What to do with the kids this weekend in Greater Moncton (Feb 2-4)

Welcome to the first weekend in February, everyone!

Friday is Groundhog Day – always a fun, silly way to mark the passage of seasons. Looking for some craft ideas for Groundhog Day or just more information to share with your family about the day? Check out our blog post all about it!

Groundhog Day in New Brunswick

Now, on to the weekend events! We’re going to start with winter carnival fun, then move on to other events & activities. 

First stop – Riverview Winter Carnival! Pickle Planet is thrilled once again partner with the Town of Riverview to promote their amazing programming! (If you’re looking for updates on events based on weather conditions, check the Town’s Facebook page.)

One of our favourite events of the year kicks off Friday in fabulous style with IGNITE! Head to Winter Wonderland Park (5 Quinn Court, Riverview) at 6:30pm for a wintery celebration with food trucks, maple candy on the snow ($3/stick), free hot chocolate (bring your own mug!), skating & sledge skating on the oval, and tunes with DJ Krysta Jay. Keep an eye out for an ice throne carved by Swamp Bear Joel Palmer, too! And at 7pm, the fireworks will light the sky – nice and early for little ones to enjoy & get home to bed.

Saturday you can enjoy a pancake breakfast at Bethel Presbyterian (600 Coverdale Road; $10/adult, $5/child ages 5 – 12, & free for those under 5) & a free family swim at the Pat Crossman Memorial Aquatic Centre (400 Whitepine Road) from 2 – 3:30pm. Saturday is also the Frozen Open, one of the most-anticipated skateboarding competitions on the East Coast each winter! The event is free to watch; 1-5pm at Riverview Indoor Skatepark & Youth Centre (145 Lakeside Drive).

PRO TIP: If you haven’t had a chance to check out this amazing facility and resource in our community, now is the time! Check out the Pickle Planet Instagram for a video of my first time on a skateboard!

And wrap up the Saturday fun with Glow in the Dark skating outside! That’s right! WILD Outside is partnering with the Town to combine glow in the dark painting and black lights on the skating oval at Winter Wonderland Park. Wear reflective colours to really make the experience out of this world! (If you need an accessible ice sledge to enjoy the event, call 506-387-2024 to make arrangements.) This is a free event – but please note, the skating oval will be closed during the day to set up. Skating in the Dark is from 6-7:30pm.

Sunday there are mosiac workshops with Tim Isaac; all supplies and instructions provided & you can bring the mosaic home. Call 506-387-2024 to book your spot; workshops held at the Parks & Recreation Centre (55 Biggs Drive) at 1, 2, 3, & 4pm. Cost is $10/person.

WINTER CARNIVAL GOES ALL WEEK – CHECK OUT OUR GUIDE TO FAMILY FUN HERE!

Winter Carnival fun is also happening in Dieppe, with programming until February 18!

• Friday it’s Fun on Ice – and this week it’s Acadian night with DJ Chris! Bring your own skates to Place 1604 or use their helmet & skate rental program! There are bonfires & hot chocolate, too!
• Saturday is filled with family-friendly activities, including a winter-themed storytime at the library at 10:30am, free & paid events at Rotary Park from 1-9pm, including a coffee/hot chocolate bar with Second Cup, music, and more.
• Sunday you can sign up in advance for a fun session to learn how chocolate is made (along with samples to try!) from local chocolatier LaRouère. Cost is $20; spaces are limited.
• Each Sunday you can also enjoy sleigh rides in Rotary Park! From 1-4pm, enjoy a 15-minute ride for just $5/person (free for children aged four and under) – which includes a hot chocolate from Café Inclusio at Maison Doiron. (You can book private rides for groups of 18 to 24; check the website for details.

Want to skip cooking but not sure where to go? Check out our awesome friends at The Daily Feast! They have a daily break down of restaurant specials in Greater Moncton. SO helpful!

Shediac is in on the winter fun this weekend, too!

Saturday is Frosty Fun Day at the Pointe-du-Chêne Community Center. There’s also a Fat Bike Chili Ride (register in advance) that will see participants joining for a meal at the multipurpose centre after a 1.5-2 hour easy adventure.

Sunday brings a Family Snowshoe Walk at 1pm, leaving from the Lino Road parking lot and using the Association Plein Air Shediac Outdoor Association (APASOA) trails. For an indoor adventure, head to the acoustic session at the multipurpose centre. Doors open at 1pm; entry is $5.

Don’t forget about the Town of Riverview’s Snow Sculpting Contest! We expect to start seeing creations appear this weekend, so keep your eyes peeled. 

Now, some other fun weekend events & activities!

