The city’s upcoming winter event is set to begin on Feb. 13 and features activities both in downtown Moncton and the city’s Centennial Park.
Moncton’s manager of events and festivals, Chad Gautreau, says the event is built around the Family Day long weekend and is meant to serve both residents and visitors.
“We wanted to direct the event to make it more of a tourist product while also maintaining that service to residents. We want to be able to drive tourism in the offseason, and this is a way for us to do that while also supporting local.”
The first night takes place downtown in front of the Avenir Centre, where a new addition to PolarFest will be showcased.
Barbegazi, a snowmobile stunt show, will make its PolarFest debut this weekend. The inspiration to include Barbegazi in PolarFest came during the summer of 2025, from its inclusion in other events across Canadian cities, such as Mississauga, Fort McMurray, and, most recently, Ottawa.
Riders who will be performing this weekend have made prior appearances in the X-Games.
“It will be a very controlled, professional show with defined spectator areas and on-site oversight,” said Gautreau.
The City of Moncton asks that spectators respect marked viewing areas, barriers, signage, and city staff direction.
The stunt show will be held on Main St. in front of the Avenir Centre.
Barbegazi’s equipment setup began on Thursday morning. Friday afternoon into evening will be set aside for practice runs.
Gautreau advises that you arrive at the event early. It kicks off at 5 p.m. on Friday, and Saturday it goes until 10 p.m. The stunt shows are scheduled for 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., with meet and greets scheduled for 9:30 p.m. on both nights at The Pit Stop/The Bunker.
There will be other activities downtown, such as live music and a beer garden at Flying Boats Brewery.
“We will see what the future holds. This is something we definitely want to see. We are focusing a lot of our efforts on some of this offseason programming to stimulate the tourism impacts that come with it, so we want to make sure that our downtown businesses, as well as businesses throughout the city, are sustained throughout those slower months; this is a way for us to do that,” said the director.
Gautreau says the city has a three-year agreement for this event. He recommends snowmobile enthusiasts mark it on their calendars for 2027 and 2028.
“We certainly encourage people to come down here, have supper downtown, stay at a hotel, make a full weekend out of it. Take part in some of the activities at Centennial Park as well.”
For the full schedule, please refer to the City of Moncton PolarFest 2026 itinerary.
