What to do with the kids this weekend in Greater Moncton (Sept 19-21, 2025)
Harvest Fest! YMCA Block Party! Apple picking! Open Farm Day! There are so many great adventures you could have this weekend – so let’s dive into some details!
We’ve updated our annual list of pumpkin patches, corn mazes, & more for your autumn adventure planning – but here are some quick tidbits for you!
🍎 Belliveau Orchard 🍎La Fleur du Pommier 🍎Le Verger Goguen 🍎Appleview Orchards opens for the season on Saturday
🌽 The Green Pig Country Market’s corn maze opens Friday, with a pirate theme this year! (Just a 25-minute drive from downtown Moncton, near the Salisbury Big Stop. Make plans to visit the Town centre, too, with authentic Mexican food, amazing pizza, and the awesome Highland Park!) Fletcher’s Farm in Miramichi & Hunter Brothers in Florenceville-Bristol both have their corn mazes open for the season, too, and many families make the trek to River Breeze outside Truro. (If you’re going to Truro, we recommend making time to visit Victoria Park, too. A lovely fall adventure!)
And don’t forget all the fun at Trueman Blueberry Farm; the farmstand & happy place (kids’ activities – entry fee required) are open Fridays – Sundays, with the canteen also open Saturdays & Sundays. Their 🌽 corn maze is opening Saturday!
A reminder that some schools in the province are piloting a new calendar this year. Students at several schools will two extra Professional Development (PD) days off each month, so you’ll see some families searching for long weekend plans while you’re wondering what they’re talking about. 😛 You can find the full 2025-2026 school year calendar online here for Anglophone East; you can find the Francophone Sud school calendars here.
Anglophone East schools WITH extra days off this year are: Beaverbrook School, Birchmount School, Harrison Trimble High School, Havelock School, Magnetic Hill School, Maplehurst School, Northrop Frye School, Petitcodiac Regional School, Queen Elizabeth School, Salisbury Elementary School, & Salisbury Regional School.
A few organizations have planned extra PD specials this year to match these days: TH Sports has a one-day basketball camp, 8am-5pm for $35 for kids in Gr 2-8, with some family pricing options we love! SN Learning Studio is also offering some one-hour math sessions in Riverview; check it out!
Congrats to The Carefree Cakery on their move to downtown Moncton! We saw them putting some finishing touches on for this Friday’s grand opening at 10am; can’t wait to pop in soon!
⛸️ There’s free skating at the Shediac Festival Arena on Fridays, 9:50-10:50am.
And still in Shediac, later today there’s a BBQ fundraiser for Shediac Cape School at Pascal-Poirier Park, 4-6pm. There will be face painting, bouncy castles, & music, too!
Riverview’s Harvest Fest is this weekend, with lots of family-friendly events!
- We’re fans of Joel Palmer (Swamp Bear)’s art work; pop by Caseley Park between noon & 4pm to see his Live Chainsaw Art: Reconciliaction, a bench honouring Indigenous culture inspired by RHS Peace and Friendship club.
- Kids ages five to 13 are invited to Giggles, Games, & Growls, 6:30-8pm at the Riverview Lions Club.
- Not gonna lie, we’re low-key upset adults aren’t invited to the GLOW BINGO event happening! (We’re stoked about all the cool teen programming the Town creates, though.) Yes, there’s Glow Bingo tonight – free entry, glow dabbers provided – for ages 12-18, 7-8:30pm at the Community Hall.
- And don’t forget Pumpkin Palooza!
The 23rd annual Sackville Fall Fair is underway, too. Today’s top picks include Food Truck Friday at Bagtown Brewing, Children’s Parade at 6:45pm followed by a kids’ dance in the big tent, and fireworks scheduled for 9pm. You can find details & the full schedule on their website.
Want to up your face painting skills? There’s an awesome collab event happening at Magnetic Hill Community Centre tonight.
In high school football, the RHS Royals are at l’Odyssee at 7pm.
It’s Buy a New Brunswick Book day! A few years back I shared a few of our favourite made-in-NB kids’ books (including Diane Carmel Leger’s Piau’s Potato Present, Jennifer McGrath’s Gadzooks the Christmas Goose, and Follow the Goose Butt, Camelia Airheart! by Odette Barr, Colleen Landry, and Beth Weatherbee) while writing about the importance of supporting local literature, music, art, & more.
Today, you can pop by Chapters to meet French children’s author Eric Fontaine, 2-6pm.
