New Brunswick News for 2024
PGA Tour Americas – ExploreNB Open
The newly formed PGA Tour Americas will head to New Brunswick in 2024 for the Explore NB Open at the Mactaquac Golf Course, located near Fredericton. Golfers from across the globe will converge at Mactaquac for the first PGA Tour-sanctioned tournament in New Brunswick from 11th-14th July 2024. There are nine Canadian stops and one U.S. stop on the North American swing of the PGA Tour Americas in 2024.
50th Anniversary of Kings Landing
In 2024, the open-air Kings Landing museum is celebrating 50 years of bringing history to life. Years of collected archival materials, interviews and research will be compiled in a feature exhibit, with special events throughout the year to commemorate the occasion. Kings Landing, located along the Wolastoq (Saint John River), is a signature tourism attraction in Prince William, near Fredericton. A 300-acre, open-air museum, it is home to more than 90,000 artefacts and a 19th century village full of costumed characters, farm animals and 70 historic buildings from the period of 1820 to 1920. It also offers workshops, educational programmes, children’s summer camps, exhibits and unique culinary experiences.
Shediac Lobster Festival celebrates 75 years
The Shediac Lobster Festival will celebrate its 75th anniversary this year, taking place from 5th to 14th July 2024. Shediac, near Moncton, is the self-proclaimed lobster capital of the world and when visitors enter the seaside town they’re greeted by the world’s biggest lobster statue, a 55-tonne monument. The lobster festival has almost 50 activities and experiences such as music concerts, dance parties, eating contests, rides, sports and a 600-guest outdoor lobster dinner on Main Street.
Solar Eclipse in New Brunswick
New Brunswick’s capital, Fredericton is celebrating the grand spectacle of nature with STEM exhibits, a public observing session, eclipse-themed shows at the Planetarium, kids’ workshops, Astronomy sessions, Indigenous storytelling and more, all set in a festive atmosphere. Special eclipse viewing glasses will be provided for Monday’s main event, on 8th April 2024.
Along with Fredricton, key places to catch the Solar Eclipse in the province include, Florenceville-Bristol, the riverside city of Miramichi, and the charming fishing town of Doaktown. In Florenceville-Bristol, famous astronaut Col. Chris Hadfield will give a special two-hour speech after David Hunter’s high altitude balloon launch.
Market Square Boardwalk Revitalisation, Saint John
Anticipated to be completed in early 2024, the Market Square Boardwalk is undergoing a improvement programme that includes upgrading the restaurants to become year-round spaces by installing glass panels, creating multi-season patios and expanding each of the restaurants’ footprint.
Tidal steps at Market Slip will lead down to the Bay of Fundy, a larger, 360-degree stage with ample space for live performances, and the installation of a winter outdoor skating surface will provide a beautiful green space during the summer months.
New experiences and accommodations:
- Fundy Highland Signature Trail – New Brunswick is a haven for snowmobilers with 8,000 kilometres (5,500 miles) of trails, including the new Fundy Highland Signature Trail, a 225-kilometre route in the Fundy Biosphere Region, one of the province’s two UNESCO sites. Traverse beside the wintery expanse of the Bay of Fundy with its towering cliffs and the world’s highest tides, offering beautiful coastal views and natural landscapes.
- Dining on the ocean floor at the Hopewell Rocks – in 2024, a brand-new culinary experience at New Brunswick’s Hopewell Rocks is launching to showcase local products and hospitality. Exploring Hopewell Rocks at low tide, travellers can walk along the ocean floor and Dining on the ocean floor will offer a magical dining experience among some of the most unique rock formations in the world. Guests will enjoy a private three-course meal prepared by the on-site chef, with wine pairings from local Magnetic Hill winery. From $804.65 per person (approx. £474).
- Hope Wellness Eco Resort – a new accommodation option in New Brunswick, Hope Wellness Eco Resort is a sustainable, eco-friendly, year-round resort which overlooks the spectacular Bay of Fundy, a stone’s throw from the world-famous Hopewell Rocks. The Scandinavian-inspired accommodation encourage guests to spend time outdoors and to enjoy the beautiful outdoor Nordic lounge space in all seasons. Rooms start from $299 (approx. £177) per night for a single suite with hot tub, based on two sharing (minimum two-night stay).
- Indigenous kayaking with Wolastoq Adventures – an Indigenous-owned kayaking rental experience, Wolastoq Adventures use transparent kayaks to showcase the fascinating waters beneath. Also illuminating at night, making for magical sailing under the stars, the experience can be found at Carleton Park., north of Fredericton. Alongside kayaking, visitors can enjoy a storytelling adventure with members of the local indigenous community. Prices from $35 (approx. £21) for one-hour kayak rental.
- Fredericton Taproom Trail – the Taproom Trail is expanding beyond the city of Fredricton in 2024, to encompass the taprooms in the Fredericton Capital Region. The Fredericton Capital Region ranks among the most taprooms per capita in Canada with about one taproom per 5,400 people, with classic stops including Picaroons Roundhouse, which will be launching a tour and tasting in May of 2024.
- New tours at Stonehammer UNESCO Global Geopark – as North America’s first UNESCO Global Geopark, Stonehammer is about geology, people, society and culture. With new tours and programmes for 2024, visitors here can hike, kayak, rock climb and eat at Stonehammer. Stonehammer is one of the biggest and most diverse geoparks in the world, covering 2,500 square kilometres and features 60 geosites, celebrating one billion years of stories through a nearly continuous fossil record of each geological time period dating back to the first life on the planet. It includes the entire city of Saint John and several surrounding communities on the Bay of Fundy, which has a coastal ecosystem as biodiverse as the Amazon Rainforest.
To find out more about New Brunswick, please visit: https://tourismnewbrunswick.ca/