Santa Parades and Winter Festivals in Southeastern New Brunswick
‘Tis the season for Santa Claus parades, Christmas markets, winter festivals, and all things merry and bright!
NEW BRUNSWICK SANTA CLAUS & CHRISTMAS PARADES 2022
We’ve listed the parades and festivals in order of their scheduled date, so you can plan appropriately. Click through to the highlighted source links for updates on routes, weather, and more. If you know of one we haven’t added yet, please drop the info in the comments!
A Selection of 2022 New Brunswick Santa Claus Parades
Saint John
The 69th annual Saint John Santa Claus Parade takes place at 6pm on Saturday, November 19, travelling down Union Street and onto the viaduct.
Amherst
We know it’s not in New Brunswick, but we also know lots of folks enjoy skipping across the provincial border to enjoy Amherst’s Santa Claus Parade, happening Saturday, November 19 at 6pm.
Shediac
Shediac’s annual Santa Claus parade is Friday, November 25 at 7pm.
Greater Moncton Area
One of the largest holiday parades in the country! The Royale Greater Moncton Santa Claus Parade takes place Saturday, November 26 at 5pm, starting at the corner of Cameron and Main Streets in downtown. Watch for Family Fun Zones along the way, with entertainment before the big event!
Fredericton
The Fredericton Santa Claus Parade takes place Saturday, November 26. It starts on the city’s northside at 5pm, leaving Devonshire Drive, turning onto Union Street then Main Street until Johnson Avenue.
Lancaster (Saint John)
Looking for an afternoon option? Saint John’s Lancaster Santa Claus parade is happening Saturday, November 26 at 1pm.
Kennebecasis Valley
The KV Santa Claus Parade is happening Saturday, November 26 at 6pm.
Petitcodiac
This is always a popular parade – lots of love in the many floats, but a quieter experience for families who don’t love the crowds of the cities. The Petitcodiac Santa Claus Festival of Lights Parade takes place Friday, December 2 at 7pm.
Bouctouche
The annual Santa Claus Parade in Bouctouche takes place Saturday, December 3 at 6pm.
Sussex
Sussex’s Santa Claus Parade takes place Saturday, December 3 at 6:30pm.
St. Andrew’s
St. Andrew’s By the Sea has a whole website dedicated to their Christmas events, including the annual Santa Claus Parade on December 3.
Cap-Pelé
The annual Cap-Pelé Santa Claus Parade is Sunday, December 4 at 6:30pm.
Pickle Planet’s Parade Watching Tips
- Grab some glow sticks and silly hats.
- Bring snacks, including something warm in a thermos.
- Dress the kiddos in their PJs under their snowsuits for added fun – and ease at bedtime.
- Find a spot with a public washroom nearby (or a workplace you can access in an emergency).
- Don’t forget hats, mitts, and scarves for the adults as well as the kids.
- Most parades have volunteers collecting for the food bank and postal carriers gathering letters to Santa. Don’t forget to bring yours!
- Bring a camp chair or blanket to sit on, but be courteous of others.
- Invite friends and family to join you; it’s great to have one person save your spot while another takes a walk with little people not used to waiting.
- Be sure to take home whatever you bring with you; litter left along the route gets you straight on Santa’s naughty list!
Looking for another way to see Santa? He’s also taking reservations for visits at CF Champlain & Bass Pro Shops!
2022 GREATER MONCTON CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIRS, MARKETS, & MORE
We love supporting local crafters and vendors & hope you do, too! We’ll keep updating this list of Greater Moncton Area holiday craft & vendor fairs as we find them, so feel free to drop yours in the comments if it’s not here yet.
