It’s promising to be a wet & wild weekend in the weather department, so be sure to double check our source links for any updates before finalizing your plans! (We’ll be off in Saint John at the Grapevine Events Pop-Up Consignment Sale, so we had to write this round up early & won’t have a chance to update if we see any cancellations, etc. We’re included events as we know them to be scheduled as of Sept. 20; please watch the organizations’ official pages for updates based on Hurricane Fiona — and take a few moments to review what families can do to be prepared for an emergency: getprepared.gc.ca.)

WEEKEND EVENTS SEPT 23-25, 2022

Sackville’s annual Fall Fair is planned for this weekend, as is Homecoming Weekend at Mount A! There’s free music, fireworks planned for Friday night, the 9^th annual Anything That Floats Race, parades, blacksmithing demonstrations and tours of the Campbell Carriage Factory Museum, and more.

MUST READ: FALL FAMILY BUCKET LIST IDEAS

CAFi is hosting Monde en fête 2022 at Dieppe’s Place 1604 this weekend, with activities Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Saturday’s workshops and events have a kid-friendly focus!

The Sussex Drive In is planning to show Thor and Barbarian this Friday and Saturday.

The SportsDome is hosting public game nights on Fridays, with laser tag, Just Dance, Xbox, Nintendo, and more.

Petitcodiac is hosting a Lumberjack Competition as part of its harvest celebrations this weekend. You can watch the councillors from Petitcodiac face off against those from Salisbury in crosscut, bucksaw, kettle boil, and axe throwing on Saturday the 24^th at 10am. Find the fun on the fairgrounds on Corey Ave! They also have a scarecrow decorating contest which is sure to make the village look amazing – and don’t forget you can still check out many of Riverview’s Pumpkin Palooza creations, too!

Farmer Brown’s Greenhouse has a staw bale maze open to the public during their business hours. Cost is $10/family. This is a great adventure for little ones, as well as kids’ at heart! On Saturday, they plan to have some extra kids’ craft activities on hand.

Speaking of mazes, despite the fire at the market this week, the Green Pig’s corn mazes are planning to reopen for the season, along with a makeshift market, though we’re not yet sure on the reopening date. We expect details to come on their Facebook page.

For another great corn maze option, be sure to check out Milton Mile Farms (800 Dawson Road), just outside of Riverview. They’re open on weekends, 10am-5pm, for $5/person (children under 2 are free) and are fantastic! We loved getting lost in their maze, meeting their alpacas, and talking tractors last weekend!

Another great adventure option is Trueman Blueberry Farm (Aulac), with its corn maze, wagon rides, jumbo jumper, potato cannon, and more. Open Wednesdays through Sundays.

POSTPONED: Sunday is the Moncton Wildcat’s season home opener and they have TONS of fun extras planned! The Greatest Show includes plans for a tailgate party beginning at noon with aerial artists, bouncy castles, live music, and much more – plus the hockey game at 4pm, of course!

Our friends at Off Grid Adventure are hosting a fall nature scavenger hunt this Sunday. Cost is $10/child (ages 12 & under) and includes free time in the Adventure Park and a prize for taking part.

The New Brunswick Dirt Riders Association is holding an event at Riverglade Motorcross Sunday, with riders ranging from ages six to 16.

For the bearded among you up for a short road trip, there’s a fun challenge happening at King’s Landing this Sunday. The Best Beard & Moustache Competition has categories for villagers and the public – as well as a best fake beard or fake moustache award for the public as well! (Psst! You can also sign up now for their Thanksgiving dinners, too!)

Don’t forget: it’s apple season at Belliveau Orchard! You can stop in seven days a week, 10am to 5pm, & tractor rides are available every day. Check their Facebook page to see what varieties are ripe for picking. Other apple orchards in the area include Les Petits Fruits de Pré-d’en-Haut, a lovely farm overlooking the Bay of Fundy (their apple u-pick is open daily during the season), Irishview Estates (their 2022 season is set to begin Sept. 28), Le Verger Goguen near Cocagne (with apples, pumpkins, & a u-fish pond), La Fleur du Pommier (also near Cocagne, open daily, 10am-6pm), and Uris Williams & Sons Apple Orchard in Saint Antoine.

