What to do with the kids for the New Brunswick Day long weekend (July 31-Aug 3)
WHAT TO DO FOR THE NEW BRUNSWICK DAY LONG WEEKEND 2020
Can you believe it – it’s the long weekend in August already?! Summer is flying by, but there’s still lots of time to get out and enjoy our province, whether that’s in your own backyard, your own neighbourhood, or in a community you’re about to discover.
A great place to start is our #StaycationSummer podcast series; there are lots of daytrip & overnight ideas in the blog posts, then click to listen to the full audio with our hometown ambassadors from around the province. You might also find some inspiration on our Pinterest board, where we’ve saved some great posts from other bloggers, too.
While you’re planning your weekend, don’t forget that Monday, August 3rd is a holiday; many regularly-opened places will be closed, so check before you head out.
Because of the pandemic, we couldn’t find many organized events to celebrate New Brunswick Day, but there is certainly no shortage of fun things to do with the family this long weekend. Here’s some inspiration to get you started!
BLUEBERRY U-PICKS
That’s right – it’s one of the sweetest seasons around! Blueberry u-picks around the province are opening up. You can find our Guide to U-picks in the Greater Moncton Area here; check it out to get the scoop on several places you can head this weekend with the family to pick some berries or buy some already ready to enjoy!
WEEKEND EVENTS
Viva Shediac is hosting an awesome way to celebrate the New Brunswick Day weekend. Join them – in your own vehicle – for a three-hour tour along the Acadian Coastal Drive. You’ll stop at six spots, enjoying meals and tales about the area. There seem to be groups each day this weekend; why not give it a try? A great way to explore; be sure to tell them Pickle Planet sent you!
Looking for something closer to home & more kid-friendly? Why not visit The Ice Cream Barn in Riverview – they let us know a special guest is planning a visit for New Brunswick Day! Stop by to see Laddie, the miniature pony, and grab a photo along with your treat. He’s planning to be there Saturday, Sunday, and Monday from 2-5pm (if the weather isn’t cooperating, times may change). You can also check their Facebook event & page for more info and updates! We’re so impressed with this ice cream stand, opened by 17-year-old Will Campbell, who is now employing several other youth this summer. If you can’t stop by this weekend, make it a point to check them out before the summer is over!
Saturday is the annual Strawberry Social at Sackville’s Campbell Carriage Factory Museum. Pop by between noon and 3pm for a sweet treat and to help a great cause.
Speaking of Sackville, the town should also be in the midst of the amazing annual SappyFest. Due to the pandemic, the festival is online this year, with some incredible musical performances accessible to all. Check them out here for some family dance party fun!
Sackville is also holding a socially-distanced New Brunswick Day celebration on Monday at Bill Johnstone Memorial Park. Activities are spread out through the day and you must register in advance: visit the town’s website for more.
MOVIE TIME!
Have you made it to the drive-in yet? So many fun options this summer!
The Hub City Drive-in is located at Solomon Gardens on the Salisbury Road. Their upcoming shows include:
Thursday, July 30: Pet Sematary (2019)
Friday, July 31: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Saturday, Aug 1: Spaceballs
The Sussex Drive-In’s upcoming shows:
Friday, July 31: Thane Dunn’s Elvis show
Saturday, Aug 1: Chris Cummings & Tristan Horncastle
Sunday, Aug 2: Back to the Future, Men in Black, & Friday the 13th
Shediac’s Neptune Drive In is showing the same features Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: The Addams Family and The Fast and the Furious.
Cineplex in Dieppe is reopen, with some great family options this weekend, including recent hits like Sonic the Hedgehog and Sing, as well as old favourites like the Karate Kid. They also have special pricing in effect, with $2.99 Tuesday and $5 for other days.
INSIDE FUN
Resurgo Place is open Tuesdays to Saturdays, 10am-4pm. They have lots of on-site self-directed activities, DIY craft kits, science demonstrations (riding on the hovercraft is something to experience!), and more.
Moncton’s historic Thomas Williams House is also open for the 2020 season, Tuesdays through Saturdays until late August. The tea room offers three sittings each day; reservations are recommended.
Flex your creativity at DIY Studio.
Riverview’s Indoor Skate Park is open; book online in advance. FitRocks Moncton is also open, with kid-friendly walls to climb.
Mystery Moncton Mystere is open, with a new room, too! (Recommended for older kids, ages 14+)
A quick reminder that both Room Escape Atlantic & SkyZone are currently closed for relocations; watch for re-openings for both this fall!
OUTDOOR DESTINATIONS
Magic Mountain, including the FunZone, is open for the season; book online before you head out.
