What to do with the kids this weekend in Greater Moncton (July 25-27, 2025 & early August, too!)
Can you believe it – the summer vacation months are almost halfway over?! This is the last weekend of July & we’re in a bit of shock over that here at Pickle Planet HQ!
A quick head’s up for the loyal readers: the weekend round up won’t be updated again until August 15-17, 2025. We’re including a long list of early August events in this week’s post to help you plan ahead. And don’t forget the awesome ‘always an option’ ideas list after this weekend’s highlights; dozens of ideas for all ages!
Before we dive into the details, I have a quick request. Pickle Planet has been nominated for a prestigious local award – which requires me to share some thoughts on the impact we’ve had on the community. Whether you’re a first time reader or a 10-year veteran from the early days, please take a minute to drop a sentence or two in the comments about how Pickle Planet has made a difference in your life in Greater Moncton. It would mean so much to me! Thank you – now, on with the fun!
It’s World Drowning Prevention Day and the Town of Riverview has a free, open swim planned at the outdoor pool from 1:15-6:30pm today! (And check out the annual ‘garbage swim‘ coming up July 30.)
- The Moncton Market is open 8am-2pm on Saturdays.
- The Dieppe Market is open 8am-1pm on Saturdays.
- The Salisbury Farmers & Artisans Market is open Saturdays, 8am-1:30pm. Pair it with a trip to the Antiques Mall next door, then up the road to the Green Pig, open daily 9am-7pm!
- Bouctouche Farmer’s Market is open Saturdays, 8am-1pm.
Moncton Cares is hosting Color Festival at Riverfront Park, noon till 10pm, with music, dancing, food, kids’ activities, & more!
There’s an African Festival happening outside the Avenir Centre, 1-7pm. Expect displays of various cultures, featuring food, music, vendors, and more! Free to attend.
Faith First Mini Horses is holding Meet & Greet with their animals; $5/person, under age three free. Please reach out to reserve a spot to ensure they can accommodate everyone!
It’s Love Your Covered Bridge Day & there’s a celebration at Sawmill Creek Bridge in Hopewell Hill! A great stop to incorporate with a visit to the Albert County Museum & the Hopewell Rocks, maybe even a visit to Alma for some ocean fun. There’ll be a gathering at the bridge from 2-4pm.
The Shediac Market is open 9am-2pm each Sunday through the summer. Head to Pascal Park for all kinds of fun!
Maritime Collectibles, Trading Card Warehouse and Moncton Toyshow are teaming up to host the Summer Collectible Convention at the Crowne Plaza today. 10:30am-5pm; lots of pop culture fun! There’s a cash pool Pokemon tournament, board game play, & all kind of cool vendors.
There’s a Mom Market Pop Up at Magnetic Hill Winery, 11am-3pm.
Celebrate Peruvian Independence Day with a celebration at Centennial park, 12-4pm.
The Moncton Library is hosting drawing sessions at Riverfront Park, 1-2:30pm, on Sundays this summer (except Aug. 3). This is a free, drop-in group for those ages 13+.
The Sky-Lines Kite Club of Dieppe will be at Dover Park, 1-3pm. The public is invited to watch them fly!
DAILY FREE ACTIVITIES IN GREATER MONCTON 2025
- MONDAYS: Diversity Mondays at Place 1604 (July 7-Aug 25), 6-8pm
- TUESDAYS: Acoustica community concerts in Victoria Park (June 3-Aug 19) at 7pm; Active Tuesdays, Place 1604 (July 8-Aug 26), 6:30-7:30pm (some are for ages 12+, some are all ages); YMCA Mobile Fun Block Parties each Tuesday night, 6-8pm
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Tuesday, July 29
Braemar Park, 45 Centre St- Tuesday, Aug 5Auburn Circle Park, 39 Sands Dr.
- Tuesday, Aug 12Canadian Heights, 35 Chelsea Rd.
