A long weekend out east from Ottawa, a work trip with a free afternoon, or a stop on a bigger Maritimes drive: however you land in New Brunswick, the first question is the same. You want history without stuffiness, trails that start inside city limits and a taproom that feels local. Fredericton packs all three into a walkable core.
Our guide to what to do in Fredericton New Brunswick covers 16 picks, updated for 2026 and built from verified details on hours, prices and access. We weighed history, outdoor space, food and nightlife so the list works for families, couples and anyone mapping things to do in Fredericton New Brunswick for the first time. Start with the quick picks, then read on for the full list of Fredericton activities.
In This Guide
- Quick picks: what to do in Fredericton and top Fredericton attractions at a glance
- The best things to do in Fredericton right now: Fredericton tourist attractions, activities and places to visit
- Tips for planning days in Fredericton and Fredericton tourism worth knowing
- Frequently asked questions about what to do in Fredericton
- More Ottawa guides worth exploring
Quick picks: what to do in Fredericton and top Fredericton attractions at a glance
Short on time? These five Fredericton attractions answer what to do in Fredericton Canada visitors ask about first.
1. Fredericton Boyce Farmers Market
A Saturday market since 1951, famous for fresh-squeezed orange juice and samosas. Downtown. Cheap.
2. Odell Park & Odell Arboretum
A 333-acre old growth forest with 400-year-old hemlocks and 16 km of trails. Odell. Free.
3. Legislative Assembly Building
An 1882 seat of government with a self-supporting spiral staircase and free summer tours. Downtown. Free.
4. Beaverbrook Art Gallery
A riverside gallery now showing a new Kent Monkman work. Downtown. Cheap.
5. Killarney Lake Park
A 645-hectare park with 30-plus km of trails and a swimming beach, under 10 minutes from downtown. Northside. Free.
The best things to do in Fredericton right now: Fredericton tourist attractions, activities and places to visit
Every pick below delivers the intro’s promise of history, trails and local flavour, and together they make up the best places to visit in Fredericton in any season. Expect Fredericton tourist attractions first, then the stages, taprooms and markets that round out a visit.
1. Fredericton Boyce Farmers Market
A Saturday market running since 1951 where the local ritual is fresh-squeezed orange juice and samosas. Destination Canada voted it one of the top 10 markets in the country, and the city’s original and largest market fills inside and out with farmers, maple syrup producers, artisans and coffee roasters. Picnic tables let you eat on site, and Tourism Fredericton notes fall harvest is when regional markets are at their fullest, which makes this one of the best things to do on a Saturday morning.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: Fresh-squeezed orange juice and samosas every Saturday
📍 Location: Fredericton Boyce Farmers Market, Downtown, 665 George St, Fredericton, NB E3B 1K4
⭐ Vibe: Family, group, kid-friendly
2. Odell Park & Odell Arboretum
A 333-acre old growth forest inside city limits with hemlocks over 400 years old and a trail through every tree species native to the province. The park holds 16 km of trails, 420 hemlocks older than 400 years and a 2.8 km arboretum trail with 41 sites built in 1985, with the Fredericton Botanic Gardens on its upper edge. A waterfowl pond, playground, disc golf, winter rink, sliding hill and groomed ski trails make it one of the most versatile free spots within Fredericton city limits.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: 400-year-old hemlocks inside city limits
📍 Location: Odell Park, Odell, 350 Rookwood Ave, Fredericton, NB E3B 2M6
⭐ Vibe: Outdoor, family-friendly, dog-friendly
3. Legislative Assembly Building
