
What to do with the kids this weekend in Greater Moncton (Jan 17-19, 2025)
Welcome to another weekend filled with possibility! If this is your first time visiting – welcome to Pickle Planet! Since 2015 we’ve been the go-to resource for family-friendly events & activity information in the Greater Moncton Area. Each Thursday we share a round up highlighting weekend ideas; we list the daily events first, then follow with a list of any day ideas, and a short look ahead section with some things coming up you might want to know now. Please, click through the source links to confirm our listings before heading out; especially in winter, things can change more quickly than we can get back here & make adjustments! (And if you’re wondering why a mom of three – whose kids are now into double digits! – is creating this free, community resource, read this post.)
A reminder that 🍔Burger Fest🍔 continues throughout the GMA with all kinds of special creations to tempt your taste buds! A great way excuse to skip making supper some night! (We tried the Smashed Cowboy at Tide & Boar Brewing during Sunday trivia – yum! Papa Pickle nailed it when he said the taste was a refined Big Mac. The Phoney Bologna at Grady’s might be the next on our list; how about you?)
WINTER FESTIVALS 2025
We’re working on some special content to highlight these events, but we thought you might want to have a quick heads up for the calendar!
- ❄️Shediac Winter Carnival – Jan 17 – Feb 17
- ❄️Riverview Winter Carnival – Jan 31 – Feb 9
- ❄️Sackville Winterfest – Feb 6-9
- ❄️February Frolic in Fundy Albert – Feb 13-17
- ❄️JackFrost (in PEI) – Feb 14-17
- ❄️Moncton PolarFest – Feb 15-17
- ❄️Salisbury WinterFest – Feb 15-17
⛸️🎶 Dieppe’s Fun on Ice is back for its 11th year! Every Friday night until the end of February you can enjoy free music, bonfires, skating, & more on the Place 1604 Oval! (Yes, they have skate & helmets you can borrow!) The fun happens 6:30-8pm; this week, it’s D & C Laser Night! (For those who like to plan ahead, next Friday is 🪩🕺Disco Night. And don’t forget, you can always check their site for cancellation info.)
Shediac’s Winter Carnival kicks off tonight with fireworks, snow slide, music, games, & more at Parc Pascal-Poirier, 6-8pm. (The fireworks will be at 8:15pm at Parc John Lyons.) They have events running for a full month; most of the kid-focused ones are later in February but you might want to check out the the Jan 29 session with amazing Dr. Sophie Godbout-Beaulieu discussing anxiety in children. It’s an evening session, offered in French, with childminding available. (The best list of all carnival events is on their Facebook event.)
- 🏊 Preschool Swim, 10-11:25am, $5-$10, Dieppe Aquatic Centre
- ⛸️Parent & Tot Skating, 10-11am, FREE, Greenfoot Energy 4-Plex (55 Russ Howard Drive, Moncton)
- ⛸️Family Skating, 10:20am, FREE, Shediac Festival Arena
- ⚽ Open Gym at the Kay Arena in Moncton, 10am-noon, parent & tot
- ⛸️Parent & Tot Skating, 10:15-11:15am, FREE, Tantramar Veterans Memorial Civic Centre
- ⛸️Public Skating, 12-1:30pm, FREE, Tantramar Veterans Memorial Civic Centre
- ⚽ Open Gym at the Kay Arena in Moncton, 2:30-4:30pm, students K-8 (adult supervision required for those Gr 5 & younger)
- 🏊 YMCA Greater Moncton $3 public swim, 6-7:30pm
- ⛸️Public Skating, 8:15-9:15pm, $2/person or $5/family, Hillsborough Arena
- 🎿Poley Mountain is open until 9pm on Fridays.
- DYK: Friday and Saturday Day Passes for both YMCA locations are only $5 for those aged 12-18!
Start your Saturday off with a pancake breakfast – great deal for a meal, no dishes, and you support community projects! There’s a meal at the Salisbury Lions Club from 7-10am and one from 8:30-11am at the Howard Lodge in Riverview.
Active Riverview’s Outdoor Recreation team will be leading a walk through Mill Creek with Ice Trekkers available to borrow to give your shoes more grip if the trail is icy. Walk begins at 9am; no fee.
The Saint John String Quartet, with special guest Danièle Jones, will be at the Moncton Public Library for a special performance & reading of Ferdinand the Bull. This is a free, bilingual event, open to all – but be on time! It’s just from 10:30-11am. (Check out the library’s Facebook page for updates & their monthly schedules; so many great activities for all ages – and always a Pickle Planet family favourite to visit at any time, just because!)
