What to do with the kids this weekend in Greater Moncton (June 7-9, 2024)
It’s a busy, busy weekend that’s part of a busy, busy month – so let’s get to it!
FUN FACT: Did you know Pickle Planet’s first Weekend Round Up was published NINE years ago?! We’ve grown so much since then – and so has Greater Moncton. Whether you’ve been here since the beginning or you’re here for the first time – THANK YOU for visiting! And please, take a moment to share this & help someone else connect with our community.
A quick reminder: We do our best to find as many community events & activities & link to the source. Click through to check details before heading out, as we don’t always have a chance to update this list once published. We list special activities by day, then offer a list of ongoing attractions & ideas. Make sure you read all the way to the end!
FRIDAY, JUNE 7
🚌 Codiac Transpo is FREE today & tomorrow! Part of the City’s EnviroFest.
The QMJHL Draft kicks off today! There will be free outdoor activities at Avenir Centre starting at 4pm, with the doors opening for the draft at 7pm. The first pick is expected at 8pm.
Our kiddos are stoked that the East Coast Comic Expo is back this weekend! Lots of cool vendors, amazing sessions with artists & creators, and the best photo ops with costumed characters. We love that it’s free for those 13 & under; there are also group pricing & multi-day discounts available. It opens tonight & is on again Saturday, too!
The SportsDome offers Laser Tag, gaming, soccer, & inflatables for play on Friday nights, 6-8pm, ages six and over.
If your family loves a little fantasy on the floorboards, check out the production of Terry Pratchett’s Wyrd Sisters by Marshlight Theatre. There’s a performance tonight at 7pm, a matinee on Saturday, as well as evening shows Saturday & Sunday.
BGC has all sorts of fabulous programming happening in June; check out their schedule & make plans!
If football is your family game, head to Rocky Stone field at 5pm to see the Moncton Mustangs host the Saint John Wanderers.
📽️ This week at Shediac’s Neptune Drive-In Theatre, the features are Bad Boys (14A) & Madame Web (PG). They’ll be shown in English Friday & Saturday, and in French on Sunday.
📽️ At the Sussex Drive-In, it’s Garfield & Bad Boys.
📽️ Lots of great family features at Cineplex, too!
SATURDAY, JUNE 8
🥞 Grab breakfast at the Riverview Lions Club, with a pancake breakfast in support of Riley’s Legacy Cat Rescue. Open 8-11am, $10/person or $30/family; children five & under eat free!
The East Coast Comic Expo continues today at the Moncton Coliseum.
The QMJHL Draft continues today, with free outdoor activities at the Avenir Centre from 8:30-10:30am. The draft is free to watch, too; doors open at 8:30am, selection at 10am.
Moncton’s EnviroFest is a day filled with fun activities to help us think about reducing our impact on the world. Head to Centennial Park from 11am-4pm for educational booths, a low-carbon taco bar, bike rodeo, a chance to try out an ebike or get your bike tuned up, music, & more! And remember – 🚌 Codiac Transpo is FREE today as part of the celebrations.
Fierté Dieppe Pride celebrations continue with a Queer Market at Place 1604, 10-2pm. We’ve seen some fabulous vendors promoting this event; it’s sure to be a blast with lots of treasures! Youth ages five to 12 can sign up for a free paper making workshop at the Dieppe Arts & Culture Centre at 11am with Aleya Michaud. There’s also an all ages, free block party Saturday night, 6-10pm!
Dieppe’s Pickleball community is hosting a beginners workshop this morning; you need to sign up in advance. They have times throughout the week to play; could be a great summer family activity for those with older kids!
There’s a Kite Festival planned for Riverfront Park today, with bouncy castles, food stalls, music, and of course giant kites!
The Kerala Association of Moncton is holding its Spring Mela at Riverview’s Caseley’s Park today, 2-7pm. Free & open to everyone, you can expect games, cultural performances, Indian food, & more!
Salisbury is trying to keep it’s claim as the country’s most active community, with an awesome kick off event this Saturday! Head to Highland Park from 1-3pm for outdoor games – from egg races to human ring toss to potato sack races to washer toss & more! – face painting, rock painting, popcorn, walks, prizes, & more. The splash pad is already on for the season, too!
📚 We’re always huge fans of checking out what’s happening at the local libraries – or just visiting to check out new books! (Pro tip: borrowing via the Libby app is great if you find it tricky to get there in person & we LOVE being able to listen to kid-friendly audiobooks in the summer on road trips & in the yard. Looks like there are several hundred available right now!) This Saturday at the Moncton Library, there’s a polymer clay workshop, a D&D session, and a visit & reading at 2:30 with TL Trayah, author of Bumblefly and Butterbee.
Mastermind Toys is holding an in-store UNO event today, 1-3pm. While there, ask about their Sunday dino dig event, too!
Bass Pro Shops is hosting their Dog Days event; bring your best friend in for a free photo op & dog bandana.
The Moncton Mystics are playing in Dartmouth today, but they’ll be home (at Harrison Trimble High School) on Thursday night for a game against Fredericton.
SUNDAY, JUNE 9
Dieppe Pride is heading to Chapters today for storytime in English at 1pm & French at 2pm. (While you’re there, ask about their upcoming Pokemon hunt!)