- Tuesday, Aug 19Grove Hamlet Park, 39 Ripplewood Rd.
- Tuesday, Aug 26Reade Park, 289 West Lane
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- WEDNESDAYS: Place 1604 concert in Dieppe at 6:30pm; Art in Caseley Park free concert in Riverview at 7pm
- SATURDAYS: Acoustica community concerts at the Moncton Market at 11am
- Everyday good weather day from June 30-August 29, ConneXion Zone at Dieppe’s Place 1604 will have giant games to play, along with places to sit and enjoy the day!
These attractions & fun ideas are always worth checking out! Look for the 
for our TEEN & TWEEN picks!
REMEMBER: We’re not always able to update if there are changes due to weather, etc. Please click through the links & call ahead to confirm details for yourself when making plans!
OUTDOOR FUN
Outdoor pools in Moncton are the East End pool at 35 Fergus Street and the Centennial Park pool at 811 St George Blvd (both open 11am-7pm). In Riverview, there’s the Lion Ken Gabbey Poolon Killarney Road (check open swim times on their schedule).
If you’re up for spending money on the ultimate local splash experience, head to Magic Mountain. Even little ones can enjoy several features at the water park, including four slides at the Puddle Jumpers Pond, and a splash pad pirate ship, lighthouse, and whale.
Tidal Bore presentations are back for July & August; a great way to learn about this awesome phenomenon in our backyard!
Dieppe wants to offer free rollerblade rentals at Place 1604 but needs more pairs to make it happen! They’re also looking helmets, too.
And speaking of Dieppe, ConneXion Zone is back for the summer, with giant games, picnic tables, hammocks, & more at Place 1604.- We love seeing the giant chess set outside Moncton City Hall, too!
There’s a borrowing program at YMCA North with skateboards, helmets, and protective gear for use on their great outdoor ramps when weather permits.
The Magnetic Hill Zoo is open daily through the summer.
The Boardwalk is open for the season, daily from 10am-9pm (weather permitting), with Butterfly World, driving range, go karts, bumpber cars & boats, mini golf, batting cages, paddle boats, and more!- GolfZone at Magic Mountain is open (weather permitting). For those rainy days, check out what’s on offer at The Bunker on Main Street in Moncton!
Jump to the Sky is a new inflatables adventure space in Grand Barachois.
East Coast Karting is open (weather permitting). Check their Facebook for updates & details!
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!
Faith First Mini Horses offers pony walks & cuddles; check their site and reach out for availability.- 🛝Parc Brookridge Park has activities throughout the summer
Drive In Movies are back for the summer! Check out what’s playing at 
Shediac’s Neptune Drive In & the Sussex Drive In.
INDOOR FUN
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), the Pat Crossman Aquatic Centrein Riverview, 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.
Burn off energy at SkyZone Moncton; half-price entry on Tuesday nights, and Glow Zone on Fridays & Saturdays.
Resurgo Place is a spot we love to visit again & again; history, hands-on science & arts, & special programming, too! (Closed on Mondays, including long weekends.)
Local libraries are always a great spot to visit, with lots of programming for all ages – and also another rainy day must visit option.
Riverview Indoor Skatepark & Riverview Youth Centre are a great space to learn to skate or practice your skills!
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.)
Book a booth at GG Bistrofor some gaming fun & great eats!
Creative mood? Try DIY Studio to paint your own pottery!- We’re loving all the workshops and invitations to imagine at the Maker Hub in Riverview. Open Wednesdays through Sundays.
Want to move as a family but need to be indoors? Try a visit to FitRocks Climbing Gym!
Book laser tag at the Sportsdome or Marco’s!
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.
Need to unleash some anger? Book a session at the Wreck Room!
Teens & youth (ages 12-25) can book a two-hour spot at Riverview’s Sound Lab for just $2/person. The lab has professional recording software, an electric guitar, bass guitar, electric drum kit, keyboard, microphones, & two amps.