Salisbury’s Public Library hosts Crafty Kids from 10:30-11:30am.
At the Dieppe Public Library this Saturday from 11am-noon there’s a bilingual story & craft time geared to those ages three to six, with their families. Registration isn’t required, but there is limited space. You can call 506-877-7945 for more information.
Author & artist Patrick Hardy will be at Chapters Moncton, noon to 4pm, with his book My Friend Sam/Mon ami Sam, which helps families discuss autism. (PS: For those of you looking for an adult outing, the store is hosting a monthly book club with some fantastic reading choices lately! This month’s read is on my TBR and I wish I could get to it before Jan 29!)
BGC Dieppe is open for board games & rock wall climbing (ages 7+) today! Open 11am-1:30pm.
Resurgo Place’s newest temporary exhibit, Might & Light: A history of black powder, opens today.
DYK there’s a Greater Moncton Table Tennis Club? They’re hosting a tournament today; looks like spaces are full, but if it’s a sport that interests you, check it out. They have junior memberships and lots of great opportunities to be active.
BassPro is hosting an in-store event all about ice fishing from 11am-3pm. (Fun fact: My uncle once made me a trophy – complete with a little fish on top! – for my smelt fishing prowess.)
Roller Disco is back at the Moncton Coliseum! There’s a low sensory skate from 4-6pm (all ages) & a family skate from 6-8pm. You can rent skates (sizes Junior 12 up to US Mens 13) on site for $8+tax; bring your own helmet (mandatory for those 12 & under). Admission is $16+tax; $8+tax for those 12 & under.
- 🎿Poley Mountain is open until 9am-9pm on Saturdays.
- ⛸️Parent & Tot Skating, 9:30-10:30am, $2, Moncton Coliseum (377 Killam Drive, Moncton)
- ⛸️Public Skating, 2-3pm, $2/person or $5/family, Hillsborough Arena
- 🏊 Pat Crossman Aquatic Centre in Riverview, Saturday public swims, 2-3:30pm
- 🏊 Dieppe Aquatic Centre public swim (with wibit), 3:15-4:55pm, $20/family, $10/adult, $8/students & seniors, $5 ages 12 & under – except 24months & under are free.
- ⛸️Public Skating, 3:45-5:15pm, $2, Moncton Coliseum (377 Killam Drive, Moncton)
- 🏊 Dieppe Aquatic Centre’s public swim (with wibit) 6pm, $20/family, $10/adult, $8/students & seniors, $5 ages 12 & under – except 24months & under are free.
- ⛸️Public Skating, 8-9pm, $2/person or $5/family, Hillsborough Arena
The Wildcats are on fire this season and they have an afternoon game today, great for those with younger kids – or who just want to be tucked into their own cozy beds early on a Sunday!
It’s Make Something Sunday at Owens Art Gallery in Sackville. Use a pasta maker to create art prints! This is a free, fun, hands-on event for families from 2-4pm.
🛷🐴Sleigh rides are back at Dieppe’s Rotary St-Anselme Park for the season! Every Sunday until March 2, you can enjoy a ride through the trails and a hot chocolate at Café Inclusio. Cost is $5/person (free for children ages four & younger; please bring cash to pay on site). There will also be bonfires at Maison Doiron, too. Rides available 1-4pm. (Private group rides are available; cost is $160 for 30 minutes. Contact Michel Breau at 506-866-8291 or Lindsay Hicks at 902-718-6736 to book.) The park has a sliding hill, trails for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, fat biking, and walking, as well as outdoor skating, too; you can check the conditions for each on their website.
- 🎿Poley Mountain is open 9am-4:30pm on Sundays.
- ⛸️Public Skating, 1-2pm pm, FREE, Arthur J LeBlanc Centre (432 Melanson Road, Dieppe)
- 🏊 YMCA Greater Moncton $3 public swim, 2-3pm
- ⛸️Family Skating, 2:15-3:15pm, $2/person or $5/family, Hillsborough Arena
- ⛸️ Public Skating, 5:30-6:30pm, FREE, Shediac Festival Arena
Psst! Our BIGGEST round up of the year is already in the works! Our MARCH BREAK MEGA ROUND UP has been the go-to source for families for almost a decade. If you’re a business or organization planning something fun for families, please reach out to ensure we have the details to share. (Text inclusion in our round ups is always free; email us to ask about additional paid promotions available.)
