What to do with the kids this weekend in Greater Moncton (January 27-29, 2023)

WHAT’S GOING ON JAN 27-29 in GREATER MONCTON

Welcome to the end of January, everyone!

It’s a quieter weekend on the event calendar, but there are still dozens & dozens of fun ideas for the whole family this weekend, so let’s jump right in!

Friday is Family Literacy Day and local author Jennifer McGrath is doing free online readings from her newest picture book, Pugs Cause Traffic Jams. There are three times to join: 9:15am, 3:15pm, & 6:15pm. You can find the Zoom links in the Facebook event we’ve linked to.

Friday is also the regular Fun on Ice session at Place 1604 in Dieppe. This week’s music by DJ Empire.

Mount Allison’s Garnet & Gold Musical Theatre Society is on stage this weekend with High School Musical On Stage, a performance suitable for all ages. There are shows Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

Shediac is hosting a community breakfast on Saturday, 7:30-10am at the Multifunctional Centre. Cost is $7 at the door.

The Moncton Public Library is always on our must-visit list & this weekend there are lots of great extras to take in! Be sure to visit the art exhibit Earth of Freedom, featuring the works of local teen Angelique & her mom, Vera, both of whom are great talents. On Saturday, there’s a book launch party for Lester the Lobster and the Great Escape, by Chantal MacDonald, from 1:30-4:30pm.

The Greater Moncton Chinese Cultural Association is hosting its annual Chinese New Year celebration at Bernice MacNaughton High School on Saturday afternoon, with cultural exhibits, carnival games, food, and more. Starting at 6pm, there’s a performance with song and dance, followed by a fireworks show from 8:15 – 8:30pm. The event is free & everyone is welcome.

Kids Flow – Exploration Lab is holding a clothing swap & alteration workshop at the awesome La Station on Sunday from 1-4pm.  (We see they’re also planning a lot of fun activities for their March Break Camp at the Centre des arts et de la culture de Dieppe; be sure to follow their social pages to stay up -to-date on what they’re up to!)

If you’re up for a road trip, consider a trip to Saint John’s Irving Nature Park to observe the seals. The harbour seal pups are arriving will remain on rocks for a few weeks until they transition out to sea. Head there for low tide and bring binoculars! (For more Saint John ideas with the family, check out their inclusive Rainbow Playground, make time for a trip to Freak Lunchbox, go sea glass hunting at Tin Can Beach, check out the views from Carleton Martello Tower & Fort Howe (where you can stand by that iconic Saint John sign!), and maybe even add in a swim at the Canadian Games Aquatic Centre – they have public swims Saturdays & Sundays from 2-4pm with slides, tarzan rope, and more!

Another road trip destination that’s great right now is Charlottetown, where their Ice City Festival has the downtown packed full of fun till March! And if you’re into biology & science, the amazing Body Worlds Vital exhibit is at the Museum of Natural History in Halifax until the end of April.

• There are several spots that often indoor walking, with many tracks being stroller-friendly (at least at certain times), including Moncton Coliseum, Crossman Centre/Kay Arena, YMCA North & the UNIplex in Dieppe for current information.
• Marco’s Clinic is a great spot for basketball & laser tag! (It’s just across the parking lot from our next spot.)
• FitRocks Climbing Gym has great courses for all ages. Perfect for any combination of climbers.
• SkyZone is offering an extra incentive to bring little ones to the trampoline park on Sunday mornings with a Little Leapers program. There will be two instructors offering interactive games and activities from 10am until noon for toddlers; this is included with the Toddler Play Pass or a SkyZone membership. (Other ages are also in the facility at this time.)
• DIY Studio is a great spot for a paint-your-own pottery outing. We’re thrilled to see they’re getting a bigger space this month!
• Bowling is always fun! Bowlarama in Dieppe offers gutter blockers for kids & an awesome arcade section. There’s also Holy Moly in Riverview and Fairlanes in Moncton (with Glow Bowling nights!).
• The YMCA Moncton North has an indoor splash pad & playground!
• Resurgo Place is generally closed Sundays & Mondays; a great spot with hands-on historical fun for kids. Their latest travelling exhibit, Earth in Focus: Insights from Space, (from the Canadian Science and Technology Museum & the Canadian Space Agency) is open until April.
• Doiron House, celebrating Acadian community life in Dieppec, is generally open Saturdays & Sundays.
• The Riverview Indoor Skatepark is a wonderful place to learn & practice your skills; book a time and check them out! (
• The Riverview Youth Centre is open Saturdays from 4-6pm & 7-10pm for all ages, with badminton, table tennis, basketball, board game lounge, and more. (They’re also open for ages 12-14 on Wednesdays from 3:30-6pm & 7-9:30pm.)
• Escape rooms are great fun with older kids; check out the options at Room Escape Atlantic, Mystery Moncton Mystere, & Shediac’s Le Moque-Tortue. 
• Timber Lounge offers family bookings, too. Another great option for tweens & teens (or a night out).
• Bass Pro’s 12,000-gallon freshwater aquarium with striped bass, Atlantic sturgeon, trout, perch, and more is always a sight to see.
• Take in a public swimming session at the YMCA Greater Moncton (small pool for littles), Dieppe Aquatic Centre (pirate ship splash area and sloped entry are great for littles), or the Pat Crossman pool in Riverview.
• Head to Hiking NB for amazing details on trails throughout the province – including lots of winter options. You might also want to follow along with Maritime Detours and Explore Nature’s Bounty for locally-guided options.
• For a self-guided option with a little trivia mixed in, why not use the Culture & Heritage Scavenger Hunt for the City of Moncton? Pair it with visiting the public murals scattered throughout the area!
• Love ninja warrior courses? Parkour? Check out Off Grid Adventure in Anagance for an awesome adventure course!
• Maghill Paintball is a fantastic option with older kids. A two-hour rental (birthday party package) is available; great for a group outing.
• Cineplex has two theatres in the area; check their weekday Stars & Strollers listings to see if the local theatres are taking part again.

