What to do with the kids in Greater Moncton this weekend (Sept 29-Oct 1)

Welcome to the weekend, everyone! It’s looking like fantastic weather to get out & enjoy fall in New Brunswick – and we have lots of ideas on where you may want to go!

A reminder: schools are closed Monday to observe the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation, making this a long weekend for kids – and next Monday schools are closed for Thanksgiving.

WHAT’S ON THIS WEEKEND – SEPT 29 – OCT 1

Football season is in full swing. You can cheer on the Mathieu-Martin Matadors & the Olympiens de l’Odyssee Thursday night at Rocky Stone Field in Moncton at 8pm. Friday at Woody Hayes Community Field it’s the Tantramar Titans & the Harrison Trimble Trojans on the field at 7pm. The Riverview Royals and the Bernice MacNaughton Highlanders take the Riverview High School Field Saturday at 1pm.

Resurgo Place’s new exhibit is now open – and it includes a full dinosaur! The museum is always a hands-on hit with our kids, but I know the dino will tip the scales for so many!!

East Coast Amusements will be at the Moncton Coliseum Thursday through Sunday; scheduled opening time is 3pm on Thursday & Friday, noon on Saturday & Sunday. The annual Hub City Tattoo Expo is also happening at the Coliseum this weekend.

Moncton is holding a ceremony on Saturday to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, starting at 1pm in front of City Hall.

Katia Rock, an Innu singer and artist, is performing at the Dieppe Arts & Culture Centre on Saturday evening.

If you’re downtown Moncton this Saturday, look to the skies – people will be rappelling down the Assomption Building as a charity fundraiser, Over the Edge with Harvest House Atlantic!

The Moncton Basketball Association is hosting the Noval McConnell 3-on-3 Tournament this Saturday along the Moncton Riverfront. Along with the games there will be a slam dunk contest, a 3-point shootout, all-ages bump contest, DJs, food trucks, and lots of fun. There are youth tournaments 10am-5pm, with an adult tournament 6-10pm.

Hall Creek Crafters is a neighbourhood celebration of youth and community, with young entrepreneurs invited to set up a table or blanket to sell their wares on Saturday, 1-4pm.

Saturday is the Wildcats season home opener, facing off against the Halifax Mooseheads at 7pm – but there’s a celebration first! There’s a Party on the Oval outside the Avenir Centre starting at 4pm, with Wild Willie, bouncy castles, live music, & more. Doors to the centre open at 6pm, with live music inside the venue and lots of extra surprises & fun!

Petitcodiac will have a Family Day Fall Harvest event from 9am-3pm on Saturday, with bouncy castles, games, vendors, Party Pets petting zoo, a pumpkin launcher, balloon animals, face painting, music, and more. Head to 41 Corey Avenue to take in the fun!

This weekend at the Sussex Drive-In, it’s PAW Patrol The Mighty Movie & Dumb Money. Watch for their annual Trunk or Treat event next weekend!

Memramcook is hosting a night of stargazing Saturday, 8:30-10pm, in the soccer field behind the Institute. Physics & astronomy professor Viktor Khalack will be on site and there will be some telescopes available to use.

Starting October 1, children who are in Grade 5 can get a FREE YMCA Membership that’s good until the end of June. A parent or guardian can bring the student to either Moncton location to register; bring either last year’s report card or a letter from the school this year to sign them up!

SPOOKY SEASON IS STARTING!

We’ve started our list of Halloween related events & activities; watch for it to appear in the next few days. (You can check out our Halloween decorating tips, costume ideas, & fun eats here!)

If you’re really keen to kick off the spooky vibes, head to Miramichi this Friday for the 1^st annual Parade of Frights, part of Miramichi Horror Fest (happening Saturday with vendors, cosplay contest, haunted house, and more, 1-10pm). The parade begins in Downtown Chatham at 7pm and is billed as being fun for all ages!

Also happening this weekend in the spooky world, the Albert County Museum is hosting several ghost hunting tours on Saturday, as well as a Wellness & Paranormal Fair.

Trueman’s Farm is having an After Dark event this Saturday, with flashlight mazes (bring your own!), live music, a moonlight train ride, and more.

