Pickle Planet’s Guide to Family Fun at Riverview Winter Carnival 2025

Pickle Planet is thrilled to partner with the Town to promote Winter Carnival 2025, January 31 – February 9. Ten days. 65 indoor and outdoor activities. Full details on the Town’s website: www.townofriverview.ca/events/winter-carnival

50 YEARS of Winter Carnival fun! Can you believe Riverview Winter Carnival is celebrating such an amazing milestone?

We’re sending big congratulations out to everyone involved in FIFTY YEARS of planning incredible Winter Carnivals in the Town of Riverview! And a special shout out to the current team, who have created a 10-day event with 65 activities for all ages. Amazing work!

It’s going to be 👏SNOW👏MUCH👏FUN👏- Let’s get planning! For those of you who don’t want to sift through all 65 listings, no fear – Pickle Planet is here! We’re highlighting daily family-friendly events you’ll want to check out. Here’s the quick list:

• Fri. Jan 31 ☕Hot chocolate & fireworks – need we say more? (You know we will; keep reading!)
• Sat. Feb 1 🛹Pancakes, skateboards, pool party & bingo
• Sun. Feb 2 🧭 Snowshoeing, cookout, & geocaching
• Mon. Feb 3 🤘 Battle of the Bands Pt 1
• Tues. Feb 4 🧑‍🎤 Battle of the Bands Pt 2
• Wed. Feb 5 🔥 Bonfire & youth snowshoeing
• Thurs. Feb 6 🪩 Stuffie sleepover & pre-teen dance
• Fri. Feb 7 ⚡Glow skating (oooh, this one is going to be so fun!)
• Sat. Feb 8 🥞 Pancakes & discovering guiding
• Sun. Feb 9 🧘Sound healing for families

Now for the details! 

FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2025

Riverview’s 50th annual Winter Carnival kicks off on National Hot Chocolate Day, Friday, January 31, with Ignite!

If you haven’t been before, think of this as a winter block party – with music, skating, hot chocolate, and fireworks! Everything takes place at Riverview’s Winter Wonderland Park (5 Quinn Court), starting at 6pm.

Swamp Bear Joel Palmer’s ice sculptures will be on display

Briggs Maple will be selling taffy on the snow ($3/stick)

The oval will be open for skating & there will be sledge skates to try

Free hot chocolate & s’mores (while supplies last – bring your own mug!)

Family-friendly tunes spun by DJ Krista Jay

Mama K’s Food Truck will be there, too!

Fireworks are planned for 7pm (which means there’s no sliding on the toboggan hill for the evening; plan another visit to enjoy that!)

NEW for 2025 — Join the Hot Chocolate Express!

Since Jan 31 is National Hot Chocolate Day, eight businesses around town are offering free hot chocolate from 5-7pm, so you can warm up on your way to Ignite. You can find a list on their website, or use the Driftscape app & look for the little cocoa mug to see where they are.

The town is also operating the Hot Chocolate Express this year, providing free transportation to and from the event, with free hot chocolate and chances to win carnival swag! The Hot Chocolate Express will pick up/drop off passengers at locations across East & West Riverview. The service is free, but space is limited; you can head to the Town’s website to see the stops & book your seat!

(If the weather isn’t cooperating, Ignite moves to Feb 1. Watch the town’s page for updates.)

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2025

Saturday is PACKED with fun for the family!

Start the morning at Bethel Presbyterian Church (600 Coverdale Road) and enjoy a pancake breakfast with entertainment, too! Open 8:30-11am, cost is $30 for a family of five (or $12/adult, $5/youth, children under five free), with proceeds going to support the breakfast program at West Riverview School & the Albert County Food Bank.

Did you know Riverview has one of the only indoor skateboard parks in Atlantic Canada? And one of the only indoor skating competitions during the winter? The 2025 Frozen Open, presented by Surface Skateshop, runs from 1-6pm. There will be competitors at all levels – including this year’s new category, the OGs for those 35+ – with cash prizes on the line. Free to watch!

If you’ve wondering if Ringette might be the sport for someone in your family, check out the free Try It Day (hour, really!) at the Upper Byron Dobson Arena from 1:45-2:45pm. You’ll need a pair of skates and a helmet; all the rest including a warm welcome and lots of on-ice fun is provided.

At 2pm, head to the Pat Crossman Aquatic Centre for the free Coconut Carnival Pool Party. This is a blast from the past; expect the pool deck to be decked out like a hot Hawaiian paradise!

Wrap up the fun with a kids’ Bingo at the Riverview Lions Club, with lots of fun prizes and snacks. Admission is a donation to the food bank; the fun begins at 6:30pm and lasts an hour.

A reminder you can find all 65 events on the Town’s website, in case you’re looking for more ideas for different ages & interests!