Kids who want to out different sports are invited to the track behind École Anna-Malenfant in Dieppe Sunday, 9am-2pm. Register in advance with KidSport by emailing programs@sportnb.com
Head to Hillsborough Elementary School for a special fundraiser today, with bouncy castles, petting zoo, touch a truck, concessions, & more! Money raised will go toward new playground equipment. Tickets for the games & activities will be sold in bundles for $10, $20, & $40. On from 1-4pm.
⚾ The Moncton Mets are hosting the Saint John Alpines today at 4pm at Kiwanis Park.
ONGOING IDEAS
The Albert County Museum is open for the season, with a special guest – Albert, the Albertosaurus available to visit with starting June 15! (Open Saturdays & Sundays until June 15, then daily. You can buy a family season pass for $30; an amazing value for what this fantastic museum has to offer!)
The YMCA Moncton North has a new outdoor park for skateboarding, roller skating, & biking. There’s also the amazing indoor splash pad & play structure – a must visit if you have little ones!
Dieppe is welcoming people to skate the Oval at Place 1604 with in-line skates for the summer!
The Magnetic Hill Zoo is now open seven days a week, 10am-4pm!
East Coast Karting plans to be open Saturdays & Sundays until their full season begins.
BGC Dieppe is always a great place for families to connect – check out their May schedule.
Tennis Dieppe has their nets up and they’re inviting you to play for free until their season opens in mid-May.
The driving range at The Boardwalk is open 10am-8pm daily, weather permitting. Weekend fund includes go karts, bumper cars & boats, mini golf, & paddle boats. Watch for more fun to come!
Poley Mountain has mountain bike trails, including beginner routes for ages 6+ – and they’re planning some summer events geared to the littles with bouncy castles, balance bikes on the lawn, & kid-friendly options on the Slope Side Bar & Grill. DYK: They have an RV park, too?
Ice cream is always a great treat & our GUIDE TO HARD SCOOP ICE CREAM SPOTS IN GREATER MONCTON is updated for 2024!
Trueman’s Blueberry Farm is also a fabulous ice cream destination – and on the weekend they have a train you can ride! Watch for some fun Easter Bunny sightings here soon, too.
Want to move as a family? Try a visit to FitRocks Climbing Gym!
Book laser tag at Marco’s Clinic or the Sportsdome.
Riverview Indoor Skatepark & Riverview Youth Centre are a great space to learn to skate or practice your skills!
Hop! Skip! Jump! is perfect for little ones, as well as the cool climbing wall & laser room for older kids.
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!
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!
If board games are your family thing, check out the new shop on Moncton’s Main Street, Board Miniatures! The have a standing paint and play tabletop session on Sundays.
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!
Bass Pro’s 12,000-gallon freshwater aquarium with striped bass, Atlantic sturgeon, trout, perch, and more is always fun to visit. And of course, the Easter Bunny is on site now, too!
Llamazing Adventures is a great way to get out & get moving! Take the llamas for a walk!
Local libraries are always a great spot to visit, with lots of programming for all ages.
Resurgo Place is another spot we love to visit again & again; history, hands-on science & arts, & special programming, too!
The walking/running track at Université de Moncton’s Croix Bleue Medavie Stadium is open for public use Mondays-Fridays, 8:30am-4:30pm (unless there’s a competition or event). You can access two hours of free parking & the use of the track is free.
Are you following Moncton Cares on social? This group is creating wonderful opportunities for both newcomers and the community at large. Check out their DROP IN, family-friendly week day programming at NBCC & Birchmount School! Its just $10 for 10 sports sessions (you can drop in as you’re able) & $10 for five dance sessions (again, come when you can & learn various traditional dances).
LOOKING AHEAD
A quick note of ‘warning’ — Mama Pickle, who is pretty much the entire Pickle Planet team, is also pretty much the entire team organizing the Greater Moncton Highland Games & Scottish Festival … so there’s a high likelihood I won’t have time to publish a full round up next weekend. Lots of great ideas here already, though – and of course, the best bet is to head to the Games! 🙂
Block Parties are back!! The City of Moncton & YMCA Greater Moncton are visiting different playgrounds every Tuesday – and one Thursday a month! – from now until the end of summer. Head to Braemar Park (45 Centre) from 6-8pm on Tuesday, June 11 to enjoy the playground with Travel to You Zoo, bouncy castles, Remi the magician, and so much fun!
MUST READ: CHECK THE FULL BLOCK PARTY SCHEDULE
DID YOU CATCH OUR FACEBOOK LIVE FROM THE FIRST BLOCK PARTY OF THE SEASON? #sponsored
The author of The Da Vinci Code is coming to Moncton for a Sistema New Brunswick Children’s Orchestra performance fundraiser on June 11 at the Wesleyan Centre.
Each Tuesday night there’s a community campfire at Mill Creek Nature Park, 6-7:30pm, with a different theme each week. June 11 its Arts & Crafts & June 18 is Outdoor Cooking.
The City of Moncton has also scheduled family fun nights in Centennial Park on Wednesdays at 6pm. Wednesday, June 12 it’s family fun with Scouts Canada. (You can find all the scheduled activities and hundreds more in our Guide to FREE Summer Family Fun in Greater Moncton 2024!)
June 13-16 you can find East Coast Amusements in the parking lot at the Moncton Coliseum.
If you want something spectacular on your schedule, grab tickets now for Zorka, a FUSION event June 14 & 15.
