The Best Christmas Lights, Hot Chocolates, & More in the Greater Moncton Area
WHERE TO FIND THE BEST CHRISTMAS LIGHTS & MORE IN GREATER MONCTON
This post is FILLED with great resources for making the most of the Christmas season in Greater Moncton. Read all the way through for crafts, gift ideas, Santa info, tips for a toddler-friendly tree, and so much more. But first – THE LIGHTS!
Folks always share lots of great ideas on our Facebook page about where to head to check out Christmas light displays. Check it out & add your suggestions in the comments; we’ll update this page as we find more awesome spots to share.
Please remember to be cautious when slowing or stopping to admire the handiwork & don’t block anyone’s driveway.
A few must-visit displays:
Light Up Riverview features tens of thousands of lights along the Waterfront Trail, with amazing photo opportunities and a chance to imagine yourself in Stars Hallow or your own personal Hallmark Christmas movie.
Downtown Moncton’s angels, snowflakes, and ornament (by the Avenir Centre) are simply majestic, too!
For 2022, Phillips Brothers on Edinburgh Drive had a backhoe covered in lights that was a must-see. We saw lots of lights going up on the property for 2023, too!
Steeves Excavating on the Salisbury Road has machinery and more lit up on their front yard! Keep your eyes out for Buddy nearby; there’s a light up inflatable of Elf along with some friends in the woods near a new build on the Salisbury Road, near Solomon Gardens.
We’re huge fans of the Shediac Lobster’s Santa hat and the Alma lobster trap tree. (We see there’s a fun potato barrel tree in Florenceville-Bristol, if you’re in that part of the province in December.)
A trip along Elmwood Drive is a tradition for many, and for good reason! Right across from the entrance to Irishtown Park you’ll find a display unlikely to be matched anywhere in the city. Check out this great television story on the display and how it all began. (1150 Elmwood Drive for the exact location.)
The house near Centennial Park (corner of Milner & Alexander) is quickly becoming a traditional stop for many, with it’s AT-AT & Starship Enterprise! Pro tip: be sure to watch the upstairs windows when you visit.
We are constantly blown away by the set-to-music display at the Hogan’s home on Pasadena Drive in Moncton. Be sure to check it out! (There are some other great light displays with music, too; we’ve listed some below with their addresses.)
You can also bring the family to WILD LIGHTS, the winter exhibit at the Magnetic Hill Zoo. There are hundreds of thousands of lights displayed throughout the 40 acre park, as well as animals to visit.
When you’re leaving, be sure to drive up Mountain Road toward Lyons’ Store; the house at 3202 Mountain Road has an incredible display with homemade decorations that move, 35,000 lights, and music playing on 89.1FM. One of our favourites!!
Houses traditionally with lights set to music:
- 114 Pasadena Drive, Moncton
- 73 Salengro Cresent, Moncton
- 3202 Mountain Road (between the Zoo & Lyons’ store), Moncton
- 297 Randall Drive in Riverivew has an awesome display with music playing each night 6-9pm (the music plays via speakers, perfect for walkers – and this whole part of town is always a treat to stroll during Christmas — and Halloween, too!)
- 375 Colpitts Road, Salisbury area
More Riverview area spots to see
- Pine Glen Road (815 & 1089 in particular)
- 795 Coverdale Road – Riverview Lawn & Garden (check out their tulip displays in the spring, too!)
- Check out the town’s Merry & Bright Challenge map for dozens of houses & businesses that are decorated!
More Moncton spots
- We love the lights downtown & at Centennial Park each year!
- Corner of Milner & Alexander
- Shediac Road & Branch Road
- 40 & 83 Pebble Creek Way
- 22 & 59 Falcon Drive
- 62 Thistlevale Drive
- Mailhot Avenue (so many lovely homes!)
More Dieppe spots
- 510 Chartersville Road
- Chartersville Road & Bahama Street are usually a great area to check out
We’ve heard great things about a house in Lakeville on the Weisner Road; hoping to make a trip that way soon to see for ourselves.
The Salisbury Road has always been a great drive for lights, but a few houses in 2023 have really stepped it up! Make sure you include a drive along this route in your travels this year. In the Town of Salisbury, be sure to look for the awesome painted windows – including the festive axolotl at Gaxiola Mexican Restaurant! The Green Briar subdivision in Boundary Creek is always full of great houses to enjoy, too, and we see the Salisbury Christmas mannequin is back for 2023 (photo from a previous year).