LOCAL INDOOR IDEAS

You can find all kinds of links to family fun on our MEGA GUIDE TO FAMILY FUN IN GREATER MONCTON, but here are some highlights:

Great spaces to appeal to a variety of ages & interests are Hop Skip Jump!, SkyZone, & DIY Studio.

The Riverview Indoor Skatepark is a wonderful place for all ages, and bowling is always a great time! Fairlanes in Moncton & Bowlarama in Dieppe both offer gutter blockers for kids, and Bowlarama has an awesome arcade section. Don’t forget Riverview is now home to The Marvelous Holy Bowly, too.

Older kids might want to try laser tag at Marco’s Clinic, or neighbouring FitRocks Climbing Gym, or maybe test their wits at Room Escape Atlantic or Mystery Moncton Mystere.

Add a dose of learning with a trip to Resurgo Place, Doiron House or the Moncton Public Library.

Cineplex has theatres in both Dieppe & Moncton

The YMCA Moncton North has an indoor splash pad & playground; non-members are welcome.

Cabela’s has a 12,000-gallon freshwater aquarium; stop by to see striped bass, Atlantic sturgeon, trout, perch, and more!

The City of Moncton offers free drop in gym time for kids in Gr 5 – 8 at the Crossman Centre (99 Wynwood Drive) on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 3:30-4:45pm. The gym is open for Parents & Tots Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 10am until noon. You can also walk the indoor track WITH a stroller between 11am and 1pm. There’s also indoor walking at the Moncton Coliseum between 9am and 4pm; call 857-4100 for more info.

SWIMMING

Check out the Pat Crossman Aquatic Centre in Riverview, the Moncton YMCA at Vaughan Harvey, and the Dieppe Aquatic Centre. Both the Moncton & Dieppe pools are great with littles; Dieppe has a sloped entry with a pirate ship, while the Vaughan Harvey YMCA has a separate kiddie pool.

Find more details in our Guide to Swimming in the GMA here.

SKATING

FYI: Indoor ice skating generally starts around Thanksgiving and runs until after March Break. Watch for updates next month! (Oh, and if you live in the City of Moncton & hope to have a community rink this year, check out the City’s program. They’re open for applications until Oct. 10.)

LOCAL OUTDOOR IDEAS

We already touched on some of the apple orchards, corn mazes, & pumpkin patches that are opening up for the season. You can also check out our list dedicated to these fall favourites!

MUST READ: CORN MAZES, PUMPKIN PATCHES, & APPLE ORCHARDS TO EXPLORE IN NEW BRUNSWICK

Magnetic Hill Zoo is open most of the year & is a fantastic option for families. The average time to enjoy the site is two hours; lots of shade, an awesome playground, and places to eat or picnic make this a great outing in any season. Watch for Boo at the Zoo to return this October!

Animal lovers might also want to try horseback riding at nearby Boyle Family Farm on Route 126.

Adventurous families might want to try TreeGo (located within Centennial Park in Moncton), Maghill Paintball, East Coast Karting, or Off Grid Adventure.

There’s really no season that isn’t fun on our playgrounds! We’re on a mission to visit them all and share our thoughts; follow the link for our Playground Profiles! You can also go straight to the ones with splash pads and water features by clicking here.

Grab your camera and plan a photography tour of the public art installations around our communities, thanks to Festival Inspire.

The City of Moncton offers three outdoor areas where riders can bike, skate, or scooter for free: CN Sportplexe Bike Park (55 Russ Howard Boulevard), the Downtown Skate Park (by Riverfront Park), and the Renton All-Wheels Park (280 Noel Street).

Dieppe’s Rotary St-Anselme Park & Splash Pad offers awesome biking trails and options, too – and don’t forget the awesome pump track now in Riverview at the Irving Road Playground!