Warm weather and sunny days are the perfect time to explore the awesome activities that HRM has to offer. The city comes alive all summer long with festivals and fun events.
Here are just 25 summer festivals and events to check out this summer in Halifax Metro.
Wienerpawlooza 2023
Decorate your wiener dog or just head to Shubie Park for a Wienerful Day. There will be prizes for the dachshunds, along with a yard sale for the people.
Details
June 24, 2023
Sir Douglas Hazen Park, Oromocto
Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo
Kick-off the summer at the iconic Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo. 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. Highlighting both traditional highland dancing and modern music, the Tattoo is ever-evolving.
Details
June 30-July 3, 2023
Scotiabank Centre, Halifax
$26 – $69
Harbourside Ribfest
Atlantic Canada’s largest volunteer-run food and beverage festival is back. Four days of awesome live entertainment, a full bar, and of course a wide variety of scrumptious world-class ribs are waiting for you on the Dartmouth Waterfront.
Details
June 30 – July 3, 2023
2 Ochterloney Street, Dartmouth
Halifax Mural Festival
The Halifax Mural Festival is a community-based art event, producing murals on Quinpool Road and throughout Halifax. Over the course of a week, both well-established and emerging artists will bring colour to iconic public spaces. Stay tuned for the announcement of the artist lineup and special events during the week-long festival! Details
July 3 – 9, 2023
Various locations, Halifax
North American Indigenous Games 2023
The 10th North American Indigenous Games will host competitions in 16 sports within 21 venues across Kjipuktuk (Halifax), Dartmouth, Millbrook First Nation and Sipekne’katik. The North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) 2023 will bring together more than 5,000 athletes, coaches and team staff from 756+ Indigenous Nations celebrating, sharing and reconnecting through sport and culture with the help of 3,000 volunteers.
Details
July 15 – 23, 2023
21 venues across HRM & Millbrook
TD Halifax Jazz Festival
Jazz lovers and live music enthusiasts love summertime in HRM. Across Downtown Halifax, you will find amazing concerts during mid-July. The TD Halifax Jazz Festival is the largest summer festival in Atlantic Canada and is a must-check-out event for jazz enthusiasts.
Details
July 11 – 16, 2023
Lower Water Street, Halifax
Standard Pass $215.56
Halifax Pride Festival
For 11 days this July, Halifax is home to over 150 events across the city celebrating the history, culture, activism, and perseverance of the queer community.
On Sunday, July 23rd, the annual Pride parade will begin at the corner of Robie Street and Cogswell Road. The parade will travel along Robie Street north bound, turning right at the intersection of Robie and Cunard. It will then travel along Cunard to the roundabout turning right onto North Park Street. Travelling along North Park Street to the next roundabout the parade will then exit onto Trollope Street. Turning left on Bell Road, the parade will travel southbound along Bell Road onto South Park Street, turning left onto Spring Garden Road. The parade will continue on Spring Garden ending at Spring Garden/ Brunswick Street intersection.
Details
July 20-30, 2023
Garrison Grounds, Halifax
Shakespeare By The Sea
Enjoy Pinocchio, Romeo and Juliet, and The Unrehearsed Dream at the largest and longest-running outdoor theatre festival in Atlantic Canada!
Details
July 18 – September 3, 2023
Cambridge Battery at Point Pleasant Park
The National Youth Orchestra: 2023 Aurora Tour
Enjoy a lovely afternoon of music featuring a small ensemble of players from the world-renowned National Youth Orchestra of Canada.
Details
July 26, 2023 from 7:30 pm
Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, 6101 University Ave, Halifax
$0.00-$75.00
Afrifest
The Afrifest celebrates the arts, crafts, food, and culture of people of African descent. Notable performers this year include Dicko Fils from Burkina Faso, Haitian Wesli Band from Montreal, Burundi Drummers from Ottawa, Amadou Kienou from Toronto, Bobo Musique from Montreal, Carson Downey from East Preston, Rhythm of Africa, Advocates of Truth, Andru Branch and Halfway Tree, Wontanara Drum, and Dance, and a lot more.
Details
July 27 – 30, 2023
Sackville Landing, Lower Water Street, Halifax
Nova Multifest 2023
Experience unique performances, demonstrations, and exhibits from the multicultural fabric that makes Nova Scotia unique at Alderney Landing. You can also taste international culinary delights at this fantastic multicultural event.
Details
July 21 – 23, 2023
Alderney Landing, Dartmouth
Halifax Busker Festival
You never know what spectacular acts that you are going to see when the Halifax Busker Festival is in town. For four days, national and international performers take over both waterfronts and turn them into stages where visitors and locals alike can watch fantastic acts.
Details
August 2 – 7, 2023
Halifax
Halifax Seaport Cider and Beerfest + Fizzfest
FizzFest is your chance to taste a range of pre-mixed cocktails, sodas and seltzers.