SLEIGH RIDES, DOG SLEDDING, & MORE

We see bookings are already filling up for Valentine’s Day & Family Day with Country Sleigh Rides (near the Irishtown Community Centre)! Their sled fits up to 16 adults; one-hour private bookings include time in the barn with the animals and a 40-minute ride and generally cost $125-$150. Call 506-874-4090 to book & find more info in their Facebook group.

Another fun winter adventure is NB Urban Mushing, also offering private group bookings to experience sled dogs in action in Greater Moncton!

Boyle Family Farm offers winter horseback riding, as does Broadleaf Ranch (who also have sleigh rides). You can also book winter walks with Llamas with Llamazing Adventures! You might also want to consider a visit to Beloved Miniature Horse stables, too.

SKATING

There are lots of indoor & outdoor skating options in the Greater Moncton Area. Here’s where to lace up inside this weekend!

• Friday, January 27:
  • Dieppe AJL preschoolers with sticks, 9:30-10:30am (FREE) cancelled this weekend
  • Moncton’s Superior Propane Centre, parents & tots, 10-11am (FREE)
  • Crossman Community Centre / Kay Arena 10:15-11:15am (FREE)
  • Riverview parent & tot 1:30-2:30pm (FREE)
  • Crossman Community Centre / Kay Arena 3:30-4:30pm (FREE)
  • Riverview 12 & under 4-5:15pm (FREE)
  • Hillsborough 8:15-9:15pm ($2/person or $5/family)
    
• Saturday, January 28:
  • Moncton Coliseum parent & tot 9:30-10:30am ($2) cancelled this weekend
  • Hillsborough 2-3pm ($2/person or $5/family)
  • Crossman Community Centre / Kay Arena 2:30-4pm ($2)
  • Riverview 3:45-5:00pm (FREE)
  • Moncton Coliseum 3:45-5:15pm ($2) cancelled this weekend
  • Dieppe’s AJL 6:15-7:15pm (FREE) cancelled this weekend
  • Hillsborough 8-9pm ($2/person or $5/family)

• Sunday, January 29:
  • Moncton’s Superior Propane Centre, parents & tots, 9:45-10:45am ($2)
  • Moncton’s Superior Propane Centre, 11:45am-12:45pm ($2)
  • Memramcook 11:45am-12:45pm (FREE)
  • Dieppe’s AJL 2:15-3:15pm (FREE)
  • Hillsborough 2:15-3:15pm ($2/person or $5/family)
  • Petitcodiac 1pm-2:30pm ($2/skater, free for ages five & under) 
  • Crossman Community Centre / Kay Arena 2:30-4pm ($2)
  • Riverview 2:30-4pm (FREE)
  • Sackville 2:45-3:45 (FREE)
  • Dieppe’s UNIplex 3:30-4:30pm (FREE)

To check on skating schedules for weekday info, cancellations, & rules on helmets, etc: Moncton Public Skating, Dieppe Public Skating, Memramcook Public Skating, Sackville Public Skating, & Hillsborough Public Skating. 