Looking for a Christmas Light Route? Try this!
- Start by driving across the Gunningsville Bridge; the view of Riverview’s Riverfront lights from this approach is my favourite.
- Continue along Coverdale Road all the way to Salisbury. There are lots of great lights along the way; the Hicks’ home with its Big Fiddle & colourful trees is a lovely treat, as is Riverview Lawn & Garden’s display!
- When you get to Salisbury, turn right. There are several businesses and homes you’ll notice, and watch for Trish & Henk’s display at 2967 Main Street (it’ll be on your left after you pass the Larsen/Parkin subdivision, which can be a lovely little detour for lights, too).
- Turn right onto Brighton Street into a lovely little decorated subdivision. (For those looking for a walkable neighbourhood to visit, this is a great option.) Just as you enter, you’ll want to turn left onto Green Briar Drive, then make your way down Greenvale Street until you turn back onto Green Briar. It’s a short trip, but so wonderful!
- Now you’ll want to get back onto Salisbury Road, heading towards Moncton – but we’re turning off on Lower Mountain Road! Head up to the Homestead Road, and turn right. Keep a look out for the amazing star near the Berry Mills exit on your way towards Moncton.
- You’re going to turn off Homestead onto Route 126 – but just for a moment! Turn as if you’re stopping into Lyon’s Country Store, and make your way to 3202 Mountain Road. This incredible display is set to music, featuring more than 35,000 lights. It’s one of my favourites!
- Continue on Mountain Road, towards the Casino. You’ll spy some of the amazing lights at the Zoo as you drive by; a visit here is always a treat, too.
- By Glad Tidings Chruch, turn onto Sunshine Drive. From here, it’s a left onto Oak Ridge Drive, then a right onto Falcon. All of these streets have some lovely displays & homes (another area you could enjoy a walking tour!) but 22 & 59 Falcon are stand outs. (Remember this area for Halloween decorations, too!)
- From here, we suggest making your way back to Mountain Road, then turning left onto Frampton Lane. Lots of great houses to admire along here; in particular, take the right turn to check out the handiwork at 62 Thistlevale Drive. Take Mount Pleasant Road back to Mountain. Now, we’re turning right & then a quick left onto Hildegard Drive.
- Just as you get onto Hildegard Drive, you’re going to take a left onto Laforge – the house right here on the corner is such fun! We’re getting to the star of the night – the Hogan’s home at 114 Pasadena Drive. You’re going to want to stop, maybe even have a snack. We loved watching one family cuddle in the trunk of their vehicle to watch the display, while a little soul danced away on the sidewalk. The show begins at 5:30pm each night, and goes until 10pm. Here’s just a tiny snippet from a previous year – we don’t want to ruin the fun by sharing too much!!
- Leaving Passadena, make your way to Mailhot (via Barrieau, Ivy, & Hildegard), turning left and driving until you turn right on Ryan Road. Follow along until you can turn onto Amiens Drive, which brings you to another musical light show at 73 Salengro Cresent.
- Without stops, this is easily an hour route, so with hot chocolate & cookies stops and time spent admiring the hard work of these homeowners, this route will be a full evening outing for you & your loved ones.
We’re hoping to add a new route in 2023, with a focus on travelling through Dieppe and some other parts of Moncton. If you have some favourites we should include, let us know!
Here’s a quick visual of our favourite route:
IDEAS TO KEEP THE KIDS BUSY AT CHRISTMASTIME
Our favourite go-to for keeping little hands busy is homemade play-dough. It’s perfect for hours & hours of play, wonderful for gifting, & and so fun to add a little sparkle or scent! Grab our recipe here. We also love simple crafts that can double at gift tags or Christmas cards!
RELATED: How to use home staging tips to keep your home looking sharp this Christmas
ALL ABOUT THE CHRISTMAS TREE
Need TIPS FOR A TODDLER-FRIENDLY CHRISTMAS TREE? We’ve got you covered!
There’s something magical about heading into the woods to choose a Christmas tree. We’ve rounded up details on all kinds of Christmas Tree U-Pick Farms around New Brunswick to help you make this dream come true!
