Winter Family Fun in Fredericton!
Winter is such an awesome time to be outside; crisp, cool air, and if the conditions are right, fresh snow on the ground, perfect to play in! Lucky for us, Fredericton is blessed with a pretty good blanketing of snow most years! With the current health crises, there has been a spotlight on doing things outdoors and since this is a great thing to do anyway, it’s time to really celebrate being active and outside, with family!
We’ve pulled together a few things that are family friendly and guaranteed to put some smiles on little faces!
Fun things begin with “S”!
Skiing (downhill!)
This is a no-brainer! Crabbe Mountain boasts the largest vertical in NB! With 34 trails, snow school lessons for the little ones, a fantastic lodge to warm up in, food and beverage in the Thirsty Boot, all of a sudden, you have the makings of a great day of skiing for the whole family!
Skiing (Cross Country)
You don’t have to go too far in Fredericton before you come across a trail, and you are suddenly surrounded by nature. The winter transforms former walking trails into beautifully groomed ski trails. Check out Mactaquac Provincial Park (they lend complimentary pairs of skis), Killarney Lake (the trails are groomed and maintained by the local cross country ski group, Wostawea) and Odell Park, to name a few. If you are new to cross country skiing, maybe consider renting a pair from Radical Edge before heading out.
Snowshoeing
The perfect way to slow down and take in your surroundings! If you’d like to try snowshoeing, then you’re in luck! You can borrow a pair at Mactaquac Provincial Park, the Fredericton Public Library or rent a pair from Radical Edge.
Sliding
Wheeeeeee! Get your adrenaline going with Mactaquac Provincial Park’s sliding hill – open in the evenings as well for nighttime sliding!
Sleigh rides
Everyone loves to dash through the snow in a horse-drawn sleigh with Sandwith Sleigh Rides!
Skating
Fredericton has a number of indoor and outdoor skating facilities. Check before you go to ensure that the ice is available and for the indoor rinks, be sure to book your free skate online. Try something new! The Forest Skate* at Mactaquac Provincial Park has you meandering through a winter wonderland! (*Weather dependent)
FROSTival!
This year, FROSTival takes place January 21 – February 7 and it’s our way of saying “embrace winter”! This seems to come pretty naturally to kids, so in the spirit of childlike wonder and play, give winter a big high five, grab the kids and experience all the great activities made just for families during FROSTival!
UNPLUG!
Here’s a few ideas to get the kid’s engaged in some “non-tech” activities!
Get Crafty!
The Beaverbrook Art Gallery has put together a compilation of cool art projects for kids to enjoy. It is part of an ongoing effort to keep kids engaged in art in a safe way, in the comfort of your home. Projects such as learning to paint with watercolours, making suncatchers, salt dough and more!
Clay Café
You can be an artist at Clay Cafe! Fredericton’s “paint your own pottery” studio is designed for all age groups; they have over 300 different pieces of pottery to paint: plates, mugs, bowls, teapots AND lots of cool designs for kids.
Play!
Unplugged Board Game Café
Bring your family or bubble and “get unplugged”! Choose from a HUGE selection of games (you can even buy a favourite!), grab some lunch and spend a wintery afternoon enjoying some good ol’ fashioned fun.
Kingswood Entertainment Centre
Have fun inside! Bowl a few strings, play lazer tag or try your hand at arcade games while kids can have fun on the 45-foot playclimber!
Learn!
NB Sports Hall of Fame
Another great indoor option this winter, the NB Sports Hall of Fame is an interactive museum that feature exhibits and memorabilia from NB’s sport history and Hall of Famers. Kids’ and adults can also “give it their best shot” with a 5 in 1 interactive sports system!
Science East
This is not just for kids! Bring the whole family to Science East Science Centre; you’ll be surprised at the cool stuff you can learn. Cool fact: the centre used to be the old gaol (jail) and still has the original cells downstairs!
Go on a Treasure Hunt!
Fredericton Geocaching Tour - What better way to get to know a place than to go geocaching! Geocaching is like a treasure hunt with a gps or an iphone, and this is why it is so appealing to kids! Experience Fredericton’s nature, culture and heritage with a special passport that lists 15 caches around the city.
Perfect your aim with Axe Throwing!
Yes, you heard right! Fredericton’s newest unique experience, HaliMac Axe Throwing, will have you throwing an axe at a target; challenge your family members to a friendly game! Maybe you will have the honour of landing your name on the Wall of Fame!
Time to Escape!
A great way to spend a chilly winter day. An escape room is a live-action, team-based game where you and your group are trapped in a room and have 60 - 75 minutes to escape. This alternate reality adventure involves finding clues, solving riddles, completing puzzles, and overcoming obstacles to ultimately accomplish your mission and escape the room before time expires. A great team building or family thing to do! Check out No Escape Escape Rooms or Ispy Escape Games and book your time slot!
Climb the Walls!
Test your abilities to scale the walls with Fredericton Bouldering Co-op! Aimed at all skill levels, all you need to do is book your time slot online and you’re all set to get vertical!
Visit a Museum!
Home to the famous “Coleman Frog”, the Fredericton Region Museum depicts the history of central New Brunswick with a variety of exhibits and hands on learning. Make sure to call and book your visit ahead of time.
Just keep swimming!
Make a splash at the Fredericton Indoor Pool! Kids will love the water slide and tarzan rope! Check here for booking information.
There you have it! You are now armed with an arsenal of activities for the fam that satisfy all ages and weather! Embrace this wonderful season and be sure to tell us all about it! For more family fun ideas, be sure to check our website.
