What to do with the kids this weekend in Greater Moncton (March 22-24)
Welcome to the first weekend of Spring 2024!
A quick reminder – there’s no school for K-8 Anglophone East students on Monday. School are also closed next Friday & Monday for the Easter long weekend, so it’s a super short week ahead!
Speaking of Easter, you can find all kinds of Easter activities on our annual round up – but here’s what’s happening this weekend:
- The Easter Bunny is at Bass Pro; book your photo spot in advance!
- The Ukrainian Easter Bazaar 2024 is taking place Saturday at the Coverdale Centre in Riverview. There will be Ukrainian food, handcrafted items for sale, music, an egg decorating workshop, and more! Enjoy varenyky (perogies) and borscht, peruse Petrykivka artworks and Vyshyvanka shirts, have your hair braided in the Ukrainian style, and learn about Pysanka egg decorating. The Bazaar is open 11am-3pm; admission is $5 for those ages 13 & over. Additional fees are required for the Pysanka workshop; you should purchase your ticket for this online in advance.
- Highfield Baptist Church will be at Centennial Park on Saturday to host a scavenger hunt with an Easter story theme. Find them on site at 2pm to get a map!
- The Art Room in Moncton has a 2.5 hour drop-off Easter-theme kids’ craft event happening. Cost is $35; reach out to see if you can snag the last spots – and follow them for more great crafty adventures! Call 506-688-7931 for more info.
- There’s an Easter-themed vendor market at the Riverview Lion’s Club on Saturday, 10am-3pm. Entry is free; there will be free face painting and the Easter Bunny will make an appearance!
- The Mom Market Moncton is hosting a Hop & Shop Easter vendor fair at Canvas Moncton Sunday, 10am-3pm. There will be a kids’ activity table, a photographer, and a visit from the Easter Bunny!
- Looking for fun, local treats? Head to Adorable Chocolat in Shediac for some amazing creations (make it a lunch trip – you won’t be disappointed!), order some Ganong’s Easter bundles online, or head to Moncton’s La Rouere to see what they’re making! If you have dietary challenges and are looking for dairy-free or nut-free or gluten-free or sugar-free options, we always check The Wellness Exchange and MacArthur’s Market! And for something extra – the Candy Depot is offering deliveries by the Easter Bunny on Friday, March 29 in Moncton, Riverview, & Dieppe! (There’s also an in-store colouring contest for kids up to age 14; drop off by March 24 to be entered. You’ll get 10% your purchase when you do.)
- Biker Bunny is back – and Mrs. Biker Bunny is joining him this year! You can follow their adventures on their Facebook page. They travel local neighbourhoods, from March 28 to April 1, spreading joy and smiles. You can send a special request, too; and remember, they collect donations for Canadian Tire’s Jumpstart program.
Now, on to the rest of the weekend fun!
FRIDAY
⛸️ Preschooler with sticks skate, AJL Dieppe, 9:30am, free
⛸️ Parent & Tot skate, 10:15am, Sackville
🏊 Preschool swim, Dieppe, 10am
🏸 Badminton, 14 & under, CCNB Dieppe, 6pm, free
🏸 Badminton, 15 & over, CCNB Dieppe, 7pm, free
⛸️ Public skate, Hillsborough, 8:15pm
🤸♂️ 506 Elite offers a $5 drop-in play session on Fridays & Mondays, 10-11am. All ages welcome; parents must stay. (506 is a great spot if you have a kiddo who wants to twist & tumble; check out our recent profile of all they have to offer!)
⚡SkyZone’s Glow Nights are Fridays & Saturdays, 7-10pm. Wear white or florescent colours!
🤸♂️ Open gym, free, Kay Arena, Parent & Tots 10am-12pm, K-5 2:15-3:30pm, Gr 6-8 3:30-4:45pm
🏖️ YMCA Moncton North Splash Pad, $5, 8am-7:45pm
🏊 YMCA Public Swim, $3, 7-8pm
🏀 Drop-in basketball for ages 12-18 at the YMCA, 8:15-9:30pm, $5 for non-members (also on Mondays!)
🏸 Drop-in badminton for ages 14 & under 6-7pm & 15+ 7-9pm at CCNB Dieppe
SATURDAY
- 🍁 Renton Brothers Family Sugarbush (1270 Gorge Road, Moncton – the one with the smiling face) is open 9:30am-4pm.
- 🍁 Trites Maples (1270 Gorge Road, Moncton – the 4th camp with the green metal roof) is open for their pancake breakfast starting at 8am today.
- 🍁Fundy Maple (6 Dewey Road, Turtle Creek/Riverview) is open 10am-3pm; tours at 11am & 1pm.
- 🍁 Chateau Scoudouc (2862 route 132, Scoudouc) is open for breakfast, 9am-1pm.
- 🍁 White’s Maple is open for breakfast 8am – noon.
🏊 Riverview Aquatic Centre offers open swim on Saturdays at 2:30pm.