Many homes in Riverview are still sporting their Pumpkin Palooza displays – and we see that Keeping Up With The Bones on Waterfall Drive will be bringing their skeleton friends out to play starting October 1!

If you’re looking for a non-scary fall adventure, consider a road trip to the Annual Mahone Bay Scarecrow Festival, underway until October 9. There’s even a pie contest this Saturday!

Another great fall road trip idea is taking in the Fall Festival of Colours at Crabbe Mountain in Northern New Brunswick. Taking place Saturday & Sunday this weekend and next (11am-4pm), enjoy a chairlift up the ski hill to enjoy the scenery, photo booths, beer gardens, food trucks, wagon rides, haystack playground, music, & more!

Beloved Miniature Horses are holding open farm sessions each Sunday in October, with many animals on site. Entry is $12/person; under 3 is free. Pony rides (limited to those under 50 pounds) are $10.

Sunday is also the PAW Walk at Centennial Park, with lots of activities from 11am-4pm, raising funds for the animal shelter.

APPLE PICKING, CORN MAZES, & MORE

Apple u-picks are underway & corn mazes are open! The weather lately means trails are likely dry and the forecast is warm & sunny; perfect time to make a trip! (Remember, many may accept cash only and are weather dependent; check the source links before heading out.)

• The Green Pig Market’s big & mini mazes & the bounce pad will be open Saturday, Sunday & Monday, 10am-5pm. The pumpkin blaster will be available this weekend, too!
• We love the slow country pace at Milton Mile Farms. Check out their awesome corn maze this weekend; open 10am-5pm, $5/person.
• Trueman Blueberry Farm has it all — sunflower maze, corn maze, train rides, jumbo jumper, potato cannon, and more – including their amazing homemade ice cream. Always worth a visit! Starting this weekend you can take a wagon ride to the pumpkin patch!
• Belliveau Orchard is open daily 10am-5pm. (We love heading out for an after-school apple u-pick adventure; less crowds!)
• Le Verger Goguen U-pick is open 10am – 6pm.
• Uris Williams & Sons Apple Orchard’s U-pick is open 10am-5pm.

For more on these & more mazes, orchards, and & fall fun, check out our Guide to Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes, and Apple Orchards in New Brunswick. We see Pope’s U-Pick in Belleisle Creek is opening this weekend; stunning photo ops!

Speaking of pumpkins, the annual Neguac Giant Pumpkin Festival takes place October 1. Weigh off is at 2pm; the record to beat is 1,721 pounds.

RELATED: FALL BUCKET LIST IDEAS

ONGOING FUN – INDOORS

• Friday & Saturday nights are Glow Zone nights at SkyZone. Lasers, black lights, fog machines & more! All ages welcome, wear white or florescent colours, 7-10pm.
• Looking for something geared just to littles? Hop Skip Jump is the place to check out.
• The City of Moncton hosts two public swims each weekend: Saturdays 3-4:35pm at the University of Moncton’s CEPS ($3 admission), and Sundays 1:303pm at the YMCA ($3 admission).
• You might also want to check out swimming at the Riverview Aquatic Centre (open swim on Saturdays at 1:35 & 2:40) & the Dieppe Aquatic Centre (public swims on Saturday at 3:15pm & 6pm, Sunday at 3:15pm), or check out the indoor splash pad at the North End YMCA.
• DYK: Dieppe Aquatic Centre offers preschool swims on Tuesdays, Thursdays, & Fridays from 10-11:25am. The pool is a sloped, walk-in perfect for littles AND there’s an awesome pirate ship to play on! You can find more info on daytime swims in our updated Guide to Swimming in Greater Moncton.
• Add a little learning fun to the weekend with a trip to Shediac’s Homarus Centre, Resurgo Place, Doiron House in Dieppe, or the Albert County Museum.
• We’re always a fan of visiting the library – whether there’s special programming or just to drop in & explore!
• Bowling is always a sure hit with the family: choose from Holy Moly (with retro arcade games) in Riverview, Fairlanes (with Glow Bowling nights) in Moncton, or Bowlarama (with an awesome arcade) in Dieppe.
• Want to move as a family? Try a visit to FitRocks Climbing Gym, Marco’s Clinic (laser tag), or the Riverview Indoor Skatepark & Riverview Youth Centre.
• 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!

