Christmas Events for Kids in Moncton, New Brunswick (2026)

Christmas Events for Kids
Written by Kelsey Cecil

4 min read

For 2026, we confirmed 6 Christmas events for kids in Moncton, New Brunswick. The season opens on November 21 with Tales of Charlie Brown Christmas and runs until January 2 with Wild Lights at Magnetic Hill Zoo. Of these, 2 are free. Every listing links straight to the host. This page is part of our guide to Christmas events for kids in Canada.

The short version

  • Kids’ Christmas events confirmed for 2026 in Moncton: 6
  • First: Tales of Charlie Brown Christmas, Moncton, November 21
  • Free events: ROYALE Greater Moncton Santa Claus Parade and Aura: A Moncton Holiday Experience

Below is every event we could confirm, grouped by town, with the date, time, cost and the small things parents ask about (registration, ages, what is included).

At a glance: Christmas events for kids in Moncton, New Brunswick

Kids’ Christmas events
6 confirmed for 2026
Cities and towns
Moncton
Season
November 21 to January 2
Free events
2
Last checked

Christmas events for kids in Moncton

Listed soonest first: 6 confirmed events in Moncton.

Family Christmas event

Tales of Charlie Brown Christmas

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The Capitol Theatre describes a live, interactive jazz performance by the J. Anthony Granelli Trio. The trio plays the original soundtrack from A Charlie Brown Christmas, mixed with storytelling and audience participation. The show is on Saturday, November 21, 2026, at 7:30pm, with doors at 6:45pm. Tickets are $33 to $54, and member tickets are $51. The page does not state an age range.

Parent tip: The show starts at 7:30pm, so it suits school-age kids better than toddlers. The page does not give a minimum age, so call the box office if you are unsure.

Host
Capitol Theatre (opens in a new tab)
Where
Capitol Theatre, 811 Main Street, Moncton (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Capitol Theatre (opens in a new tab)

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Rally’s Christmas research

Rally the corgi has 5 more Moncton, New Brunswick events researched for you.

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Coming up on this page

  • 2 Markets
  • 1 Santa
  • 1 Lights
  • 1 Parades
  • 2 Free

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Christmas crafts

Turner's Christmas at the Coliseum

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The show's website lists Friday 2pm to 9pm, Saturday 10am to 9pm and Sunday 10am to 5pm. Adults pay $8 and seniors and military pay $7. Admission is good for all three days with a stamp, and children 12 and under are free. The City of Moncton calendar files it under arts and crafts and family. The website does not mention Santa.

Parent tip: The stamp lets you leave and come back on another day, so one day for shopping and one for the kids is possible.

Host
Turner's Christmas at the Coliseum (opens in a new tab)
Where
Moncton Coliseum Complex, 377 Killam Drive (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Turner's Christmas at the Coliseum (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas lights

Wild Lights at Magnetic Hill Zoo

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The zoo's Wild Lights page lists these 2026 dates: November 27 to 30, December 3 to 7, 10 to 14, 17 to 23, 26 to 31, and January 1 to 2. Doors open at 5pm, the last entrance is 8:30pm and guests must leave by 9:30pm. Tourism New Brunswick describes thousands of twinkling lights across the zoo's 40-acre grounds. A bonfire runs until 9pm, weather permitting. Tickets go on sale a few days later than usual while the zoo updates its ticketing system, and the page gives no price yet.

Parent tip: Dogs are not allowed, except trained service dogs, and the zoo does not have wheelchairs or toddler carts, so bring a carrier or a stroller for little ones. Seniors 60 and over get $2 off on Mondays.

Host
Magnetic Hill Zoo (opens in a new tab)
Where
Magnetic Hill Zoo, 125 Magic Mountain Rd, Moncton (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Magnetic Hill Zoo (opens in a new tab)

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Santa Claus paradeFree

ROYALE Greater Moncton Santa Claus Parade

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The parade's 2026 page says it starts at 5pm on November 28 and has a Festival of Lights theme. It also says the parade welcomes close to 100,000 people each year. The City of Moncton lists it on Main Street with free admission. Families are asked to bring food items for the food bank and letters for Santa. A local article says the Peter McKee Food Centre collects the donations at the start of the parade. The 2026 route and road closures have not been posted yet.