Details
August 10 – 12, 2023
Halifax Seaport Parking lot, 1209 Marginal Rd
The Great Outdoors Comedy Festival
Get ready for a comedy weekend unlike any other, featuring top comedians as well as local comedians, improv groups and DJs performing live. LOL with Jerry Seinfeld & friends, Anthony Jeselnik, Zarna Garg, Michael Longfellow and Bill Burr & friends.
Details
August 11 – 13, 2023
Garrison Grounds, Halifax
Halifax Salsa & Bachata Festival
At three locations over three days, Afro-Latin music fills the air around Halifax Waterfront. There will be live Latin music, dance classes, drink and food. No partner or No dance experience is required.
Details
August 10 – 12, 2023
Halifax Harbour Waterfront
Kiwanis Mother Goose Festival
The whole family is welcome at the annual Mother Goose Festival. Meet Nursery Rhyme friends, pet some adorable farm animals, dig for awesome treasure, bounce around in the Bouncy Castle, watch a play, and much more.
Details
2023 TBA
August 20, 2022 from 10 am – 1 pm
Alderney Landing, Dartmouth
India Fest 2023
Immerse yourself in the true Indian culture with Food, Dance, and Music at this fantastic three-day celebration. There will be a large variety of Indian food, clothes, art & crafts, jewellery, and Henna for you to experience in the Multipurpose Room at the Halifax Forum.
Details
August 11 – 13, 2023
2901 Windsor St, Halifax
43rd Clam Harbour Beach Sandcastle Competition
The sandcastle and sand sculpturing contest attracts over 10,000 people every year to the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia. There are cash prizes for various categories. First Aid personnel and provincial lifeguards will be on site. There is an on-site bus shuttle service to transport people to and from the beach after the park opens at 9:00 AM.
Details
August 13, 2023 at 9 am
Clam Harbour Beach
Rock the Harbour
Rock the Harbour is Nova Scotia’s newest festival. A classic rock festival like no other! This year’s event features an outstanding line-up of Canadian Classic Rock bands performing the hits we’ve loved for decades.
Details
August 18-20, 2023
Alderney Landing in Dartmouth
Full 3 Day Pass – $201.00/ea + s/c
20th Annual Northern Lights Lantern Festival
Returning for it’s 19th year, the Northern Lights Lantern Festival is back at The Pit. There will be Bouncy Castles for the kids to enjoy, you can make your own lantern, play some fun carnival games, have a free meal at the community BBQ, listen to the live music being played from the main stage, and watch the gorgeous parade of lanterns and spectacular fireworks at the end of the night.
Details
August 12, 2023 from 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Merv Sullivan Park, Halifax
Free
Daniel Matto & Holly Arsenault – The Seventies Songbook: Volume Three
Daniel Matto and Holly Arsenault bring their celebration of iconic ’70s music – The Seventies Songbook: Volume III– to The Carleton on Sunday, August 27th.
Details
August 27, 2023 from 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
1685 Argyle St, Halifax
$28.75
Craft Draught Showdown: Lake City vs Maritime Express
Enjoy 5 courses prepared by Chef Mathias Probst, each one paired with two 4 oz brews selected by expert Brewmasters to complement the dish. Chef and Brewmasters will be on hand to speak about their pairings. You vote for the most successful pairing after each course, with the grand winner declared at the end of the evening.
Details
August 30, 2023 from 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
1685 Argyle St, Halifax
$115
Halifax Fringe Festival
Everything is on the table during the Halifax Fringe Festival. The Fringe includes theatre, music, circus, dance, comedy, education, and more at 10+ venues across the city. With over 350 performances, there is always something on stage for this popular 11-day festival.
Details
August 31 – September 10, 2023 (Tentative)
2203 Gottingen Street, Halifax
Dartmouth Sunshine Series Free Concerts
The 2023 Dartmouth Sunshine Series is back with 7 weekends of programming at the Dartmouth Ferry Terminal Park. The Series will kick off on Sunday, June 25th in partnership with Dartmouth Open Street.
June 25 to August 7, 2023
Dartmouth Ferry Terminal Park
Natal Day
The 2023 Natal Day celebrations offer plenty of family fun and festivities for both young and old.
Details
August 4 – 8, 2023
Halifax
Lebanese Festival 2023
The Festival offers the famous delicious array of authentic Lebanese food, live entertainment, performances, and various activities for the whole family to enjoy.
Details
September 8 – 10, 2023
2304 Hunter Street, Halifax
Free
FIN Atlantic International Film Festival
The Atlantic International Film Festival is an eight-day celebration of film and media with regional and international talent. It’s also a chance for filmmakers and fans to exchange thoughts on the creative process and technical aspects of movie making.
Details
September 14 – 21, 2023
5657 Spring Garden Rd, Halifax