Cape Breton Island 
If you are looking for a whole month of fun, Nova Scotia has you covered.
Photo Credit: Festival de I’Escaouette
Along with the famous attractions to visit, August is full of great events, festivals, art exhibits, and concerts happening. From family fun festivals to food and drink festivals and live concerts, there is something for everyone.
Listed below are just 50 of the many things to do during August in Nova Scotia.
Canada Strong Pass – Explore Nova Scotia
Enjoy free admission to Parks Canada sites and free admission for children aged 17 and under, 50% off admission fees for youth aged 18 to 24 to provincial museums until September 2, 2025.
- Parks Canada National Parks and Historic Sites
- National Museums: Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21
- Art Gallery of Nova Scotia — Halifax
- Baile nan Gàidheal | Highland Village — Iona
- Balmoral Grist Mill — Balmoral Mills
- Barrington Woolen Mill — Barrington Passage
- Black Loyalist Heritage Centre — Birchtown
- Clifton Museum Park — Windsor
- Cossit House Museum — Sydney
- Firefighters Museum of Nova Scotia — Yarmouth
- Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic — Lunenburg
- Fisherman’s Life Museum — Jeddore Oyster Pond
- Fundy Geological Museum — Parrsboro
- Historic Acadian Village of Nova Scotia — Lower West Pubnico
- Lawrence House Museum — Maitland
- Maritime Museum of the Atlantic — Halifax
- McCulloch House Museum — Pictou
- Museum of Industry — Stellarton
- Museum of Natural History — Halifax
- North Hills Museum — Granville Ferry
- Old Meeting House — Barrington Passage
- Perkins House Museum — Liverpool
- Prescott House Museum — Starrs Point
- Ross Farm Museum — New Ross
- Ross Thomson House — Shelburne
- Shand House Museum — Windsor
- Sherbrooke Village — Sherbrooke
- Sutherland Steam Mill — Denmark
- The Dory Shop — Shelburne
- Uniacke Museum Estate Park — Mount Uniacke
- Wile Carding Mill — Bridgewater
1. Festival Acadien De Clare
Celebrate the Acadian heritage and culture at the oldest Acadian festival in the world. Each Festival Acadien De Clare day is filled with activities for all ages. Enjoy live music at one of the many concerts during the festival. Show your Acadian pride during the Tintamarre and the annual parade.
Details
July 26 – August 6 & 15, 2025
2. Buskerfest
Buskerfest
Great news! Buskerfest is back this year with performances and fun on the Halifax Waterfront and Alderney Landing in Dartmouth. You will be treated to mind-blowing shows from the world’s top street performance artists as they showcase their unique talents and skills with acrobatics, music, visual arts, comedy, fire shows, and so much more.
Details
July 30 to August 4, 2025
3. Festival of Cape Breton Fiddling
Festival of Cape Breton Fiddling
The 52nd annual Festival of Cape Breton Fiddling will be held on the beautiful grounds of the Gaelic College in St. Ann’s. This extravaganza will feature workshops, gala concert, canteen services, a square dance, and a jam session.
Details
August 16, 2025
4. Avon River Days
Details
August 1 – 3, 2025
5. Digby Scallop Days
Gather your family and spend the weekend celebrating all things ‘Scallop’ at the Digby Scallop Days. 2025 is the 49th year of Scallop Days and is the longest-running festival in Digby. Events include a Scallop BBQ, a huge car show, games of AquaGolf, and live demonstrations. Spend some quality family time listening to the local artists or exploring the waterfront.
Details
August 7 – 10, 2025
6. Halifax Seaport Cider & Beerfest and Fizzfest
Brew lovers welcome! This is Atlantic Canada’s largest gathering of Craft Beer, Specialty, Import, and Cider. Breweries and agents representing over 100 producers will be on hand to sample and discuss over 300 unique products.
Details
August 14-16, 2025
7. Western Nova Scotia Exhibition
A must-see destination for people all over the Yarmouth area. There will be commercial displays, the South West Nova Cultural and Arts Extravaganza, and Fine Art competitions.
Details
July 30 -August 2, 2025
8. Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival
The Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival is a vibrant East Coast experience. It takes place over three days in early August and showcases music and dance from a wide range of cultures. It is the longest-running music festival in Nova Scotia and one of the oldest music festivals in Canada. You can also enjoy the numerous shops, museums, galleries, pubs, and restaurants between shows in this beautiful UNESCO World Heritage town.
Details
August 7 to 10, 2025
9. Wild Blueberry Harvest Festival
The Wild Blueberry Harvest Festival takes place in towns from Amherst to Truro, Parrsboro to Tatamagouche, and along the Kempt Shore. There is a huge selection of events taking place in each town. During this 2 week festival, you can enjoy live music, picnics, blueberry suppers, U-picks, and so much more.
