly list of things to do in Moncton, Dieppe, Riverview, Salisbury, Shediac, Sackville, and other communities, as well as seasonal round ups of like the best ice cream spots, splash pads, playgrounds, and more. You can also check out our awesome list of ongoing attractions and events that can help you decide what to do with the kids each weekend.
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Before we jump into the list, a few tips for making March Break with the kids go smoothly:
Chill the schedule. Pick just one or two activities each day – a mix of a timed event and an at-home one, ideally. Try to block your time in big chunks (let’s do this in the morning, and this in the afternoon) rather than trying to stick to a tight schedule.
Remember to eat. If you’re used to the kids being at school for lunch and grabbing a quick bite on your own, making a full lunch can throw your whole routine off. My suggestion: Give your kids ownership of this meal and help them learn to prepare it if they don’t already know how.
Ask the kids. They might just want to spend a day playing video games and reading stories together on the couch. Don’t tell yourself you need to take advantage of all the event happening if what will make everyone happy is some quiet, quality time together at home.
But we all know it’s good to get out of the house now and then … and there is NO shortage of things to do for March Break in Moncton! Here are the events that we’ve been able to find. We’ll update as we can, but please be sure to always double check and click through to the source information or call the venue to confirm details.
This list is more-or-less chronological, with events listed first, then some ideas on places to go and times for things like skating, swimming, and so on. Be sure to read through thoroughly so you don’t miss anything – and drop a comment if you know of an event we haven’t found yet! We want this to be the best list it can!!
Events
If you haven’t seen Mary Poppins at The Capitol, the final performances are scheduled for March 2, 3, and 4! Calliou is coming Sunday, March 11 (show in French only).
Dieppe’s Fun on Ice Friday nights wraps up March 2 with Countryside providing the music while you skate the Oval and enjoy bonfires and treats.
The Magnetic Hill Zoo will be opening for four Sundays in March; this is a fundraiser for the zoo with admission prices for those over the age of three ($3 for youth, $5 for adults; cash only). The zoo will open March 4, 11, 18, and 25 from 11am to 3pm, conditions permitting.
Shediac has lots of family fun planned for March Break. Highlights include a magic show with Remi Boudreau on Friday, March 2, a visit with players from the Moncton Magic on Monday morning, laser tag Tuesday and Wednesday, bouncy castles Wednesday through Friday, and two free family movies (Ballerina in French on Thursday, Leap in English Friday).
The team at Kouchibouguac are planning a moonlight snowshoe trip on Saturday, March 3, and a learn-to-snowshoe session on Sunday. There’s also a great learning session on March 11 about building winter shelters.
The Saint-Antoine Community Centre will host a magic show with Remi Boudreau on Saturday, March 3, at 2pm. Admission is $5.
Trites Maples is holding a sneak peek event on Saturday, March 3 as a fundraiser for Magnetic Hill School. From 9:30am until 3pm enjoy taffy on the snow, a bake sale, live music, and more. They will be open for the season officially on March 10, with weekend openings through to April 15.
The Moncton Wildcats welcome Acadie-Bathurst on Saturday, March 3.
The Moncton Magic play an afternoon game against the London Lightening Sunday, March 4.
Cineplex is offering four specially-priced movies each day of the week during March Break, for just $2.99 per ticket. Wonder, Despicable Me 3, Ferdinand, and The Boss Baby play each day!
The Clayspace is inviting young artists to the studio for messy mayhem this March Break. (Workshops are best suited for children six to 14.) You can register for daily morning sessions or the whole week, making slime, explore stamping techniques, splatter painting, and much more.
Mastermind Toys is holding daily activities in the store; please call ahead (506-382-3441) to register, as space is limited. Monday is rock painting, Tuesday explores orbmolecules, Wednesday is all about mess-free glitter, Thursday is mecanimal play, and Friday is jewellery making!
Smart Saturday’s at Scholar’s Choice are a great chance to check out some of the store’s products (each week from noon until 2pm), but during March Break there is fun every day with a STEAM theme! There will be science, technology, engineering, art, and math activities to try. Stop in to explore!
Chapters Moncton is also holding daily events for kids during the week, all starting at 11am. Monday, March 5 is arts & crafts, followed by game day, LEGO day, design & create, and PAW Patrol (no costumed characters, just crafts, etc).
Michaels offers a weekly Kids Club craft session on Saturdays. The cost is $2, with sessions starting every half hour.
Resurgo Place is a perfect space for hands on exploring, including Saturday and Sunday ‘crafternoon’ events included with admission. Check out their March Break special programming – including opening on Monday!
Room Escape Atlantic is opening a new challenge room on Friday, March 2, available in both French and English, suitable for children eight and older (adult accompaniment required). The theme: Once Upon a Time! Cost is $23 per player; minimum of four players, maximum of eight. The game lasts one hour.
There’s an open house planned for the Moncton Flight College on Saturday, March 10. Pre-registration is requested: email Laurie at lmahar@mfc.nb.ca. There are simulator trips, reduced fare flights, and more.
Renton Brothers Family Sugarbush is scheduled to open for the season Saturday, March 10.
The Owens Art Gallery in Sackville will host Make Something Sunday on March 11. Bring the kids to learn about Photocopied Zines.
There are lots of ongoing activities at our local libraries, many offering daily activities throughout March Break.
Get moving!
Moncton’s Crossman Centre will have a special March Break schedule: open Monday through Friday from 1pm to 4pm for free play. Youth ages 12 and under must have a guardian present and indoor shoes are required. (The regular Parent & Tot morning times of 10am-noon Mon, Tues, Thurs, and Fri remain in place.)
