December is a busy month for everyone and full of fun events for the whole family. So let’s highlight some events and activities that will help you enjoy Family Fun in New Brunswick this December!
Don’t forget to use our other resources when planning your Winter and seasonal adventures.
- Santa Claus Parades in New Brunswick
- Sleigh Rides in New Brunswick
- Winter Festivals In New Brunswick
- Popular Sliding Hills in New Brunswick
Greater Moncton & South East NB
We are updating our Christmas Lights in Greater Moncton Map regularly throughout late November and December. We provide the most up-to-date details for a fun family evening out enjoying the sights.
Start off December in Petitcodiac for the Santa Claus Festival of Lights Parade at 7 pm on Friday, December 2nd. Santa will be at the Fire Hall following the parade to greet children and hand out treats. There will also be hotdogs and hot chocolate to warm those cold hands provided by the Petitcodiac Boys and Girls Club.
Wild Lights at the Magnetic Hill Zoo is a fantastic experience for the whole family. With various dates throughout the month of December, (December 1-5, 8-12, 15-19, 22-23, 26-31) you have plenty of opportunities to fit this family activity into your holiday season schedule!
Annual Fundy Biosphere Region Wreath Making Fundraiser at Tankville Schoolhouse 1979 Elmwood Drive in Moncton.
This wreath making event is taking place on Saturday, December 3rd! Join in the fun for a creative morning with holiday tunes and hot chocolate (bring a reusable mug!) There will be fresh cut tips (fir and pine), wreath forms and mason jars, burlap, cinnamon sticks, dehydrated oranges and jute twine to put together your natural wreath. Bring a few personal touches to add to make a completely unique wreath.
The Gingerbread Bash takes place on December 3rd, from 2-4 pm. Play games, build a gingerbread nativity, and enjoy treats.
Join the fun at New Hope Community Church 47529 Homestead Rd.
Get in the holiday spirit on December 3, 4, 10, and 11, with one or many events happening as part of Christmas In The Country. Visit the link for maps (map & activities) and details on all the activities offered. A few include a Victorian Tea at Maplegrove Inn, special off-season tours and openings at Hopewell Rocks, Hillsborough Santa Claus Parade on December 3rd at 6:30 pm, shopping, and activities throughout the region!
The Santa Claus Parade in Hillsborough is on Saturday, December 3, 2022, at 6:30 pm. The parade will be starting at the School parking lot to Steeves St. Visit Santa for candy and hot chocolate at the Kiwanis after the parade.
On December 3rd at 6 pm, visit Deck The Halls – A Sunny Brae Christmas Event, walk through a Christmas Wonderland, enjoy cookies and hot chocolate, decorations, and more.
The 2022 Santa Claus Parade in Cap-Pelé will take place on December 4, 2022, starting at 6:30 pm, starting at rue Tedish and travelling along rue Acadie and then finishing at rue Robichaud.
Santa Claus Parade in Saint-Antoine is scheduled for December 4th, 2022 at 6 pm.
**POSTPONED TO DEC 13** The Salisbury Annual Children’s Craft Night will be on Tuesday, December 6th at 6 pm located at the Salisbury Village Office, 56 Douglas Street. A fun night of craft making, cookie & gingerbread house decorating. $5 per child
Registration is necessary by emailing assistant.director@salisburynb.ca (only 15 spots available).
Santa is coming to Salisbury to light up Highland Park on Friday, December 9th, at 5 pm!
While visiting, Santa will light up our park, take your letters and be available for photos. To make Santa’s visit special there will be hot chocolate, hot dogs, cookies, treat bags for the kids, and wagon rides. ** If you bring a non-perishable food item for Salisbury Helping hands, you will be given a ballot for a prize draw.
A visit to Sackville is the perfect shopping and family outing on December 9th for their second installment of Moonlight Madness this holiday season. There will be activities for the family at Bill Johnston Park from 5:30 – 8 pm, including a dance, llamas, and more! Vendors throughout downtown, entertainment, hot chocolate (bring your own mug!), and many businesses offering specials for your holiday purchases.
On December 10th, 2022, from 10 am to 4 pm, Farmer Brown’s is hosting Christmas At The Farm! Visit the animals, make crafts, get your face painted, decorate cookies, and more.
On December 10th, from 1:30 – 3:30 pm, there will be a FREE swim at the Pat Crossman Memorial Aquatic Centre as part of Riverview’s Holiday Hoopla weekend!!
Don’t forget your Candy Cane on the way out. Call 387-2040 for more details.