A towering self-supporting spiral staircase rises to a legislative library laid out like a Roman basilica, inside a sandstone Second Empire building from 1882. New Brunswick’s seat of government since 1882 has a 41-metre domed tower, Irish crystal chandeliers and a steep public balcony over the chamber. In summer, free 30 to 40 minute guided tours run every half hour from 8:30 am to 4 pm except noon to 1 pm, and after the summer season the building opens weekdays for self-guided visits only. Every visitor needs valid government-issued ID for security screening.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: A self-supporting spiral staircase and free tours
📍 Location: Legislative Assembly Building, Downtown, 706 Queen St, Fredericton, NB E3B 1C5
⭐ Vibe: Indoor, family-friendly, accessible
4. Beaverbrook Art Gallery
Lord Beaverbrook’s original gift to New Brunswick, now home to a new Kent Monkman work and a riverside pavilion. The gallery sits on the banks of the Saint John/Wolastoq River, admission is free for Indigenous Peoples, and it opens Tuesday to Sunday with Thursday hours until 9 pm. It is wheelchair and stroller accessible, and both the South Riverfront Trail and city transit reach it, making it an easy anchor among things to see in Fredericton.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: A new Kent Monkman work honouring Gail Maurice
📍 Location: Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Downtown, 703 Queen St, Fredericton, NB E3B 1C4
⭐ Vibe: Indoor, date, accessible
5. Killarney Lake Park
A 645 hectare park inside city limits on the lake where the 42 pound Coleman Frog of local legend once lived. Less than 10 minutes from downtown, it has 30-plus km of multi-use trails, a swimming beach, playground and lodge, and 2026 upgrades added a 32 km mountain bike skills park and an accessible beach mat system. Fall foliage draws photographers, and winter grooming for skiing and snowshoeing makes it one of the most complete outdoor activities Fredericton offers year round.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: Trails, a beach and the Coleman Frog legend
📍 Location: Killarney Lake Park, Northside, 1653 St. Mary’s St, Fredericton, NB E3G 8T6
⭐ Vibe: Waterfront, family-friendly, dog-friendly
6. Fredericton Region Museum
Home of the Coleman Frog, a 42 pound legend said to have lived in Killarney Lake over a century ago. Set in the former Officers’ Quarters in Officers’ Square, the museum covers Wolastoqiyik, Acadian, Loyalist and Black heritage plus both world wars, and a 2026 exhibition displays an 18-foot canoe. Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for students and $15 for a family, free under age 6, and it opens Tuesday to Saturday afternoons from September to November, a solid rainy-day answer to what to do in Fredericton NB.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: The 42 pound Coleman Frog
📍 Location: Fredericton Region Museum, Downtown, 571 Queen St, Fredericton, NB E3B 5C8
⭐ Vibe: Indoor, family-friendly, kid-friendly
7. Christ Church Cathedral
A Gothic Revival cathedral finished in 1853 and designated a National Historic Site, steps from the Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge. Among the city’s best-known historic sites, it still serves an active congregation and hosts concerts and theatre. From September to June, visitors can drop in on weekdays from 9 am, with self-guided booklets in English, French, German, Spanish and Chinese.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: Gothic Revival architecture from 1853
📍 Location: Christ Church Cathedral, Downtown, 150 Church St, Fredericton, NB
⭐ Vibe: Scenic, solo, family-friendly
8. Mactaquac Provincial Park
A four-season riverside park created alongside the Mactaquac Dam, home to an 18-hole course that hosts a PGA Tour Americas stop. About 20 minutes west of Fredericton on 1,300 acres, it offers the Beaver Pond nature reserve, the TreeGO aerial course, two marinas and more than 15 km of trails. The campground runs from May 15 to October 11, and winter brings skating on the frozen duck pond and a forest skating trail, with rentals for skiing, snowshoeing and fat biking.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: A golf course on the PGA Tour Americas schedule
📍 Location: Mactaquac Provincial Park, Mactaquac, 1265 Route 105, Mactaquac, NB E6L 1B5
⭐ Vibe: Waterfront, family, adventurous
Halfway through, the list shifts from landmarks and parks to the stages, taprooms and markets where Fredericton’s evenings and weekends happen.
