What to Do with the Kids in Moncton this Weekend (Aug 9 – 11)
Would you look at those dates! My goodness, we’re almost halfway through August! I hope you’ve been having a wonderful summer, whether it’s been filled with big vacations, staycations, or just lots of fun family time.
If you follow us on Instagram (which, we’d really LOVE if you did; we keep things different over there than what we share on Facebook, where we’d also love for you to connect with us, as that’s where we always share new posts and fun contests!), you’ll know we were road warriors this summer. First we hit up the awesome Cavendish Bosom Buddies in June for the Vacation the Kids Took Over (they offer this inclusive package again later this month; check it out!), then I took an epic road trip with a dozen awesome ladies to see NKOTB and the Mix Tape Tour in Boston. July saw our family head to Quebec, spending a week sharing a cottage at Au Chalet en Bois Rond with friends from Toronto. We took time to explore Bathurst, Beresford (Papa Pickle managed a personal best at the annual triathlon!), & Miramichi on the way back before heading off again to Cape Breton. We wrapped up the August long weekend with a quick overnight in PEI to visit another friend from our Toronto days (all of which explains why we haven’t made it to as many local playgrounds as we’d hoped this summer, but more reviews are coming – especially since we got a shout out in the Globe and Mail for it!). Now the kids are enjoying Snapology & MadScience day camps to get us back on routine!
Speaking of routine, you’re here for the round up – so let’s get to it! Reminder: double check the source for updates, weather impacts, etc. We can’t always update after we publish & things sometimes change.
At the movies this weekend …
- The Sussex Drive In is showing The Lion King & Toy Story 4
- Neptune Drive In in Shediac is playing Dora & Late Night
- Sackville is showing How to Train your Dragon: The Hidden World in Bill Johnstone Memorial Park on Friday night
- The next $2.99 Saturday morning special listed at Cineplex is The Dark Crystal on Aug. 24!
- Moncton Public Library offers free family movies (1pm in English, 3pm in French) each Sunday this summer
First, a quick reminder: there’s a concert on Magnetic Hill this Saturday, so while most local attractions are posting about being open, if you’re heading in that direction or looking for hotel nights or dinners out, be sure to check ahead and keep this in mind!
The 6th edition of the Congrès Mondial Acadien officially kicks off Saturday and runs until August 24, with events throughout Southeast New Brunswick and PEI. You can find a schedule of events on Facebook; most of the local activities start next week.
Our local libraries have all kinds of fantastic programming; one highlight in Riverview is Friday’s visit from the Homarus Eco-Centre!
Many of the local blueberry u-picks are opening for the season this weekend; you can find the details in our blueberry round up here!
This weekend is the annual craft fair in Victoria Park. Lots of great local & regional artists to support; open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Close to the Heart is more than a great local baby/kids store – it’s also host to lots of wonderful workshops! This Friday there’s an infant CPR course; check their page for details and for upcoming events.
Saturday morning at the Magnetic Hill Zoo search & rescue dog Fire and his handler, Rhonda, are scheduled to be at the Arctic wolf exhibit from 10am until 2pm to share information about his work.
Parlee Beach is planning a sand sculpting contest on Saturday!
The annual Family Fun Day Fundraiser for the Canadian Mental Health Association of New Brunswick is POSTPONED.
Up for a road trip? Freddy’s New Frenchy’s corn maze in Sussex is having its grand opening on Saturday! Cost is $4/person; children under three free with paying adult.
Teens and adults can sign up for a zine workshop with local artist and illustrator Camille Perron-Cormier at Galerie d’art Louise-et-Reuben-Cohen on Saturday afternoon. Create your own small publication celebrating stories of family heritage and culture. Materials provided, though you can bring your own, as well. Registration is required, as space is limited; email galrc@umoncton.ca.
Sunday in Shediac the Homarus Eco-Centre will be releasing baby lobsters – and you can buy a ticket to go out on the Shediac Bay Cruises boat to join the fun! A family of two children and two adults is $75; children two and under are free. Adult tickets are $25 and children $20. Call (506) 532-2175 to purchase.
Kids 11 and older can sign up to make a mini-piñata (candy included!) at the Moncton Public Library on Sunday. Call 869-6000, option 3, to register.
Sunday in Sackville is sure to be fun with Heritage Field Day happening at the Campbell Carriage Factory! There will be dance and blacksmith demonstrations, carriage rides, a BBQ, and more!
A group of local DJs are organizing Parc Electronik, a series of free, outdoor musical events. Join the fun Sunday afternoon at Place 1604 in Dieppe.
The Moncton Branch #6 Legion is hosting a Peacekeepers’ Day Parade on Sunday, starting at 1:15pm
A neat event is happening again Sunday afternoon at Fort Beauséjour – Fort Cumberland – the Guitar War in the Fort! This is a free event; bring your chair & blanket and enjoy four awesome guitar players and special treats!
The FisherCats have another Sunday night home game at Kiwanis Park.
This time of year is fantastic for stargazing, as we’re in the midst of the Perseid meteor shower. The Town of Riverview is hosting a viewing event Monday night (Tuesday if the weather doesn’t cooperate); meet at the Runnymeade entrance of Mill Creek Nature Park at 8:45pm for a short, guided walk to the Fundy Biosphere Reserve’s designated Amazing Place lookout. You’re asked to register ahead of time and to remember to bring bug spray, a blanket to lay on, water bottles, and headlights.
Looking ahead to a few things:
Don’t forget to check out our list of FREE summer concerts for other weekday fun, as well as our MEGA LIST with links to local attractions.
Local author Diane Carmel Leger will be at Chapters Moncton on Wednesday to share, The Lookout Tree, the English translation her beloved Acadian children’s classic, La butte à Pétard.
Thursday is August 15, National Acadian Day, also known as Quinzou in these parts. If you’re new to the area (like I was once!), this is a celebration of Acadian culture and pride that is quite fabulous! Look for celebrations large and small throughout the province, with several tintamarre (wonderfully loud and colourful parades) scheduled. Locally, there’s a mass at 10am at Lourdes Grotto, family fun (bouncy castles, BBQ, live music) from 11am until 2pm at Memramcook’s Monument-Lefebvre, official ceremonies at Place 1604 in Dieppe at 5pm with Le Grand Tintamarre starting there at 5:55pm and an incredible concert at the MusiquArt site in Dieppe starting at 7pm. Find all the details here.
Whew! That’s all for now folks; go out, have fun, enjoy summer, whether you take in any of these events or just plan your own family fun.