The Byron Dobson Arena Upper Ice Surface, in Riverview, will be home to the Holiday Hoopla Skate on Sunday, December 11th from 2:30 – 4:00 p.m.
Enjoy a FREE public skate to your favourite Holiday tunes. The Riverview Youth Collective will be on hand serving hot chocolate, candy canes, and holiday cheer.
On December 12th, 2022, from 6:00pm to 7:30pm, The Lutz Mountain Heritage Museum in Moncton will be hosting a Christmas Decoration Workshop! 🎅 Join Fibre Artist Tina Sharapova as she guides you through how to create a beautiful Christmas Tree ornament using the popular felting technique.
Class is beginner friendly and open to all ages 8 years and over (children under 12 should be accompanied by an adult). All materials are included! Price is $35.00 per person, or $60.00 if two register together.
Don’t miss the Coca-Cola Truck on December 17th at the Sobeys on Paul St in Dieppe from 3 pm to 6 pm.
Celebrate the season in Dieppe on December 20th, at City Hall. Join Mayor Lapierre and city council for a festive evening will be held on December 20th, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the City Hall lobby.
Ring in the New Year in Moncton on December 31st!
Celebrate New Year’s Eve at Downtown Place with your friends and family where The Mellotones will headline the biggest FREE festival in town!
Presented by the Moncton Wildcats, the December 31st festivities will offer live music, a live viewing of the Canada vs. Sweden game taking place in Halifax, a fireworks display and a ball drop to ring in 2023!
Miramichi Region of NB
The 35th Annual Parade of Lights in Miramichi – December 2, 2022, at 6:30 pm.
Bring the whole family to MacDonald Farm and get a glimpse of how things may have been. The halls will be decked, the fireplace will be crackling and the Christmas cookies will be tasty as the doors are opened to welcome visitors to Alexander and Grace MacDonalds 18th century home. Open Friday, Dec. 2nd: 7-9 pm / Saturday, Dec 3rd: 1-4 pm 7-9 pm / Sunday, Dec 4th: 1-4 pm. Admission is $7.00 per person or $25.00 for a family of four.
You are received at our welcome building. From there you can take the horse and wagon ride through the enchanted forest or stroll through the mystical torch-lit trail to the magical MacDonald Farm Wonderland Village. Warm yourself by the inviting barnyard bonfire and enjoy the Christmas Music.
New this year, there will be a Winter Wonderland Walk, a cash canteen and the Gift Shop will be open.
Located at the MacDonald Farm Heritage Site, #600 Route 11, Bartibog, NB
The Coca-Cola Holiday Caravan will be at Sobeys located at 2485 King George Hwy, Miramichi on Tuesday, December 13, 2022 from 3 pm – 6 pm.
Saint John & Southern NB
Start off December in Saint John with Uptown Sparkles on December 2, from 5 pm to 10 pm.
Outdoor fire pits, ice sculpting, jolly trolley rides, live music, festive light displays, special retail promotions and so much more throughout uptown Saint John! Enjoy the Mayor’s Tree Lighting, the historic City Market lit up in spectacular splendour, and Victorian Carollers walking along the cobblestone streets. Bring the family out and visit the uptown shops, boutiques and restaurants for holiday specials and treats. ‘It’s Christmastime in the City’…and tonight is the most special evening to enjoy the season uptown.
Discover Saint John website
While visiting the uptown area, don’t forget about the Gingerbread Trail! A magical winding tour of gingerbread displays at businesses throughout Uptown Saint John.
The St. Stephen Christmas Parade will hit the streets of the town on December 2, 2022, at 6 pm.
Christmas in the Village is taking place in St. Martins 2022 on November 26 & 27, December 3 & 4, December 10 & 11, and December 17 & 18 for a spectacular Christmas experience and fun for the whole family! There will be a lot of Christmas magic to experience with many vendors, an outdoor movie, a farmers’ market, live music, story times, visits with our authentic Santa at the Caves Restaurant, harbour lights, and more.
Deck the halls at the Town of Hampton’s Light Up the Town and Shop the Town from December 3rd to 10th! Tour through the beautiful light displays in the neighbourhoods, while supporting their local businesses with great deals.
St Andrew’s is having the town tree lighting at 5 pm on December 3rd. Gather downtown as the Christmas lights at Town Hall, Market Square, the Wharf, the lamp posts, and store-fronts light up in the spirit of Christmas. Enjoy the Lobster Trap Christmas Tree covered in buoys decorated in support of the local food bank. Stick around to welcome the big guy at the Fireman’s Santa Claus Parade being held at 5:30 pm.