9. Fredericton Playhouse
A 709-seat theatre gifted to New Brunswick by Lord and Lady Beaverbrook in 1964, next door to the legislature. The lobbies double as a gallery for local artists, and the 2026 to 2027 lineup includes Loreena McKennitt, Steve Earle and Joan Osborne. The box office opens weekdays from 10 am to 3 pm, and the East End Parking Garage connects through the Fredericton Convention Centre.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: A 2026 to 2027 lineup with Loreena McKennitt and Steve Earle
📍 Location: Fredericton Playhouse, Downtown, 686 Queen St, Fredericton, NB E3B 1C2
⭐ Vibe: Indoor, date, accessible
10. Charlotte Street Arts Centre
An 1884 schoolhouse turned arts hub with two rotating galleries, artist studios and a wood-fired pizza cafe in the basement. Around 17 arts tenants share the building, and the backyard Culture Garden hosts outdoor installations by local and national artists. It opens seven days a week, often until 10 pm or later on event nights, making it one of the more creative answers to what is there to do in Fredericton NB after dark.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: Wood-fired pizza beneath two rotating galleries
📍 Location: Charlotte Street Arts Centre, Downtown, 732 Charlotte St, Fredericton, NB E3B 1M5
⭐ Vibe: Creative, date, family-friendly
11. Northside Creators Market
A nonprofit market owned by its own vendors, founded after the old Northside Market closed in 2020. About 45 vendors, all of whom make their own products, sell baked goods, coffee, crafts, produce and gifts, making it one of the city’s most personal artisan markets. It runs Saturdays from 9 am to 4 pm and Sundays from 10 am to 2 pm.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: 45 vendors who make everything they sell
📍 Location: Northside Creators Market, Northside, 170 Main St, Fredericton, NB E3A 1C8
⭐ Vibe: Family, solo, walk-in
12. York County Cider
A taproom in a former garage pouring about 30 house ciders, including Strawberry Lime, billed as New Brunswick’s top-selling draft cider. Nicknamed Ed’s Garage, it uses only New Brunswick apples and runs trivia, karaoke, local bands, open mic comedy and book signings through the week. Open daily, dog friendly and wheelchair accessible, it sits a few steps from the city trail system and has a resident dog.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: About 30 ciders made from New Brunswick apples
📍 Location: York County Cider, Northside, 38 Main St, Fredericton, NB
⭐ Vibe: Group, dog-friendly, accessible
13. Grimross Brewing Co.
Award-winning German lagers and Belgian-inspired ales across 10 rotating taps, with a stage for touring bands, trivia and open mic. Owner Stephen Dixon opened the brewery in December 2014, and its annual Tragically Hip tribute show by Nautical Disaster runs October 17 from 8 to 11 pm at $15 in advance, with part of the proceeds going to the Gord Downie Fund. The calendar also covers trivia, open mic and yoga, so check it before planning things to do in Fredericton this weekend.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: 10 rotating taps and the October 17 Tragically Hip tribute
📍 Location: Grimross Brewing Co., Uptown, 600 Bishop Dr, Fredericton, NB E3C 0B4
⭐ Vibe: Group, birthday, dog-friendly
14. Graystone Brewing
A taproom born from the founders’ travels in Patagonia, pouring a Patagonia Pale Ale and a chaga-infused lager next to guest taps. Regulars include the chaga-infused MacAfee Lager, Burning Rock Red and The Grind Coffee Stout, and Tourism Fredericton describes it as a downtown spot for families, dogs and friend groups all year. The patio fills fast on summer afternoons, so arrive early for the best spot.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: The chaga-infused MacAfee Lager
📍 Location: Graystone Brewing, Downtown, 221 King St, Fredericton, NB E3B 1J4
⭐ Vibe: Group, family-friendly, dog-friendly
15. The Cap
A nanobrewery operating inside a sprawling live music complex that also houses a record store and a large outdoor patio. The maze-like venue allows outside food and hosts trivia and open mic alongside concerts, so a show and a bar drink are never far apart. Evening shows draw the biggest crowds, making it the go-to in Fredericton downtown for what to do in Fredericton tonight.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: Live music, a record store and house beer in one complex
📍 Location: The Cap, Downtown, 362 Queen St, Fredericton, NB E3B 1B2
⭐ Vibe: Late night, group, dog-friendly
16. The Shake Shed Freddy
Gourmet milkshakes in mason jar mugs, led by the New Yorker topped with a mini cheesecake, plus $2 dog shakes that fund the SPCA. Shakes come topped with brownies or doughnuts, a full pint costs about $13.55, and you can order food and shakes online from 1 pm to 8:40 pm. Turquoise stools and a neon sign wall make it an absolute blast for kids and a sweet stop on any list of fun things to do in Fredericton.
Good to Know
🔥 Known for: The New Yorker shake with a mini cheesecake on top
📍 Location: The Shake Shed Freddy, Northside, 230 Main St, Fredericton, NB E3A 1C9
⭐ Vibe: Family, kid-friendly, dog-friendly
Tips for planning days in Fredericton and Fredericton tourism worth knowing
With the list sorted, these habits help you get the most out of your days in Fredericton, whatever Fredericton tourism season you arrive in.
