New Year’s Eve 2020 at home in Greater Moncton
New Year’s Eve 2020 is going to be a very family-friendly affair, with few large or public events scheduled. We have lots of inspiration for making the most of the time at home, as well as information on the activities that you might want to enjoy into January 2021!
NEW YEAR’S EVE IDEAS WITH KIDS
Plan a sleepover! If you don’t have a bubble family to spend the night with, create a family camp out in the living room. Any break from routine can be a bundle of fun!
Outdoor fun! If you can, enjoy a backyard bonfire with s’mores and sparklers. Stock up on glow sticks and have a dance party!
Skating Party! While there aren’t many municipally-organized events happening in 2020, our local indoor & outdoor rinks are open & have skate times available on December 31 & January 1. See the list below for details.
RELATED: PICKLE PLANET MONCTON’S GUIDE TO SKATING IN GREATER MONCTON
See the lights! Enjoy the last few days of Wild Lights at Magnetic Hill Zoo. The Zoo is open New Year’s Eve to enjoy the lights, then head home for some hot chocolate and treats while you await midnight. You might also plan a stroll along the Riverfront Trail in Riverview, a free option that offers amazingly romantic and festive vibes for snapping photos. Many homes still have their holiday lights on, too! (You can find our suggested route for some great Christmas lights here.)
Family fun! Break out the board games, invest in a puzzle, indulge in video games, or plan a movie marathon.
Don’t forget the treats! If you’re planning take out, try to order ahead – like, days ahead. Some local Chinese restaurants will take bookings a few days before New Years Eve. Many families plan a fun meal, like homemade personal pizzas or fondue.
New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day is also a great time to start a tradition with your family. Grab a notebook and begin keeping a log of the one-liners, inside jokes, family adventures, and everyday moments you want to remember. Keep it somewhere easily accessible, like tucked in a drawer in the kitchen, so everyone can add to it through the year. Enjoy reminiscing next year!
Discover other cultural traditions! Spend some time learning about New Year’s traditions from around the world and incorporate these into your celebrations. Maybe you’ll eat a dozen grapes like folks do in Spain, or wear red and/or yellow like many Italians or Mexicans – colours that are meant to bring you love, happiness, & money – or have a dark-haired Scottish man come round for first footing, bringing your home good luck for the year to come.
WHAT TO DO WITH THE KIDS IN GREATER MONCTON DECEMBER 31 – JANUARY 4
You can always check PICKLE PLANET’S GUIDE TO FAMILY FUN IN GREATER MONCTON for links to all the local bowling alleys, swimming pools, skating rinks, museums, attractions & more. Here’s a quick look at what’s open this weekend – and don’t forget Cineplex is showing movies all through the holidays, too!
Thursday, December 31
Preschool swimming at the Pat Crossman Aquatic Centre in Riverview 9-10:30am
Free family skating at UNIplex in Dieppe 10-11am
Public swimming at the Dieppe Aquatic Centre 10-11am
Free outdoor skating at the Ian Fowler Oval at Avenir Centre in Moncton 10am-10pm
FitRocks Climbing Gym 10am-5pm
Hop Skip Jump! 10am-2pm & 3-7pm
Free outdoor skating at the Place 1604 refrigerated skating oval in Dieppe 11am-4pm (skate & helmet lending available 6-9pm)
DIY Studio 11am-9pm
Bowlarama 1-9pm
Room Escape Atlantic 1-9:30pm
Mystery Moncton Mystere 1-9pm
Public swimming at the Pat Crossman Aquatic Centre in Riverview 1:30-2:30
Public swimming at the Pat Crossman Aquatic Centre in Riverview 2:30-3:30
Wild Lights at Magnetic Hill Zoo 5-8pm
Friday, January 1
Free outdoor skating at the Ian Fowler Oval at Avenir Centre in Moncton 10am-10pm
Free outdoor skating at the Place 1604 refrigerated skating oval in Dieppe 11am-4pm (skate & helmet lending available 11am-3:30pm)
DIY Studio 12-5pm
Wild Lights at Magnetic Hill Zoo 5-8:30pm
Saturday, January 2
Free outdoor skating at the Ian Fowler Oval at Avenir Centre in Moncton 10am-10pm
Public swimming at the Dieppe Aquatic Centre 10-11am
Hop Skip Jump! 10am-2pm & 3-7pm
FitRocks Climbing Gym 10am-9pm
Free outdoor skating at the Place 1604 refrigerated skating oval in Dieppe 11am-9pm (skate & helmet lending available 11am-3:30pm)
Mystery Moncton Mystere 12-10pm
Bowlarama 1-9pm
Room Escape Atlantic 1-9:30pm
Public swimming at the YMCA 2-3pm
Public swimming at the YMCA 3:30-4:30pm
Public swimming at the Dieppe Aquatic Centre 2:30-3:30pm
Wild Lights at Magnetic Hill Zoo 5-8:30pm
Free family skating at AJL Centre in Dieppe 7:30-8:30pm
Sunday, January 3
Parent & tot swimming at the YMCA 10-11am
Free outdoor skating at the Ian Fowler Oval at Avenir Centre in Moncton 10am-10pm
Public swimming at the Dieppe Aquatic Centre 10-11am
Hop Skip Jump! 10am-2pm & 3-7pm
FitRocks Climbing Gym 10am-9pm
Free outdoor skating at the Place 1604 refrigerated skating oval in Dieppe 11am-9pm (skate & helmet lending available 11am-3:30pm)
Mystery Moncton Mystere 12-9pm
Bowlarama 1-5pm
Room Escape Atlantic 1-9:30pm
Free public skating at AJL Centre in Dieppe 2-3pm
Public swimming at the YMCA 2-3pm
Public swimming at the Dieppe Aquatic Centre 2:30-3:30pm
Public swimming at the YMCA 3:30-4:30pm
Free public skating at UNIplex in Dieppe 3:45-4:45pm
However you ring in the New Year, we wish you health & happiness!
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