The leaves are starting to change colour, so it is time to head out and start enjoying the fall sights and cooler weather. There is still a lot of fun activities around HRM to enjoy and even some activities that only take place in the fall. To get the most from fall, here are the best activities to do this fall in Halifax Metro.
Fall Season Events & Festivals
Nova Scotia Forest Festival
The Nova Scotia Forest Festival is a celebration of all our forests provides. From hands-on demonstrations and activities to learning to throw an axe or paddle a canoe, come and enjoy an array of activities in the fresh fall air at Memory Lane Heritage Village! September 30, 2023. Details
Prismatic Arts Festival
The Prismatic Arts Festival is a national, multidisciplinary arts festival that showcases and celebrates innovative work by Indigenous artists and artists of colour from across Canada. Enjoy vibrant, boundary-pushing new works in theatre, dance, music, film, visual arts, media arts, and spoken word this fall in Halifax. September 29 – October 8, 2023 Details
The Play That Goes Wrong
This Olivier Award-winning comedy is a hilarious hybrid of Monty Python and Sherlock Holmes and will play at the Neptune Theatre on September 26 to October 22, 2023. Details
Where: Fountain Hall, Neptune Theatre, 1593 Argyle Street, Halifax
The Harvest at Halifax’s Seaport Farmers Market
Spend a day with the family at Halifax’s Seaport Farmers Market where you can peruse a fabulous showcase of local products from local farmers, food vendors, crafters, and artisans. Details
Sureside Studio Tour
Enjoy a drive along the coast and tour the studios of artists at the communities of West Lawrencetown, East Lawrencetown, Three Fathom Harbour, Seaforth, Grand Desert, and West Chezzetcook. Artists and artisans will open their studios and homes to showcase their talent and creativity. October 1, 2023. Details
Cheer on the Halifax Mooseheads
Catch a home game in person at the Scotiabank Centre! Details
Meaghan Smith: The Holiday Show
Get your tickets to Meaghan Smith: The Holiday Show at St Andrew’s on December 1 – 2, 2023. Details
Where: The Stage at St Andrew’s, 6036 Coburg Road, Halifax
Nocturne 2023
See Halifax and Dartmouth come alive with Nocturne: Art of Night. This 4-day immersive artistic experience takes place from October 12 to 15, 2023. Details
Murder for Two
See a zany blend of classic musical comedy and madcap mystery from October 17 to November 5, 2023. This 90 minute whodunit is a highly theatrical duet loaded with killer laughs. Details
Where: Neptune Theatre, 1593 Argyle Street, Halifax
Big Wreck
Get ready to enjoy an evening with Big Wreck on November 15, 2023. Get your tickets before it’s gone! Details
Where: Performance Hall at Light House, 1800 Argyle Street, Halifax
Come If You Dare
Get ready for some spooktacular music as we celebrate Halloween with some spooky classical favourites. Be sure to come in costume to help the orchestra get into the Halloween spirit! October 28, 2023. Details
Nova Scotia Music Week
Start planning your Nova Scotia Music Week! Music. November 2 – 5, 2023. Details
Fibre Arts Festival
Celebrate the colourful world of Fibre Arts at the Memory Lane. October 21, 2023. Details
Fall Vintage Show
Don’t miss the Curio Collective’s Fall Vintage Show taking place at the Light House Arts Centre on October 7th & 8th! Details
Warm up to Winter Craft Market
Find all sorts of handmade crafts by local artisans, as well as some delicious treats, and an outdoor fireplace to cozy up to at this outdoor market. November 18, 2023. Details
Hal-Con
Join other sci-fi and superhero fans at Hal-Con to celebrate fandoms, and to meet the people who play their favorite characters and who have changed the genres. Even if you don’t attend the event taking place on October 27 – 29, you can spot people in costumes across Halifax during this popular convention. Details
Ghostly Gala
Join us for a hauntingly spectacular evening at the Cole Harbour Heritage Farm Museum! Step into a realm of spine-tingling tales as our Tellers transport you through the eerie history of our city. By the night’s end, you’ll find yourself possessed by the Halloween spirit! October 29, 2023. Details
Matt Dusk Sings Sinatra
Take a journey with Award Winning, Multi-Platinum Selling crooner Matt Dusk as he whisks you away to Las Vegas in 1966 and pays homage to his hero Frank Sinatra. November 3, 2023. Details
ReJigged Festival
ReJigged Festival is celebrating its 14th edition from October 19-22 at The Stage at St. Andrew’s in Halifax. The festival showcases Celtic music and dance. Details
Traditional 1940s Christmas Dinner
Enjoy an authentic 1940s Christmas dinner served by candlelight in the traditionally decorated Cookhouse at Memory Lane Heritage Village on November 18 – 19, 2023. Details
Evergreen Bright
See the city come alive with music, light, and joy for Evergreen Festival throughout the season. Details
Dartmouth Handcrafters Show
Shop handmade products from over 125 talented local makers. at the Dartmouth Handcrafters Show. October 20-22, 2023. Details
Where: Fountain Hall, Neptune Theatre, 1593 Argyle Street, Halifax