FRIDAY

⛸️ Shediac, 9:30-10:30am
⛸️ Dieppe AJL, 9:30-10:30am, Tots with sticks
⛸️ Kay Arena, parent & tot, 10:15-11:15am
⛸️ Superior Propane Centre parent & tot 10-11am
⛸️ Sackville, 10:15-11:15am, Parent & Tot
⛸️ Sackville, Noon-1pm, Lunch skate
⛸️ Riverview parent & tot 1:30-2:30pm
⛸️ Kay Arena, 3:30-4:30pm
⛸️ Riverview 12 & under, 4-5:15pm
⛸️Hillsborough, 8:15-9:15pm, $2/person or $5/family

🏊 YMCA public swim, 7-8pm, $3/person

SATURDAY

⛸️ Moncton Coliseum parent & tot 9:30-10:30am ($2)
⛸️ Hillsborough, 2-3pm, $2/person or $5/family
⛸️ Kay Arena, 2:30-4pm, $2
⛸️ Riverview 3:45-5:15pm
⛸️ Moncton Coliseum 3:45-5:15pm ($2)
⛸️ Dieppe AJL, 6:15-7:15pm
⛸️ Hillsborough, 8-9pm, $2/person or $5/family

🏊 Riverview Aquatic Centre offers open swim on Saturdays at 1:35 & 2:40.
🏊 The Dieppe Aquatic Centre has public swims on Saturday at 3:15pm & 6pm

If it’s not already part of your Saturday routine, consider making a visit to a local market a must-do each weekend! The Moncton Market (120 Westmorland Street) is open Saturdays, 8am-2pm, with lots of yummy treats to enjoy on site and to take home. You can also indulge at the Dieppe Market, open Saturdays 8am – 1pm.

A trip to your local library is always a great idea in our books, but this Saturday is extra full in Moncton – with chess club. D&D, conversation groups, and more!

The awesome new Board Miniatures on Main Street in Moncton is hosting a Beyblade event this Saturday, with a Team Tournament, a Beyblade X Showdown, cool prizes, livestreams, and more.

The Wildcats games are also a sure hit for family fun – and there are TWO games this weekend! Saturday night they host Acadie-Bathurst Titan at 7pm, then it’s Sunday Funday with the Saint John Sea Dogs in town!

SUNDAY

⛸️ Superior Propane Centre parent & tots 9:45-10:45am ($2)
⛸️ Superior Propane Centre 11:45am-12:45pm ($2)
⛸️ Dieppe AJL, 1-2pm
⛸️ Kay Arena, 2:30-4pm, $2
⛸️ Petitcodiac 1pm-2:30pm ($2/skater, free for ages five & under)
⛸️ Riverview public 2:30-4pm
⛸️ Shediac, 5:30-6:30pm
⛸️ Hillsborough, 2:15-3:15pm, $2/person or $5/family

🏊 YMCA public swim, 1:30-3pm, $3/person
🏊 Dieppe Aquatic Centre public swim Sunday at 3:15pm

OUTDOOR IDEAS

• NB Urban Mushing allows you to visit during dry land training. Get out and meet the sled dogs & learn how they work.
• Llamazing Adventures often has weekend spots available this time of year. A great way to get out & get moving!
• Poley Mountain is open for the season, 9am-9pm.
• Country Sleigh Rides, about 20 minutes north of Moncton – past Irishtown, offers daytime ($125/15 people) and evening ($150/15 people) group sleigh ride bookings, as well as special rides.

Outdoor Skating Rinks:

• ⛸️ Petitcodiac – Check for updates in the Petitcodiac Happenings Facebook group on conditions at the Maple Street Park ODR
• ⛸️ Salisbury – The Town’s Facebook page posts updates on the condition of the ODR, which is next to the high school
• ⛸️ The Oval at Place 1604 in Dieppe is always a great spot to visit! Lace up your skates (or use their free loan program – check for available dates & times on their website) daily (weather permitting) from 10am – 9pm, though there are short closures from 1-1:30 & 5-5:30pm for maintenance.
• ⛸️ You can also skate under the sky at the Ian Fowler Oval in front of Moncton’s Avenir Centre! Please remember, no sticks/nets/pucks/rings allowed, and CSA-approved helmets encouraged. The oval is open 10am-10pm daily, weather permitting. (Check conditions here in case of weather closures; it also shows conditions for the outdoor rinks planned for other parks in the city, as well as sliding, skiing, and walking trails.)
• ⛸️ The Moncton North YMCA has an outdoor rink to enjoy, too, and there’s the Kaboom Hockey Rink & the Muskrat Skating Trail both at Centennial Park. (You can check if Moncton rinks are open on their website, updated daily.)
• ⛸️ Irishtown/Maple Hills – Check the Facebook group for updates on rink conditions & to see all the hard work volunteers put in to make this happen!
• ⛸️ There’s an outdoor rink in Elgin; stop into the General Store if you need to borrow skates to use.
• ⛸️ There’s an outdoor rink in Dorchester, too!
• ⛸️ And not to be left out, look at what’s happening in Alma!

