20 Plus Things to do in the Capital Region this Winter
Winter in the Maritimes can seem long, but instead of resisting, embrace it! There are so many fun activities, indoor and outdoor, that will definitely put a smile on your face and leave you feeling warm and cozy!
So, in the spirit of getting out of your house, here’s a few of our favourite things to do in Fredericton and the Capital Region this winter:
1. Hit the (cross country) ski trails!
Fredericton and the Capital Region are blessed with some pretty amazing trails that you can take advantage of all year; with every season there’s a new adventure! If you are a cross country skier and have your own skis, you’ll want to check out the incredible trails at the UNB Woodlot, Killarney Lake, Mactaquac Provincial Park, Odell Park, Lindsay Valley at CFB Gagetown and Kingswood. As always, practice trail etiquette out there! If you’d like to try cross country skiing, before you invest your $$ in a set of skis, why not rent skis from Mactaquac Provincial Park!
2. Hit the (snowshoe) trails!
Snowshoeing has always been a winter staple activity for young and old. Whether you are venturing out in your backyard or on one of our trails (see # 1) this is a great way to get some exercise, slow down and take in your surroundings. If you need snowshoes, rent a pair from Mactaquac Provincial Park, or borrow from the Fredericton Public Library or the Rural Community of Hanwell.
Looking for a unique snowshoe destination? Try the Minto Mountain Bike Trails! Built upon what was once seen as a coal mining wasteland, the trail network now extends over a most remarkable example of reclaimed trail. The trails have become some of the fastest singletracks on the east coast. What was once an ancient coal mine has been transformed into a biker’s paradise in the summer/fall and is available for hiking and snowshoeing in the winter months.
3. Hit the (downhill) ski trails!
Crabbe Mountain, home to the largest vertical descent in New Brunswick, has 34 varied trails for every skill level. If you are a beginner, take a lesson from the snow school and you’ll be on your way. If you need skis, Crabbe Mountain is fully equipped to supply you with skis or snowboards.
4. Lace ‘em up!
Nothing says “winter” and “Canadian” more than gliding along a just-zambonied sheet of ice. Fredericton and the Capital Region have 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.
5. Sleigh Rides!
You have to check this one off the list this winter! Dash through the snow on a horse-drawn sleigh ride with Sandwith Sleigh Rides (just 10 minutes outside of Fredericton the Royal Road) or Grant’s Sleigh Rides in Mactaquac.
6. Sliding
Get your adrenaline going with Mactaquac Provincial Park’s sliding hill or the tamer hills at Odell Park. Hot tip: Mactaquac now offers snow tube rentals and helmets for sliding! Make sure to bring your own helmet and call ahead to reserve your tube.
7. Mactaquac Provincial Park
So much to do! As I mentioned above, Mactaquac rents equipment, such as skis,snowshoes and inner tubes. Want to try fat biking? You can rent one and go for a spin on the awesome winter trails in the park. Bring your crazy carpet and cruise down the hills (one is lit for nighttime sliding) and grab your skates to do some laps around the skating ponds (also lit for nighttime). PLUS, Mactaquac is open for winter camping!
8. SCIENCE is fun!
And it's 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!
9. Get your throwing arm ready!
HaliMac Axe Throwing is Fredericton’s newest attraction! Situated on the north side, this is a great spot to test your aim, have a local craft beverage and try to beat your teammates!
10. Step away from your phone and get “Unplugged”!
Bring your family or friends to Unplugged Board Game Café. 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.
11. Taprooms, distilleries and breweries!
Fredericton is blessed with quite a number of local craft alcohol producers so naturally we want everyone to know about it! We’ve come up with a great way to sample along the way with our #FredTapTrail passport - a fun way to get a sip of the traditional style flavours and inventive brews that make our craft breweries some of the best around! Here’s how it works: every time you grab a pint or flight at one of the taprooms listed on the map, you will receive a stamp, enabling you to collect exclusive #FredTapTrail swag. Crafty connoisseurs who collect a stamp from all 11 participating taprooms with be entered into the grand prize draw!
But don’t just stop there! A little way “up river” you’ll find Nackawic’s Big Axe along with the Big Axe Brewery. Sample their award-winning ales; with names like the Blonde Hatchet and Roll in the Hay, you can’t help but have a sampling!
Going the other direction, visit the lovely Village of Gagetown and Gagetown Distilling and Cidery. What started out as a local fruit farm, has evolved into the production of cider and spirits, thereby using apples that would have normally gone to waste. A truly sustainable and locally made product, now available across Canada.
Looking for something a bit different? Take a drive to Harvey to family run Big Fiddle Still craft distillery, specializing in flavour infused vodka.
12. Winter Biking
If you own a fat bike or a rugged mountain bike, there’s some great trails to be traversed, and with that crisp, cool air and brilliant snow, it makes for the perfect backdrop to get out and enjoy the trails.
