August Fun In New Brunswick

August is a great time to visit New Brunswick, Canada, with plenty of events and activities to keep everyone entertained. From cultural celebrations to natural wonders, here are some highlights of what you can do and see during this vibrant summer month.

One of the biggest events in the province's calendar, New Brunswick Day, takes place on the first Monday of August. This year, the official celebrations will be held in Fredericton, the province's capital, with entertainment and activities for all ages. It's a chance for the community to come together and celebrate with music, food and fireworks.

Throughout the month, New Brunswick showcases its cultural diversity with a range of festivals. The Festival Acadien de Caraquet, one of the largest Acadian attractions, features performances from over 400 artists, while the Miramichi Folksong Festival celebrates traditional and contemporary music with songs, dances, concerts and workshops. For something more contemporary, the New Brunswick Summer Music Festival in Fredericton presents some of the best musicians in Canada, along with emerging artists.

Nature lovers will be spoilt for choice in August. The Bay of Fundy, with its remarkable tides, is a must-visit destination. You can walk on the ocean floor at Hopewell Rocks, explore sea caves at St. Martins, or kayak among the unique rock formations. For a relaxing beach day, Parlee Beach offers warm waters and clean sand, perfect for families.

If you're looking for more outdoor adventures, Kouchibouguac National Park provides a great setting for hiking and camping. The province is also home to numerous golf courses, such as the scenic Algonquin Golf Course by the sea. For a unique natural phenomenon, head to Magnetic Hill in Moncton, where you'll experience the illusion of your car rolling uphill.

With its vibrant cities, picturesque coastlines and stunning natural wonders, New Brunswick offers a diverse range of experiences in August, making it an ideal summer destination.

Celebrate New Brunswick Day

New Brunswick Day is a time for people to come together and celebrate the province. This year, the official celebrations will be held in Fredericton, with events taking place across the city. Here are some ideas for how to celebrate New Brunswick Day:

Official New Brunswick Day Celebrations in Fredericton

Head to Fredericton for a day filled with entertainment and fun activities for all. This free, inclusive event will take place rain or shine. Queen Street will be closed to traffic, so bring your lawn chairs and spend the day. The celebrations will start at noon and end with a fireworks display at 9:45 pm launched from the Westmorland Street Bridge.

New Brunswick Day Celebrations in Other Locations

There are also New Brunswick Day celebrations taking place across the province:

• O'Connell Park, Sussex: Enjoy a BBQ, games, face painting, and great music.
• Youghall Beach Park, Bathurst: Live performances, face painting, inflatables, and food and candy trucks.
• Arts and Culture Park, Quispamsis: Live music, giant games, and a David Wallace walk and talk.
• Beresford Beach, Chaleur Region: Ceremonies followed by music with the BIG BAD PARTY BAND!

Festivals and Events During New Brunswick Weekend

There are also several festivals and events taking place during New Brunswick Weekend:

• AREA 506 in Saint John: A celebration of New Brunswick music, culture, and goods on the waterfront.
• Good Friend Festival in Dalhousie: The largest festival in Dalhousie, with a beach party, market days, parade, beauty pageant, dances, sporting events, restaurant specials, and fireworks.
• Tracadie Aquafest in Tracadie: A 10-day festival with rock music performances, family activities, fireworks, and more.
• Campobello Fogfest on Campobello Island: A music and arts festival with a range of music, from classical and gospel to bluegrass, folk, rock, and country.

So, whether you're in Fredericton or exploring another part of the province, there are plenty of ways to celebrate New Brunswick Day and enjoy all that the province has to offer!

Explore the Bay of Fundy

The Bay of Fundy, nestled between the provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, is a place of primal beauty, framed by a rugged coastline, windblown headlands, mist-bound forests, and hidden caves. Here are some ways to explore this natural wonder:

Walk the Ocean Bed

The Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick offers a dramatic illustration of the power of Fundy's tides. At low tide, descend to the ocean bed and explore the rust-hued sandstone pinnacles, known as "flowerpot rocks," that rise majestically from the shore. These formations, shaped over millennia by melting glaciers, stand tall like trees, with vegetation sprouting from their tops. As the tides rise, these rocks transform into tiny islands, navigable only by kayak. The Hopewell Rocks are best experienced at both low and high tide to appreciate the magnitude of the tidal phenomenon.

