What to Do with the Kids this Weekend in Moncton (Aug 10-12)
How are you dealing with this crazy summer weather? Hopefully you’re embracing the heat, the thunder, the rain, and all that comes with it! We’ve been enjoying some of Moncton’s indoor attractions; you can find lots of ideas on our MEGA LIST of What to Do with the Kids. For this weekend, though, read on – there’s lots to choose from!
There’s a new event happening in Shediac that promises lots of fun this weekend. Ocean Festive is filled with amazing seafood tastings and events, but also includes lots of family options. Friday and Saturday there’s a Touch-a-Truck area with 20 bouncy castles, activities, and more! This Pirate Zone is open 11am until 7pm at Parlee Beach. General admission rates for Ocean Festive begin at $5.
This weekend is also the annual Victoria Park Arts & Crafts Fair in Moncton, always a great place to adventure with the family.
Friday night you can head Back to the Future thanks to the Town of Sackville. They’re showing the movie on the big screen in Bill Johnstone Park. Showtime is around 9pm.
The Town of Riverview is showing Coco on Friday night at Caseley Park. Enjoy free popcorn, a cash canteen, and washrooms on site. Show time is dusk; rain location is the Community Hall on Lakeside Drive.
Also at the movies this week, you can enjoy a lot of family-friendly films at regular price, as well as the $2.99 Cineplex’s Family Favourites feature on Saturdays and Wednesdays through the summer (this week it’s Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle). The Neptune Drive In in Shediac is also featuring some family films this weekend, with Teen Titans Go to the Movies and Christopher Robin playing, along with other titles.
This weekend is the annual Atlantic Monster Truck Nationals at the Centre for Speed in Grand-Barachois. Enjoy the Best Trick Competition, Full Throttle Dirt Oval Race, a No Rules Freestyle Battle, and more.
Saturday is the annual Charity Show & Shine supporting the Children’s Wish Foundation. Enjoy bouncy castles ($5 donation), a remote control race track, face painting, a dunk tank, live entertainment, and more at Marshland Auto Parts & Marine on Mountain Road.
The Canadian Mental Health Association of New Brunswick is holding a Family Fun Day Fundraiser at Centennial Park on Saturday from 10am until 4pm. There will be a dunk tank, bouncy castle, face painting, balloon animals, games, and more.
Saturday kicks off the annual Acadie Rock Festival in Moncton, with lots of great performances around the city until next Saturday. Check out the program for details on events that fit your family!
If you’re planning to head to Fundy Park this weekend, be sure to consider enjoying the free (with park admission) concert Saturday night with Drake Adams and the Sticky Bandits.
The Homarus Eco-Centre is partnering with Shediac Bay Cruises on Sunday to allow some lucky folks to come along for the release of 2,000 small lobsters. Spaces are limited so call to reserve!
Sackville’s Open Sky Co-Operative welcomes visitors on Sundays. Enjoy miniature donkeys, goats, and hens, lovely gardens, sweets and more. (Visits are free, treats will cost you.)
NatureKids Sackville is meeting at Johnson’s Mills Shorebird Interpretive Centre on Sunday at noon to experience the migration of hundreds of shorebirds heading to South America.
Sunday is also the annual Heritage Field Day at the Campbell Carriage Factory Museum in Sackville. Enjoy a carriage ride, blacksmith demonstrations, live music, and more, including face painting and a BBQ. Donations accepted.
And don’t forget, the Perseid meteor shower peaks Sunday night, but that means all weekend could be great viewing if the skies are clear (you can also see Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars, too). The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada is holding a public observation event in Grande-Digue on Sunday at 8pm.
Summer means there’s lots of great events happening throughout the week – like Wednesday’s activities for Quinzou – but we wanted to highlight Monday night’s Family Bike Rides hosted by Mike’s Bike Shop. A great way to enjoy some active time together.
You can also take the family for a swim at outdoor pools in Riverview, Salisbury, and Petitcodiac, or to the $2 public swims hosted by the City of Moncton at the YMCA & CEPS during the summer. You can find the schedules and other information here. You can also enjoy lots of swimming fun at the Dieppe Aquatic Centre – the kids love the pirate ship & the obstacle course!
Indoor play ideas include The Play Café, Hop Skip Jump!, PlayTime Kiddo, Get AirMoncton, Skyzone Moncton, FitRocks Climbing Gym, & Crystal Mountain Party Palace. Try your hand at bowling (with gutter blockers available!) at Fairlanes, Bowlarama, & Parklane Bowling. There’s The Clayspace, DIY Studio & Resurgo Place, as well as Room Escape Atlantic (with rooms recommended for ages 8 and up) and Mystery Moncton Mystere (ages 14 and up). For outdoor fun, visit Butterfly World & The Boardwalk, Magic Mountain, TreeGo, & Magnetic Hill Zoo.
And don’t forget to take in some free music this summer! There are concerts Wednesdays nights in Riverview at Caseley Park, combined with the weekly Chocolate River Farmers’ Market. There are also free shows Wednesdays in Dieppe at Place 1604; find the lineup here. Moncton’s Midi Musique takes place Wednesdays from noon until 1pm at Oak Lane, off Main Street, and the City of Moncton hosts free performances on Tuesdays at 7pm in Victoria Park and on Saturdays at 11am at the Market. You can find the list of performers here.