Francofest Halifax
Celebrate and discover the HRM’s Francophone diversity, through cultural, literary, sporting, and social events. October 19 – 29, 2023. Details
Seven Bays Bouldering
Climbing is always fun, exciting, and fresh at the Seven Bays. This is also a great place to make new friends, share a bite, as well as enjoy a good climbing session. Details
Where: 2019 Gottingen Street, Halifax
Handel’s Royal Fireworks
Handel’s Royal Fireworks Music is a festive, fabulous showstopper that’s been called “a dozen stirring fanfares rolled into one.” Canadian soprano Mireille Asselin brings beauty and expression to this concert led by Symphony Nova Scotia’s Principal Baroque Leader, Julia Wedman. November 25 – 26, 2023. Details
Diwali Carnival – Festival of Lights
Diwali is the festival of lights. This festive Indian cultural event is a great time to learn more about this new culture. Enjoy spectacular performances, dances, and great food. You can a;sp find the biggest Rangoli design in East Coast here. Details
Where: Halifax Forum, Windsor Street, Halifax
Farm Fest at Cole Harbour Farm Museum
Cole Harbour Heritage Farm Museum is a rural oasis in HRM. There are heritage buildings for your family to explore and fun farm animals to meet. In the fall, it is harvest season, so there is always work taking place on the farm using traditional farming tools.
September 30th is Farm Fest at the Museum when you can enjoy a day of fun and festivities. Join for an evening of live music in the farmyard featuring the musical stylings of David Bradshaw. Details
Where: 471 Poplar Drive, Cole Harbour
Tour the City on an e-bike
If you have never toured the City on electric bikes, fall is a great time to plan one. Details
Family Round-Up
Enjoy a day of adventure at the Hatfield Farm with petting pens, wagon rides, all-you-can-eat hot dogs, unlimited refreshments, ziplines, rubber rodeo & playgrounds. Details
Where: Hatfield Farm, 1840 Hammonds Plains Rd, Hammonds Plains
Enjoy a picnic
The Rose and Kettle Tearoom at the Cole Harbour Museum is offering an outdoor menu to enjoy at our picnic tables or at one of their many outdoor benches. You may also bring a blanket and make it a picnic. The menu will include a daily soup, sandwich, and salad along with coffee, tea, lemonade, and baked goods. Details
Where: 471 Poplar Drive, Cole Harbour
Relax with Art
Love art? Located in downtown Halifax, Argyle Fine Art is a commercial fine art gallery that showcases artists working in a variety of mediums. Drop by to see some great artwork and take home what strikes your fancy. Details
Where: 1559 Barrington Street #102, Halifax
What’s more relaxing than great food?
Book yourself an all-inclusive tour with Curated Food & Drink Tours and experience the unique flavours of urban Halifax. Choose from several guided, multi-course tours and explore one of Halifax’s unique urban neighbourhoods. You will eat well, enjoy some beverages, have fun, and learn lots of cool stuff along the way. Details
It’s Candy Time
To enjoy a sweet time, visit Freak Lunchbox Canada. Find the weirdest, newest and hippest candy and pop culture items on the market here. Details
Where: Freak Lunchbox Canada, 1729 Barrington St., Halifax
Propeller Arcade
Explore an all-authentic brewery and arcade that features a rotating cast of pinball and arcade machines as well as 12 taps of Propeller craft beer. Details
Where: 2015 Gottingen Street (in the basement of Gottingen Tap Room + Cold Beer Store), Halifax
Enjoy Apple Beverages
Made with 100% Nova Scotia apples, Chain Yard Urban Cidery offers unique and awesome ciders to its customers. Stop by to enjoy a refreshing glass of Nova Scotia cider. Details
Where: Chain Yard Cider, 2606 Agricola Street, Halifax
Tea Party in The Park: Afternoon Adventure
Follow Discover Halifax’s itinerary for an Afternoon Adventure. Have a fun day in the Spring Garden Area with a trip to a storybook café and a walk through the magical Halifax Public Gardens. Details
It’s Haunt Time
Halifax Citadel Ghost Tour
Rain or shine, get ready for 70 minutes of bone-chilling stories while you explore the prison cells, candlelit tunnels, and restricted areas of historic Citadel Hill. The staff of Halifax Citadel Ghost Tours will tell the story of Canada’s most haunted historic site through true accounts of unexplained events. Details
Where: 5425 Sackville St, Halifax
Get Ready for Some Scares at the Haunted House
The Bluenose Ghost Festival’s Haunted House is back again this year. Make sure to get your tickets early because this popular haunted house is only open October 6-8, 12-15, 19-22, 24-31, 2023. Details
Where: Alderney Landing, 2 Ochterlonley Street, Dartmouth
Riverbreeze Fear Farm
Opening in October is the Riverbreeze Fear Farm featuring 4 haunted houses, 2 haunted mazes, and 8 nights of terror. Get your tickets early! Details
Where: 660 Onslow Road, Truro
Get Outdoors
Fall Day Trips From Halifax
Go on a fall day trip — there are beautiful places to see, great food to eat, and lots of stuff to do that’s less than 3 hours away from Halifax. Here are 24 of them.
