Who’s ready for some good news updates?! We were going to stick with our ‘every second week’ round ups, but there were so many announcements for this weekend we wanted to make sure you all knew – so here goes!

WHAT’S NEW TO DO WITH THE FAMILY

Riverview’s newly renovated outdoor pool is opening this weekend! There’s a special grand opening happening Friday, then it’s open to the public officially as of Saturday. You can reserve your spot up to 24 hours in advance.

The Dieppe Aquatic Centre will start offering preschool swim times again, Mondays and Fridays from 10:15-11:10am, as of August 7. You can also book lane swimming, but no public swim times yet.

Hop! Skip! Jump! is reopening as of Friday, August 7. They’re offering discounts, two set times to play (10am-2pm, 3-7pm) with only 30% capacity, extra cleaning, and more safety measures in place. Check their Facebook page for more details!

Room Escape’s plans for reopening are coming along, too! They’ve posted a sneak peak of a Clue-inspired room at their new location & there’s more to come.

And make a note – this week is the perfect time to plan a stargazing night with the family! The annual Perseid Meteor shower is happening; there are times, on a clear night, you could see more than 100 meteors in just an hour!

EVENTS TO ENJOY WITH THE FAMILY

This weekend marks the kick off of the Rising Tide Festival, an annual celebration of music & nature held throughout the Fundy Region. All events are free this year, with attendance limits based on social distancing. There will also be virtual concerts streamed from Fundy National Park next weekend. Follow Rising Tide Festival on Facebook for all the info & updates!

The Moncton Lebanese Association is holding a public gathering (masks/social distancing required) on Friday night, 5pm, in front of Moncton City Hall as a show of solidarity with the people of Lebanon, following the devastation of an explosion at the port in that city.

atlantic dance FESTIVAL danse atlantique will feature eight performances throughout downtown Moncton on Saturday, happening at 11am and again at 5pm. The performances will begin at Bore Park and end at Aberdeen Cultural Centre. They’ll have performances again next weekend, and check out their Parent & Baby (up to 12 months) workshop coming up!

NEAT OUTDOOR FAMILY ADVENTURE IDEAS

Poley Mountain isn’t just for skiing and snowboarding; check them out Saturday from 10am-4pm for a mountain biking experience!

For some biking fun closer to home, we’re seeing lots of families out enjoying the BMX track in Dieppe lately!

And don’t forget about tree climbing! TreeGo in Moncton & Mactaquac & Timber Top in Saint John.

Take your family on a beach treasure hunt – with a made-in-NB app! There are maps for Parlee Beach, Murray Beach, and New River Beach. Free to download, easy to follow, takes about 30 minutes or so to complete the tasks and learn about the local environment.

Maybe you’d like to walk some llamas along the beach? You can do that! Llama-zing Adventures has turned out to be the hit of the summer. Their schedule is pretty booked up, but they sometimes announce cancellations on their Facebook page!

Looking to go a little further and add some history learning to the adventure? Why not plan a visit to Carlingford (near Perth-Andover) to travel the Tomlinson Lake Hike to Freedom. Called ‘North America’s Northernmost Route of the Underground Railroad,’ this trail is open to hikers, with visible markings and interpretive storyboards, a squatters cabin, and a Black Loyalist pithouse. Enjoy a visit now and return again in the fall when the leaves are at their peak! The hike is between 2.5 and 3km each way, but relatively easy terrain. You can read a great review of the hike details here; for info on the organization that maintains the trail and more about its history, follow their Facebook page.

MORE FUN IDEAS FOR GETTING OUT WITH THE FAMILY THIS WEEKEND

You can find our Guide to Blueberry U-picks in the Greater Moncton Area here; check it out to get the scoop on several places you can head this weekend with the family to pick some berries or buy some already ready to enjoy!

The forecast remains hot, so you’ll also want to consult our Guide to Hard Ice Cream Spots around – be sure to let us know which stands you visit!

LET’S ALL GO TO THE DRIVE-IN!

Have you made it to the drive-in yet? So many fun options this summer!

The Hub City Drive-in,  located at Solomon Gardens on the Salisbury Road, is showing Hot Fuzz on Saturday night.

The Sussex Drive-In’s double bill this weekend is The Goonies followed by Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Shediac’s Neptune Drive In is showing The Goonies & 2 Fast 2 Furious.

Cineplex in Dieppe is reopen, too, with some great family options this weekend, including recent hits like Sonic the Hedgehog and Sing, as well as old favourites like the Karate Kid. They also have special pricing in effect, with $2.99 Tuesday and $5 for other days

INSIDE FUN FOR THE FAMILY

Resurgo Place is open Tuesdays to Saturdays, 10am-4pm. They have lots of on-site self-directed activities, DIY craft kits, science demonstrations (riding on the hovercraft is something to experience!), and more.