Parent tip: The 2025 parade started at Main and Cameron Streets and ran a little over an hour, so bring chairs, thermoses and hats and mitts. Floats did not hand out candy last year. Check parademoncton.ca for the 2026 route.

Host
Greater Moncton Santa Claus Parade (opens in a new tab)
Where
Main Street, downtown Moncton (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Greater Moncton Santa Claus Parade (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas marketFree

Aura: A Moncton Holiday Experience

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The City of Moncton lists Aura: A Moncton Holiday Experience on three Thursdays, December 3, 10 and 17, 2026, from 5 to 9pm at the Moncton Market, with free admission. The City's 2024 notice described the event as shopping with local vendors, live entertainment such as outdoor movies, carolers and stage performances, a photo spot, and gift wrapping that supports Crossroads for Women. It also had holiday cocktails and cocktail classes, which are for adults. The 2026 page does not list the program yet.

Parent tip: The 2024 edition had both indoor and outdoor spaces in the Market parking lot, so dress for the cold. Check the City of Moncton page for the 2026 lineup before you go.

Host
City of Moncton (opens in a new tab)
Where
Moncton Market (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with City of Moncton (opens in a new tab)

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Family Christmas event

Nutcracker at the Capitol Theatre

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The Capitol Theatre lists shows on Thursday, December 10 and Friday, December 11 at 7pm, and on Saturday, December 12 and Sunday, December 13 at 2pm and 7pm. The production features special guests from Les Grands Ballets Canadiens and live music by the Tutta Musica Orchestra. Regular tickets are $49 to $59 and tickets for ages 25 and under are $39 to $49. The page says children under two are welcome and need no ticket when seated on an adult's lap. It does not state a minimum age. The page also links to more dates.

Parent tip: Doors open 45 minutes before the 2pm shows and 15 minutes before the 7pm shows, so the matinee is the easier pick for young children.

Host
Academy of Classical Ballet & Modern Dances (opens in a new tab)
Where
Capitol Theatre, 811 Main Street, Moncton (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Academy of Classical Ballet & Modern Dances (opens in a new tab)

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More Christmas events for kids in Canada

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Christmas events for kids in Moncton, New Brunswick: questions parents ask

What are the 2026 Christmas events for kids in Moncton, New Brunswick?

For 2026, we confirmed 6 Christmas events for kids in Moncton, New Brunswick, each on its host’s own page: Nutcracker at the Capitol Theatre (Moncton), Aura: A Moncton Holiday Experience (Moncton), Wild Lights at Magnetic Hill Zoo (Moncton) and 3 more. Each one is listed above with times, cost and a link to the host.

Are there free Christmas events for kids in Moncton, New Brunswick?

Yes, 2 of the 6 events here are free: Aura: A Moncton Holiday Experience (Moncton) and ROYALE Greater Moncton Santa Claus Parade (Moncton). Some free events still ask you to register, so check each listing.

Where can kids see Santa this year in Moncton, New Brunswick?

Where to see Santa: ROYALE Greater Moncton Santa Claus Parade (Moncton). Check the listings above for times and booking.

How do you confirm these events?

We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city, library or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on November 8, 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.

Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.

Christmas events for 2026 are coming in late November

More Christmas events arrive in late November. We add them here as soon as we confirm them.

The story of Christmas in Moncton, New Brunswick

Moncton's Santa Claus Parade started in 1967 and still runs on the fourth Saturday of November, with food bank bins at the front and letters to Santa along the curb. The city's winter season now also has a zoo light trail and a Nutcracker that has been a Moncton holiday tradition since 2011.

A volunteer parade that started in 1967

The Greater Moncton Santa Claus Parade was created in 1967 and is run as a non-profit by volunteers. Three municipalities, Moncton, Dieppe and Riverview, take part along with local businesses and hundreds of community members. It is always held on the fourth Saturday of November.

The Christmas calendar has grown around it. The Nutcracker has been a holiday tradition in Moncton since 2011, and Noël avec Les Muses has run for more than 20 years.

Festival of Lights on Main Street, November 22, 2025

The 2025 parade started at 5pm on Saturday, November 22, with a Festival of Lights theme. It began at Main and Cameron Streets and ran down Main to Paul Street. About 75 entries took a little over an hour to pass.

