What to do with the kids this weekend in Greater Moncton (March 31 – April 2)

It’s Maple Fest time! Lots of great specials & events happening throughout Albert County, including:

• A morning bonfire with maple coffee & Briggs Maples S’mores (10am-noon, free, while supplies last)
• ‘Film Your Sweetest Line’ Contest at the Riverview Skate Park
• A farm-to-table pancake experience at Farmer Brown’s Levy East Road greenhouses (Saturday, 9am-noon, $15/adult & $9/child)
• The annual lumberjack pancake breakfast at Broadleaf Ranch (Saturday, 8-11:30am)
• A pancake breakfast at White’s Maples (Saturday AND Sunday, 8am-noon)
• A rug hooking workshop at the Riverview Library (Saturday, 10am-2pm)
• Free swim (with a chance to win prizes for completing a bingo card) at the Pat Crossman Aquatic Centre (Saturday, 1:30-3:30pm)
• The Chocolate River Wellness Fair on Sunday features various wellness vendors (Sunday, 10am-4pm)
• Maple Brunch at the Riverview Lion’s Club (Sunday, 10:30am-1:30pm)
• A workshop with All the Pretties to create a maple necklace (Sunday, 1pm)
• The 1st Moncton BPSA Traditional Scouts will be roasting Starburst and making Maple Beaver Tails at the Mill Creek Lookout (Sunday, 1-3pm)
• Free skate with chances to earn maple treats by answering trivia questions, (Sunday, 2:30-4pm)
• The Ukrainian Club of Moncton & Farmer Brown’s Greenhouse are teaming up for a pysanky (Ukrainian Easter Egg) workshop (Sunday, $60/person includes supplies and meal)

Another fun food-related event happening is French Toast Fest in Amherst! They have an egg factory and a bread factory and sugar maple woods, so they’re celebrating them all with specialty dishes at various spots around town until Sunday!

And speaking of maple sugar camps, here’s a quick look at local sugar camps you can visit this weekend:

• Renton Brothers Family Sugarbush is open to the public Saturday & Sunday. Such a lovely spot!
• Trites Maples (4^th camp with the green metal roof, about a 15-minute walk from where you park at 1270 Gorge Road) has a pancake breakfast on Saturday starting at 8am. Open Sunday for visits, too!
• Château Scoudouc is open 10am-4pm with taffy on the snow, maple coffee and cappuccino, and walking trails.
• White’s Maple in Shenstone (outside Hillsborough) hosts a pancake breakfast Saturdays & Sundays from 8am – noon.

The Easter Bunny is back at Bass Pro Shop, starting April 1! You can get a free photo or pay for a set of photos; reservations are recommended but not required.

The spring/summer Moncton Multiples Consignment Sale is happening Saturday at the Moncton Coliseum (main entrance). A great way to outfit the kids for the season – clothes, toys, books, shoes, & more. Ticketed entry at 9:30am & free entry at 11am.

Our friends at Off the Wall Eyewear Emporium is holding a trunk show this Saturday at their Moncton shop. Lots of lines including Lulu for kids & gx for kids; save 50% off prescription lenses from the trunk show.

If shopping is on your agenda, Curt’s Market is happening at the Riverview Lions Club, 9am-4pm, with more than 60 vendor booths.

Hillsborough public skate is on Saturday, 2-3pm & 8-9pm. Cost is $2/person or $5/family.

The Magnetic Hill Zoo opens for the season on Saturday. They’ll be open Thursdays through Mondays for April.

The Moncton Wellness Expo takes place at the Moncton Coliseum Saturday & Sunday.

The Saint John String Quartet is holding a concert at Resurgo Place on Saturday night, 7:30pm. Children 12 & under can attend free, with student pricing for older children. The performance features pieces by Dvorak, Diabaté, and Knudson.

Greater Moncton high school seniors art is again on display at Moncton City Hall – always an inspiring visit for young & old! You might also want to check out the newest installment at the Moncton Public Library’s gallery, showcasing the Arabic calligraphy of Hala Ali.

The library is also hosting an event Saturday afternoon blending poetry & music; Reem Fayyad, Kayla Geitzler, and Jean-Philippe Raiche will share Arabic poems that were made into songs, while Abdul Rahman Ali provides music on oud/lute and calligraphist Hala Ali creates art based on the verses. Call 506-869-6000 to register to attend this Saturday afternoon event.

Cirque Kalabanté performs at the Capitol Theatre Saturday evening, with a joyous acrobatic and musical celebration that begins at 7:30pm.

Resurgo Place is always a great spot to visit – but it’s especially fun on Discovery Lab Sundays! This week enjoy extra programming focused on history & creativity with Musée acadien. No registration required, activity included with admission.

Riverview’s Marvelous Holy Bowly is hosting a family-friendly Drag Brunch on Sunday, April 2. Tickets are $25/person; this includes one beverage, food, and entertainment by four local performers. Book your seats in advance by emailing novagynadragqueen@gmail.com

Zoli Handcrafted Soaps are hosting two workshops at Farmer Brown’s Greenhouse on Sunday. You must register in advance; cost is $80 to cover all supplies and a meal. You’ll leave with up to a dozen soap, too! Text 506-878-9285 to confirm a spot.

ONGOING ATTRACTIONS & ACTIVITIES

A great option any day!

• FitRocks Climbing Gym
• SkyZone
• Hop Skip Jump
• Marco’s Clinic
• Bowlarama (with an awesome arcade)
• Holy Moly (with retro arcade games)
• Fairlanes (with Glow Bowling nights!)
• Riverview Indoor Skatepark & Riverview Youth Centre
• indoor splash pad at YMCA Moncton North (open to the public Saturdays & Sundays, 8:30-10:45am, 12:15-2:15pm, & 3:45-4:45pm)
• the pirate ship & sloped entry at the Dieppe Aquatic Centre (public swims on Saturday 3-4:55pm & 6-7:55pm & Sunday 3-4:55pm)
• the warm kiddie pool at the YMCA Greater Moncton (public swims Saturdays 6-7:70pm & Sundays 1:30-3pm)
• open swims at Riverview’s Pat Crossman Aquatic Centre on Saturdays from 1:30-2:25pm & 2:30-3:30pm.
• DIY Studio
• Room Escape Atlantic (their site shows a few non-scary, kid-friendly options)
• Mystery Moncton Mystere (for the teens & up)
• Cineplex has a few PG & G options playing this weekend, including Mummies, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, & the new Shazam.
• Doiron House, celebrating Acadian community life in Dieppe, is open Saturdays & Sundays.
• Off Grid Adventure in Anagance for an awesome adventure course & their new indoor climbing walls
• Bass Pro’s 12,000-gallon freshwater aquarium with striped bass, Atlantic sturgeon, trout, perch, and more is fun to visit.
• Boyle Family Farm
• Broadleaf Ranch
• Llamazing Adventures

This weekend is also time to get ready for Easter! Here are some great posts that might help you plan some family fun!

A reminder to check out the Playground Profiles to find your next favourite place to play with the kids – especially as the weather gets warmer & warmer!