Moncton’s historic Thomas Williams House is also open for the 2020 season, Tuesdays through Saturdays until late August. The tea room offers three sittings each day; reservations are recommended.

Flex your creativity at DIY Studio.

Riverview’s Indoor Skate Park is open; book online in advance. FitRocks Moncton is also open, with kid-friendly walls to climb.

Mystery Moncton Mystere is open, with a new room, too! (Recommended for older kids, ages 14+)

OUTDOOR DESTINATIONS

Magic Mountain, including the FunZone, is open for the season; book online before you head out.

Magnetic Hill Zoo is open; purchase online in advance to ensure your spot. And don’t forget the allure of a drive on Magnetic Hill!

The Go Karts and batting cages are open at The Boardwalk (Saturdays and Sundays from 10am-9pm) and the driving range is open seven days a week.

The track is also operating at East Coast Karting; reach out to them if you’re interested in your child learning to drive.

And you can always take the family on a tour of the amazing murals and other public art around the GMA with this map.

PLAYGROUNDS & SPLASH PADS IN THE GMA

Visit our Playground Profiles page for dozens of posts highlighting playgrounds and splash pads around the Greater Moncton area; we provide photos of all the equipment, details on things like parking, and more. (Pro Tip: You can use the drop down menu to search just Riverview, Moncton, or Dieppe playgrounds we’ve visited; there are nearly 100 playgrounds on our master list we want to profile, so keep checking back for new additions!)

SWIMMING

As we mentioned off the top, the newly refurbished Lion Ken Gabbey Pool in Riverview is open as of August 7!

The City of Moncton’s East End pool (35 Fergus Street) is open daily from 10am-7pm, with only 75 people at a time (due to social distancing). Admission is $2/person, free for those aged three and under.

Centennial Park’s new pool is open, 11am-7:30pm daily, with 200 people per session allowed to allow for social distancing. Admission is $5/adult, $3/seniors and children ages three to 12 – under three is free. There is a sandy play area, with washrooms and a canteen available. Centennial Park is located at 801 St. George Blvd; the address for the pool is 15 Rotary Park Lane.

Salisbury Lions Pool is open, as is Petitcodiac‘s community pool.

Hillsborough’s heated outdoor public swimming pool is next to the village’s skate park and elementary school playground (7 School Lane) and can be reached by phone at 506-734-3702. The pool is open Monday through Friday, with swim times happening in one-hour time blocks with $1 admission.

DAYTRIP IDEAS

Bouctouche can include a visit to Le Pays de la Sagouine, the farmer’s market (open Saturdays 8am-1pm), the public Irving Eco-Centre and the incredible Bouctouche Dunes, and so much more!

Hillsborough & area offers the New Brunswick Railway Museum, the Steeves House Museum (open Wednesdays through Sundays), the Albert County Museum and the Hopewell Rocks (where the annual sandpiper visitation is underway!). You might even want to book an experience kayaking around the rocks! Make it an overnight with a stay at Broadleaf Ranch, where you can book their glamping units and outdoor adventures, such as horseback trail riding! Don’t forget to pop by the local shops and eateries, including checking out the Foods of the Fundy Valley for goodies like fresh, local strawberries. Don’t forget a stop for ice cream at the Artisan’s Village, next to the fenced-in playground and on the road to the old Gypsum wharf walking trail.

Shediac is a great place to spend a day or more. Check out Bistro Le Moque-Tortue in Shediac; a lovely spot with board games, escape rooms, and more fun for all ages, plus one of the most colourful outdoor dining areas you’ll find around! You can also check out Pascal Poirier Park in the Village (it has a splash pad), and a visit to the Big Lobster is always a summer must. The playground there is a favourite among our little Pickles. (We hear an ice cream at nearby Rosie’s Ice Cream – open 1-9pm – is another Shediac must!) Shediac Paddle Shack is offering a Family Night specials on Saturdays; children 12 and under can have their rental 50% off when renting with their adult. (Book in advance.)

We also love grabbing a candy treat and adopting baby lobsters while visiting the Pointe-du-Chene wharf. The Écocentre Homarus Eco-Centre is a fantastic little spot to learn about the life cycle of a lobster and to see rare blue and albino lobsters in their tank. You can even touch a lobster if you wish!

And if you’re looking to head out a little further, all you want to know about exploring Fredericton, Saint John, and more with the family is available in our #StaycationSummer podcast posts!

Enjoy the weekend, everyone!