CHRISTMAS TREATS
Your mouth is watering now, right?! Those mugs of hot chocolate, topped with homemade whipped cream & all kinds of New Brunswick goodies like crushed Chicken Bones, Wabanaki Maple Syrup, and Crosby’s Molasses are a perfect way to indulge this season! We created this charcuterie-style Hot Chocolate Dessert Board
There was a great post on Facebook about local spots for a fancy hot chocolate. Here are a few spots in Greater Moncton to grab a special treat!
- Cafe l’amiral’s eggnog lattes and peppermint hot chocolates are a must if you’re downtown.
- Tony’s Bistro & Pâtisserie is so cozy & delicious; the perfect spot to curl up with a cup. Their sister location, Atelier Tony in Dieppe, is another great option! (Their Christmas Dinner macarons — savoury and buttery cream filling, fresh cranberry sauce, spiced walnut pecan and rosemary crumble with a peppered shell — are a masterpiece!)
- Salisbury’s Wright’s Bakery’s has incredible treats and winter drinks.
- We’ve also enjoyed a few holiday flavours at Cafe Duo, too!
- La Facterie is a Pickle Planet favourite, and they have several holiday options – including candy cane hot chocolate, egg nog latte, candy cane mocha, & gingerbread lattes!
- The Ice Cream Barn in Riverview opens its mobile trailer for fancy hot chocolates & treats by the Chocolate River Station in December; perfect for grabbing a cocoa before or after walking through the lights along the Riverfront!
- Cinnamon Soul Cafe & Bakery is always worth the trip to Hillsborough – and we hear great things about their hot chocolate.
- Cafe Archibald got mad love for its Famous Grandma’s Hot Chocolate; I think we’re going to have to make a trip soon to try it out ourselves!
Do you have a favourite local spot for hot chocolate? Let us know so we can add to this list!
Looking for a healthy seasonal snack? Why not roast up some Curried Christmas Nuts! This is a family favourite – and can be a great giftable item for those who can enjoy nuts.
Christmas parties might have you wanting to mix up a fancy cocktail or two to enjoy! We’ve hosted podcast/tv shows sharing recipes in 2019, 2020, 2021, & 2022 – check them out for some great ideas!
Here’s one recipe that’ll impress just about everyone & can be enjoyed many ways:
Chef Hughes’ Holiday Egg Nog Recipe
Ingredients
*Yield is for 10 servings
- ½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 5 whole Cloves
- 1 tsp Cinnamon (omit if you’re making it for Tosh!)
- 1 Vanilla Bean (scraped for seeds)
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 6 large eggs (separated)
- 3 cups milk
Directions
Measure milk, vanilla (including pod), cinnamon, and cloves in a pot and heat on low/medium heat for approximately five minutes to infuse the milk with the spices.
Place the egg yolks and sugar in a medium bowl and set the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Whisk over low heat until pale yellow and thick, about five minutes. Whisk in milk mixture, straining as you pour. Stir well over the heat until well combined and thick.
In another large bowl, whisk the egg whites until very soft peaks form. Stir the whites into the yolk mixture. In another medium bowl, beat the heavy cream until lightly thickened. Fold the whipped cream and nutmeg into the eggnog and chill thoroughly.
Whisk to reblend before serving. Can be refrigerated overnight or aged for up to two weeks. Stir before serving.
Serve as is or add your favourite sherry, rum. or bourbon & enjoy!
For more drink ideas, check out our 2019 Pickle Planet Podcast Christmas Party Episode – complete with video & links to our other specials!
HOW TO SEE SANTA WITHOUT LEAVING HOME THIS CHRISTMAS
Portable North Pole is a great online resource for personalized messages from Santa and the elves, colouring pages, and online stories.
Good to Know: If your kids are sticklers for detail, be warned: while you can personalize several parts of Santa’s message, most of his video remains the same. My three kiddos didn’t question that their videos were almost identical, but older siblings might notice. You might want to do a family video.
You’re likely familiar with the NORAD Santa Tracker; it’s been sharing details about Santa’s Christmas Eve flights for more than 50 years. For a great little story on how it all started (a misprint in a Sears ad!), check out this NPR story.
Good to know: If you need help coaxing little ones into bed, Santa tends to fly over New Brunswick starting around 9pm (though he does backtrack to ensure no one is missed).
YOU MIGHT ALSO WANT TO READ … our CHRISTMAS CHEAT SHEET! Tips for wrapping, holiday games, and more.
Here are a few more posts you might find helpful this Christmas season – or next!
