Moncton 
Put New Brunswick on your holiday radar this year, and you’ll find the province packed with ways to make the season feel special.
Riverview Lights/Credit: Town of Riverview
No matter what your ideal Christmas and holiday vacation looks like, there are several different ideas listed here, with something for all ages and interests.
This includes all the festive Christmas celebrations and events around New Brunswick, like markets, shows, or light displays, as well as plenty of outdoor recreation in the snow.
Plus, there are dozens of ways to plan a Christmas break getaway solely focused on rest, relaxation, or escape.
Fredericton during the Holidays
Take your holiday getaway in New Brunswick to the province’s capital city and enjoy an abundance of holiday and family-friendly fun! This includes indoor and outdoor activities, recreation, Christmas events or shows, and great local shopping in downtown Fredericton. And as a major city, there are certainly a great deal of hotel and motel options for the holidays.
- Get tickets with the Fredericton Playhouse for this season’s holiday shows! These include Home for Christmas by various local singers (December 19 – 21), or Cinderella by DuffleBag Theatre (December 27).
- Christmas at the King’s Head Inn includes special dining events in as late as December 21. Plus, the village is all aglow during the holiday season.
- Take advantage of the many natural pond skating opportunities around Fredericton during the break! The city has eight different natural skating areas, including Queen’s Square, Odell Park, Killarney Lake Park, Lincoln Heights Park, Islandview Park, Henry Park, Downing St. Park, and Carleton Park.
- Two of those parks listed above, Odell and Killarney Lake, are also home to groomed cross-country ski trails.
- Weather-dependent, there are other ways to explore the city’s outdoors this holiday break, including a public art tour. A great portion of the tour follows the Riverfront Trail.
- The city of Fredericton has several great options for holiday accommodations. Choose the charm of B&Bs and inns like the Red House, The Carriage House Inn, or the Quartermain House B&B.
Moncton during the Holidays
Exploring the city of Moncton in southeastern New Brunswick this holiday season may also mean the chance to explore several other towns or communities in the area. Moncton is on the north bank of the Petitcodiac River, which serves as a dividing line between the towns to the south, such as Riverview and Dieppe.
- The Moncton arts scene is busy over the holidays with shows at the Capitol Theatre!
- The town of Riverview is south of Moncton and on the opposite side of the Petitcodiac River. It is home to the annual Light Up Riverview event which features holiday and festive light displays around town and the trails.
- Embrace even more holiday magic with the family-friendly Wild Lights event from the Magnetic Hill Zoo (until January 3, 2026).
- Two popular spots in Moncton for outdoor ice skating include the Ian Fowler Oval at the Avenir Centre, the rink at Centennial Park, Mapleton Park, and Victoria Park! Find more great skating opportunities to the south in Dieppe or Riverview.
- Slow down the winter recreation with a visit to the Irishtown Nature Park on the north end of the city. The nature park offers waterfront and forested trails for winter walking.
Holiday and Winter Glamping in New Brunswick
There are several ways to enjoy winter camping and glamping in New Brunswick’s chillier months. And there are still luxurious hideaways with rentals available for the week of Christmas or New Year’s Eve.
- The Estrella Glamping resort in Village-Blanchard have open availability for certain days over the holiday break! And while the campsites are inland, the east coast is only a short drive from Estrella.
- The incredible and luxurious dome glamping opportunities with Irontree Glamping are available on select dates over the Christmas 2025 break. The campsite is a short drive north of Moncton.
- Take your stay to the water’s edge this Christmas break with the luxury dome glamping available with Old Church Cottages. This is a great option for couples, too, as the resorts are adults-only.
- Luxury dome glamping is still available with Quisibis Domes this holiday season. The dome sites are in Riviere-Verte near Edmundston.
Outdoor Adventure Holiday Getaway Ideas
There are many chances for outdoor adventures this holiday or Christmas break in New Brunswick, no matter your preferred type of winter recreation! (weather dependent)
Canada Strong Pass (December 12, 2025, to January 15, 2026) offers free admission to Parks Canada’s national parks, historic sites, and marine conservation areas.
- Plan for a Christmas trip to the groomed cross-country ski trails of some of the province’s most scenic parks. Groomed trails are open in the winter at Fundy and Kouchibouguac National Parks, and Sugarloaf, Mactaquac, and Mount Carleton provincial parks.
- Either of the National Parks offers a great deal of other activities. At Fundy National Park, visitors can also enjoy skating, fat biking, winter hiking, snowshoeing, camping, glamping, and tobogganing.