November 4
- Stoney Creek’s Stars & Stitches 7th Annual Christmas Open House, 10am – 8pm
- Friends of Rudolph, Mapleton Lodge Park, 10am – 2pm
November 5
November 6
November 12
- Wintergreen Handmade Fair (Riverview), 11am – 5pm
- Crandall University Christmas Manor, 9am – 3pm
- Christmas Bazzar, Salisbury Legion, 9am – 2pm
- Christmas as the Manor, 11am – 7pm (tickets required, purchase online)
November 13
- Christmas at the Manor, 10am – 4pm (tickets required, purchase online)
- Art in your Holidays, Riverview Community Hall, 9am – 4pm
November 15
November 17
- Affinity Farm’s Christmas in the Cape kicks off, 11am – 7pm
November 18
- Sackville’s Moonlight Madness, 7am – 11pm
- Belding Hill Farms’ (near Hampton) much anticipated Outdoor European Style Christmas Market kicks off November 18, with dates until December 10
November 19
- Magnetic Hill School’s Christmas Tea & Craft Fair, 9am – 2pm
- Rexton Craft Fair, Bonar Law Memorial School, 9am – 5pm
- Moncton Multiples Consignment Sale, 9am – 1pm (free entry begins at 11am)
- Ukraine Resists Art Sale at Resurgo Place, 9am-3pm
- Christmas Craft Fair, Shediac Legion, 10am – 3pm
- Tantramar Regional High School Christmas Craft Sale, 10am – 3pm
November 20
- Mistletoe Kisses, Moncton Lions Community Centre, 10am – 2pm
November 24
- Riverview Light Up & Vendor Market, 3:30-8:30 (light up at 7pm)
November 25
November 26
- Turner’s Christmas at the Coliseum, 10am – 9pm
- Holly Jolly Market by Etsy NB (Fredericton), 10am – 4pm
- Moncton Lion’s Club, 9am – 4pm
November 27
- Turner’s Christmas at the Coliseum, 10am – 5pm
December 3
- Christmas in the Country (Albert County)
- Salisbury Baptist Church’s annual Christmas Craft & Bake Sale, 9am – 2pm
- Sunny Brae Baptist Church’s Deck the Halls, 6pm
- Queen Elizabeth School, 10am – 2pm
- Sleigh the Holidays Pop-Up Market at Canvas Moncton, 10am – 2pm
- The Wellness Exchange Christmas Pop-Up, 10am – 3pm
- He’s a Jolly Elf, Boyle Family Farm, 11am – 3pm
- Toys for Big Boys Christmas Event, 9am – 1pm
- Chipoudy Community Revitalization Committee Christmas Craft Fair, Riverside-Albert Recreation Center, 9am – 4pm
- Olde Tyme Christmas with Story Time with Father Christmas at Bates Barn, 10am – 3pm
December 4
- Christmas in the Country (Albert County)
- Ukrainian Christmas Fair, 10am – 4pm
- Maritime Creations’ Handmade Holiday Craft Fair at Riverview Community Hall, 9am – 3pm
- Chipoudy Community Revitalization Committee Christmas Craft Fair, Riverside-Albert Recreation Center, 9am – 2pm
December 8
- Old Tyme Christmas in Sussex
December 9
- Salisbury Tree Lighting, 5 – 7pm
- Moonlight Madness, Sackville, 7 – 11pm
December 10
- Christmas in the Country (Albert County)
- Shediac Christmas Market, 10am – 5pm
- Irishtown Community Centre Christmas Craft Fair, 8am – 3pm
December 11
- Christmas in the Country (Albert County)
- Shediac Christmas Market, 10am – 3:30pm
- Christmas Cheer, The Grand Ivory Event Space, 10am – 2pm
December 17
Some 2022-2023 Winter Festivals in New Brunswick
Wild Lights at the Magnetic Hill Zoo
This annual fundraiser transforms the zoo into a sparkling wonderland! Open all of December, except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and until January 4.
Uptown Sparkles (December 2) & the Gingerbread Trail are must-attend December events in Saint John!
Fredericton’s Frostival
Proclaimed as Atlantic Canada’s largest winter celebration, Frostival is nearly three weeks long, with more than 150 events throughout the city January 19 to February 5, 2023! Enjoy everything from a music festival to an outdoor wonderland to culinary and craft experiences and more.
Shediac’s Winter Carnival starts at the end of January, with festival mascot Bonhomme Coueche arriving for Groundhog Day.
Dieppe embraces winter with Fun on Ice at Place 1604 on Friday nights throughout the winter, with live music and skating on the oval, as well as the city’s annual winter carnival in February.
Riverview’s Winter Carnival takes place at the start of February with lots of great events centered around Winter Wonderland Park.
The Greater Saint John area celebrates Fundy Winterfest throughout the season, with activities from late January through early March.
Heading out to these events – or taking part in other fun, family activities and events this winter? We’d love to see what you’re up to and discover more ways to enjoy New Brunswick in the winter. Share your adventures with us on Instagram using #pickleplanetwinter and we’ll celebrate all the fabulous ways families are connecting with each other and their communities this winter!