Arts and Culture

Fredericton boasts an active, thriving arts and culture scene. From world-class performances at the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival, to Saturday morning gatherings at the Farmers Market, to the impressive collections of the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Fredericton offers a quality of life that never fails to charm its visitors and residents.

Beaverbrook Art Gallery
Built in 1958 by Lord Beaverbrook as a gift to his home province, the Beaverbrook Art Gallery houses a permanent collection that includes works by such European masters as Salvador Dalí, Joshua Reynolds, Thomas Gainsborough, and Sandro Botticelli, and by prominent Canadian artists like Emily Carr and the Group of Seven. The Beaverbrook has also attracted exhibits such as that of famed sculptor Auguste Rodin.

The Playhouse
Located in the heart of Fredericton’s downtown, The Fredericton Playhouse is home to Theatre New Brunswick – the province’s largest professional theatre company – and hosts live music, plays, classical performances, comedians, and dance companies throughout the year. The Playhouse also provides opportunities for patrons to interact with/learn from performers.

Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival
Founded in 1991, the Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival is an annual event that attracts performers from around the world and patrons from across North America. In 2008, over 75,000 people took in shows on 23 stages over six days. Past performers have included Buddy Guy, Oscar Peterson, Parliament, and Bloc Party.

edVentures
The edVentures program is Atlantic Canada’s largest and most varied vacation learning program in arts and culture. Offered in July and August, edVentures provides an opportunity to learn from highly qualified instructors in the centre of Fredericton’s historic district. Participants can choose from a range of course options, including jewellery and metalwork, pottery and glass, or fashion and sewing.

Kings Landing Historical Settlement
Located just 20 minutes from Fredericton in the picturesque St. John River Valley, Kings Landing Historical Settlement is a historic village that depicts life as it was lived during the nineteenth-century colonial period. Featuring more than 70 buildings, each carefully restored to reflect a specific date in New Brunswick’s history, Kings Landing is a large-scale, interactive testament to the province’s history. Visitors can choose to enjoy a meal cooked using traditional methods, see first-hand how maple syrup is produced, or watch a reenactment of New Brunswick’s last fatal duel.

Silver Wave Film Festival
Each November the annual Silver Wave Film Festival showcases films, documentaries, and short films produced in the province. Through a partnership with the Toronto Film Festival, festival goers are also given the opportunity to see films that are traditionally only screened in larger markets.

W.W Boyce Farmers Market
A Fredericton institution since 1951, the W.W. Boyce Farmers Market is a Saturday tradition for many Frederictonians. People love the market for the wide variety of fresh fruit and vegetables, handmade baked goods, and local fish and meat, as well as seasonal items like wreaths, maple syrup, flowers, and apple cider.

Green community
In 2007, the City of Fredericton announced its plan to become the first city in North America to achieve Kyoto targets for greenhouse gas reduction. Designed to help Fredericton achieve Kyoto targets, the Green Matters Campaign encourages local
residents to find ways to reduce their environmental impact.

The Campaign recently launched a Green Shops program, which focuses on encouraging business to take steps to reduce their environmental footprint. The goal is a greener, more environmentally sustainable community.

A full list of local businesses participating in the Green Shops program is available here.