River Valley Cycling (RVC) is Fredericton’s local cycling group. This group organizes local cycling events such as the “Woolastook 4” in the summer as well as maintaining the singletrack networks in the region. In the winter, RVC managers three trail systems: Marysville Trails, Deep Park (Oromocto) and Woolastook Park. To find out more, visit their website.
Don’t own a fat bike? No worries! Book one by calling Mactaquac Provincial Park or Savage’s Bicycle Centre, and explore the local trails. For more ideas, check out our blog.
13. Try some new cuisine!
We all know that Fredericton and the capital region has some fantastic restaurants, with a great selection of pub faves, international cuisine and everything in between. For a full list of restaurants, check out the restaurants page on our website.
14. Climb the walls (literally)!
A great activity for the whole family on those cold winter days, bouldering is fast becoming a popular sport for all ages. The Fredericton Bouldering Co-op, located on Smythe Street, welcomes climbers of all ages and skill levels with clinics and private lessons. Be sure to book your spot online prior to visiting.
15. Visit a Gallery or Museum!
Spend a lazy Saturday afternoon visiting galleries where you will find a great selection of various artworks, both locally and abroad. The newly renovated Beaverbrook Art Gallery has a great selection of both rotating exhibits and a permanent collection. Gallery on Queen has exhibits from both emerging and established artists across Canada. Gallery 78, the oldest private art gallery in Canada, showcases works from artists around Atlantic Canada.
Looking to discover some local history? The Fredericton Region Museum has exhibits that depict life in Fredericton and communities in Central New Brunswick. In the winter months, visits are by appointment or by chance.
Take a drive outside the city to check out some gems in the communities surrounding Fredericton! The NB Military History Museum, located at CFB Gagetown, gives visitors an interpretive history of the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Navy and the Air Force from 1968 to today. In the winter months, call ahead as visits are by appointment. Check out these galleries and museums, just a short distance from Fredericton.
About 35 minutes from Fredericton in Minto, you’ll find the NB Internment Camp Museum. The B/70, as it was originally named, is the Maritimes only WWII Internment Camp and houses nearly 600 artifacts from this era.
16. 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!
17. Break a few things!
Fredericton’s newest attraction, “Smashology”; described as “a place to let it all out”, participants dress in protective clothing and have a go with a hammer to destroy all manner of glassware, electronics, you name it! Great for team building or a unique group outing!
18. Markets!
Open every Saturday morning, the Fredericton Boyce Farmers Market offers a cornucopia of baked goods and locally sourced grocery items; ready-made ethnic cuisine, or a hot breakfast that can be enjoyed on-site. The Northside Creators Market (NSCM) is open every weekend and is focused on locally made goods and produce showcasing our North Side Community in Fredericton.
Looking for some yummy cuisine? The Food Market at the Ex has a selection of International food infused local vendors, located outside the Fredericton Exhibition Centre.
A little way from the city centre is the New Maryland Market. This market has over 45 vendors, inside and outside (when the weather is fair); look for crafters, artists, food and much more. The market runs one Sunday of each month, from 11-3. (No market in February).
19. Festivals & Events
There’s lots going on in the winter months, so there is absolutely no reason to be bored! Atlantic Canada’s largest winter celebration, FROSTival, takes place January 19 – February 5, where you can indulge in great food with Dine Around Freddy, take in live music with Shivering Songs and so much more! If you are a beer fan, then don’t miss the Fredericton Craft Beer Festival, a bringing together of the largest selection of craft beer on the east coast! Looking for a little sweetness? Try out Kings Landing Sugar Bush, held over two weekends in March. Sample the ever-popular maple candy on the snow, enjoy a wagon ride, take a tour around the village and say hello to some farm animals!
20. Hit the Snowmobile Trail!
New Brunswick is blessed with some pretty sweet snowmobiling trails, with a network that spans the province. For more information on where to snowmobile in the Capital Region, permitting and more, visit: https://www.snowmobilenb.com/
21. Live performances at the Fredericton Playhouse
Fredericton’s live performance venue, the Playhouse, is home to a variety of live performances from theatre to comedy and music there are shows practically every week. Check out their line up here.
22. STRIKE!
Care to bowl a few strings? The Drome, on the northside of Fredericton, is a craft beer bowling destination featuring eight Trailway taps and several other local craft (and non-craft) beverages, and food menu.
23. Improve your handicap (indoors!)
Golfing in the winter? Why not! The Par 94 Bar & Golf Lounge is an accessible golf hot spot with golf simulators and other games such as pool and foosball. Also enjoy craft beer on site. Fredericton’s newest golf venue, Good Guys Golf, is the only comprehensive indoor mini putt course in New Brunswick, with a 9-hole indoor mini putt and bar.
So, what are you waiting for? Winter tends to be a longer season, but it doesn’t have to be boring! Whatever you fancy, get out and experience a little bit of Fredericton this winter! If you are looking for more ideas, be sure to visit our website where you will find our Dinner’s On Us & Free Parking packages, and ideas for how you can #ExploreFredericton! Be sure to let us know what your fave winter activity is!