Pick Pumpkins and Explore the Corn Maze
Come play Farm Scene Investigation in the cornmaze, grab delicious lunch at the Pumpkin Grill Cafe, visit Kangaroos, bounce on the jumping pillow, and hop on the wagon to pick the perfect pumpkin from the pumpkin patches!
Bikeable Getaway
Get your bike and hit on road. There are several small biking tours you can enjoy in the season. Details
Walk along tree-lined paths
Enjoy a stroll through the popular Point Pleasant Park. The park offers great views of the Halifax Harbour and the North West Arm and has kilometers of winding footpaths, historical monuments. Details
Where: 5718 Point Pleasant Drive, Halifax
25 of the Best Hikes to Enjoy Fall in Halifax
See fall colours
The Musquodoboit Trailway is a good option to see lots of fall colours. This well-groomed trail has several branches that offer stunning views of the Musquodoboit River and surrounding areas. Details
Shubie Park
Shubie Park is the only fully equipped campground in Dartmouth, which makes it a great place to spend time in nature without having to leave the Halifax Metro area. There are also off-leash dog trails that you can explore with your furry friend.
Sir Sandford Fleming Park
Also known as The Dingle, Sir Sandford Fleming Park is off Purcell’s Cove Road and is one of the best places to see all the amazing colors of leaves in the fall. You can also climb the Dingle Tower to get a great view of the beautiful forests around the park. The park also has a playground for children, plenty of picnic areas, hiking trails, beaches, and wharves that everyone can enjoy.
Chain of Lakes Trail
The Chain of Lakes Trail is a part of the Rum Runners Trail. This scenic trail starts at Joseph Howe Drive and will take you across the city to the Bayers Lake Business Park and past several lakes. The trail is a great way to see the absolutely beautiful fall colors in the Halifax Metro area. There are also a number of places where you can stop and leave the trail if you need a rest.
Grape Escapes Nova Scotia Wine Tours
Enjoy a day exploring the sights of Nova Scotia’s wine country. Sit back, relax, and leave the driving to them, while you sip and savour your way through wineries and vineyards that show off Nova Scotia’s wonderful cool climate “terroir”. The Grape Escapes Nova Scotia Wine Tours offer a variety of tours that take place each week.
Go on a fall hike
Crowbar Lake Wilderness Trail is located 40-minute east of downtown Halifax with over 16 km of wilderness trails that offer many spectacular views together with unspoiled wilderness. The Crow’s Nest viewpoint makes your whole trek worthwhile. Details
Hike Rum Runners Trail
Rum Runner Trail is a 119km long multi-use trail that connects Halifax and Lunenburg. The trail runs through forests, which makes it a great option for those who want to see all the gorgeous fall colors. Along the trail are award-winning restaurants and shops that you can stop at. Details
Disc Golf
Enjoy Disc Golf on the Dartmouth Commons as part of Parks & Recreation’s pilot program! Disc Golf sets are available to borrow through the Findlay Community Centre’s free equipment loan program. Details
Check out Uniacke Estate Museum Park
Uniacke Estate Museum Park is known for its eight walking trails that take you around the 930-hectare property. The trails vary in length and will take you through the forest, to a lakeshore, near marshlands, and atop a drumlin. Along with the gorgeous fall colors, the park features beautiful 18th century English landscaping.
Belchers Marsh Park Trails
Take a hike with the family and see how the changing of the season’s affect the marshlands at the Belchers Marsh Park Trail. The trail is 2.5km long and will take you past the marsh and a pond in Clayton Park. There are interpretive panels at the look-off that can tell you more about the marsh and the animals who call it their home.