What to do with the kids this weekend in Greater Moncton (Nov 28-30, 2025)
Well friends, we’ve made it to the last weekend of November – which means the last month of the year is about to begin! I hope 2025 has been good to you and that 2026 is going to be filled with fun family adventures. I’ll do my best to fill the last few weeks with oodles of ideas for you to get out and make memories and connections!
A reminder that Santa is at Bass Pro; you can book your visit & free photo online, up to a week in advance, and you can also book to visit with him at Champlain Place.
Wild Lights opens tonight! This is a fantastic outing for all ages, walking through the Magnetic Hill Zoo to see hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights, two light tunnels, a polar bear bench, musical light show, outdoor fire pits, treats, some animals, & more! The displays will be open Thursdays through Mondays, 5-8:30pm (you must exit by 9:30pm), as well as Dec 23, Dec 26-31, and January 1-3. (We suggest booking your tickets in advance online to avoid disappointment; cost is $14/person.)
Dieppe’s skating oval at Place 1604 is open(10am-9pm) for the season and so is the Ian Fowler Rink outside the Avenir Centre (10am-10pm). Dieppe’s oval has free skating rentals on site Friday, Saturday, & Sundays at certain times. Both spaces are free to use. (Fun on Ice, the weekly music events at Place 1604, start on December 5 & run until February 27.) Check Dieppe ice conditions here & Moncton conditions here.
The Green Pig Market’s Hog Nog continues tonight – and if you don’t make it, the fun continues next Thursday & Friday, too!
New Business Alert! KidStrong is opening soon on Granite Drive. It’s a program that helps kids build strong bodies, minds, and characters through weekly 45 minute classes led by expert coaches. Sign up now for details & special rates!
- 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! There’s also a craft fair at the Lions Club today & one at the New Hope Church on Homestead Road.
- Bouctouche Farmer’s Market is open Saturdays, 8am-1pm.
- Shediac’s art market, Maritime Crafts & More, is open Wednesdays to Sundays, 10am-5pm.
- BHome is hosting fabulous pop up markets each Saturday until Christmas, 9am-3pm.
- The Dieppe Arts & Cultural Centre is hosting a Holiday Art Market 10am-4pm.
- The 4th Annual Sleigh the Holidays Pop-Up Market at Canvas Hotel is today.
The Dieppe Public Library is now taking registrations for a children’s workshop November 29 with Precious Abygail Dedam, who has Mi’kmaw and Acadian roots, sharing dances, traditions, and ancestral knowledge, 10am-noon.
Christmas magic is in the air in Shediac – there’s a special morning with the elves (9am-noon) at the Multipurpose Centre today! Enjoy board games, bouncy castle, crafts, & more.
Loopy Wool is hosting a needle felting workshop creating felted penguins today – a great idea if you’re looking to make something to gift this season!
Thomas Williams House will again host a holiday tea this year, with eight sittings over two weekends, starting today. Be sure to check and reserve your spot before heading out!
The Moncton Youth Orchestra is treating the community to a free holiday concert this afternoon at 2pm at Tidal Church.
Roller Disco returns to the Coliseum tonight. Family skating (open to all ages) is from 4-6pm & 6-8pm.
Poley Mountain isn’t open yet for the season, but you can sign up for their seasonal rental program & get fitted this weekend.
We know it’s not in New Brunswick, but we also know lots of folks enjoy skipping across the provincial border to enjoy Amherst’s Santa Claus Parade, happening tonight at 6pm.
There’s a handmade holiday craft fair with 70+ vendors at Riverview’s Coverdale Centre, open 9am-3pm.
Festival by the Marsh in Tantramar is hosting a Holiday Cheer Play Festival; it includes a live stage reading of It’s a Wonderful Life today (2pm & 7:30pm) and upcoming performances of Grandma’s Christmas Movie Extravaganza dinner theatre at the children’s play, The Tinderbox (December 18, 20th, 21st).
The Tri-City Tide have a showcase game today, 3pm, at Crandall University.
The Coca-Cola Holiday Caravan is coming to Atlantic Superstore – Trinity Drive! Stop by between 4-6pm to visit with Santa & enjoy a special treat!
The Capitol Theatre has dozens of amazing holiday shows this season, including the fabulous Jill Barber tonight.
Searching for cozy shops filled with holiday charm? Here are a few we know are bursting at the seams with cute ornaments, local gift ideas, and photos ops: Kept on Main, Gifts Galore, BHome, The Painted Pineapple, Wheaton’s, MacArthur’s Nursery, & Magnetic Hill Wharf Village. There’s also the country charm of Green Pig Market and the thrifty vintage finds at Recollections by Jazz Antique Mall in Salisbury. And you can find Santa at Bass Pro (you can book your visit & free photo online, up to a week in advance) and Champlain Place.
These attractions & fun ideas are always worth checking out! Look for the 
for our TEEN & TWEEN picks! Some of these are still great with littles, too, but we know it can be tricky to come up with ideas the older kids will enjoy – or can be sent to on their own.
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
- ✨ Riverview’s waterfront is a must-see! Whether you drive by or can get out for a walk under the lights, this seasonal display is sure to make you smile!
The Magnetic Hill Zoo is open Thursdays through Mondays in November – and now you can enjoy Wild Lights!- 🚂 Trueman Blueberry Farm has train rides, Christmas trees, photo ops, their amazing ice cream & treats, & more every Friday to Sunday until December 21.
Llamazing Adventures is a great way to get out & get moving! You can take the llamas for a walk all through the year.
Faith First Mini Horses offers pony walks & cuddles; check their site and reach out for availability. The minis will be masquerading as reindeer in December!- DYK
There’s a borrowing program at YMCA North with skateboards, helmets, and protective gear for use on their great outdoor ramps when weather permits. 
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!- 🏂 Poley Mountain opens again in December.
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.)
MR21 is ‘low key Moncton’s best kept secret’ as my kids say. An incredible visual presentation that tells the history of the Acadian community in a beautiful cathedral in downtown.
Local libraries are always a great spot to visit, with lots of programming for all ages – and also another rainy day must visit option.
Check out what’s playing at Cineplex in Dieppe or Trinity!
The Bunker on Main Street in Moncton is a great indoor golf option & does have times kids are allowed. They also now have a race car simulator! There are more than 50 cars you can choose from & more than 30 tracks to try – it’s not a little kid game.
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 or the new Art Time Cafefor drawing & more!
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.
Aura: A Moncton Holiday Experience transforms the Moncton Market on Thursday evenings this December, with cocktail & cooking classes led by Brix Experience, music, wreath making workshops with Shawbrook Farm, holiday films projected outside, and so much more!
The Academy of Classical Ballet & Modern Dances’ Nutcracker takes over the stage the Capitol Theatre December 4 – 7.
We’re working on our full December post; stay tuned!
Looking for some help with Christmas this year – or know someone who is? Maybe you’re looking to give back? Check out What Kids Need Moncton’s Snowflake Station, the Salvation Army, and Moncton Headstart’s Toyland. And we’re looking forward to seeing what’s happening with the Sue Stultz & Moncton Firefighters Turkey Drive this year!