Weekend events for the family in Greater Moncton (March 15-16)
Welcome to the weekend, everyone!
Did you see?! Our Guide to Easter Events is now online & being updated as we find more events! (Watch for a few items within this weekend’s round up.)
St. Patrick’s Day is Sunday; we have some simple crafts & recipes on the site, too!
FRIDAY
Irishtown Community Centre is celebrating with a Shamrock Winter Carnival all weekend long! The fun begins tonight with a Sock Hop for ages 5-12. Entry is $5, 6-8pm. You’re asked to register online in advance – and there’s a spot to say you’ll stay to chaperone!
🤸♂️ 506 Elite offers a $5 drop-in play session on Fridays & Mondays, 10-11am. All ages welcome; parents must stay. (506 is a great spot if you have a kiddo who wants to twist & tumble; check out their trial program – 4 mix & match classes for $59, ages 5+.)
⚡SkyZone’s Glow Nights are Fridays & Saturdays, 7-10pm. Wear white or florescent colours!
🤸♂️ Open gym, free, Kay Arena, Parent & Tots 10am-12pm, K-5 2:15-3:30pm, Gr 6-8 3:30-4:45pm
🏖️ YMCA Moncton North Splash Pad, $5, 8am-7:45pm
🏊 YMCA Public Swim, $3, 7-8pm
🏀 Drop-in basketball for ages 12-18 at the YMCA, 8:15-9:30pm, $5 for non-members (also on Mondays!)
🏸 Drop-in badminton for ages 14 & under 6-7pm & 15+ 7-9pm at CCNB Dieppe
⛸️ Dieppe, Preschoolers with sticks, 9:30-10:30am
⛸️ Shediac, 9:30-10:30am
⛸️ Moncton Superior Propane Centre, Parent & Tot, 10-11am
⛸️ Moncton Kay Arena, Parent & Tot, 10:15-11:15am, $2
⛸️ Sackville, 10:15-11:15am, Parent & Tot
⛸️ Sackville, Noon-1pm, Lunch skate
⛸️ Riverview parent & tot 1:30-2:30pm
⛸️ Moncton Kay Arena, public, 3:30-4:30pm
⛸️ Riverview 12 & under, 4-5:15pm
⛸️ Hillsborough, 8:15-9:15pm, $2/person or $5/family
Mount Allison is hosting the 2024 CCAA Men’s Basketball National Championships, with games today & tomorrow! Tickets are under $30 for the day and kids under 12 are free!
The Greater Moncton Home Show is happening this weekend (Friday, Saturday, & Sunday) at the Moncton Coliseum. Not necessarily a kid event, but they do get in free! A good outing if you’re looking to renovate.
Want to skip cooking but not sure where to go? Check out our awesome friends at The Daily Feast! They have a daily break down of restaurant specials in Greater Moncton. SO helpful!
SATURDAY
- 🍁 Renton Brothers Family Sugarbush (1270 Gorge Road, Moncton – the one with the smiling face) is open 9:30am-4pm.
- 🍁 Trites Maples (1270 Gorge Road, Moncton – the 4th camp with the green metal roof) is open for their pancake breakfast starting at 8am today.
- 🍁Fundy Maple (6 Dewey Road, Turtle Creek/Riverview) is open 10am-3pm; tours at 11am & 1pm.
- 🍁 Chateau Scoudouc (2862 route 132, Scoudouc) is open for breakfast, 9am-1pm.
⛸️ Moncton Kay Arena, public, 2:30-4pm, $2
⛸️ Hillsborough, 2-3pm
⛸️ Riverview 3:45-5:15pm
⛸️ Dieppe AJL, 6:15-7:15pm
⛸️ Hillsborough, 8-9pm
🏊 Riverview Aquatic Centre offers open swim on Saturdays at 2:30pm.
🏊 CEPS (UdeM) public swim, 3-4:25, $3
🏊 The Dieppe Aquatic Centre has public swims on Saturday at 3:15pm & 6pm. $10/adults, $5-$8 for youth (under 2 free)
🏊 YMCA public swim, 6:30-7:45pm, $3
🏖️ YMCA Moncton North Splash Pad, $5, 8:30-10:45am, 12:15-2:15pm, & 3:45-4:45pm
⚡SkyZone’s Glow Nights are Fridays & Saturdays, 7-10pm. Wear white or florescent colours!
