Whether you are trying to visit every province across Canada or looking for a new city to explore this weekend, Fredricton, New Brunswick, should be on your list. Between its historic district, impressive art gallery, and many breweries are Indigenous businesses and restaurants serving deliciously fresh food and offering an insight into local culture.
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This trip was hosted by Tourism Fredericton who did not review or approve this story.
What to see & Do in Fredricton
Culture & History across Fredricton
Spend an afternoon exploring the city centre and the Historic Garrison District. Set on the shores of the Saint John River, the Garrison is a heritage centre and in many ways, the beating heart of the city. Here, visitors will find The Fredericton Region Museum, cobblestone streets, artisanal offerings and free live concerts throughout the summer. The museum houses 12 historic exhibits, from folklore to military history, to stories of people who called this city home.
The Fredericton Region Museum | Map link
571 Queen St, Fredericton, NB E3B 5C8
Admission: Adults $6, students $3, children under 6 free.
The recently renovated Beaverbrook Art Gallery is a cultural highlight of the Fredricton. The gallery was Lord Beaverbrook’s gift to New Brunswick’s residents and is one of Canada’s best museums. The recent expansion of the Harrison McCain Pavilion added 9000 ft2 to the Gallery. This bright open space has a lovely cafe and the Gallery gift shop. In the many rooms of this beautiful space, visitors will find pieces showcasing visual art from the Atlantic region and well beyond. Between the Renaissance and Victorian art, you will also find contemporary works by Canadian Indigenous artists and the Grandfather Akwiten canoe, believed to be the oldest birch bark canoe in the world.
One of the gallery’s prized possessions is Santiago El Grande, Salvador Dalí’s. The painting is one of his biggest pieces and was originally meant to hang in a chapel. The gallery offers tours hosted by one of its security guards and docents, Gerry Rymes, whose deep art and Beaverbrook Gallery knowledge make this visit a truly unique experience. This tour can be booked with the art gallery directly by email.
Beaverbrook Art Gallery | Map link
703 Queen St, Fredericton, NB E3B 1C4
Admission: Adults $20, seniors and sudents $14, youth $8.50, children under 6 free.
[email protected]
The best way to see Salvador Dalí’s Santiago El Grande (image on the right), is by lying down on the floor against the wall. According to the Beaverbrook Art Gallery’s guide, Gerry Rymes (centre image), it is how you would’ve seen the painting in its intended place in a chapel. Images by Kateryna Topol.
Tours & Experiences
The Fredericton Capital Region is situated within the Wolastoqey traditional territory, along the Saint John River, locally better known as Wolastoq. Many of the city’s nature experiences are facilitated by the members of the Wolastoqey Nation. The city’s Odell Park contains one of the few old-growth forests left in Canada, with 500-year-old hemlock trees towering above the paths.
The best way to experience this forest is by joining a Medicine Walk operated by cultural interpreter Cecelia Brooks and her son Anthony, from Wabanaki Tree Spirit Tours. Cecelia will guide you through the forest, speaking to its natural wonders and the medicinal properties of various flora and fauna found in the woods. The tour concludes in the garden with teas service and cookies made with acron flour.
Wabanaki Tree Spirit Tours
Book by sending an email to [email protected] or texting 506-461-6806.
For a more active adventure, head to Wolastoq Adventures, who operated canoe tours and rentals, including Canada’s first illuminated kayaking and paddleboarding tours.
Medicine walk led by Cecelia Brooks from Wabanaki Tree Spirit Tours, Fredricton. The cookies pictured above are made with acorn flour.
Images by Kateryna Topol.
Festivals & Special events
An event that brings people from all over the world to Fredericton annually is the New Brunswick Spirits Festival. Taking place in November, this is Canada’s biggest and oldest whisky festival. Producers and spirits fans from across Canada and the world flock to Fredricon to gather for nearly a week of special meals and unique workshops.
In June, Sitansisk (St. Marys First Nation, part of the Wolastoqey Nation) holds the annual Powwow. This is a two-day celebration of arts, language, and culture. Events include community breakfast, grand entry parade, drumming, and dance competitions. St. Mary’s Powwow kicks off the Powwow Trail with nine more Powwows across the province. The 2026 Powwow is scheduled for June 19th to 21st.
