Cape Breton Island 
This winter, have some fun in the snow with your family and friends in beautiful Nova Scotia.
Photo Credit: Cape Breton Tourism
If you plan to explore Nova Scotia this winter, listed below are 30+ great things for you to do.
I. WINTER FESTIVALS & EVENTS IN NOVA SCOTIA
Open Waters Festival
January 6 to 11, 2026
Various Venues, Halifax
Halifax Cocktail Festival
The festival showcases mixologists from Nova Scotia’s top culinary spots, including Barkeep Cocktails, Black Sheep, Compass Distillers, and more, highlighting a diverse range of cocktail expertise. Details
March 28, 2026
Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel, 1919 Upper Water Street, Halifax
Downtown Dartmouth Ice Festival
Get outside and celebrate the winter at the annual Downtown Dartmouth Ice Festival. This year, the festival has expanded to three days. Free events including live ice sculpting, live music, hot chocolate and much more.
Details
January 30 to February 1, 2026
Dartmouth
Groundhog Day
Visit Shubenacadie Sam at Shubenacadie Provincial Wild Park or TR Tunnel at Two Rivers Wildlife Park, and see whether you have to endure Nova Scotia winter for six more weeks!
Details
February 2, 2026
Shubenacadie Provincial Wild Park, Shubenacadie & Two Rivers Wildlife Park, Mira
Nova Scotia Lobster Crawl Festival
The Nova Scotia Lobster Crawl is the most delicious annual event held on the South Shore of Nova Scotia. Gather your family and friends together, so you can sip, shop, savour, stay and enjoy devouring your way through more than 150 amazing lobster experiences together at the Nova Scotia Lobster Crawl. There are unique overnight getaways and family-friendly events taking place each day of the festival.
February 2026
Various, South Shore.
Pictou Frost Fest
Details
Usually around Family Day weekend, February 13 – 15, 2026
Pictou
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 7, 2026
Luckett Vineyards, 1293 Grand Pré Rd, Wallbrook
Sackville Snow Days Festival
Over the four days, events will be held around Sackville and include skating, crafts, sledding and the Sackville Snow Day Parade. Create an amazing snowman to see if you can win the snowman photo contest.
Details
February 13–15, 2026
Lower Sackville
Truro Winter Long John Festival
Grab your long johns and head to Truro for a weekend packed with winter fun.
Details
February 13–16, 2026
Truro
Winter Sportfishing Weekend
Anglers can take advantage of the annual winter sportfishing weekend when residents and non-residents can fish in open winter sportfishing areas without a licence. The Nova Scotia Anglers’ Handbook is available online.
Details
February 14 to 16, 2026
Nova Scotia Waters
Dine Around
Every year, restaurants, pubs and bars across the province showcase an array of products and creativity at an attractive price during Dine Around Nova Scotia. Dine Around menus will be available priced at $10, $20, $30, $40, $50 and $60.
Details
February 1–28, 2026
Participating Restaurants, province wide
II. WINTER ADVENTURES & OUTDOOR FUN IN NOVA SCOTIA
Credit: Ski Martock
20 Outdoor Winter Adventures in Nova Scotia for Your Bucket List
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
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
Visit Ross Farm Museum
Gather the family and travel back in time to the Ross Farm Museum, 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.
Go Skating at the Emera Oval
Credit: Discover Halifax
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
Sleigh Ride at Hatfield Farm Cowboy Adventures
Have some fun in the snow at Hatfield Farm Cowboy Adventures. On select Saturdays and Sundays, you can enjoy sleigh/wagon rides through the snow through the back woods of the Farm to Fort Clayton and back for a day of outdoor farm fun.
1840 Hammonds Plains Road, Hammonds Plains
10 Winter Getaways in Nova Scotia
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.
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 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 snowshoe with the family. The trail is a wide and well-marked 3-mile loop with plenty of beautiful water views, making 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
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.
Kentville
North Highlands Nordic Cross-Country Ski Facility
Gather your friends 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
Stargaze at the Burke-Gaffney Observatory at SMU
Enjoy a relaxing evening with your family just stargazing. On select days, 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.
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.
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.
Taking a stroll in the park on a winter afternoon is fun all around the province, no matter the weather (unless it’s sleeting, then stay inside ... »
Walking around in the winter can get difficult with snowdrifts and ice, so you need to get creative about outdoor exercise. And if you want a versatile ... »
Cape Split
Cape Split’s trail is a 6km one way trail that takes around four to five hours in the summer, so expect it to take longer in the winter. It does reward you with gorgeous panoramic views of the stunning cliffs and open ocean. Details
999 Cape Split Road, Scots Bay
Shubie Park
Dartmouth’s hidden gem, Shubie Park, is home to well-groomed trails that follow the Shubenacadie Canal and connect Dartmouth Crossing and Mic Mac Mall. Bring some birdsee,d and small birds may come to eat them from your hands.
54 Locks Rd, Dartmouth
Victoria Park
This picturesque forest draws cross-country skiers and snowshoeing enthusiasts to Victoria Park. Almost 20km of cross-country ski trails are regularly groomed. Equipment can be signed out at the Douglas Street Recreation Centre. Details
29 Park Road, Truro
Keppoch Mountain
A former Alpine ski hill, Keppoch Mountain has been transformed into a four-season outdoor recreation facility with over 10km cross-country ski trails. They have also expanded to have a 2km groomed cross-country ski loop. Details
193 Keppoch Road, Keppoch Mountain
MacLellans Mountain Sleigh Rides
Once there is enough snow on the ground, sleigh rides begin at MacLellans Mountain. After the sleigh ride, head inside to warm up next to the wood stove.
Details
257 Skyview Lane, MacLellans Mountain
Sugar Bushes and Maple Tree Farms
Maple syrup is truly a Canadian product, and early spring is the only time you can see it being made and experience the exquisite taste of taffy on snow. Nova Scotia is home to multiple maple syrup farms which welcome the public, so you are never too far from the liquid gold experience!
Plan a Romantic Winter Getaway
February is the month for romance. Plan a getaway!
Romantic Getaways in Nova Scotia