A food drive started just before the parade, with RCMP members carrying donation bins, and volunteers collected letters to Santa with no stamp needed. Wild Lights ran at Magnetic Hill Zoo from November 28 to December 31 on select dates, and Turner's Christmas at the Coliseum ran November 21 to 23.

Pyjamas under snowsuits and no candy from floats

The parade welcomes close to 100,000 people each year, and some years have had nearly 100 floats. Local parents have a few rules of thumb. Floats do not hand out candy, and sirens and horns are not allowed, though bands are.

One local guide suggests kids wear pyjamas under their snowsuits for the trip home. It also points to the spot near the train bridge over Main Street, called the Subway, for families with early bedtimes. The parade reaches City Hall around 5:30pm. Magnetic Hill Zoo's light trail spreads across 40 acres of grounds.

Traditions today

  • Royale Greater Moncton Santa Claus Parade: The Festival of Lights parade is on Saturday, November 28, 2026, at 5pm on Main Street, with free admission.
  • Food bank bins and letters to Santa: Families bring food items for the food bank, and letters to Santa are collected along the route.
  • Wild Lights at Magnetic Hill Zoo: The zoo's light trail runs on select evenings from November 27, 2026 to January 2, 2027, with doors at 5pm.
  • The Nutcracker at the Capitol Theatre: The Academy of Classical Ballet & Modern Dances performs December 10 to 13, 2026, with a live orchestra.
  • Aura at the Moncton Market: A free holiday evening runs on Thursdays, December 3, 10 and 17, 2026, from 5 to 9pm.
  • Turner's Christmas at the Coliseum: The 39th annual craft show runs November 27 to 29, 2026, and children 12 and under are free.

A fact for kids

Moncton's Santa Claus Parade has been going since 1967, and the floats do not hand out candy, so bring a thermos of something warm for the wait.

Questions about Christmas in Moncton, New Brunswick

When is the Moncton Santa Claus Parade in 2026?

The Royale Greater Moncton Santa Claus Parade is on Saturday, November 28, 2026, at 5pm on Main Street in downtown Moncton. The City of Moncton lists free admission, and the parade's own site names the Festival of Lights as the 2026 theme. The parade is always held on the fourth Saturday of November.

What time did the 2025 Moncton parade start and how long did it last?

The 2025 parade started at 5pm on Saturday, November 22. About 75 entries took a little over an hour to pass, from the first walkers to the final float with Santa. The parade reached City Hall around 5:30pm, so plan for roughly an hour of standing in the cold.

What route did the Moncton parade take last year?

In 2025 the parade started at the corner of Main and Cameron Streets and ran down Main Street to Paul Street. Santa does not travel side streets, so families watched from Main Street between Cameron and Paul. The 2026 route had not been posted when this was researched.

Does the Moncton Santa Claus Parade cost anything?

No. The City of Moncton lists the 2026 parade as free admission. Families are asked to bring food items for the food bank and letters to Santa. A local article says the Peter McKee Food Centre receives the donations at the start of the parade.

When did Moncton's Santa Claus Parade begin?

A local parade guide says the parade was created in 1967. It is a non-profit run by volunteers, with three municipalities, local businesses and hundreds of community members taking part. Some years have had nearly 100 float entries and tens of thousands of spectators.

How many people watch the Greater Moncton parade?

The parade's own website says it welcomes close to 100,000 people each year. A local guide adds that some years have had nearly 100 float entries, while an average year has about 75 entries. The parade runs a little over an hour.

Do the floats in the Moncton parade throw candy?

No. A local guide says the entries do not hand out treats, so families should not expect candy from floats. Sirens and horns are not allowed either, though bands and music are. Bring your own snacks and a thermos with a warm drink for the wait.

Where should families with young children stand for the Moncton parade?

A local guide suggests the spot near the train bridge over Main Street, called the Subway, close to the start of the route, for families with early bedtimes. It also recommends a spot near a public washroom. Champlain Place is good for parking and dinner but busier at the end.

What should kids wear to the Moncton Santa Claus Parade?

A local guide recommends hats, mitts and warm layers because you stand in one place for a while. It suggests dressing kids in pyjamas under their snowsuits for the trip home. Glow sticks, a camping chair or blanket and snacks also help with the wait.