Among other festivals are the New Brunswick Highland Games, Frediculous Comedy Festival, Queen Street Crawl, Flourish Festival, Nashwaak Music Festival, Summer Music Festival, Future Forest, and many various food events. See the complete list of festivals on frederictoncapitalregion.ca.
Images from a New Brunswick Spirits Festival event at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Fredricton. Images by Kateryna Topol.
Where to eat & Drink in Fredricton
The city’s tagline is “Life well crafted,” so naturally, there are quite a few breweries and distilleries in the area. In Fredricotn region, you will find Gahan House Riverside, King West Brewing and RustiCo., Grimross Brewing Company, Maybee Brewery, Graystone Brewing, The CAP, Picaroons Roundhouse, and TrailWay Brewing Co.. If craft breweries are your fancy, a fun way to see them all is by following the #FredTapTrail.
First Light Distillery and Scout’s Original Sandwich Shop, located in the same space, are a great stop for lunch or dinner. First Light are best known for their vodka and sell plenty of it ready-to-drink on tap. The Distillery offers tours, mixology classes, and occasionally hosts bingo nights. Scout’s sandwich shop, set on the left side of the taproom, serves made-to-order, delicious sandwiches and locally famous desserts, among other things.
Jenna’s Nut Free Dessertery, located a little bit out of the city, on your way from the airport, is a destination lunch spot. Indigenous-owned and operated by Jenna White, the cafe serves a selection of traditional dishes and Jenna’s take on brunch items, like breakfast sandwiches on bannock. Jenna also operates pop-up cafes at local events and hosts special events throughout the year.
Wolastoq Wharf Seafood Restaurant is another local favourite. The restaurant serves fresh seafood largely sourced from St. Mary’s First Nation community members, representing its people and locality. On the menu, you will find shareable starters, hearty grilled mains, pastas, and signature desserts. Every meal starts with bannock served with butter and molasses – a Wolastoq Wharf signature. The restaurant is fairly small, so reservations are strongly recommended.
The Lunar Rogue Pub is a must for whisky drinkers and all people who enjoy a good pub. Opened in 1989, the pub is a part of the city’s fabric and has one of the biggest whisky collections in the country. The collection, in fact, is so deep you need to download an app to see the complete list. Food and other beverages are, of course, also available.
If you are in the city on Saturday, don’t miss the Fredericton Boyce Farmers Market. With over 200 vendors, including farmers and artisans, the market is one of the best in Canada.
Eggs Benedict on bannock and a bannock breakfast sandwich at Jenna’s Nut Free Dessertery, Fredicton, New Brunswick. Image by Kateryna Topol.
Dinner at the Wolastoq Wharf Seafood Restaurant, Fredicton, New Brunswick. Image by Kateryna Topol.
Where to stay in Fredricton
Delta Fredericton is perhaps the best hotel in the city. Recently renovated, the hotel has spacious rooms with a beautiful view of the river and a spectacular bar with a large centrepiece on the ground floor. Among the other coveted amenities are the indoor pool, outdoor barrel saunas, and the seasonal Drift Pool + Patio – a destination for locals as much as it is for visitors. The hotel is not quite in the Downtown, but you can ask the hotel for a taxi or call an Uber if a walk is not in the cards.
Crowne Plaza Fredericton-Lord Beaverbrook would be a great Downtown alternative. The hotel has a restaurant and an on-site pub as well as an indoor pool and a fitness centre. For a more local stay, take a look at the Quartermain House Bed & Breakfast, a five-star heritage landmark B&B with ensuite baths, heated floors, and plush robes.
Delta Fredericton by Marriott
225 Woodstock Rd, Fredericton, NB E3B 2H8
Rooms starting at $269 CAD for King
Book directly on marriott.com or compare with your favourite booking site: Expedia | Booking.com | TripAdvisor
Crowne Plaza Fredericton-Lord Beaverbrook
659 Queen St, Fredericton, NB E3B 1C4
Rooms starting at $164 CAD for Queen
Book directly on ihg.com or compare with your favourite booking site: Expedia | Booking.com | TripAdvisor
Quartermain House Bed & Breakfast
92 Waterloo Row, Fredericton, NB E3B 1Y9
Rooms starting from $150 CAD, a two-night minimum applies in high season.
Book directly on quartermainhouse.com. Find past guest reviews on TripAdvisor
