Fredericton Nightlife

This is THE best place to party in Fredericton on Friday nights. The drinks are as most nightclub drinks cost as far as costs go, but the servers are delightful! Widely known through the city to the uneducated as a "gay bar", Boom! is an alternative friendly bar where, as a straight young girl, I feel VERY comfortable. If you are looking to pick up someone to take home, send yourself to Sweetwaters/Rockin' Rodeo - if you're truly interested in dancing, get your butt to Boom! It's a small area but very cozy, I have never felt, in any other bar in the city, like I was in a high end club in a large city like LA or NYC, but this is the spot where you get that atmosphere, if you have an open mind and want to DANCE DANCE DANCE!

Dress Code: Anything goes here!

Walking around downtown Fredericton on a Saturday night can be a really strange experience - the city looks so empty! My friend actually started wondering if there might be another downtown area somewhere... and then we turned onto King St. and all our questions were answered! After walking by Sweetwaters/Rockin Rodeo, a big nightclub with country music blasting from the speakers (verrrry scary!), we finally made it to The Tannery area (I guess there used to be a tannery there...). It's sort of an inner courtyard with four or five clubs/pubs right next to each other. The night we were there, NickyZee's is where it was all happening. There was BAD but hilarious karaoke on the first floor, and two huge dance floors on the second floor. It wasn't my type of music so we ended up spending the night listening to drunk students sing Metallica songs... pretty awesome!

Dress Code: Casual

We stopped by the Snooty Fox for food and drinks before heading back to our hostel on a Saturday night. The atmosphere there was great! The place was packed, but with the high divisions it felt really cosy. We both ordered a delicious pint of Picaroons Irish Red, a slightly spicy beer brewed in Fredericton, and shared some artichoke and spinach dip (thank goodness we shared because that plate was huge!). We had a really great time there, and the staff was super friendly - no wonder it is one of the most popular pubs in town!

Dress Code: Casual

A great casual but classy environment with amazing local Picaroons beer on tap. The second floor deck is perfect for a summer night and the interior is nice as well. There is a full bar but no kitchen, however, the staff is helpful in ordering food from the nearby restaurants to be brought up. In addition, they have some really enjoyable live music. Definately my favourite night spot in F'ton!

Fredericton's nightlife scene has livened up quite a bit in the past decade! There are now a number of clubs and bars downtown that are open late and are well-situated. The city core is quite small so it is easy to walk from one to the other as desired - it is also very safe to walk around, even at night. During the summer months June-September a number of establishments have sidewalk patio seating for drinks and meals. For a great view of the Saint John River while relaxing, try the patio of the Sheraton Hote (2005 update - it is now the Delta Hotel and I have a view of it in one of my first 'Restaurant' tips)l!

Dress Code: No particular dress code is observed.

If you're visiting Fredericton over a weekend, and are looking for something to do on Sunday night for FREE, then why not take advantage of the "Under the Stars Classic Film Series" ?

2005 is the series' third year that this has been held, presented by F'ton Tourism, Downtown F'ton, NB Filmmakers' Co-op, and the Center for Arts & Technology.

Each Sunday at dusk, a different classic film is presented on a giant screen outdoors, beside the Gurard House at the corner of Queen & Carleton Streets.

Between June and the Labour Day weekend in September, classics such as "Casablanca", "The Italian Job", Hitchcock's "The Birds", and Treasure Island have been presented.

The films start at dusk, around 9 pm (give or take).

Dress Code: Bring a lawn chair, blankets and some munchies if you wish. Free parking on the streets at that time of night.

During July and August, on Tuesday and Thursday evenings starting at 7:30 pm, bring a lawn chair or blanket and listen to free music outdoors at Officer's Square.

A wide variety of local music performers, groups, and bands perform .... absolutely FREE.

The music may be folk, country, pipe bands such as the Fredericton Society of St. Andrew Pipe Band, or concert bands such as the Fredericton Concert and Marching Band.

Dress Code: Come as you are !
You'll probably be more comfortable if you bring a lawn chair or blanket (and some mosquito repellent, just in case). Bring your own munchies.

The best thing is that they have Picaroon's bitter on tap. Otherwise, the Lunar Rogue is a cozy little pub on the inside and has a small outdoor patio in the warmer summer months. Some nights they have live music.

The name Lunar Rogue was inspired by a town bulletin posted by the Sheriff of Kings County New Brunswick offering a twenty pound reward for one Henry More Smith a.k.a The Lunar Rogue, who in 1814 escaped from the Gaol in Kingston after being indicted for the theft of a horse.