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2025

The Town has a series of snowshoe events planned this winter, including a Family Snowshoe Adventure today. (Call 506-387-2024 or register online; spaces are limited.) Join Town staff at Mill Creek Nature Park at 11am for a guided tour, making your way along the trails to the Lookout where the local Scouts are holding a cookout. The event ends at 12:30pm. Please note: This event is open to all & is meant to be accessible to beginners and children, ideally ages six or older. (Child-wearing is allowed.) The town will provide the snowshoes.

You can join the Cookout at the Lookout without snowshoeing, too! The 1st Moncton BPSA Traditional Scouting group will be at the Mill Creek Lookout from 11:30am-2:30pm, offering Beavertails (Woodland Flats Pastry), roasted Starbursts (Campfire Comets), Caramel Marshmallow (Trailblazer Bombs) and a refreshment to warm you up! Please note: this is while supplies last – and you’re encouraged to bring your own picnic for lunch, too!

Teens with a taste for art might enjoy signing up for the watercolour workshop with Ji Hyang Ryu this afternoon.

And Sunday is your first chance to claim a limited edition 50th anniversary Winter Carnival geocoin. Geocaching is free & a great way to get out exploring the area!

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3 & TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2025

Anglophone East Schools Battle of the Bands is back at the Riverview Arts Centre, Monday and Tuesday night. Amazing talents from across the region! Admission is $5.75/students, $11.50/seniors, & $13.80/adults. Music 6:30-9pm.

BONUS: More than 25 Riverview businesses will be offering Winter Carnival specials & promotions. A great time to shop & support local! Check out the Town’s website – townofriverview.ca/warmspecials - for all the details! (We’re digging the 50% sale at Dayzee’s & Ergon Thrift.)

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2025

The Riverview Scouts invite you to join them for a traditional bonfire roast and singalong with musician Chris Glidden at the Mill Creek Lookout. They’ll be there 6:30-8:30pm.

There’s also a youth guided snowshoe walk, 6:30-7:30pm, in Mill Creek Nature Park. You can borrow snowshoes from the Town or bring your own – and if there’s not enough snow, this will just be a nature walk! Registration isn’t required, but if you have questions, call 506-387-2024.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025

Calling all stuffies! It’s time for your sleepover at the library! These are always the cutest nights. Children can bring their stuffed friends to the library Thursday night at 6:30pm for a cozy night of stories and a craft, then leave their little besties behind for some overnight shenanigans with the librarians. Pick the stuffies up Friday, between 1 & 5pm; they usually have some stories to tell!

For those who’ve aged out of the stuffie games, there’s a pre-teen dance tonight, too! BGC Riverview is hosting a dance and lip sync battle for ages 10-13 at the Coverdale Rec Centre, 6:30-8:30pm. Admission is $5 cash at the door.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2025

Grab your neon best & lace up for the Family Glow Skate! What can you expect? Lots of lively music, dazzling glow lights, and so much colour & fun! (Remember, you need a CSA-approved winter helmet on the ice – not a bike helmet.) The skate is in the Upper Byron Dobson Arena, which has a maximum capacity of 300, so get there early to ensure your skating spot. Family skating is from 6-7:30pm.

Older kids – ditch your ‘rents & do your own turn under the lights from 7:45-9pm! The Youth Glow Skate is sure to be an epic time.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2025

Pancakes are always a great way to start a Saturday! Head to the Riverview Lions Club for a full meal dished out with the Royal Rush Dragon Boat team. Cost is $10/person or $30/family, with proceeds going to the Lion’s Sick Children’s Fund and Crossroads for Women. Serving 8-11am.

Wondering if Girl Guiding might be a good fit for your family? Get a taste with a drop-in event with hands-on activities inside and outside the Coverdale Rec Centre, 10am-3pm.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2025

Wrap up an incredible Winter Carnival with a relaxing, rejuvenating experience with sound exploration. ECE & yoga teacher Trish will lead families through this session. Bring your own mat, blankets, and pillows to relax. Register online or call 506-387-2024 to book your free space.

Winter in the Park is planning a return this year, too! This is a VERY weather-dependent event, so you’ll have to keep an eye on the Town’s social media accounts for updates. Snowshoe artists Matt Robinson and Sheldon Benoit have created several sustainable art designs on the Mill Creek Nature Park Reservoir over the past several years & we hope they’ll be able to come again for 2025! (You can watch a video of their 2024 creation on the Town’s Facebook.) They might be on site February 1 & 2 or 8 & 9, depending on the weather.

And if your family has been celebrating Riverview Winter Carnival through the ages, why not enter the Golden Era Photo Contest?! Share a photo or memory – even one from this year! – to be in the draw for some great prizes. Full details on the Town’s website.

Well! How’s that for an incredible line up of family fun?! And remember, these are just some of the 65 events happening – so if you’re still looking for more activities to add to your calendar, visit the Town’s website and start planning. Happy Winter Carnival, everyone!