ONGOING FUN – OUTDOORS

• Magnetic Hill Zoo is currently open seven days a week, 10am-4pm.
• Magic Mountain‘s mini golf & TekZone are still open Saturdays & Sundays in September.
• Adventurous families might want to try TreeGo (located within Centennial Park in Moncton & open daily in September), or maybe book a session at Moncton Paintball, or hit the track at East Coast Karting (weekend walk ins).
• Boyle Family Farm offers farm visits and horseback rides; check their site for what’s happening.
• Llamazing Adventures books walks with animals in fun locations!
• Check out Off Grid Adventure in Anagance for an awesome adventure course & their new indoor climbing walls.

LOOKING AHEAD

Here are just a few events coming soon – come back next week for another weekend round up with even more ideas for family fun in Greater Moncton!

• On Tuesday night, the Moncton Library is hosting a movie & PJ night, showing the Super Mario Bros movie in French. Everyone welcome, 6pm start. Enjoy the same Wednesday night in English!
• Moncton will host the 2023 Canada Soccer Toyota National Championships U-17 Cup, running October 4 – 9. Top talent from across the country playing at Croix Bleue Medavie Stadium, Rocky Stone Field, HTHS, & BMHS. Tickets are on sale now; kids 12 & under are free!
• Moncton Cares is hosting a fun scavenger hunt in Irishtown Nature Park on Oct 5 at 4pm.
• Moncton’s gathering for the annual Breastfeeding Challenge will be held Oct 7, 9:30am-noon, at the University of Moncton’s Pavillion Jacqueline-Bouchard. There will be a movie shown and the latch event.
• Have some books you’re looking to declutter? Laubach Literacy New Brunswick is collecting now for their annual BOOKSTRAVAGANZA. Drop off boxes are out at Sobeys in Moncton, Riverview, & Dieppe. Donate if you can – and if you love to read, make plans to attend the sale at the Coliseum Oct 20-22.
• And if you love reading, you’ll love the new Silent Book Club! Taking place at bar55 (55 Queen St) on Thursday, October 12 from 6-8pm. No need to read in advance or be ready to chat; silent reading club is simply meant to be a gathering of folks wanting to sit and enjoy their own books! You do need to register to secure your seat, though.
• The annual Alma Fleet Launch will coincide with the Rising Tide Trails & Tunes Festival, starting October 13.
• The Walk to Remember returns in person this fall. Mark October 15 on your calendar to walk in support of families who have lost a child in pregnancy or infancy.
• October 15 there will be an open house at the Memramcook fire station.
• Atlantic Slam hits the Avenir Centre November 16-19, featuring four NCAA Division I College Basketball teams & several top prep school teams.

Find links & suggestions for making this bucket list happen here!

Looking for more ideas?

We know lots of families are searching for activities beyond the weekend. We’ve updated our Guide to Free Drop In Playgroups, our Guide to Swimming in Greater Moncton, and our Guide to Indoor & Outdoor Skating (skating sessions will be in full swing after Thanksgiving!). Here are a few quick ideas; check out those guides for more details!

WEEKDAY EVENTS FOR MAMAS, PAPAS, BABIES, LITTLES & TODDLERS IN GREATER MONCTON

• Open Gym times & indoor walking (stroller-friendly!) at the Crossman Centre / Kay Arena
• Hop! Skip! Jump! – free for those under one year of age
• SkyZone – toddler section
• DIY Studio
• Resurgo
• Swimming – several preschool swims at various pools
• Skating – lots of free indoor options throughout the fall & winter
• Early Childhood Family Resource Centre – free drop in sessions, community playgroups, outings, & parenting programs
• Sunny Tots
• Libraries
• Mommy Connections – membership programs & Stroller Socials
• Indoor splash pad & YMCA Play Pals
• Talk With Me & Family & Early Childhood Anglophone East
• 506 Elite Allstars open play drop in – Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10-11am, $5

Speaking of littles, have you checked out our Pregnancy Resources & Guide to Maternity/Paternity Leave page? Lots of local resources & more to come!

And if you’re still wondering what to do – head to a playground!