by Brenda Spiering
I hear it all the time. Winter just isn’t the same as when we were kids. The snow isn’t as deep. Or as white. You can no longer skate on the lake – or the creek. But there’s one place where winter rarely disappoints. If you’re looking to escape back into the winter of your childhood, there’s no better place than Moncton, New Brunswick.
Moncton is consistently ranked among Canada’s snowiest cities, with an average annual snowfall of approximately 285 cm. And with winter extending from early December to mid-March, residents have come to embrace the season with plenty of outdoor fun.
Most of us think of New Brunswick as a summer destination, which is true. It’s got some of the best sandy beaches and lobster suppers on the planet. (If you’ve never been, I would suggest a summer visit first.) But summer is only half the picture. Visit New Brunswick in the winter and you’ll discover an incredible winter wonderland.
Indeed, Moncton’s annual February PolarFest is starting to rival the Quebec Winter Carnival for family friendly fun. Located in Moncton’s Centennial Park, it offers free horse-drawn wagon rides, a skating trail, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, ice-sculpting and much more.
This year, the City of Moncton also partnered with Barbegazi, an extreme winter sports festival, to incorporate the thrill of a snowmobile stunt show. Crowds could gather along a closed-off stretch of Moncton’s downtown Main Street to watch the seemingly impossible. International snowmobile competitors jumped, soared and flipped their machines high into the sky.
Alongside the action was an outdoor skating rink featuring a stage with live music and booths selling local craft beer, delicious Maritime donairs (a popular East Coast street food featuring spiced beef, tomatoes, onions and sweet sauce served on a pita) and more.
If you visited Moncton many years ago, all this may come as a surprise. After a period of industry decline in the 1970s and ’80s, Moncton is currently experienced a resurgence. While still maintaining a small-town vibe, with a current population of over 100,000, it’s now become one of Canada’s fastest growing cities. This is evident in the renewal of its downtown core and waterfront, where a must-see for tourists is its famous Petitcodiac River tidal bore.
The tidal bore is a giant wave which, twice a day, pushes back against the river’s current. It’s an unusual phenomenon caused by the huge downstream tides that push into the Bay of Fundy.
Along with its physical attractions, New Brunswick also prides itself on having a vibrant live music scene. Local brew pubs such as the cozy Pump House Brewery offer award-winning craft beer and incredible nightly entertainment ranging from rock to jazz to country.
While Moncton may not be top of mind when it comes to winter vacation destinations, that’s part of its appeal. We encountered no lineups, no cover charges, easy local parking, beautiful ski, hiking and skating trails and super-friendly people. It’s already in our calendar for next year.
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