How do kids send a letter to Santa at the Moncton parade?

The parade collects letters to Santa. A local guide says volunteers pick them up along the route and that no postage is needed. The parade's website also asks families to bring their letters for Santa along with food items for the food bank.

What are the Wild Lights at Magnetic Hill Zoo?

Wild Lights turns the zoo into a winter light trail, with thousands of twinkling lights across the zoo's 40-acre grounds, according to Tourism New Brunswick. In 2026 it runs on select evenings from November 27 to January 2, 2027, with doors at 5pm and a bonfire until 9pm.

What are the Wild Lights hours and rules at the zoo?

Doors open at 5pm, the last entrance is 8:30pm and guests must leave by 9:30pm. Dogs are not allowed, though trained service dogs are. The zoo says it has no wheelchairs or toddler carts, so bring your own carrier or stroller if your child needs one.

How much did Wild Lights cost in 2025?

A Moncton events guide listed Wild Lights tickets at $14 in 2025, with select dates from November 28 to December 31. The zoo's 2026 page does not list prices yet because it is updating its ticketing system, so check the zoo's Tickets page before you go.

Is there a Nutcracker in Moncton in 2026?

Yes. The Academy of Classical Ballet & Modern Dances performs the Nutcracker at the Capitol Theatre on December 10, 11, 12 and 13, 2026, with matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 2pm. The show includes guests from Les Grands Ballets Canadiens and the Tutta Musica Orchestra playing live.

Can toddlers go to the Moncton Nutcracker?

The Capitol Theatre says children under two are welcome and need no ticket if they sit on an adult's lap. It does not state a minimum age. Doors open 45 minutes before the 2pm shows, so the matinee is the easier choice for young children.

What is Aura at the Moncton Market?

Aura: A Moncton Holiday Experience is a free City of Moncton event on Thursdays, December 3, 10 and 17, 2026, from 5 to 9pm at the Moncton Market. The 2024 edition had local vendors, outdoor movies, carolers, stage performances and gift wrapping that supported Crossroads for Women.

Is there a Christmas craft show in Moncton for families?

Turner's Christmas at the Coliseum is the 39th annual show, on November 27, 28 and 29, 2026, at the Moncton Coliseum Complex, 377 Killam Drive. Adults pay $8, seniors and military pay $7 and children 12 and under are free. One stamped ticket works for all three days.

Where can I find Christmas concerts for kids in Moncton?

The Capitol Theatre at 811 Main Street hosts several holiday shows, including a live jazz performance of the Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack on November 21, 2026. Tickets and ages vary by show, so check each page.

Where can kids see Christmas lights in Moncton?

Magnetic Hill Zoo's Wild Lights is the main walk-through display, on select evenings from November 27, 2026 to January 2, 2027. In nearby Riverview, a local guide listed Light Up Riverview as a free display that ran from November 20, 2025 to January 4, 2026.

What is the best way to plan Christmas with kids in Moncton?

Start with the November 28 parade, then add Wild Lights on a weekend evening and a Thursday at Aura in December. Rally Takes the Train's Moncton Christmas events guide lists the 2026 dates and prices for each outing so you can pick the ones that fit your family.

Sources

  1. Events, City of Moncton
  2. Calendar of Events, City of Moncton
  3. 2026 Royale Greater Moncton Santa Claus Parade, Greater Moncton Santa Claus Parade
  4. Royale Greater Moncton Santa Claus Parade Is This Month, Your Greater Moncton
  5. Pickle Planet's Guide to the Royale Greater Moncton Santa Claus Parade, Pickle Planet Moncton
  6. 2025 Christmas & Holiday Activities in and Around Moncton, TodoCanada
  7. Wild Lights, Magnetic Hill Zoo
  8. Nutcracker 2026, Capitol Theatre
  9. Turner's Christmas at the Coliseum, Turner's Christmas
  10. Experience Holiday Magic at Aura: A Moncton Holiday Experience, City of Moncton
  11. Wild Lights at Magnetic Hill Zoo, Tourism New Brunswick
  12. Tales of Charlie Brown Christmas, Capitol Theatre
Kelsey Cecil
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