Halifax
Photo Credit: Cape Breton Tourism
Have some fun in the snow with your family and friends this winter in beautiful Nova Scotia. If you are planning to explore Nova Scotia this winter, listed below there are 35+ great things for you to do.
Annual Eat Drink Local
Enjoy a fabulous, all-inclusive evening of local eats, craft beer and cider and live music!
Thursday, January 10 2019
Halifax Marriott Harbourfront
Annual Victoria Country Embrace Winter Active fest
Spend some time snowshoeing, skiing, ice fishing, snowmobiling, and many more activities at the Annual Victoria Country Embrace Winter Activefest. The month-long event is packed with family fun activities. It is a great way to get out and spend quality family time while enjoying winter and the wonders of nature.
February 8 to March 17, 2019
495 Chebucto St., Baddeck
Nova Scotia Icewine Festival
Hosted in the heart of the Annapolis Valley at the Lightfoot & Wolfville Winery, the Nova Scotia Icewine Festival features wines from across Nova Scotia. There will be great local foods created by amazing local chefs for you and your friends to enjoy with the specialty Icewines.
February 14 to 24, 2019
Wolfville
Visit Ross Farm Museum
Gather the family and travel back in time at the Ross Farm Museum, which is a living heritage site with much of the farm remaining the same since the 1800s. You can go on a winter sleigh ride, explore the farm, and meet the friendly farm animals.
Adult $10.00, Family (max. 2 adults) $25.00
Senior (65+) $8.00, Students (with Student Card) $8.00,
Child (6-17 years) $4.00, 5 & Under Free
Go Skating at the Emera Oval
Spend the day outside with the family and bring your skates to the Emera Oval. In the winter, it is an ice skating rink. Even if it is a warm winter day, the rink will still be open because it is artificially refrigerated.
North Park Street, Halifax North Common, Halifax
In the Dead of Winter Festival
2019 is the 14th annual In The Dead of Winter Festival in Halifax. During the 3 days, the city is packed with emerging and established artists from across North America. Make sure to pick up your passes early.
January 23th to 26th, 2019
1685 Argyle St, Halifax
South Shore Lobster Crawl
Gather your family and friends together, so you can sip, shop, savour, stay and enjoy devouring your way through 100 amazing lobster experiences together at the South Shore Lobster Crawl. There are unique family friendly events taking place each day of the festival.
February 1st to 18th, 2019
Valentine’s Chef Nights at Sugar Moon Farms
Chef Craig Flinn is cooking up a maple-inspired dinner with NS wines for Valentines Chef Nights. The dinner will have live jazz and the lovely forests around Sugar Moon Farms to create the mood.
February 8thto February 15, 2019
221 Alex MacDonald Road, Earltown
Ski Martock
Ski Martock is just minutes from HRM, the Shore, and Annapolis Valley, which makes it a very popular option for skiing and snowboarding. There is a beginner and kids area, so it is a great place to learn a fun, new skill. There are also harder areas that are designed for skilled skiers and snowboarders.
370 Ski Martock Road, Windsor
Ski Wentworth
Take the family out for a fun filled day of skiing and snowboarding at Ski Wentworth.It is the largest ski area in the Maritimes at 238 vertical metres high and it has 25 alpine trails to pick from. There is a snow school for beginners, a ski shop, and a cafeteria and bar that you can warm up at.
14595 Route #4, Wentworth Valley
Ski Cape Smokey
Spend the weekend with your friends on the slopes at Ski Cape Smokey for Ski By The Sea. When you are at the top of the mountain, you will have a breathtaking view of the Atlantic Ocean. Cape Smokey has a fantastic 305 metre vertical drop that skilled skiers and snowboarders absolutely love.
38696 Cabot Trail, Ingonish Beach
Ski Ben Eoin
Ski and snowboard down the hills in the picturesque Cape Breton Island at Ski Ben Eoin. The slopes have been open for over 50 years and have a community feel. There is a terrain park that has rails, jumps, and boxes that you can practice your skills on.
5101 NS-4, Ben Eoin
Sleigh Ride at Hatfield Farm Cowboy Adventures
Have some fun in the snow at Hatfield Farm Cowboy Adventures. From December 30, 2018, to March 31, 2019, on Sundays at 2 pm you can enjoy sleigh rides through the snow. After the sleigh ride, enjoy a cup of hot chocolate to warm up.
1840 Hammonds Plains Road, Hammonds Plains
Visit Sugar Moon
At the end of winter and the start of spring, it is time to start tapping maple trees to make a sweet treat, Maple Syrup. Sugar Moon Farms is a popular maple sugar woods. You can take a tour of the woods or enjoy a meal inspired by maple at the restaurant.
SkyWolf K-9 Dog Sledding
Dog sledding is a very Canadian activity, and you can go dog sledding at SkyWolf K-9 Dog Sledding. You can spend a few hours gliding quietly through the snow and meet friendly dogs. If you would feel more comfortable riding, they have a 4 seater cart which can be pulled by 8-10 dogs that will give you the feeling of excitement you would experience if you were on a sled flying down the trails while enjoying the beauty around you.
50 Lynch Road, Newport Corner
Cape Breton Highlights National Park
Cape Breton Highlands National Park is open year-round and you can explore the Highlands while they are covered in a blanket of sparkling snow. There are six campgrounds that you can stay overnight at, or you can just take a day hike through them.
Enjoy a Lobster Roll at The Bicycle Thief
The Bicycle Thief is a restaurant in Halifax that is a popular option, especially if you are looking for North American Food made in the traditional way. They are known for their scrumptious Lobster Roll. If you stop in, make sure to check out the other delicious North American Classic dishes on their menu.
