What to do with the kids this weekend in Greater Moncton (Jan 26-28)

🏊 Dieppe Aquatic Centre public swim Sunday at 3:15pm

LOOKING AHEAD

Did 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.

WINTER CARNIVALS in 2024

• • Dieppe annual winter carnival from January 12 to February 18, 2024; check out their website for all the details.
  • Shediac’s Winter Carnival starts at the end of January.
  • Riverview’s Winter Carnival takes place February 2-11, 2024 with lots of great events throughout the Town and at Winter Wonderland Park.
  • 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.

MORE 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.)
• ⛸️Irishtown/Maple Hills – Check the Facebook groupfor 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!

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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.

MORE 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!
• Cineplexis 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.)