
Pickle Planet’s Guide to New Year’s Eve Family Fun in Downtown Moncton (December 31, 2024)
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Wondering what to do with the kids to ring in the New Year in Greater Moncton? Head downtown! The City is once again creating a magical celebration for all ages on December 31.
NEW YEAR’S EVE FAMILY FUN FEST in Downtown Moncton
When ⏰ 2pm-midnight on December 31
Where 📍 In front of the Avenir Centre (150 Canada Street)
How Much 💲 FREE (there will be food trucks & a beer garden you can purchase items at, as well as optionally buying tickets to the Moncton Wildcats home game at 4pm)
That’s right; the fun begins at 2pm and goes right through until 2025! There will be special activities for children in the afternoon, live music, food trucks and a United Way fundraiser BBQ, two rounds of fireworks, and you can purchase tickets to see the Wildcats in action, too! Let’s take a walk through the highlights, shall we?!
KIDS ZONE
Little ones will LOVE the excitement inside the Avenir Centre! Visit at 2pm (before the hockey game – by Door 5) for performances by children’s entertainers Mr. Mark and Mike Pendergast, a fun photo booth, face painting, hot chocolate, & more!
If you’re up for a little sugar rush (and let’s be honest, who isn’t on NYE?!), head outside to grab some free Briggs maple taffy on the snow and hit up the s’mores station, too! (For something with a bit more protein, check out the food trucks and the United Way fundraiser BBQ, happening until 8pm.)
Burn off the sugar and energy with a few laps around the Ian Fowler Oval! Bring your skates and helmets to enjoy some time on the ice.
Cozy up the little ones’ hands and feet with a stop in the warming tent where they can colour and relax. You might also want to grab tickets to the Wildcats game that afternoon; they host the Charlottetown Islanders at 4pm.
And the best part for parents with little ones — the family-friendly fireworks planned for 7:15pm!! Yes, you an enjoy the spectacular fun of the sky filled with light without totally compromising bedtime routines! (PS: There’s no age restriction to enjoying early fireworks; I know lots of people without little ones who are excited for this, too.)
DETAILED SCHEDULE:
- 2-6pm on the Rona Local Stage:
- 2-2:30pm: Opening Prayer and welcoming remarks
- 2:30-3pm: Voices Rising Youth Choirs
- 3-4:15pm: High Fidelity
- 4:30-6pm: Dahlia Ave
- 2-7pm at the BioScript Kid’s Zone:
- 2:30-3:30pm: Mike Pendergast
- 3:45-4:45pm: Mr. Mark
- 5-6pm: Mike Pendergast
- 6:15-7pm: Mr. Mark
- 2-10pm the Lounsbury Warming Tent will be open & the Cavendish Fry Truck will be on site
- 2pm-midnight visit the food trucks on site & (for those 19+) the Hyatt Place Moncton/Carrabba’s Outdoor Bar
- 4pm the Wildcats game against the Charlottetown Islanders begins (tickets are almost sold out – don’t wait!)
- 6:15 pm the evening music begins with the Big Bad Party Band, followed by Les Hay Babies & finally Signal Hill
- 7:15 pm are the early fireworks for families and a chance to meet the Wildcats in the Avenir lobby.
- Midnight will be marked with another amazing fireworks display!
Tweens & teens looking for a party? Bring them, too!
- ⛸️Every age is a great age for ice skating around the Oval! And you’re never too old for s’mores and maple taffy, right?!
- 🍟 They can fill their bellies at the always popular Cavendish Fry Truck, Mama K’s, or Shangrilla food trucks; they’re all on site from 2pm – midnight.
- 🏒 Cheering on the Moncton Wildcats is a great NYE outing for teens; the team takes the ice at 4pm, hosting the Charlottetown Islanders.
- 🎆 Make sure the phones are charged up for the first round of fireworks at 7:15pm!
- 🎶Downtown will be rocking with three incredible bands taking the stage from 6:15pm until midnight. All ages are welcome to sing & dance along to Big Bad Party Band, Les Hay Babies & Signal Hill!
- 🎆 Wrap it all up with another round of spectacular fireworks at midnight!
🍸 19+ & looking for a drink? There’ll be a beer garden & cocktails at the Hyatt’s Ice Bar!
And the best part of all – it’s free! You can create an incredible afternoon/evening out for the whole family without having to spend any money. A great way to start the New Year!
For more on the event, visit the City of Moncton’s website.
If you’re planning to use public transit, Codiac Transpo is offering free service on some routes beginning at 5:30pm – and some changes to their usual routes for 16 Hennessey, 50 Red Line, 51 Green Line, 61 Elmwood, 62 Hildegard, 64 Hospitals, 81 Riverview, 93 Champlain, 94 Centrale, and 95 Amirault. Get all the details on their website.
(Though if it’s at all in the budget, we highly suggest booking a hotel room downtown for the night. It could be a perfect experience gift for the family this holiday season! Enjoy walking to & from the venue, maybe a little room service treat or time in a pool, shopping in the afternoon, and sleeping in the next morning.)
Looking for even more ways to make the party fun for your family? Purchase some large sets of skinny glow sticks and challenge everyone to build their own silly hat or necklace. You could also host a pre-outing hat-making session for everyone to decorate some holiday headwear. And never underestimate the power of matching NYE party glasses and other fun props!
Happy 2025, everyone!