Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo
In Nova Scotia, there’s always something to celebrate and there is lots of festival fun to look forward to this summer. With Covid-19 restrictions looking to be lifted by spring, it is time to start making some exciting hot summer plans. So, make plans to join in the fun at the festivals listed below and celebrate the amazing things that make Nova Scotia so unique.
Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo
Kick-off the summer at the iconic Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo. The show is only in the city for a week each year. The two-and-a-half-hour family show is fast-paced with every scene only lasting about 3-6 minutes, so there is always something new to see and experience. The Tattoo highlights traditional bagpipe music and highland dancing. The Tattoo also features innovative acrobatic acts, modern music, contemporary dancing, trampoline routines, and cutting-edge videos.
Details
June 25 – July 2, 2022
Scotiabank Centre, Halifax
Free and Ticketed events
Lobster Bash
Nova Scotia’s South Shore is known for having fresh-off-the-boat lobster, and the popular Lobster Bash is three days packed with fantastic lobster-themed activities. Vote for the Best Lobster Chowder, learn how to band a lobster without getting pinched, test your skills at the Washer Toss Tournament and devour the tastiest lobster dishes on the beautiful South Shore.
Details
July 8 – 10, 2022
Water Street, Digby
Photo Credit: Pictou Lobster Carnival
Pictou Lobster Carnival
Returning after two years, the Pictou Lobster Carnival is going to be better than ever for its 88th annual event. The main stage will host four headliners this year, Classified, The Stanfields, Jimmy Rankin, and Dave Gunning. Pictou Lobster Carnival’s fun continues at the beer garden, the Mardi Gras parade, the children’s parade, the antique car show, derby races, lobster boat races, and spectacular fireworks over the waterfront.
Details
July 8 – 10, 2022
Front Street, Pictou
$15 – $35
Halifax Pride
Rainbow flags fly over the city for 11 days for the annual Pride festival. Across the city, there are small and large events to celebrate love of all kinds. The Parade and The Grind are the two ‘must not miss’ events during Halifax Pride.
Details
July 14 – 24, 2022
Around Halifax
TD Halifax Jazz Festival
The TD Halifax Jazz Festival, formerly known as the Atlantic Jazz Festival, is the oldest jazz festival and largest summer festival in Atlantic Canada. Details
July 12-17, 2022
Lower Water Street at Salter Street
TBA
Nova Multifest
Explore Nova Scotia’s rich diversity and cultures at Alderney Landing during Nova Multifest. This fun festival is three days of fantastic music, beautiful art, interesting displays, and scrumptious food. There is something for people of all ages to enjoy at this popular festival.
Details
July 22 – 24, 2022
Alderney Landing, Dartmouth
Festival Acadien De Clare
Festival acadien de Clare
Did you know that Nova Scotia is home to the oldest Acadian festival in the world? Festival Acadien De Clare is a week-long celebration packed with fun activities including a lumberjack competition, the parade, and the bazaar. The Festival ends on August 15th (National Acadian Day) with a Tintamarre, a traditional celebration where participants go from one end of the region to the other while making the most noise possible!
Details
July 31 – August 7, 2022 and August 15, 2022
Saint Mary’s Bay
Stan Rogers Folk Festival
Showcasing Canadian and international grassroots musicians, Stanfest is a weekend packed with great music. The music doesn’t stop when the show is over because the RV sites and tent areas are where the community meets up after the show to party.
Details
July 22 – 24, 2022
104 Queen Street Canso, NS
$50 – $145
Halifax Busker Festival
Returning in 2022, the Halifax Busker Festival is the perfect way to spend the Natal Day long weekend with your family and friends. Musicians, fire breathers, magicians, acrobats, and more world-class performers transform Halifax’s waterfront into a stage for six incredible days. The fun continues with carnival rides, and you can have your taste buds explode at the international food stalls.
Details
July 27 – August 1, 2022
1601 Lower Water Street, Halifax
Digby Scallop Days
Head to the Scallop Capital of the World for a fantastic 4-day celebration in early August. Enjoy fresh scallops at the DSD Scallop BBQ, take part in the AquaGolf tournament, and watch the costume pet show. Make sure to bring a lawn chair because there are live concerts, a fireworks display, and scallop shucking by the water. Many local restaurants have great scallops specials that you can devour.
Details
August 4 – 7, 2022
Water Street, Digby
Fox Mountain Country Music Festival
Set up camp and dust off your lawn chair for a weekend full of Country Music in the Annapolis Valley. The stage hosts performers from across North America. Each ticket includes a rough camping site, so you can break out your tent to sleep under the stars.
Details
August 4 – 7, 2022
Fox Mountain Camping Park, 6128 Aylesford Road, Aylesford
$85 – $95
Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival
Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival is a small town festival with a big reputation! Each year, music lovers flock to this distinct UNESCO World Heritage town for the best of Folk music and a healthy dose of fun. It is the longest-running music festival in Nova Scotia and one of the oldest in Canada. Details
August 4 to 7, 2022
Lunenburg, NS
$80.00 & up
Halifax Seaport Cider & Beerfest
Bringing over 300 craft beers and ciders from across Canada and the World, the Halifax Seaport Cider & Beerfest is back and better than ever. The Maine Beer Box will be on site with 78 craft beers on tap. It wouldn’t be a festival without great live music by local musicians and DJs and locally-inspired food, which will also be onsite all weekend long.
Details
August 5 – 6, 2022
Cunard Centre, 961 Marginal Road, Halifax
Photo Credit: Margaree Highland Games
Margaree Highland Games
Blending Cape Breton’s Scottish, Irish and Acadian cultures, the Margaree Highland Games are the island’s most exciting summer event. Over the weekend, you can see traditional heavy events with bag-piping & highland dancing, running races, children’s games, and much more
Details
August 12 – 14, 2022
1181 East Margaree Road, Margaree
Nova Scotia Summer Fest
The ultimate summer music festival in Nova Scotia is taking place in Antigonish. Cap off the summer with three days of live music and great local wine and brews. From Rock to Country to Pop, the music lineup has something for everyone’s musical tastes.
Details
August 19 – 21, 2022
Columbus Field, Antigonish
13th Annual Kejimkujik Dark-Sky Weekend
See the night sky without light pollution in Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site. Sleep under the stars and search the sky for planets, galaxies, and meteors. During the day, you can hear stories and learn about what makes the skies above Nova Scotia so very unique.
Details
August 19 – 21, 2022
Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site, 3005 Kejimkujik Main Parkway, Caledonia
Wild Blueberry Harvest Festival
You probably have seen or heard of Oxford Frozen Blueberries if you live in the Maritimes. While Oxford is well-known as the Wild Blueberry Capital of Canada, Central Nova Scotia is packed with these blueberry bushes. Celebrate the harvest with blueberry-themed events and delicious meals across the region.
Details
August 19 – September 3, 2022
Throughout Central Nova Scotia
Halifax Urban Folk Festival
This festival is better known as HUFF and features local acts and other Canadian bands. Details
August 28 – September 4, 2022
Halifax, NS
More Festivals:
Check back later in the year for 2022/23 festival list:
- Family Fun Festivals in Nova Scotia
- Music Festivals in Nova Scotia
- Food, Beer, and Wine Festivals in Nova Scotia
Bucketlist Nova Scotia