- And Kouchibouguac National Park has many snowshoeing areas, beautiful winter hiking trails, fat biking, and backcountry winter camping.
A Ski & Snowboard Holiday Getaway
New Brunswick is home to four major ski hills and resorts. Pick one for a memorable family getaway on the slopes and surrounded by gorgeous winter scenery.
- Crabbe Mountain in Central Hainsville provide a Ski & Stay Package with the Delta Fredericton.
- The Mont Farlagne Outdoor Centre is a downhill ski area with several hotels within a 10-15 minute drive from the hill. A special ski-and-stay offer is also available at the nearby Four Points by Sheraton in Edmundston.
- Poley Mountain Resorts in Waterford offers great runs, terrain, and views of the surrounding areas from the top of the mountain. Rentals are also available from the resort. The resort is relatively close to both Moncton and Fredericton.
- Sugarloaf Provincial Park Ski Hill provides a few of the many winter activities available in the park. In addition to downhill skiing or snowboarding, Surgarloaf also offers winter camping and groomed cross-country ski trails.
Holiday Spa Getaways
These spas and spa resorts within New Brunswick can offer you one of the best gifts to give yourself during the winter break: R&R!
- The Hope-Wellness Eco Resort in Edgetts Landing have open availability for New Year’s Eve. What better way to ring in the new year than with a soak in the hotel’s Nordic Lounge and with a bottle of bubbly?
- A post-Christmas soak might be one of the best ways to unwind between the holiday and New Year’s. And, the KOV SPA, near Saint Andrews, provide a few ways to do so, including a special New Year’s Eve event.
- Those visiting Moncton for the holiday 2025 break can take advantage of the treatments available from Usva, right in the heart of the city. The spa offers thermal experiences, hair and body treatments, and a café.
Holidays in New Brunswick’s Small Towns
Whether you take your Christmas trip to the coast, the Bay of Fundy, or the northern inland parts of the province, there are festive celebrations and outdoor winter fun in ever corner of New Brunswick! The holiday break could be a great opportunity to explore the smaller towns, villages, and communities along the highways where there is more local shopping, dining, or history to uncover.
- The Acadian Peninsula makes up the northeastern part of New Brunswick, with several different towns to visit along the coast. Notable places to stay during the holidays and the week of Christmas include Bathurst, Caraquet, Shippagan, Neguac, or Miscou Island.
- Take in a variety of family-friendly fun from the Algonquin Resort in St. Andrews. Guests and the general public can take advantage of the hotel’s Christmas Eve Dinner, Christmas Day Feast, New Year’s Eve Celebration, or New Year’s Day Brunch. Plus, the resort is offering special holiday stay packages for 2025. St. Andrews has several other accommodation options, a bustling restaurant scene, and beautiful seaside scenery.
- Campbellton is a northern New Brunswick town considered by many to be a basecamp for outdoor fun. The border town is on the Chaleur Bay and Quebec border, offering chances to see the rural parts of both provinces. There are also several interesting places to stay in the area, from inns to historic houses or bed and breakfasts. The Sugarloaf Ski Hill provides plenty of winter recreation, while a quiet winter walk is a great way to get to know the town and local history.
- The southeast corner of New Brunswick is a perfect place to explore for any foodies out on holiday. Towns like Shediac and Sackville are home to some of Canada’s top seafood dishes and restaurants, while Shediac also has the festive Giant Lobster. Both locations are also home to numerous accommodations like cabins, cottages, B&Bs, or private rentals.
The Holidays in Saint John
Saint John is one of the best places to visit this holiday season while also experiencing the Bay of Fundy in winter. Take in the Fundy views from the city’s many seaside trails and parks or explore with skis and snowshoes. The city fully embraces the magic of Christmas with indoor and outdoor events or celebrations.
- Rockwood Park in Saint John is one of the best spots for cross-country skiing or snowshoeing with groomed trails, and rentals available nearby at the Lily Lake Pavillion. Skating and winter hiking are also available within Rockwood, one of Canada’s largest urban parks! Aside from Rockwood Park, more natural areas to explore include Reversing Falls and Wolastoq Park
- Uptown Saint John is filled with local history to explore, excellent local dining opportunities, and will be home to the city’s annual Gingerbread Trail. The Trail is a display of elaborate gingerbread houses in the windows of local businesses.
- For those interested in more of the city’s history, there are many ways to get out and see the most intriguing of those sights.
- Find a perfect place to stay overlooking the Bay of Fundy or the riverbanks of Saint John. Waterfront options include places like Hilton Saint John, Crowne Plaza Saint John Harbour, or Tanner’s Home Inn.