DYK: I host a podcast for the Writer’s Federation of New Brunswick? Check out the first six episodes now & listen for new ones dropping this fall!
Start your morning off without having to cook breakfast – enjoy the pancakes at the Salisbury Lions Club instead! You can have pancakes, sausages, treats, & drinks for $10/person, $5 for children ages six to 10, and free for pre-schoolers! It’s a fabulous meal & community; stick around the Town to visit the Farmer’s Market, spend time in Highland Park, and of course there’s the Green Pig Country Market’s corn maze & Appleview Orchards (on the Homestead Road) u-pick, too. Stay for lunch & dinner, too! There’s fabulous authentic Mexican & delish pizza from amazingly family-friendly restaurants to enjoy.
Riverview’s Harvest Fest continues, with all sorts of fun, including the annual skateboarding competition, geocaching, free swim 2-3pm, all sorts of workshops & info sessions throughout the day, & IHW Wrestling celebrating its 20th anniversary with a show at the Coverdale Rec Centre tonight. Find the full list on the town’s website!
The 23rd annual Sackville Fall Fair continues, with the Domino Man offering displays starting at 10am, the annual parade at 1pm, special presentations about blacksmithing, wool spinning, and more happening throughout the day — and the amazing annual Family Day events, 10am-5pm, with bouncy castles, petting zoo, face painting, & more much more! You can find details & the full schedule on their website. Trueman Blueberry Farm’s corn maze is scheduled to open for the season today, too; a perfect add-on to a trip to Sackville.
The new disc golf course in Memramcook opens today, 9am-2pm.
Orienteering New Brunswick is hosting a UF-O Line-O event in Centennial Park today; there’s a beginner-friendly option.
The Greater Moncton Electronic Festival is coming to the Avenir Centre – and it’s a family-friendly & free event! There will be local DJs and visual artists, vendors & lots of fun. This is an outdoor event, 1-10pm.
New Hope Church is holding a free block party, 2-4pm at their location on the Homestead Road, with bouncy castles, animals, BBQ, and more.
International Day of Peace will be celebrated Sept. 20 at Dieppe’s Dover Park, with a family-friendly event that invites you to sign a giant peace kite that will fly at 3pm. There will be an afternoon full of kites, activities, and fun!
And don’t forget: the YMCA & City of Moncton are hosting two fall BLOCK PARTIES this year! Saturday, Sept. 20 they’ll bring the bouncy castles, petting zoo, & more to Sumner Park from 2-4pm. This is a free event, great for the whole family to enjoy! (The other will be October 18 at Knox Park.)
A reminder that today is the Terry Fox Run on Confederation Bridge – so don’t plan any spontaneous PEI excursions without taking that into consideration. 🙂
Today is New Brunswick Open Farm Day; several farms will open their doors to the public for free, including Corn Hill Farmhouse, Waldow Farms, Boyle Family Farm, La fleur du Pommier, Verger Belliveau Orchard, Shediac Community Garden, and Open Sky Co-operative. (FYI: some farms will have paid options once on site.)
In high school football, the MHS Purple Knights are at Tantramar at 1pm.
Riverview’s Harvest Fest wraps up today, most notably with family fun day. From 1-4pm at Caseley Park you can enjoy live music, bouncy castles, laser tag, face painting, a corn boil, and more! Find the full list of Harvest Fest fun on the town’s website!
The 23rd annual Sackville Fall Fair wraps up today with some awesome events, including the annual sandcastle making contest at Silver Lake, the ‘anything that floats’ race, a pet show, and a hobbit feast! It’s also Make Something Sunday at the Owens Art Gallery. You can find details & the full schedule on their website.
Frozen in Time, a sing-along stage experience, is at the Capitol Theatre for two shows & a VIP meet-and-greet today. (Children under two can sit in your lap without purchasing a ticket for them!)
The Mom Market is popping up at Magnetic Hill Winery today, 11am-3pm, with more than 30 vendors.
Love to create & want to share? There’s a fantastic group of creative makers hosting Homemaker Swaps – bring five handmade items, swap for five & enjoy a potluck, too! The September gathering is planned for today at Centennial Park.
Maple Hills offers drop-in family gym (4-5:30pm) & basketball (Gr 6-8 @ 5:30pm, Gr 9-12 @ 7pm) times today.
Looking for some anytime inspiration this fall? We’ve updated our famous Bucket List Bingo card for the season! Save the photo (English version first, French follows) & use it to help you decide on your next adventure.
