What to Do with the Kids this Weekend in Moncton (Sept 7-9)
How are we all doing with the return of September? It might be back-to-school week but the calendar still says it’s summer – and there’s LOTS to do this weekend (if your little scholars are feeling up to it!).
One of New Brunswick’s most beloved – and colourful! – festivals is this weekend, the annual Balloon Fiesta in Sussex! In addition to the magnificent hot air balloons, there is also a touch-a-truck event, music, amusement rides, laser tag, petting zoo, and much more!
With September also comes the start of apple orchard season! We’ve updated our list of local orchards, pumpkin mazes, and more – check it out & share it, please! A few highlights: the sunflower maze, obstacle course (our cover photo this week!), and homemade ice cream at Trueman’s, the pumpkin blaster and toddler mazes at the Green Pig, and this weekend is the official opening of the apple u-pick at Belliveau Orchard.
Did you know Pickle Planet now has a podcast? You can find us on iTunes and Spotify, as well as posted here on the site. This week’s topic is talking with your children – and other parents – about including people with different abilities. Be sure to take a listen; new episodes are uploaded on Fridays. It’s a great compliment to an event Saturday, hosted by Ability New Brunswick. The Wheelchair Challenge is a fundraising event that welcomes people to bring their own chair or use one provided on site. Teams of five members wheel around the track and tackle obstacles. This is a family-friendly event that aims to develop awareness of mobility challenges and wheelchair use.
There will be lots of excitement downtown Moncton this weekend at the new Events Centre (to be named on Thursday!) holds an open house celebration Saturday and Sunday, with live music, guest appearances (Moncton Wildcats, Moncton Magic, etc), food vendors, kids games, Wonderland Dome presented by Festival Inspire, and more. (Art Richard on Sunday at noon is sure to be a hit with the littler ones!)
The 5K Foam Fest is happening at Centennial Park on Saturday. This obstacle course includes the world’s largest inflatable waterslide, mud pits, and more. There is a free kids’ zone (ages seven and under), food vendors, a beer garden, and more. Ages eight and up are allowed to participate in the event course (those under 12 must have a guardian with them).
Petitcodiac is holding a summer send-off party on Saturday, with kids events from 3pm to 5pm, followed by a corn boil and BBQ, then a street dance until 10pm.
Saturday morning is the community registration event in Riverview, with representatives from ringette, hockey, basketball, skating, scouting, synchro, wrestling, and waterpolo all available at the Riverview Community Hall. It’s also the fall registration event for groups in Dieppe, with representatives from hockey, ringette, skating, speed skating, army cadets, dance, and more at the Arthur-J-LeBlanc Arena in the morning.
Chapters’ Saturday morning kids’ event includes a learning adventure with Robert Munsch’s ABC book and LeapFrog.
The YMCA is holding an open house on Saturday. Stop by to test out what’s available!
Saturday’s Family Favourites feature at Cineplex is The Secret Life of Pets. Just $2.99 per ticket!
Toys R Us is holding a Beyblade Burst Tournament this weekend, for players ages eight to 13. You need to register online.
Sunday morning’s NatureKids event in Sackville is all about insects! Biologist John Klymko will teach participants how to catch and identify butterflies, grasshoppers, and more.
Moncton Wesleyan Church is holding a fall kick off Sunday morning, with walking tacos, Little Ray’s Reptiles, inflatable games, and information about their programming.
Challenge your teens to a spelling bee! Join up for the Moncton Library’s Spelling Bee for Grown Ups (for ages 11+). Register by calling 869-6000, option 3.
Still looking for more? You can find lots of ideas on our MEGA LIST of things to do with the kids, as well as our playground profiles!
And don’t forget: the season’s BIGGEST sale of kids’ gear is taking place next Saturday! The Moncton Multiples Consignment Sale features clothing, toys, snowsuits, costumes, strollers, and more from 250 families. It’s like a massive multi-family yard sale, except everything is organized by size and style and you pay for everything together – with debit, if you like!
GO NOW AND RSVP! On Monday, everyone who has RSVP’d on the Facebook event will be in the draw for 7am shopping.
(Wish there was a version just for you, Mama? There is! October 27. Check it out!)
Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes, and Apple Orchards in New Brunswick