
What to do this weekend with the kids in Greater Moncton (July 12 – 14, 2024)
There are all kinds of events & activities taking place throughout Southeastern New Brunswick this weekend! We’ve got your one-spot-stop for all the family-friendly fun ideas – let’s go!
Friday, July 12
Moncton Buskers Festival begins @ Riverfront Park today! Lots of fabulous pay-what-you-can performances all along the Riverfront throughout the weekend. Be sure to stop by! There are pay-what-you-can performances, food trucks, & more. Each day features a pre-show with local acts before the buskers. On Friday, the show is from 11am-1pm with Danse En L’Air, DansEncorps, Sistema, and Art Richard. The busker stages begin at 2pm & 2:30pm and go until 9pm. Find the full schedule and descriptions of the performers on the DCMI website.
Shediac Lobster Festival continues this weekend, too! Campbell’s Amusements is on site with rides scheduled to be open 2-10pm on Friday; you can buy a bracelet or tickets for the rides. Entry to the grounds is $5/adult, $3 for youth, and free for those ages five & under. There’s live music & lots of fun!
🪻Four Girls Lavender is open; 10am-8pm. You can pick your own 2-inch bouquet for $15 cash or just enjoy the field for $5! Their season ends on July 20 so don’t wait to visit!
Looking for a fun photo op to get the older kids out & about? 🐐 Goat Yoga is back at Blossom Grove barn! (If today doesn’t work, there’s another session coming up on July 26.)
Travel To You Zoo is visiting the Salisbury Public Library from 1-2pm.
The Canada Mountain Bike Cup is coming to Dieppe’s Rotary Park this weekend! There will be lots of fun for the whole family; please note, some trail use will be restricted now through Sunday. Tonight, you can also enjoy a free concert in the park with music by Phil Athanase, 6:30-8:30pm.
Dieppe is hosting a series of Friday night fun inspired by game shows this summer! This week it’s a Family Feud style event, happening at the Dieppe Arts and Culture Centre, (reserve free tickets in advance), 6:30-9pm.
NEED SOME INSPIRATION FOR DAILY FUN? CHECK OUT OUR SUMMER BINGO BUCKET LIST!
Saturday, July 13
Moncton Buskers Festival pre-show begins at 11am with Steve Maillet, followed by Moyenne Rig & Dominique Dupuis. The busker stages begin at 2pm & 2:30pm and go until 9pm. Find the full schedule and descriptions of the performers on the DCMI website.
Travel to You Zoo’s Summer Spectacular happens today! Brother’s Bears and Silverfox Fairytales Face Painting will join them at 164 Broadway Street (lower level, side entrance), 9:30am-3:30pm. Entry is $7 (children three & under are free); other activities have costs associated.
The Canada Mountain Bike Cup continues at Dieppe’s Rotary Park today with a family disco bike ride at 1oam, followed by a treasure hunt, bike rodeo, tandem bike tours, and more.
There’s a Youth Entrepreneurship Market happening at Centennial Park, 1-3pm today.
Mohawks & Misfits K9 Grooming is holding a fundraising event for dog rescue at The Trailer Store/Outlaw Rides on Pine Glen Road in Riverview, 10am-3pm. Visit with some great pups, enjoy a BBQ & snacks, and meet local folks who care about animals as much as you!
Shediac Lobster Festival continues today. Campbell’s Amusements is scheduled to be open noon to 11pm today, there are food events & live music – and don’t miss watching the lobster eating contest at 2pm! (A heads up there’s also a beach Ultimate tournament happening at Parlee this weekend, so keep that in mind when planning a visit.)
Arab Culture Club presents JISR – Musiques du monde @ Moncton Market, 11am
BiblioLibraryCon is happening at the Moncton library, with a comic book creation workshop (ages 6-12), and X-man theme escape room, & more.
Local children’s author Monique Pereira will be at Chapters Moncton today, noon to 4pm, with her story about allergies and epipens.
Rising Tide Festival is hosting pop up shows on Alma’s Main Street this summer with André Saulnier playing today & tomorrow.
This weekend at Shediac’s Neptune Drive In, catch The Bikeriders & The Equalizer 3. The Sussex Drive In is playing Despicable Me 4 & the 1984 classic, Firestarter.
Dieppe is hosting a series of Saturday sports tournaments this summer. This week it’s field hockey.
Sunday, July 14
Shediac Lobster Festival wraps up today. Campbell’s Amusements is scheduled to be open noon until 5pm, the Kids Parade leaves LJR School at 11:30am and makes its way down Main Street (kids can dress up in costume or walk as they are – but you can win prizes for amazing outfits!), there’s music, a market, and an evening lobster eating contest in Pascal Poirier Park. And don’t forget the beach Ultimate tournament happening at Parlee this weekend, too!
Moncton Buskers Festival also ends today, but you can still enjoy a pre-show with Roland et Monsieur Crapaud at 11am, followed by busker stages from noon until 4:30pm. Find the full schedule and descriptions of the performers on the DCMI website.
Local children’s author Paul Burns will be at Chapters Moncton today, noon to 4pm.
BiblioLibraryCon continues today at the Moncton library, with a themed board games, photo booth, movies, & more!
Sundays are for trivia this summer in Dieppe. Tonight’s theme is celebrities and public figures. 7-8:30pm
The NAPA Auto Parts World Series of Monster Trucks are coming to River Glade! The show starts at noon; children under 24 months enter free.
The Canada Mountain Bike Cup wraps up at Dieppe’s Rotary Park today.
Rising Tide Festival is hosting pop up shows on Alma’s Main Street this summer with André Saulnier playing today.
The Moncton Mets are playing the Saint John Alpines at 7pm at Kiwanis Field.