SLIDING HILLS IN GREATER MONCTON

Tobogganing, sliding, sledding – whatever you call it, it’s one of the most fun things to do in winter! There may or may not be enough snow this weekend to hit the hills, but just in case … here are a few to-go spots to seek out over the coming weeks & months:

• There are a few municipally-approved toboggan runs at Centennial Park in Moncton.
• Rotary St-Anselme Park in Dieppe also has several great spots.
• In Riverview, head to Winter Wonderland Park, on Quinn Court (off Gunningsville Boulevard) for some awesome tracks (and some snowboarding ones, too!) or behind Claude D. Taylor School.
• Our kids love sliding at Highland Parkin Salisbury; the hill is fantastic!
• Shediac’s Pascal Poirier Park is often home to many sliding tracks in the winter.
• In Fundy Park, check out the Headquarters Tobogganing Hill, and if you’re at Kouchibouquac Park, Patterson Hillis a great spot for sliding, though it is a long walk (2km) to reach the site.

INDOOR FUN IDEAS

Here’s our trusty list of places you might want to check out with the family anytime! 

• The indoor splash pad at the North End YMCA is an amazing place to bring the kids!
• 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. We see the new Moncton North skate park is open now at the North End YMCA, too!
• Creative mood? Try DIY Studio to paint your own pottery! They usually have lots of holiday themed pieces – now’s a great time to start thinking ahead for holiday gifts, too!
• 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!
• Cineplex is always a fun option for a family outing, too!
• The Early Childhood Family Resource Centre has lots of drop-in & scheduled events throughout the month, both at its Dieppe location and its satellite locations. Check out their online calendars for details; a great option for littles throughout the week!
• The Dieppe BGC also has its monthly schedule of events online, too!
• And don’t forget our local libraries; they’re full of fantastic programming, as well.
  • REMINDER: Hop! Skip! Jump! is closed for renovations. Watch their social media for updates on reopening; we hear it will likely be early to mid-February.
• Bowling is always a fun idea! Go retro vibes with Holy Moly in Riverview, check out glow bowling times at Fairlanes in Moncton, or head to Bowlarama & its awesome arcade in Dieppe. (We recommend calling ahead to book in advance so you’re not disappointed.)
• Resurgo Place is a hands-on hit with our kids; a great outing anytime. (Open 10am-5pm Saturday and noon-5pm on Sunday; it’s half-off on admission on Thursday nights, 5-8pm, if you’re looking for an evening outing.)
• LOOKING AHEADDid you know – not only are we lucky enough to have a Mastermind Toys staying open in Moncton, but also they’re going to start hosting in-store storytime? Check them out on Tuesdays, 4:30-5:50pm.Here are a few more upcoming events to keep in mind:
  • Travel to You Zoo is opening to the public for a pre-Valentine’s Day special event on Saturday, February 10, 9am-3pm
  • February 10 is also the first Fiddle Doo of the year! Ivan & Vivian Hicks will be at the Salisbury Lions Club for an afternoon of music & fun; everyone welcome.
  • February 17 will be the annual #KiltSkate!
  • February 18 will be the first Skate for Tate at the Avenir Centre, 9am – noon. Donations collected at the door will be given to Open Ice for Kids, to allow other children the chance to experience the joy of hockey.
  • Boyle Family Farm is planning a celebration for Family Day on February 19, 10am-4pm, with snowshoeing, sliding, bonfires, pony rides, petting zoo, and more. Children two & under free, general entry $13+tax.
  • Between February 7 & March 2, Theatre New Brunswick will be traveling the province with a play based on #BeccaToldMeTo. The play will be at Theatre L’Escaouette in Moncton on February 21 & 22.

  MORE WINTER CARNIVALS in 2024

  • • Tantramar’s annual Winterfest takes place February 8- 11, 2024.
    • Fundy Albert’s February Frolic takes place February 10-19.
    • Moncton‘s PolarFest returns this year for another weekend of fun in Centennial Park over the Family Day weekend in February.
    • Salisibury‘s Winterfest is February 17 – 19.

S6E16: Winter Beach Glass Hunting — and summer planning tips! — with New Brunswick’s East Coast Mermaid, Crystal Richard