Build weekends around the markets. The Boyce Farmers Market runs Saturday mornings and the Northside Creators Market opens Saturday and Sunday, so pairing them with a taproom afternoon is the easiest answer to what is there to do in Fredericton New Brunswick on a weekend. Check the events Fredericton venues post, including Grimross and Trailway Brewing, which books live singer-songwriters on Saturday nights.
Winter changes the map, not the options. For what to do in Fredericton in winter, Odell Park has a rink, sliding hill and groomed ski trails, Killarney Lake grooms trails for skiing and snowshoeing, and Mactaquac adds skating on the frozen duck pond with gear rentals. Wilmot Park’s splash pad is currently closed for the season, and Government House tours run only from mid-May to the end of August.
Downtown Fredericton is compact enough to walk. The Legislative Assembly, Playhouse, Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Christ Church Cathedral and Fredericton Region Museum all sit on or near Queen Street, so we suggest turning those historic sites into your own scavenger hunts with kids or a self-guided walking day. Metered street parking surrounds most of the Queen Street stops.
Leave room for local food between activities to do. Claudine’s Eatery serves lobster eggs Benedict and a mimosa flight with plenty of bubbles, Wolastoq Wharf on St. Mary’s First Nation is known for maple curry mussels and fried bannock with molasses, and Chess Piece Pâtisserie bakes almond croissants on Queen Street. Book ahead for Wolastoq Wharf and weekend mornings at Claudine’s, since both fill up.
Spelling varies, but the city doesn’t: whether you search Frederickton, Fredrickton, Fredricton New Brunswick, NB Fredericton or New Brunswick Fredericton, the compact core above covers it. Searches for things to do Fredericton, Fredericton things to do and things to do in Fredericton NB all point to the same walkable downtown, so plan at least a full weekend before continuing from Fredericton to Moncton.
Frequently asked questions about what to do in Fredericton
These are the questions visitors ask most often when planning a trip.
What is the capital of New Brunswick?
Fredericton is the New Brunswick capital, and the Legislative Assembly Building on Queen Street has been the province’s seat of government since 1882. The City of Fredericton, New Brunswick also holds Government House, the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor, on a riverside estate. Visitors searching Fredericton NB Canada or Fredericton Canada will find both landmarks in the guide above.
What is there to do in Fredericton this weekend?
The Boyce Farmers Market on Saturday morning and the Northside Creators Market on Saturday and Sunday anchor what to do in Fredericton this weekend. For Fredericton events this weekend, check taproom calendars: Trailway Brewing books singer-songwriters on Saturday nights, and Grimross hosts its Tragically Hip tribute on October 17. Anyone mapping what to do in Fredericton, NB this weekend will find hours and details for each stop in the guide above.
What to do in Fredericton with kids?
Odell Park’s playground, pond and trails, Killarney Lake’s beach and playground, and the Coleman Frog at the Fredericton Region Museum top the list of what to do with kids in Fredericton. The Shake Shed Freddy’s mason jar milkshakes make a reliable family treat, and family admission to the museum is $15. Each kid-friendly stop is covered in more detail above.
What can I do in Fredericton today or tonight?
For what to do in Fredericton today, Odell Park and Killarney Lake are free and open year round, and the Beaverbrook Art Gallery opens Tuesday to Sunday. Things to do in Fredericton today also include weekday drop-in visits to Christ Church Cathedral, while The Cap, York County Cider and Charlotte Street Arts Centre cover the evening. For Fredericton events today, check each venue’s calendar, and see the full list above.
More Ottawa guides worth exploring
Back home in Ottawa, these guides cover more things to do for every kind of weekend.
Things to do in Ottawa for visitors: A first-timer’s guide to the capital’s landmarks, food and neighbourhoods.
Outdoor Ottawa adventures: Trails, parks and open-air plans to match a Fredericton forest walk.
Free things to do around Ottawa: No-cost outings for when the travel budget needs a break.
Family-friendly things to do in Ottawa: Kid-ready plans for parks, museums and weekend outings.
Ottawa plans by budget, season and situation: Ideas sorted by what you want to spend and what the weather is doing.
Knowing what to do in Fredericton comes down to pairing a landmark, a trail and a taproom each day, and this list makes that easy. Bookmark it before your trip, because we update this guide as new spots open and details are verified.
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