What to do with the family for the May long weekend in Moncton 2018
Can you feel it? Summer is coming! The long weekend in May is just about the surest sign that long days and warm nights are headed our way!
Watch for lots of great details coming your way on how to make the best of the summer with your family; we’ll be updating our Top Summer Festivals and sharing more great playgrounds to visit, there’s our round up of ice cream spots around Moncton, our guide to splash pads, and of course our Summer Bucket List Bingo!
But for now, let’s focus on this weekend.
A reminder for parents with kids in the Anglophone East School District; this is an EXTRA long weekend, with Friday off for the kids, too, so be sure to check out our list of local attractions that can provide some family fun, such as SkyZone, Play Café, the newly-opened Magnetic Hill Wharf, and more! There’s also open gym time at the Crossman Centre, bowling, open swims, Hopewell Rocks opening for the season, and dozens of other ideas on our MEGA LIST!
(And speaking of school – remember there’s an information session/community meeting Thursday night at Riverbend Community School. Head over to the school to find out more about their full time and summer programming, and their hybrid program launching in the fall.)
The Boys & Girls Club of Dieppe is holding a family dinner on Friday; great chance to check out the centre and learn about their programming while getting to know other families.
A trip to the movies is always fun – especially when it’s the drive in! The Sussex Drive In opens for the season on Friday night with Tomb Raider & Rampage, with a bonus on Sunday: Paddington 2 will play first that night. The Shediac drive in now has two drive in screens; this weekend it’s Avengers & Black Panther on one screen, Deadpool 2 & Super Troopers 2 on the other. Speaking of movies, the Cineplex $2.99 Family Favourite this week is Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.
Saturday’s big event is the annual East Coast Comic Expo, taking place at the Crossman Centre in Moncton. This is an all-ages, day-long event with so much to explore! Kids 12 and under are free (with an adult); day passes are $15 at the door, 10am until 5pm. You can pay in advance online for a discount, and check out the VIP packages that include events on Friday night. There’s a costume contest (check the guidelines online before heading out), awesome vendors, and so many amazing artists scheduled. A great family event!
Saturday is the 11th annual Fundy Park Geocache event, highlighting the Metepenagiag Heritage Park and Indigenous culture. There are free refreshments, door prizes, technical support, and a 2018 trackable geocoin and passport.
Always lots to see at Resurgo Place, including Saturday morning’s Toys All Around Us collaboration with Musée acadien de l’Université de Moncton. Learn more about creating your own toys from items on hand (included with paid admission).
You can enjoy tea at Moncton’s historic Thomas Williams House on Saturday and Sunday this weekend, open 10am to 6pm. You can try on a Victorian costume, learn more about the home, and enjoy a treat on the veranda. Tours of the house are by donation; tea is $15/person or $50 for a table of four. Check out the menu online and find more details about reservations!
Did you know Saturday is National Fiddling Day?! Watch for a jam session on the lawn of Jocelyn Bourque’s Fiddling School on Mountain Road, starting at 1pm. Everyone welcome – and bring your fiddles and guitars!
Something else I didn’t know: Cape Enrage exists thanks to local high school students! It’s been 25 years since a group from Harrison Trimble worked with teacher Dennison Tate to restore the light keeper’s house, which was headed for demolition. Now, the site is run by a non-profit organization that offers educational tours, fossil exploration, zip lining, rappelling, and much more, along with running a restaurant and gift house. If you stop in Saturday and by a Season Pass, you can get either a free zip line ride or a discount on rappelling or a meal. A pass for two adults and two children up to age 18 is $70; a day pass for a family is $20 (children under five are free).
Sunday is the 4th annual Hopewell Rocks Multi-Terrain Run/Walk. The course is about 8km and is meant to be done at your own pace, with a medal and a Pumphouse beer for the first 200 adult finishers. There is a discounted rate for racers family members wishing to visit that day, too! The Rocks officially open for the season on Friday.
Sunday is also the home opener for the season for the Moncton Fisher Cats. Game time is 2pm. Kids six and under attend for free!
We couldn’t find many activities listed for Monday; be sure to check our MEGA LIST of local places to hang out with the family for ideas. Many entertainment businesses will be open – plus there’s always the great outdoors!