1475 Lower Water Street, Halifax
Bridgewater’s Craft Beer Festival
Celebrate the amazing craft beers of Nova Scotia at the Lobster Crawl Craft Beer Festival. There will be over 20 craft breweries/cideries, a food truck or two, games and activities and live music!
Saturday, February 9
Lunenburg County Lifestyles Centre
Rendez-vous de la Francophonie
The month of March is packed with events that are a part of the 21stannual Rendez-vous de la Francophonie. A full list of events will be released on a date that is closer to the event.
March 1 – 31, 2019
Visit Peggy’s Cove
Peggy’s Cove is one of Nova Scotia’s most popular attractions and its lighthouse is iconic. While most people visit Peggy’s Cove in the summer, visiting in the winter is a great idea because the snow changes how the town and lighthouse look.
Davison’s Pancake House and Maple Products
The Davison’s Farm has been around for over 110 years, and the Pancake house opened its doors in 1995. Once the weather starts warming up, you can see how maple syrup is made and enjoy dishes made with and topped with this sweet Canadian treat.
2740 Newville Road, Parrsboro
Maplewood Maple Syrup & Christmas Tree Farm
Maplewood Christmas Tree Farmis a popular location for finding a Christmas Tree in the Annapolis Valley. They also have over 3400 taps collecting maple water that will be turned into maple products. Take a tour and enjoy fresh maple products.
345 Miner Meadow Rd, Wolfville
The Discovery Centre
Have fun and learn about the world at The Discovery Centre. The over 40,000 square foot facility features four floors that are packed with interactive learning experiences. Make sure to check out the Feature Exhibit since it changes 3 to 4 times a year, and has exhibits that come from around the world.
1215 Lower Water St, Halifax
Plan a Romantic Winter Getaway
February is the month for romance.
Plan a getaway!
Romantic Getaways in Nova Scotia
10 Winter Getaways in Nova Scotia
Learn Blacksmithing at FireHouse Ironworks
Blacksmithing is a unique skill with a long history from across the world. FireHouse Ironworks has opened its workshop doors to allow people to learn how to blacksmith and make their own metal items. There are two and four day courses. They also have a shop if you want to buy amazing hand-crafted iron items.
109 Main St, Whycocomagh
Go Skating at the BMO Centre
On Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, there are free public skates taking place at the BMO Centre in Bedford. So, you can spend a fun family day with the kids skating and after the public skate is over, you can enjoy a hot beverage and a delicious snack at the on-site concession stand.
61 Gary Martin Dr., Bedford
Little Ray’s Wildlife Festival — ‘Meet a Sloth and More’!
Learn about animals and even get to meet them up close at the Meet a Sloth and More! Natural History Exhibition. There will be over 30 live animal exhibits to see and you may even get to interact with some of the animals.
January 10 – 13, 2019
Halifax Forum
Walk the Halifax Waterfront
Grab a hot drink from one of the many cafes around the Halifax Waterfront, and take a walk along the Halifax Waterfront. You can explore the shops, cafes, and other businesses, or just take a relaxing walk along the water with the family.
Go Snowshoeing at the Amherst Point Bird Sanctuary
The Amherst Point Bird Sanctuary is a wonderful place to go snowshoeing with the family. The trail is a wide and well-marked 3-mile loop that has plenty of beautiful water views, which make for gorgeous picture settings. There are many places where you can stop and feed the birds, chipmunks, and squirrels if you bring bird feed and peanuts with you.
Southampton Road, Amherst
Amherst Farmers Market
Take step back in time at the Amherst Farmers Market that is held every Friday from 10 am to 2 pm. The market has vendors who sell fresh seafood, dulse, maple products, plants, produce, NS tartan arts & crafts, preserves, warm woolens, delicious chocolates, traditional East Coast home baking (fudge, pies, and homemade bread), etc.
9 Electric Street, Amherst
Hike Miners Marsh
In the heart of Kentville is a Ducks Unlimited Site called Miner’s Marsh. The marsh is open year-round, and the winter creates breathtaking landscapes along the easy to walk trails.
Lunenburg Farmers’ Market
The Lunenburg Farmers’ Market has been a popular gathering place for over 25 years. The market is open on Thursdays from 8:30am to 12pm until May. Vendors will have locally grown produce, baked goods and hand-crafted goods available for sale.
17 Green Street, Lunenburg
North Highlands Nordic Cross-Country Ski Facility
Gather your friends together and head to Cape North for a relaxing day of cross-country skiing at the North Highlands Nordic Cross-Country Ski Facility. They have over 10 km (6 mi) of groomed trails, which are groomed daily (weather permitting), that can be used for classic and skate technique. If skiing isn’t your thing, you can snowshoe on the winter walking trails.
29325 Cabot Trail, Cape North, Cabot Trail
Go Snowshoeing at Remember Adventures
Spend a fun day with the family snowshoeing on the Trans Canada Trail. Remember Adventures has snowshoes in all sizes that you can rent for the day. After a fun day of snowshoeing, you can take the family for a delicious meal at the Caper Café that is on-site
365 Main Street, Tatamagouche, Northumberland Shore
Stargaze at the Burke-Gaffney Observatory at SMU
Enjoy a relaxing evening with your family just stargazing. Every second and fourth Friday of each month at 7pm, the SMU observatory offers ‘free’ shows of the constellations that are visible all the way across Nova Scotia. These special evenings are a great way of seeing and learning more about the stars with your family.
5865 Gorsebrook Ave, Halifax
Go Tobogganing at The Pit
The Pit is well-known as one of the best tobogganing hills in Halifax. The slopes are located at the Marv Sullivan Park in Halifax’s North End. The handy path that goes back to the top makes it easy for tobogganers to get more rides throughout the day. It is recommended that all tobogganer should wear a helmet because the slopes are so steep.