The Play Café is great place to hang out with little ones, especially if you need some wi-fi and snacks! The Café is holding a March Break Camp in the afternoons for children ages four to eight; pre-registration is required and spaces are limited. There is also a kids’ paint night on Wednesday, March 7; again, pre-registration is required.
Hop Skip Jump! is a great option for a range of ages, with everything from a toddler area to lasers and VR! Lots of great eats in the café, too!
PlayTime Kiddo offers both an indoor and outdoor bouncy castle park, with obstacles and climbing gear that will appeal to ages two to 10. They’re also holding a March Break Camp.
MyGym Moncton operates on a membership basis, but you can try a class for free and they have non-member prices for their March Break theme day camps. Great physical activity from infancy to age 10.
Crystal Mountain Party Palace is a great spot to enjoy laser tag and arcade games.
Get AirMoncton is a great place to burn off energy; check out their times set aside for smaller jumpers!
Skyzone Moncton is a fantastic option for family fun; check out their site for details on glow times and other special options!
FitRocks Climbing Gym has programs and courses for all ages on Altantic Canada’s largest indoor climbing wall, with March Break specials.
The Riverview Skatepark and Youth Centre is a wonderful place for all ages. There are indoor skate times for those under age 11 and designated teen times. Helmet rentals available! The Skatepark is holding special all-ages drop-in times on Saturday, March 3 and Saturday, March 10, 11am to 10pm.
The CN Sportplexe Bike Park is always open and always free.
Stretch your creative skills at DIY Studio where you can paint-your-own pre-made pottery.
Older kids (14 and up) can enjoy Mystery Moncton Mystere.
Bowling
Fairlanes in Moncton, Bowlarama in Dieppe (check out their March Break special), and Parklane Bowling in Riverview all offer gutter blockers for kids. Parklane is holding a Family Fun Day on Saturday, March 3; from 4-6pm, $10 per person gets you three strings, pizza, and a drink! Be sure to register, as spaces will fill up.
Did you know there’s a small six-lane bowling alley at the Boys & Girls Club in Petitcodiac? They have great deals on for March Break: $2.50 a string, shoes included, open 8am to 5pm. (PS – They do parties, too! Call 756-8810 for details!)
Indoor Swimming
The Pat Crossman Aquatic Centre in Riverview has pubic swimming times every day throughout March Break, including on the weekends. In addition to their regular swims, look for open swim times during the week from 1:30-4pm and 6-8pm.
For March Break the Dieppe Aquatic Centre is offering public swimming March 3 and 4 from 2-4:44pm, from March 3 to 9 at 6pm-7:55pm, and March 5-9 from 10-11:55am and 2-3:55pm. Rates vary; there is family pricing and March Break packages available. (This is a great pool for little ones, with a sloped entry section, a pirate ship, and more. There’s also the swinging rope and inflatable obstacles for older swimmers!)
The Moncton YMCA holds public swims sessions on Fridays (6:30pm), Saturdays (2:30pm), and Sundays (2:30pm). The Sunday swims are subsidized by the City of Moncton and cost $2 per person. You do NOT need a membership to swim at these times. There is a children’s pool at the YMCA that’s great for little ones! Look for extra March Break swim times on Monday and Wednesday at 4:30!
St. Pat’s Family Centre will be open for public swimming Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (4:15-7pm), and CEPS at UdeM will be open Wednesday and Friday (10-11:25am) and Saturday (3-4:25pm). These times are all subsidized by the City of Moncton and cost $2; bathing caps required.
Skating
The rinks will be wrapping up their seasons soon – but there are lots of skating times during March Break!
In Riverview, the Byron Dobson rink holds free parent & tot skates weekday afternoons (1:30-2:30pm), free skating for 12-and-under on Tuesdays (3:15-4:15pm) and Fridays (4-5:15pm), and free youth skating Wednesdays (3:30-4:45pm). There is paid public skating on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. See the full schedule and prices here.
In Dieppe, there will be free family skating at Centennial Arena March 5 through 8 from 2:30-4pm, and on March 11 from 11am-2pm. There is also daily skating outdoors at the Oval behind Place 1604 (open 10am -9:30pm) and in Rotary Park. There are also sleigh rides scheduled for Rotary Park on March 4 and 11 from 1-4pm; cost is $2 each.
Free family skating sessions are held at the Shediac Festival Arena on Mondays (9:30-10:30am), Wednesdays (9:30-10:30am & 3-3:50pm), Fridays (9:30-10:30am), and Saturdays (6:35-7:35pm).
Moncton’s Superior Propane Centre offers $2 Parent & Tot skating Monday through Friday (10-11am – free on Fridays) and on Sundays (9:45-10:45am), as well as public skating Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays (3:30-4:30pm) and Sundays (11:45am-12:45pm). Please note: the rink is NOT open to the public March 2-4, due to tournaments.
The Crossman Community Centre Kay Arena has parent & tot skates Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays (10:15-11:15am), and public skating Fridays (3:30-4:30pm), Saturdays and Sundays (2:30-4pm); cost is $2, expect free on Fridays.
That’s it, folks! Our MEGA list of what’s happening and things to do in the Moncton area for March Break. Just a few more ideas to leave with you …
Heading to Halifax? Here are a few of the places we love to visit there! There’s also lots of information at Itsy Bitsy Haligonians and Simple Local Life has a list of things happening along the South Shore.
Maybe a trip to Saint John is in your plans? Our friends at Network of Moms keep tabs on what’s happening in the Port City – and have a March Break post, too!.
Thanks for reading!
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