Spring Events and Destinations in Metro Moncton region 2010
by Heather Ferguson
Winter weary area residents are anxious to shake off the blues and look forward to spring! Avid gardeners are already poring over Vesey’s Seed catalogues in preparation for the planting season; would-be DIY’ers are gearing up to complete projects in and around the house; and recreational drivers are tuning up motorcycles, bicycles, ATV’s and RV’s in anticipation of hitting the open road. Yes! Spring beckons in the Greater Moncton Area!
Almost as soon as March arrives, spring breaks through with the Moncton RV Show at the Moncton Coliseum from Friday, March 6 to 7. A Master Promotions production, this popular event gets everyone thinking ahead to the halcyon days of summer on the road!
Next, the Fish Canada/Workboat Canada Show from March 18 to 20 and the popular Moncton Boat Show from March 26 to 28 will attract the water sports and angling enthusiasts. In April, the Atlantic Heavy Equipment Show will run from the 8th to the 9th and is geared toward businesses that utilize industrial and farm equipment.
April means crocuses, daffodils, and Easter! A popular family event is the Magnetic Hill Zoo Easter Egg Extravaganza which will take place on April 3rd from 10 am to 3 pm. Treat bags, candy hunts, magic, face-painting, movies, a BBQ, real animal displays, and, of course, the Easter Bunny will all be on hand. Call 877-7722 or e-mail cathy@mhzooeducation.com for more information. The Thomas Williams House also entertains children at Easter with International Easter Expedition on Friday 2nd April.
An annual rite of spring is the Moncton Home Show! Sponsored by the Greater Moncton Home Builders Association, this popular event ushers in the season of renewal as homeowners, contractors, and project enthusiasts gather to exchange ideas and explore the latest trends and technologies in home building, landscaping, and renovation. Featuring over 250 participating vendors and displays each year, this is a highly popular show with sold-out attendance each year. This year, the Home Show is slated for March 12 to 14. Don’t miss it! This show is quickly followed by the Joie de Vivre Moncton (Kiwanis Lifestyle Show), celebrating its 36th year this season. The oldest show of its kind in Moncton, it is slated for April 16 to 18 at the Moncton Coliseum.
This year marks the 40th Annual International Earth Day which will be celebrated in Moncton at the Marché Moncton Market on Sunday, April 18. There will be an art exhibit, face painting, magic tricks, clowns, a Mi’kmaq First Nations Ceremony, live music, and a buffet. Bring the whole family! In accordance with these Earth Day celebrations, the Town of Riverview will join in Earth Hour by switching off all lights at 8:30 pm on Saturday, March 27. Also, on Thursday, April 22, area residents are encouraged to help create “A Billion Acts of Green” by entering their “green” acts at www.earthday.net/initiative thereby becoming a member of “The Green Generation” movement. Love “green”? Be sure to attend the Apple Blossom Festival in April at Belliveau Orchards in Pré-d’en-Haut. Contact Belliveau Orchards at (506) 758-2325 for an exact time and date.
And speaking of the fruits of nature, it’s maple syrup time in New Brunswick! There are numerous locations where one can experience the syrup run and sugaring off. The Trites Family Sugar Bush at 326 Briggs Cross Road in Stilesville opens each spring for family outings, church and school groups, and interested individuals. Their Pancake House is a treat. Call 384-4880 for hours of operation. Similarly, James and Brenda Martin of 29 Gowland Mountain Road in Elgin run The Candy Shack with superb products that they also sell at the Marché Moncton Market. Just a fraction of the dealers in maple products, these local maple sugar afficionados represent the passion New Brunswickers hold for their natural resources. Local communities all have maple-related Pancake Breakfasts, etc. at local churches and community halls, and the Town of Riverview has its Annual Maple Sugar Festival which will take place on the weekend of March 27 and 28.
In a literary frame of mind? Spring is a great time to catch up on some reading. Of course, the Northrop Frye Festival comes to Moncton from April 19 to 25 with workshops, visiting authors, and school presentations all focused on the joys of the written word! A great advocate for literacy, this festival will have venues throughout the city.
A thrilling series takes place this spring at the Capitol Theatre, the Moncton Coliseum, and the Riverview Arts Centre! A unique mix of genres means there’s something for everyone! Highlights are The Harlem Globetrotters on March 23 at the Moncton Coliseum, Gordon Lightfoot on April 3, Hedley on April 15, and the ever popular Speed Sport Car Show on April 23 to 25 – all at the Moncton Coliseum.
At the Capitol Theatre Symphony NB’s Mendelssohn’s “Reformation” on March 29, Classic Albums Live’s “Beatles White Album” on April 7, the Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada’s “Romeo and Juliet” on April 15 And Jesse Cook on April 23 are just a few of the featured highlights.
The Riverview Arts Centre will feature “Legends of Country Music” on March 6, “Call of the Kells” on March 12, Thom Swift on March 25, The McDades on March 27, the RAC play, “Trouble in Eden’s Paradise” on April 23 and the 22nd Annual Super Fiddle Show on May 8. These are just a sampling of events at these venues. The Moncton Community Calendar has more!
Spring is a season of transition. As we awake out of winter’s hibernation and look forward to a new season, we can truly appreciate the sheer variety our region has to offer in both natural attractions and cultural elements. Whether we look forward to the Golf Atlantic Expo, The Pollett River Run or to the May 1 opening of Fundy Park, spring offers its magic to us all! Enjoy!