🏊♀️ The indoor splash pad at the YMCA North End is an amazing option for kiddos – with public openings every day of the week! Check the schedule as times vary day-to-day; cost to attend for non-member is $6.
🏊♀️ For indoor swimming, there are public options at the YMCA Greater Moncton (love their small, warmer pool for little ones – Friday public swim 7-8pm, Saturday public swim 6:30-7:45, & Sunday public swim 2-3pm – thanks to the City, Friday & Sunday swims are just $3/person), the Pat Crossman Aquatic Centre in Riverview (Saturday public swims, 2-3:30pm), and the Dieppe Aquatic Centre (with the awesome sloped entry & pirate ship splash zone!).
Hop! Skip! Jump! is perfect for little ones, as well as the cool climbing wall & laser room for older kids. (A heads up that Hop! Skip! Jump! will be closed in the mornings of Jan 20 & 21, but will still open 3-7pm those days.)
Bowling is always a fun idea! Go retro vibes with Marvelous Holy Bowly 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.)
Creative mood? Try DIY Studio to paint your own pottery!
Want to move as a family but need to be indoors? Try a visit to FitRocks Climbing Gym!
Book laser tag at the Sportsdome.
Riverview Indoor Skatepark & Riverview Youth Centre are a great space to learn to skate or practice your skills!
🛹 There’s a borrowing program at YMCA North with skateboards, helmets, and protective gear for use on their great outdoor ramps when weather permits.
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, like … Motive for Murder audio game — A great ‘any time of day’ option for the true crime fans who are up for a little hometown sleuthing. Download a whodunnit set in Moncton!
💥 Gamer in the family? The Comic Hunter hosts Friday Night Magic Modern sessions, Sunday Lorcana Locals & Pokémon sessions, Monday Star Wars Unlimited Weekly Play & lots of other gaming events.
If board games are your family thing, check out the great shop on Moncton’s Main Street, Board Miniatures! The have a standing paint and play tabletop session on Sundays.
Bass Pro’s 12,000-gallon freshwater aquarium with striped bass, Atlantic sturgeon, trout, perch, and more is always fun to visit, especially when you need an indoor option.
Resurgo Place is a spot we love to visit again & again; history, hands-on science & arts, & special programming, too!
Local libraries are always a great spot to visit, with lots of programming for all ages – and also another rainy day must visit option.
BGC Dieppe is always a great place for families to connect.
🎧 There’s a roughly one hour iTour of downtown Moncton’s historical & cultural locations you can use to help you explore – a great way to add a little movement, a little history, and a little fun to your family outings! Be sure to check out all the amazing public art installations around the downtown core, too!
Llamazing Adventures is a great way to get out & get moving! Take the llamas for a walk!
We’re trying to find the time to update our Guide to Winter Fun (including listing all the outdoor rinks!), but we wanted to highlight this new option: you can borrow snowshoes with your library card in Memramcook! There are also winter-maintained trails at Haut-du-Ruisseau Nature Park.
Wondering what to do with littles during the week? We’re trying to make time to update our dedicated list of playgroups & organizations & businesses with weekday options, but wanted to give a quick shout out to the Early Childhood Family Resource Centre de Ressources à la Petite Enfance, which hosts several fabulous drop in programs & playgroups – including Musical Mondays in Sackville and Wednesdays in Riverview & Cap-Acadie.
🧩 Puzzle lovers! Be sure to mark your calendar for Saturday, January 25. There’s a special event happening at Scholar’s Choice in Moncton, 10am-2pm, featuring the beautiful Ravensburger Puzzles! You can sign up for the tournament to test your puzzling speed skills & take in the various puzzle stations (no pressure on time!) around the store.
There’s an upcoming coding workshop for ages eight to 12 at the Dieppe Public Library on January 25; you’ll want to call 506-877-7945 to reserve a spot for this English session.
The Wildcats have home games Friday & Saturday next weekend.
If you’re looking for a night out sans kids, check out the line up for the 25th annual HUBCAP COMEDY FESTIVAL! The shows begin Jan 22 featuring French stand up comedians, then switches to English shows starting Jan 29. There are some incredibly talented folks coming again this year – every show is sure to be a good night out!
There’s a Beyblade tournament coming up at Property Guys on Saturday, Feb 8. The top eight players will earn a spot in the championships this summer!
Tickets are already selling fast for The Addams Family musical at the Capitol Theatre, opening Feb 21 – and there are only a few spaces showing for the kids’ sessions planned for Brix during March Break.
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