🏊 CEPS (UdeM) public swim, 3-4:25, $3
🏊 The Dieppe Aquatic Centre has public swims on Saturday at 3:15pm & 6pm. $10/adults, $5-$8 for youth (under 2 free)
🏊 YMCA public swim, 6:30-7:45pm, $3
🏖️ YMCA Moncton North Splash Pad, $5, 8:30-10:45am, 12:15-2:15pm, & 3:45-4:45pm
⚡SkyZone’s Glow Nights are Fridays & Saturdays, 7-10pm. Wear white or florescent colours!
⛸️ Public skate, Hillsborough, 2pm
⛸️ Sledge skating, Dieppe, 3:45pm
⛸️ Riverview 3:45-5:15pm
⛸️ Family skate, AJL Dieppe, 6:15pm, free
⛸️ Public skate, Hillsborough, 8pm
The Coverdale Masonic Lodge (36 Bradford Street, Riverview) is hosting its monthly pancake & sausage breakfast today, 9-11am. Cash only; cost is $10/adult, $5/child.
There’s a drop in playgroup at the Dorchester Veteran’s Community Centre from 10am-noon.
Everyone is welcome to join the Moncton Chess Club at the Moncton Library, 1-3pm; children under 12 must have an adult with them.
DeGrace Diamond Dance Studio is hosting a pompom dance workshop for ages 6+ this Saturday – featuring all Taylor Swift songs! Cost is $25; it takes place at École Mathieu-Martin at 2pm. Call 506-862-2222 to register.
Saturday is the last regular season game for the Wildcats, with the team taking the ice at 4pm. Expect lots of giveaways & fun celebrations for Fan Appreciation Day!
Greater Moncton’s Indo-Canada Association is hosting a Holi party at Bernice MacNaughton High School starting at 5:30pm & the Guijarati Society of New Brunswick is hosting a Holi event at NBCC Moncton. Both require registration.
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!
SUNDAY
- 🍁 Renton Brothers Family Sugarbush (1270 Gorge Road, Moncton – the one with the smiling face) is open 9:30am-4pm.
- 🍁 Trites Maples (1270 Gorge Road, Moncton – the 4th camp with the green metal roof) is open today, with tours at 10am, noon, and 2pm. (No breakfast today; that’s Saturdays only.)
- 🍁Fundy Maple (6 Dewey Road, Turtle Creek/Riverview) is open 10am-3pm; tours at 11am & 1pm.
- 🍁 Chateau Scoudouc (2862 route 132, Scoudouc) is open for breakfast, 9am-1pm.
- 🍁 White’s Maple is open for breakfast 8am – noon.
🏖️ YMCA Moncton North Splash Pad, $5, 8:30-10:45am, 12:15-2:15pm, & 3:45-4:45pm
🛹 Riverview Indoor Skatepark & Youth Drop In Centre is open 11am-4pm & 5-7pm today.
🏸 Drop in badminton for ages 12-18, $5, YMCA Moncton North, 1-2:45pm
⛸️ Family skate, AJL Dieppe, 1pm, free
🏊 YMCA Public Swim, $3, 1:30-3pm
🏊 CEPS (UdeM) public swim, $3, 3-4:25pm
🏊 Dieppe Aquatic Centre public swim Sunday at 3:15pm. $10/adults, $5-$8 for youth (under 2 free)
Sundays in March the Magnetic Hill Zoo is open, 11am-3pm – and we see registration is open for their summer camps, too! #sponsored
Want to know more about the upcoming Total Solar Eclipse, happening April 8? This Sunday, Dan McLaughlin from the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada will be at Resurgo Place to share details. He’ll give a 30-minute English presentation at 1 & 3pm, and in French at 2 & 4pm. This is included with your admission – and they’ll be giving out special eclipse viewing glasses while supplies last!
We have a podcast episode coming up with Dr. Alexis Keeling with what you need to know about this event. You might also want to know that the City of Moncton is hosting an event in Bore Park from noon till 6pm. EclipSol will include glasses to view the eclipse, face painting, music, food trucks, & more.
The eclipse will happen over Moncton from 3:26PM TO 5:43PM, APRIL 8, 2024. Looking directly at the sun without appropriate eye wear can result in permanent damage and even loss of sight.
DYK: The one & only Col. Chris Hadfield, Canadian astronaut & author, is coming to New Brunswick for the big event?! And tickets to his talk, with comedian James Mullinger opening, are just $60?! (You can purchase a VIP experience upgrade, too.) That’s happening in Florenceville-Bristol, the first community in New Brunswick in the path of the eclipse.
MORE IDEAS!
🍦Ice cream is always a great treat & Bennic is open at noon every day except Monday!
🍦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 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.)
🎨 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 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! Talk the llamas for a walk!
LOOKING AHEAD
Did you see – the author of The Da Vinci Code is coming to Moncton? Because local children will be performing the symphony he composed?! How cool is that?! Check out the Sistema New Brunswick Children’s Orchestra performance fundraiser on June 11 at the Wesleyan Centre.
Speaking of June events, mark June 15 on your calendar for the 18th annual Greater Moncton Highland Games & Scottish Festival. A day filled with wagon rides, music, swordfighting, dancing, and the junior national championships (ages 13-19) for heavy athletics!
Don’t forget – Riverview’s Maple Fest is coming up April 5-7. Lots of maple-themed craft workshops are taking reservations now & we know there will be lots of goodies to sample & fun to be had throughout the town!