Gamer in the family? The Comic Hunter hosts Friday Night Magic Modern sessions, Sunday Lorcana Locals, Monday Star Wars Unlimited Weekly Play & lots of other gaming events.
Board Miniatures also hosts regular table top sessions for various games & free board game days, too!
BGC Dieppe is always a great place for families to connect, with lots of programming open to everyone.
Bass Pro’s 12,000-gallon freshwater aquariumwith striped bass, Atlantic sturgeon, trout, perch, and more is always fun to visit, especially when you need an indoor option.- Our friends at 506 Elite Allstars have a great space for kiddos looking to bounce around and burn off energy while learning tumbling and cheer moves. Check out their new member trial package & their upcoming events.
- Check out what’s playing at Cineplex in Dieppe or Trinity!
AUGUST FESTIVALS 2025
- River of Pride (Aug 1-10) – the main Parade is Saturday, staring at 2pm
- Atlantic Jerk Festival (Aug 1-3) celebrating Jamaican & Caribbean food & culture
- Westmorland County Agricultural Fair (Aug 1 & 2)
- Moncton’s Atlantic Dance Festival (Aug 8-12)
- Acadie Rock (Aug 13-18)
- Salisbury Community Days (August 14 – 16)
- Quinzou (August 15, National Acadian Day) will see major events in many communities
- Kent County Agricultural Fair (Aug 21-24)
MORE AUGUST EVENTS
- Saturday, August 2 – Acoustica concert at the Moncton Market with Third Harmony
- Monday, August 4 – NEW BRUNSWICK DAY (many businesses are closed) Free admission today to Hopewell Rocks, Fundy Trail Parkway, Village Acadien Historique, Parlee Beach, Murray Beach, New River beach, and Mount Carleton & there’s a fun celebration at Parc Tidiche in Cap-Pelé; Diversity Mondays at Place 1604, 6-8pm, Tunisia
- Tuesday, August 5 – Acoustica concert in Victoria Park with Tin Pan Darlings; YMCA Mobile Fun Block Party at Auburn Circle
- Wednesday, August 6 – Place 1604 concert in Dieppe with Cédric Gautreau & Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys; Art in Caseley Park free concert in Riverview at 7pm
- Thursday, August 7– Salisbury’s Ward 4 Block Party at Riverbend
- Friday, August 8 – Spectacle Acadie-Louisiane, Memramcook, free concert with Julie Aubé & Zachary Richard; River of Pride’s Trans March will take places at 7pm, starting at Moncton City Hall
- Saturday, August 9 – Acoustica concert at the Moncton Market with Vita Tarasova and Ensemble “Unbreakable”
- Monday, August 11 – Diversity Mondays at Place 1604, 6-8pm, Madagascar
- Tuesday, August 12 – Acoustica concert in Victoria Park with The Retronators; YMCA Mobile Fun Block Party at Canadian Heights; Dieppe Ward 5 Block Party
- Wednesday, August 13 – Place 1604 concert in Dieppe with Écarlarte & Andy Bast; Art in Caseley Park free concert in Riverview at 7pm
- Friday, August 15 – Acadian Day Celebrations in Dieppe begin at 3pm,
- Saturday, August 16 – Acoustica concert at the Moncton Market with André Saulnier; Acadian celebrations at Lakeville Lions Club
- Monday, August 18 – Diversity Mondays at Place 1604, 6-8pm, India
- Tuesday, August 19 – Acoustica concert in Victoria Park with Accros de la Chanson; YMCA Mobile Fun Block Party at Grove Hamlet
- Wednesday, August 20 – Place 1604 concert in Dieppe with Emilie Landry & Hert LeBlanc
- Saturday, August 23 – Acoustica concert for the Moncton Market 140th Birthday Bash
- Monday, August 25 – Diversity Mondays at Place 1604, 6-8pm, Ukraine
- Tuesday, August 26 – YMCA Mobile Fun Block Party at Reade; Dieppe Ward 2 Block Party