Emerald Oak Photography is offering drop-in Easter minis! Head to Ready, Set, Grow in Riverview on Saturday, March 16 between noon & 4:30pm. You’ll get a beautiful family photo for just $40. Some of our favourite seasonal photos were taken by Emerald Oak; you won’t be disappointed, we’re sure!
PRO TIP: Looks like reservations for Easter Bunny photos at Bass Pro open today.
Irishtown Community Centre’s Shamrock Winter Carnival continues with a pancake breakfast (8-11am), with a visit from the Easter Bunny at 9:30am & a mini petting zoo with Beloved Miniature Horses. This is by donation & you’re asked to book online in advance, though walk-ins will be welcome as long as there’s food to hand out!
After breakfast, there’s a showing of the movie Elemental (1-3pm; $15/family, with popcorn & water provided) and wagon rides from 3-4pm. Again, register online in advance as spaces are limited – cost is $5/person with children under two riding free. This event includes an outdoor mini petting zoo, too!
There’s a pancake breakfast at the Salisbury Lions Club. Preschoolers eat free! Children $6, adults $10. A great meal in a great community, celebrating 250 years.
Mount Allison is hosting the 2024 CCAA Men’s Basketball National Championships, with final games today! Tickets are under $30 for the day and kids under 12 are free!
The Moncton Chess Club is a free, drop-in chess session at the Moncton Library. It takes place most Saturdays, 1-3pm. All ages welcome; children under 12 must have an adult with them.
It’s a great weekend if you love hockey! The Halifax Moosehead are in town Saturday night – and the Wildcats will be hosting a food drive, too! Then there’s a Sunday game, too.
If you’re looking for a fun night out without kids but supporting programming for them, consider picking up tickets for the annual BGC Dieppe masquerade fundraiser! Dress up, dance, and raise money for this fantastic local resource! (If you’re not familiar with their programming, check out their Facebook page for all sorts of events & activities.)
Board Miniatures is hosting D&D ‘one shot’ games on Saturday; a great way to get introduced into the world of RPGs or find new folks to play with. Drop in at 4pm; all ages welcome.
IHW Wrestling’s 2024 Season Preview takes place at the Riverview Coverdale Centre tonight; doors at 6:30pm for the Mega Pass, 7:15pm for regular admission. Only 400 tickets are available, so don’t wait!
SUNDAY
Sundays in March the Magnetic Hill Zoo is open, 11am-3pm – and we see registration is open for their summer camps, too! #sponsored
Speaking of summer camps, watch for a new feature sponsored post coming soon about 506 Elite Allstars, who might just have the BEST news – they offer drop in days at their summer camps AND day camps on PD Days!
Another great option for entertaining the kids is to head to Resurgo Place – and today, you get the bonus of having Musée acadien de l’Université de Moncton on site! They’re bringing traditional Acadian instruments; try the spoons, see a ruine-babine, learn about how fiddles are made & more! There’s also the temporary exhibit all about light; a great way to prep for the upcoming eclipse.
- 🍁 Renton Brothers Family Sugarbush (1270 Gorge Road, Moncton – the one with the smiling face) is open 9:30am-4pm.
- 🍁 Trites Maples (1270 Gorge Road, Moncton – the 4th camp with the green metal roof) is open today, with tours at 10am, noon, and 2pm. (No breakfast today; that’s Saturdays only.)
- 🍁Fundy Maple (6 Dewey Road, Turtle Creek/Riverview) is open 10am-3pm; tours at 11am & 1pm.
- 🍁 Chateau Scoudouc (2862 route 132, Scoudouc) is open for breakfast, 9am-1pm.
🏸 Drop in badminton for ages 12-18, $5, YMCA Moncton North, 1-2:45pm
🏊 YMCA Public Swim, $3, 1:30-3pm
🏊 CEPS (UdeM) public swim, $3, 3-4:25pm
🏊 Dieppe Aquatic Centre public swim Sunday at 3:15pm. $10/adults, $5-$8 for youth (under 2 free)
🛹 Riverview Indoor Skatepark & Youth Drop In Centre is open 11am-4pm & 5-7pm today.