There’s a weekly Pokemon trade & play event at The Comic Hunter; $5 entry.
Here’s our list of attractions & activities that are always a great option!
The Magnetic Hill Zoo is open seven days a week.
🪨 There’s an exhibit of local fossils & more at Moncton’s Treitz Haus this summer? Pop in for a free look at a scale reproduction of the Hillsborough Mastadon’s skull & tusks! Grab a map of the area at this information kiosk and explore the waterfront for a fun, free adventure.
🎧 There’s also a roughly one hour iTour of downtown Moncton’s historical & cultural locations you can use to help you explore further – a great way to add a little movement, a little history, and a little fun to your family outings!
East Coast Karting is open for the season if you feel the need for speed!
The Boardwalk & Butterfly World is open daily, weather permitting, with driving range, go karts, bumper cars & boats, mini golf, & paddle boats.
🎢 Magic Mountain is open for the season – don’t forget they have outdoor rides, an arcade, mini putt & more, too! You can go without getting wet if you want!
Want to move as a family but need to be indoors? 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!
The YMCA Moncton North has a new outdoor park for skateboarding, roller skating, & biking. There’s also the amazing indoor splash pad & play structure – a must visit if you have little ones!
Dieppe is welcoming people to skate the Oval at Place 1604 with in-line skates for the summer!
Hop! Skip! Jump! is perfect for little ones, as well as the cool climbing wall & laser room for older kids.
Bowling is always a fun idea! Go retro vibes with Marvelous Holy Bowly 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 have a standing paint and play tabletop session on Sundays. And on sunny days, there’s the huge chess set outside Moncton’s City Hall you can use!
Bass Pro’s 12,000-gallon freshwater aquarium with striped bass, Atlantic sturgeon, trout, perch, and more is always fun to visit, especially when you need an indoor option.
Local libraries are always a great spot to visit, with lots of programming for all ages – and also another rainy day must visit option.
Resurgo Place is another spot we love to visit again & again; history, hands-on science & arts, & special programming, too!
The Albert County Museum is open for the season, with a special guest – Albert, the Albertosaurus!
🚂 Pair this with a trip to the New Brunswick Railway Museum in Hillsborough for a great Albert County Adventure! Open daily through the summer.
Poley Mountain has mountain bike trails, including beginner routes for ages 6+ – and they’re planning some summer events geared to the littles with bouncy castles, balance bikes on the lawn, & kid-friendly options on the Slope Side Bar & Grill. DYK: They have an RV park, too?
Llamazing Adventures is a great way to get out & get moving! Take the llamas for a walk!
Ice cream is always a great treat & our GUIDE TO HARD SCOOP ICE CREAM SPOTS IN GREATER MONCTON is updated for 2024!
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.
BGC Dieppe is always a great place for families to connect.
Tennis Dieppe has their nets up; check them out for some fun summer programming.
The walking/running track at Université de Moncton’s Croix Bleue Medavie Stadium is open for public use Mondays-Fridays, 8:30am-4:30pm (unless there’s a competition or event). You can access two hours of free parking & the use of the track is free.
LOOKING AHEAD
Monday, July 15
- 🏀 Youth (ages 12-18) drop in basketball at YMCA Vaughan Harvey, 6:45-9:50pm, $5
- 🌍 Diversity Monday featuring Italy @ Place 1604, 6-8pm
Tuesday, July 16
- 🛝 YMCA Block Party @ Reade Park, (289 West Lane), 6-8pm – magician, bouncy castles, petting zoo, foam pit, & more!
- 🏃 Active Tuesday @ Place 1604, 6:30-7:30pm – Zumba for ages 12+
- 🥳 Block Party @ Pélagie Park, Dieppe
- 🧺 Riverview’s Wards 3 & 4 are invited to a Block Party at Westmount Park (rain date July 18). BBQ, games, info booths, and a mini bike rodeo!
- 🎶 Acoustica concert with Codiac Concert Band @ Victoria Park, 7pm
Wednesday, July 17
- 🎶 Acoustica family fun with Dance Fitness @ Centennial Park, 6pm
- 🎶 Dahlia Ave & Beauxmont, Place 1604, 6:30pm
- 🎶 Kelsey Albert @ Caseley Park (rain location Riverview Community Hall), 7-8:30pm
Thursday, July 18
- 📚 The author series at Magnetic Hill Wharf Village continues today, with Jeff Somers & his book, Avery and the Special Shoe.
- 🏰 YMCA Block Party @ Lewis Park, (96 Lewis St.), 6-8pm
- 🎥 Outdoor Cinema featuring Trésors des Bayous (French) (in collaboration with FICFA) @ Place 1604, dusk
- The Great Benjamin Circus is in town Thursday until Sunday. They have multiple shows daily at the Moncton Coliseum, with trick motorcycle riders, acrobats, clowns, and more. Purchase the tickets online in advance; there are various pricing structures and saving options.
Friday, July 19
- 🏀 Youth (ages 12-18) drop in basketball at YMCA Vaughan Harvey, 8:15-9:50pm, $5
And a few more teasers …
Moncton Cares is hosting a Festival of Colours on July 20.
Tickets are on sale now for The Magnetic Hill Zoo’s Pizza for the Primates event. You can learn about primates while prepping a meal for them & enjoy a special behind-the-scenes view of the animals. The first event is July 20; there are a few throughout the summer and you can book special group visits, too.
Sunday July 21 is a treat for soccer lovers – The Ipswich Town Football Club & Middlesbrough FC will take the field at Croix Bleue Medavie Stadium at 1pm, followed by the HFX Wanderers FC vs. NB Selects. Tickets are on sale now!
Coming up in August, there will be a open houses at both YMCA locations – you can check out the indoor splash pad, the swimming pool, and all the amenities!