On Saturday, December 3, you can experience an Old Tyme Christmas at Bates Barn in Long Point, NB. Make sure to be there for Storytime with Santa and enjoy shopping with local artisans.
Also happening on December 3rd, why not head to Hampton as they Welcome Winter with activities for the Winter Wonderland? There will be activities at the Lighthouse Fiver Centre, Spooners Island Park, and at Town Square.
Experience the Gala Ballet presentation of The Nutcracker at the Imperial Theatre on the evening of December 9th or an afternoon show on December 10th.
Sussex Santa Claus Parade had been rescheduled for Saturday, December 10, 2022, at 6:30 pm. The Parade Route is from Perry Street then on to Leonard Drive, down to Main Street, along Main Street, and then turn into the Walmart parking lot to dismantle. The parade will be full of bright lights and music, and additionally it will have The Gentle Zone for people with sensory concerns from Morrison Avenue to Fundy Street
The Coca-Cola Holiday Caravan will be at Taco Boyz located at 11 East Point Way #01a in Saint John on Friday, December 16, 2022 from 3 pm – 6 pm.
Tie up your skates and hit the ice for a Holiday Skating party in Sussex on December 18th from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm at the 8th Hussars Sports Centre. There will be Christmas music and treats for all!
On December 17th, a sleigh full of Santa’s elves is coming to Saint John to give you and your family an exclusive behind-the-frost look at the North Pole in support of Make-A-Wish, New Brunswick!
🎁 Discover your inner-elf as North Pole’s Head Elves give you top-tree elf training for Santa’s big day – including testing and making toys! 🌟 Enjoy the North Pole Sous Ch-elf’s specialty spaghetti dinner – lots of elf friends will be jingle-belling about to entertain you! 🎅 Enjoy a special visit with Santa and a professional photo. Your ticket purchase will not only guarantee a holly, jolly time and create new everlasting memories, but it will also help grant life-changing wishes for local children with critical illnesses. Get your ticket today!
On Sunday, December 18th from 1 pm to 3 pm, the Central Kings Recreation Centre (Titusville Rd, Hampton)will be hosting a Christmas Party. There will be a nice potluck snack, Christmas music, and some crafts for the kids! Also, Santa will be arriving so we are asking parents to bring a gift for Santa to give their child (max amount of $10). Admittance is something to the potluck!
Bring the family to the Sussex New Year’s Eve Family Celebration on December 31st, from 2:30 – 4:30 pm at the 8th Hussars Sports Centre. Join in the celebration with a free skate, cool party music, celebration treats, and lots more.
Fredericton & Western NB
Christmas in The Valley at King’s Landing takes place on December 3, 4, 10 & 11, 2022, from 10 am to 3 pm. Select homes and shops are open as the Village prepares for Christmas. They would love to welcome you for a visit! From caroling to festive décor, a trip to this Victorian-Era village will surely get you in the holiday spirit.
John Deere Kids Day is happening Saturday December 3rd, 2022 from 9am-12pm, at Green Diamond Equipment Ltd in Woodstock.
Celebrate the holidays at the annual John Deere Kids Day! There will be face painting, a craft table, hayrides, milk & cookies and even a visit from SANTA!
December 5th, 6th, and 7th, Santa’s sleigh will make its way through the streets of New Maryland picking up the gifts (food, toys, gift cards – see link for details) and donations from the crowds lining the streets of the Village, details on the linked page.
On Wednesday, December 7th, at 7 pm, the Fredericton Kiwanis Youth Choir will present “Deck the Halls! A Choral Concert for the Season”.
Start your holiday season with an evening of a full symphony orchestra playing seasonal musical favourites. On December 11th at 7:30 pm, the Fredericton Symphony Orchestra will be performing their Christmas Concert at the Fredericton Playhouse.
The Coca-Cola holiday caravan will be rolling in to the Sobeys located at 370 Connell St in Woodstock on Wednesday, December 14, 2022, between 3 pm and 6 pm.
The Coca-Cola Holiday Caravan will be at Canadian Tire located at 75 Two Nations Crossing
Fredericton on Thursday, December 15, 2022 from 3 pm – 6 pm.
Chaleur Region & Northern NB
The Bathurst Santa Claus Parade – Friday, December 2, 2022, at 6 pm.
The parade will start at the High school, following King avenue to Main St, and end at the Promenade Waterfront.
The Petit-Rocher Christmas Festival takes place with a variety of festive events from December 1st to the 11th. Click here for schedule of events.
🎄 If you know of events happening in yours or other communities, please let me know.
🎅 You can comment here or email me at ruth.swansburg@gmail.com