🏖️ YMCA Moncton North Splash Pad, $5, 8:30-10:45am, 12:15-2:15pm, & 3:45-4:45pm
The Wildcats are hosting the Cape Breton Eagles; puck drops at 4pm. Expect many St. Patrick’s Day touches – including the team jerseys!
It’s going to be busy downtown Sunday night; in addition to St. Patrick’s Day events & the hockey game, the amazing William Prince will be at the Capitol Theatre for an 8pm show! (Tuesday Allison Russell will take the stage, on Wednesday it’s Bobby Bazini, and Thursday is a tribute to Joni Mitchell! There are shows Friday & Saturday, too – wowzers!)
ONGOING IDEAS
🍦Ice cream is always a great treat & Bennic is open at noon every day except Monday!
🍦Trueman’s Blueberry Farm is also a fabulous ice cream destination – and on the weekend they have a train you can ride! Watch for some fun Easter Bunny sightings here soon, too.
🪨 Want to move as a family? Try a visit to FitRocks Climbing Gym!
🔫 Book laser tag at Marco’s Clinic or the Sportsdome
🛹 Riverview Indoor Skatepark & Riverview Youth Centre are a great space to learn to skate or practice your skills!
👧 Hop! Skip! Jump! is open again; perfect for little ones to play, as well as the cool climbing wall & laser room for older kids.
🎳 Bowling is always a fun idea! Go retro vibes with Holy Moly in Riverview, check out glow bowling times at Fairlanes in Moncton, or head to Bowlarama & its awesome arcade in Dieppe. (We recommend calling ahead to book in advance so you’re not disappointed.)
🎨 Creative mood? Try DIY Studio to paint your own pottery!
🔐 Up for a challenge? Room Escape Atlantic usually has a few non-scary, kid-friendly options & Mystery Moncton Mystere is great for the teens & up. There are also online options you can purchase to play on your own time, like … Motive for Murder audio game — A great ‘any time of day’ option for the true crime fans who are up for a little hometown sleuthing. Download a whodunnit set in Moncton!
🎲 If board games are your family thing, check out the new shop on Moncton’s Main Street, Board Miniatures!
👶 The Early Childhood Family Resource Centre has lots of drop-in & scheduled events throughout the month, both at its Dieppe location and its satellite locations. Check out their online calendars for details; a great option for littles throughout the week!
🐟 Bass Pro’s 12,000-gallon freshwater aquarium with striped bass, Atlantic sturgeon, trout, perch, and more is always fun to visit.
🦙 Llamazing Adventures is a great way to get out & get moving! Talk the llamas for a walk!
LOOKING AHEAD
Sistema’s Spring Concert is happening Monday. This is a free event; starts at 6:30pm at the Moncton Wesleyan Centre.
In case you didn’t hear yet, there’s a full solar eclipse happening on Monday, April 8! We have a podcast episode coming up with Dr. Alexis Keeling with what you need to know about this event. You might also want to know that the City of Moncton is hosting an event in Bore Park from noon till 6pm. EclipSol will include glasses to view the eclipse, face painting, music, food trucks, & more.
The eclipse will happen over Moncton from 3:26PM TO 5:43PM, APRIL 8, 2024. Looking directly at the sun without appropriate eye wear can result in permanent damage and even loss of sight.
DYK: The one & only Col. Chris Hadfield, Canadian astronaut & author, is coming to New Brunswick for the big event?! And tickets to his talk, with comedian James Mullinger opening, are just $60?! (You can purchase a VIP experience upgrade, too.) That’s happening in Florenceville-Bristol, the first community in New Brunswick in the path of the eclipse.
And while this next event also falls outside of Greater Moncton, we know lots of Pickle Planet fans live in the Sackville area – so you might want to mark on the calendar that Amherst is bringing back French Toast Fest starting Monday! From March 18 to 24, enjoy this yummy meal at various local restaurants. Might be a great reason for a road trip adventure, wherever you live!
Don’t forget – Riverview’s Maple Fest is coming up April 5-7. Lots of maple-themed craft workshops are taking reservations now & we know there will be lots of goodies to sample & fun to be had throughout the town!