Magnetic Hill Zoo is open; purchase online in advance to ensure your spot. And don’t forget the allure of a drive on Magnetic Hill!
The Go Karts and batting cages are open at The Boardwalk (Saturdays and Sundays from 10am-9pm) and the driving range is open seven days a week.
The track is also operating at East Coast Karting; reach out to them if you’re interested in your child learning to drive.
And you can always take the family on a tour of the amazing murals and other public art around the GMA with this map.
PLAYGROUNDS & SPLASH PADS
Visit our Playground Profiles page for dozens of posts highlighting playgrounds and splash pads around the Greater Moncton area; we provide photos of all the equipment, details on things like parking, and more. (Pro Tip: You can use the drop down menu to search just Riverview, Moncton, or Dieppe playgrounds we’ve visited; there are nearly 100 playgrounds on our master list we want to profile, so keep checking back for new additions!)
A reminder that the City of Moncton launched a new way to check conditions at local parks & playgrounds – including which of their 20 splash pads have the water running! Click here to access their interactive map; the playgrounds with water features operating (9am-9pm daily) show up with a blue background. Last we checked, you could cool off at Sumner Park, Renton Park, Fairview Knoll (featured in our cover photo), Prince Edward Park, Pauline Frizzell Park, Maplehurst Park, Hamilton Heights, and Roxoborough Park.
SWIMMING
The City of Moncton’s East End pool (35 Fergus Street) is open daily from 10am-7pm, with only 75 people at a time (due to social distancing). Admission is $2/person, free for those aged three and under.
Centennial Park’s new beach is now open, 11am-7:30pm daily, with 200 people per session allowed to allow for social distancing. Admission is $5/adult, $3/seniors and children ages three to 12 – under three is free. There is a sandy play area, with washrooms and a canteen available. Centennial Park is located at 801 St. George Blvd; the address for the pool is 15 Rotary Park Lane.
Salisbury Lions Pool is open, as is Petitcodiac‘s community pool.
The newly refurbished Lion Ken Gabbey Pool in Riverview is still expected to open this summer, though the Town has yet to share a date. The Town’s indoor pool is open for recreational swimming.
Hillsborough’s heated outdoor public swimming pool is next to the village’s skate park and elementary school playground (7 School Lane) and can be reached by phone at 506-734-3702. The pool is open Monday through Friday, with swim times happening in one-hour time blocks with $1 admission.
DAYTRIP IDEAS
Bouctouche can include a visit to Le Pays de la Sagouine, the farmer’s market (open Saturdays 8am-1pm), the public Irving Eco-Centre and the incredible Bouctouche Dunes, and so much more!
Hillsborough & area offers the New Brunswick Railway Museum, the Steeves House Museum (open Wednesdays through Sundays), the Albert County Museum and the Hopewell Rocks (where the annual sandpiper visitation is underway!). You might even want to book an experience kayaking around the rocks! Make it an overnight with a stay at Broadleaf Ranch, where you can book their glamping units and outdoor adventures, such as horseback trail riding! Don’t forget to pop by the local shops and eateries, including checking out the Foods of the Fundy Valley for goodies like fresh, local strawberries. Don’t forget a stop for ice cream at the Artisan’s Village, next to the fenced-in playground and on the road to the old Gypsum wharf walking trail.
Shediac is a great place to spend a day or more. Check out Bistro Le Moque-Tortue in Shediac; a lovely spot with board games, escape rooms, and more fun for all ages, plus one of the most colourful outdoor dining areas you’ll find around! You can also check out Pascal Poirier Park in the Village (it has a splash pad), and a visit to the Big Lobster is always a summer must. The playground there is a favourite among our little Pickles. (We hear an ice cream at nearby Rosie’s Ice Cream – open 1-9pm – is another Shediac must!) Shediac Paddle Shack is offering a Family Night specials on Saturdays; children 12 and under can have their rental 50% off when renting with their adult. (Book in advance.)
We also love grabbing a candy treat and adopting baby lobsters while visiting the Pointe-du-Chene wharf. The Écocentre Homarus Eco-Centre is a fantastic little spot to learn about the life cycle of a lobster and to see rare blue and albino lobsters in their tank. You can even touch a lobster if you wish!
And if you’re looking to head out a little further, all you want to know about exploring Fredericton, Saint John, and more with the family is available in our #StaycationSummer podcast posts!
Alrighty folks! That’s all for now. Thanks for reading, and if you found this helpful & informative, we’d love if you’d share it with your friends & family! We’ve been helping New Brunswick families connect with each other & their communities for five years & rely on your support to keep this resource going!