OUTDOOR SKATING

Both the Ian Fowler Oval in Moncton (in front of the Avenir Centre) & the Dieppe Skating Oval (at Place 1604) are refrigerated & open for outdoor skating now – with Friday nights always featuring extra fun in Dieppe with their Fun on Ice from 6:30-8pm. (Check on schedule changes due to weather here.)

Dieppe also has two outdoor rinks in Rotary St-Anselme Park that are listed as open for the season (weather depending).

Irishtown/Maple Hills community has a lovely looking outdoor rink this season at the community centre; check their Facebook group for updates on when it’s open for skating and/or games.

Petitcodiac’s outdoor rink is at 42 Maple Street, with a new warming shelter for getting your skates on/off & a lovely sign showing the snowshoeing trail. You can generally find a daily update (green flag or red flag photo) in the Facebook group Petitcodiac Happenings.

Salisbury‘s outdoor rink is still struggling with the weather; here’s hoping this weekend’s forecast will help!

SLIDING HILLS IN GREATER MONCTON

Tobogganing, sliding, sledding – whatever you call it, it’s one of the most fun things to do in winter! Every neighbourhood has its favourite hills, but here are a few to-go spots to seek out this winter.

• There are a few municipally-approved toboggan runs at Centennial Park in Moncton.
• Rotary St-Anselme Park in Dieppe also has several great spots (check if they’re open here).
• In Riverview, head to Winter Wonderland Park, on Quinn Court (off Gunningsville Boulevard) for some awesome tracks (and some snowboarding ones, too!) or behind Claude D. Taylor School.
• Our kids love sliding at Highland Park in Salisbury; the hill is fantastic!
• Shediac’s Pascal Poirier Park is often home to many sliding tracks in the winter.
• In Fundy Park, check out the Headquarters Tobogganing Hill, and if you’re at Kouchibouquac Park, Patterson Hill is a great spot for sliding, though it is a long walk (2km) to reach the site.

SKIING & MORE

You can rent cross-country skis ($20 for two hours) and snow shoes ($10 for two hours) at Moncton’s Centennial Park (available in both child and adult sizes, with some multi-day options available), and snow shoes ($10 for two hours) and fat bikes ($20 for two hours) at Moncton’s Mapleton Park. You can also bring your own gear to enjoy on the trails! Find info on the rentals, trails, conditions, and more via Camp Centennial.

Poley Mountain is open for the season, with lots of skiing & snowboarding fun on 30 trails.

LOOKING AHEAD

Don’t forget — Thursday is Groundhog Day!

506 Elite Allstars offers an open play, drop-in session on Mondays & Wednesdays, 10-11am. Cost is $5/child or $4/sibling. You & the kids will have full access to the gymnastics mats, spring floor, and bounce house. (If you’re looking for instructor-led fun, check out the FUNdamentals program for ages 2-4, 5-8, & 9-12, or the tumbling classes starting at age 5.

Mommy Connections Moncton’s winter programs are in full swing; check out their site to see which programs might be a great fit for you. (And if you’re in either of the Mom & Baby sessions, I’ll see you in March for one of the program days!)

We see that Home Depot has brought back their kids’ DIY workshop sessions in store. There’s one listed for February 11, 10am-noon, here in Moncton. Kids can build a great little Valentine’s Day project!

WINTER CARNIVALS & FESTIVALS

We have a full round up of festivals, but here’s a quick look:

• Shediac celebrates its 45th annual Winter Carnival throughout January & February this year.
• Riverview’s annual Winter Carnival is happening February 3 – 12, 2023. You can find our top picks for family fun in our Guide!
• Dieppe’s Winter Magic is happening February 3-5, 2023.
• Sackville’s 16^th annual Winterfest will be February 9-12, 2023.
• Moncton is launching PolarFest this year, happening in Centennial Park on the Family Day longweekend (February 18 – 20).
• Petitcodiac‘s Winter Carnival Day will be February 18 at the Maple Street Park, starting at 1pm.
• Fredericton’s Frostival is underway now, but their WinterFrolic family fun celebration has been moved to February 16 – 20, with an incredible line up of activities at the provincial Exhibition Grounds.
• Charlottetown’s Ice City Festival sees outdoor fun downtown from January 27 to March 5 (consider it an extended, expanded distant cousin of the former Jack Frost Festival).

Enjoy the weekend, everyone!