Ride the Tidal Bore

Twice a day, the Bay of Fundy's incoming tide forms a tidal wave that rages upstream, temporarily reversing the flow. This phenomenon is a thrill for expert surfers, who ride the bore during supermoons when the wave can reach up to 2 metres. Bore Park in Moncton, New Brunswick, provides an excellent vantage point to witness this spectacle. For an even bigger thrill, head to Truro in Nova Scotia for bore rafting tours on the Shubenacadie River, where you'll be drenched by the crashing waves.

Hike the Fundy Footpath

The Fundy Footpath is a spectacular yet challenging hike that traverses immense sea cliffs, steep ravines, and narrow paths. It's a brutal test of endurance, with wild camping along the way. The complexities of the Bay of Fundy's tides add an extra layer of adventure, as streams transform into raging rivers, and hikers find themselves wading through crystal-clear pools. It's a rewarding experience, offering stunning views of ancient rocks and pristine forests.

Watch Wildlife at Grand Manan Island

Grand Manan Island, located at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy, is a rugged wildlife hotspot with imposing sea cliffs and island-wide hiking trails. It attracts a diverse array of bird species, including puffins, gannets, guillemots, and kittiwakes. Sea Watch Tours offers trips to Machias Seal Island, the region's premier site for puffin viewing. Grand Manan Island is also a haven for whale species such as humpback, minke, and North Atlantic right whales, along with harbour porpoises and seals.

Discover 300-Million-Year-Old Fossils

The Joggins Fossil Cliffs in Nova Scotia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, boasting the world's most complete fossil record of early life. With its sea cliffs, rock platforms, and the remains of ancient ecosystems, Joggins offers a glimpse into a world 300 million years ago. Take a guided tour along the shoreline with the Fundy Geological Museum to uncover the remains and tracks of pre-dinosaur animals. Remember, collecting fossils requires a permit from the government of Nova Scotia.

Adventure at Cape Enrage

Cape Enrage, jutting into the uppermost area of the Bay of Fundy, offers breathtaking views of the tides and a host of adventurous activities. Try zip-lining, abseiling, or tackling tough obstacle courses. Cape Enrage also boasts wilderness beaches, shipwrecks, and the original 1848 lighthouse, now home to a restaurant and information centre.

Dine on the Ocean Floor

For a unique culinary experience, join restaurateur Chris Velden at Burncoat Head Park for "Dining on the Ocean Floor." This exclusive event, held a few times each summer, challenges chefs to create a gourmet feast as the tide dictates when diners must vacate their tables. Sourcing local ingredients, Velden crafts a menu featuring organic cheese, pasture-raised beef, and juicy lobster tails, paired with local ale and wine. As the sun sets and the tide rolls in, guests retreat to the safety of the cliffs, leaving no trace of their culinary adventure.

Visit the Magnetic Hill

The Magnetic Hill in Moncton, New Brunswick, is a Canadian gravity hill, a type of optical illusion created by rising and descending terrain. It is one of the city's prime tourist attractions and has been puzzling visitors for decades.

History

The Magnetic Hill is located at the base of a ridge named "Lutes Mountain", which rises several hundred feet above the surrounding Petitcodiac River valley. The Magnetic Hill is now a historic property.

In the 1930s, a young woman named Muriel Lutes (Sikorski), who lived nearby, named the site and started selling ice cream and souvenirs to visitors. By the 1950s, Magnetic Hill was Canada's third most popular tourist destination, after Niagara Falls and Banff National Park.

To experience the magnetic hill phenomenon, drive to the bottom of the hill, shift your car into neutral, and watch as your car rolls uphill in defiance of natural laws. This illusion has been puzzling visitors since the early 1800s.