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
- The Golf & TekZone at Magic Mountain are still open this weekend, noon-6pm.
Drive In Movies are perfect fall outings, especially with teens! Check out what’s playing at 
Shediac’s Neptune Drive In & the Sussex Drive In.
The Magnetic Hill Zoo is open daily.
East Coast Karting is open (weather permitting). Check their Facebook for updates & details!- 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!
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.
Poley Mountain is open in the fall for hiking, biking, & more.
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.
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 Bistro for 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.
Markets & More
- The Moncton Market & the Dieppe Market are both open on Saturday mornings, with fantastic options for local goodies.
- Many smaller communities also have markets & great hidden eating gems, like Salisbury’s growing market/antique scene and the Green Pig Country Market, as well as the Old Church Farmer’s Market in Hillsborough.
- Shediac’s Sunday market is a must visit! More than 70 vendors, live music on the stage, a great seating area, & so much fun!
- A cool spot to shop & enjoy a riverside stroll is the Starving Artist Cafe in Moncton.
- Magnetic Hill Wharf Village is still open for the season.
FUN EATS
A few fun cafes for you to consider …
- Tambayan Cafe is a fun 2D cafe in Riverview with yummy treats, coffee, fries, & more.
- Add a photo booth shoot to your sweets order at Click & Chew in Dieppe; super fun idea for a special celebration or any day.
- We’re always down to pretend we’ve hopped a plane to France with a trip to Tony’s for pastries. They have three great spots to explore – the original bistro on McLaughlin, Dieppe, and now in Downtown Moncton!
- Crumbl FOMO? Head to our own The Cookie Jar in Dieppe! It’s super cute & yummy – and right next to the awesome Bennic Dairy Bar for ice cream creations!
- Halo Donuts & lostandfound ice cream are next door neighbours on St. George Street, another great combo. (You can also find Halo in the North End, open Wed-Sun.)
- And if bread & pastries are what you want, Co Pain Artisan Bread Company is where you need to go!
- In search of a special? Check out The Daily Feast for great overview of local restaurants, their deals, & more.
Missed the Moncton Multiples Sale? Or maybe you went & are wishing for more? Head to Grapevine Events’ Fall & Winter Consignment Pop Up October 3 & 4! And the best part – if you come down on Saturday, most items are 50% off! Tickets are on sale now for 3pm entry on Friday (1pm was pretty much sold out when we wrote this); entry is free Friday night & Saturday.
The amazing Mélanie Paulin — along with fifteen women from Algeria, Bolivia, Cameroon, Canada, France, Madagascar, and Morocco — will present a showcase of work at Bright & Brine Fine Art Gallery, with an opening of the exhibition on Wednesday night. (You can view the exhibit until October 18.) The project is called Charge invisible and is meant to reflect the intangible weight of the mental load we carry through sculptures created using recycled fabrics and chicken wire.
If you have a girl in Grades 3-5, check out the Girls Got Game Intro to Basketball event happening Thursday night at Northrop Frye! It’s a free, one-hour intro to basketball.
East Coast Amusements returns to the parking lot at the Moncton Coliseum, Sept. 25-28. Watch their social media for hours & ticket prices.
Greater Moncton Navratri Festival is Sept. 26 & 27.
Cap Acadie is celebrating AutomneFest Sept. 26-28, with Foodie Friday food truck celebration, an outdoor market with kids’ activities on Saturday, a community breakfast Sunday, a car show, and more!
Salisbury’s Harvest Fest is happening Sept. 26-27, kicking off with an outdoor concert at Highland Park on Friday night with Pier 19 before a Saturday afternoon filled with family fun! There’ll be animals, hayrides, BBQ & corn boil, games, and hopefully fireworks at 8pm.
Afro-Caribbean Festival of New Brunswick takes place at Moncton’s Riverfront Park on Sept 27.
Sept. 27 is the Downtown Moncton Shop Hop! Visit Starving Artist, Working Class, Kept on Main, Mistic Moon Books & Brews, LaRouère fabrique de chocolat, B home, & Tree’s Tee’s for specials – and all the other great downtown spots, too!
We’re not adding in October events just yet, but wanted to give one shout out this week to the Nor’easter: Robot Combat Club. They have a tournament coming up in Riverview October 11 & are accepting new competitors, so we wanted to give you tech-savvy families a chance to check it out early in case you want to join.