While in the area, you can visit the Magnetic Hill Wharf Village for treats and handmade souvenirs, the Magic Mountain Amusement Park for rides and games, and the Magnetic Hill Winery, an award-winning winery on a 19th-century historic site overlooking the city. You can also relax at the USVA Spa Nordik, a thermal spa experience near the winery and just minutes from downtown Moncton.

Practical Information

The Magnetic Hill Park is open from May to October, 8 am to 7 pm. It costs $5 to enter the park. The hill is located at Exit 450 on the Trans-Canada Highway (Route 2), about 15 minutes from downtown Moncton.

Tour a food factory

If you're looking for a food factory to tour in New Brunswick in August, you're in luck! The Covered Bridge Potato Chip Factory in New Brunswick offers tours where you can witness how Russet potatoes are turned into delicious, Maritime-favourite Covered Bridge Potato Chips. You'll also learn about the history of agriculture in the province. Don't forget to stop by the gift shop, where you can choose from over 30 flavours of chips to take home with you.

If you're a chocolate lover, you might want to head to St. Stephen, also known as "Canada's Chocolate Town", for their annual Chocolate Fest. While not exactly a food factory tour, you'll get to indulge in chocolate-themed meals, candy treasure hunts, and other chocolate-themed activities. You can also visit The Chocolate Museum, which offers free samples, and the chocolatier.

Go bird-watching

New Brunswick is a birdwatcher's paradise, with over 1,000 species recorded in the province. The best time to go birdwatching in New Brunswick is during the summer months, particularly in August. Here are some places and tips to go birdwatching in New Brunswick:

Mary's Point, Bay of Fundy, and the Coast

The Bay of Fundy, including Mary's Point, is a great spot for birdwatching, offering a variety of habitats such as coastal marshes and cliffs. The coast of New Brunswick is a great place to spot seabirds and shorebirds. Keep an eye out for the rare puffins, which can be seen on Machias Seal Island during the summer. Other great spots along the coast include Castalia Marsh and Grand Manan Island, which is known for its volcanic cliffs and nesting pelagic birds.

Miramichi River

The Miramichi River is a popular spot for birdwatching, especially during the Miramichi Folksong Festival, which takes place in August. This festival celebrates the rich cultural and musical heritage of the region, including its connection to nature. The river and its surrounding areas provide a diverse range of habitats for birds, making it an excellent birdwatching destination.

Fredericton

Fredericton, the capital city of New Brunswick, offers a variety of birdwatching opportunities. The city is located on the Saint John River and has a mix of urban and natural areas. The Beaverbrook Art Gallery, located in the heart of the city, is a great place to start, as it offers a chance to spot some bird species while also enjoying the art. The city also hosts the Fredericton Boyce Farmers Market, which is recognised as one of the top community markets in Canada. This market attracts a variety of bird species with its diverse range of local produce and products.

Sussex

Sussex, known for its annual flea market, is another great destination for birdwatchers. The Sussex Drive-in Theatre, the only drive-in theatre in Southern New Brunswick, is a unique spot to enjoy a movie and do some birdwatching at the same time. The surrounding area offers a mix of natural habitats, including forests and marshes, that attract a variety of bird species.

Kouchibouguac National Park

Kouchibouguac National Park, stretching along the Acadian Coast, is a dark sky ocean paradise known for its golden sand dunes and nature trails. The park offers a variety of habitats, including forests, marshes, and beaches, making it an excellent spot for birdwatching. The park also provides opportunities for other nature-based activities, such as stargazing and exploring the Acadian culture.

Birdwatching Tips

• Bring a good pair of binoculars and a field guide to help identify the birds you spot.
• Dress appropriately for the weather and the terrain, including comfortable walking shoes.
• Be patient, quiet, and observant when birdwatching.
• Respect the birds and their habitats by maintaining a safe distance and avoiding any disruptive behaviour.

Frequently asked questions