Details
2025 TBA; August 17 – September 2, 2024
10. Halifax Citadel Ghost Tour
Details
11. Helly Hansen Chester Race Week
Spend a week watching boat races, and hanging out with friends and family during the Chester Race Week. Along with the races, each night of race week four amazing bands will take the stage. You can also enjoy great food served by the food trucks on-site.
Details
August 13 – 16, 2025
12. Camp at Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site
The best way to experience Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site is to stay overnight at one of the campsites. You can bring your tent or trailer or stay at one of the new accommodations options. Make sure to spend some time at night outside stargazing, as Keji is one of the best places in Nova Scotia due to its minimal light pollution.
Details
13. Festival de l’Escaouette
Celebrate the rich Acadian culture and tradition with a variety of music, dance, theatre, kitchen parties, a parade, and many more activities for all ages.
Details
July 31–August 3, 2025
14. Festival Antigonish
Throughout the summer, the Bauer Theatre stage is home to numerous shows and artistic presentations. The Secret Garden of An Sìthean will be running in August this year.
Details
August 1 – 23, 2025
15. Louisbourg Crab Fest
Mark your calendars for the 31st annual Louisbourg Crab Fest on the Louisbourg Waterfront! Enjoy delicious crab dinners, food trucks, and various children’s activities like Bounce Houses, Face Painting, Balloon Animals, and much more!
Details
August 2, 2025
16. Acoustic Roots Festival
The Acoustic Roots festival at Two Rivers Wildlife Park features top Atlantic Canadian folk, country, Celtic, bluegrass, and blues artists. The 500-acre site offers various activities and amenities, attracting local and international music fans, including families with children.
Details
August 29 – 31, 2025
17. Great Hall of the Clans Museum
Immerse yourself in cultural experiences at the Great Hall of the Clans, where you can explore the ancient history of Highland Scottish settlers in the area, witness living traditions, and embark on a journey with the Rev. Norman MacLeod Exhibit, tracing his remarkable migration from Scotland to St. Ann’s and Waipu, New Zealand. The interactive museum showcases the evolution of these traditions into the Cape Breton way of life over the past 200+ years, while Gaelic films like “Faire Chaluim MhicLeoid” and “The Fiddler’s Reel” provide a glimpse into local stories and heritage. Don’t miss the captivating Cultural Demonstrations, an enriching addition included with your admission.
Details
Monday – Friday, June 24 – October 9, 2025
18. Digby Lighthouse Tour
It’s always a good day to see a lighthouse. This tour will take you to all lighthouses in the Digby Area. Take a selfie at each lighthouse.
Details
19. Music on the Sissiboo
Bring your lawn chairs or your picnic blanket to the Weymouth waterfront on Friday evenings from 7 pm to 8:30 pm to enjoy free concerts by talented local artists.
Details
Fridays, July 4 – August 29, 2025
20. Wednesday Night Céilidhs
Make plans to go to one of the Wednesday Night Céilidhs where talented musicians from near and far come together to enchant audiences with music, dance, song, and other captivating performances.
Details
Wednesdays, July + August 2025
21. New Glasgow Riverfront Jubilee
Experience 3 days of exceptional music from August 1 to 3 at the New Glasgow Riverfront Jubilee, featuring top East Coast performers in a picturesque open-air amphitheater. This award-winning event has become a signature Nova Scotia music experience, showcasing both rising local talent and renowned national and international acts.
Details
August 1 – 3, 2025
22. Visit Yarmouth County Museum
Yarmouth County Museum & Archives is an award-winning museum with over 20,000 artifacts that document Yarmouth County’s heritage, in a historic former church. It’s also home to the third-largest ship portrait collection in Canada.
Details
23. Annapolis Valley Exhibition
The Annapolis Valley Exhibition is a week-long agricultural exhibition that features livestock competitions, the Farm Museum, live music performances on the Riverside Stage, and more.
Details
August 11 – 16, 2025
24. Highland Village Day Concert
Join us for an afternoon of fun and Gaelic arts. Fiddlers, songwriters, step-dancers, pipers, and singers come together to treat visitors to traditional Nova Scotia Gaelic culture in this outdoor concert overlooking the scenic Bras d’Or Lake. This year marks the 64th Annual Highland Village Day Concert. Highland Village Day is one of Cape Breton Island’s original Outdoor Scotch Concerts.
Details
August 2, 2025
25. Family Ranch Adventure
Get ready for a farm-themed day of family fun. Drop into Shelby Ranch for unlimited pony rides, mechanical bull rides, hanging out on the sticky wall, and spending some time at the petting farm with the cute animals.
Details
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26. Cape Breton Comedy Fest
The Cape Breton Comedy Fest, from August 20 – 23, 2025, features top comedians like Scott Thompson. Don’t miss the Gala on August 23 at Highland Arts Theatre.
Details
August 20 – 23, 2025
27. Emancipation Day
On August 1, commemorate Emancipation Day and learn about Black History at Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site.
Join a noontime procession, a special cannon firing, and a commemorative flag raising. Participate in a special tour that shares the history of enslavement at the site.
August 1, 2025
28. Festival Savalette
Celebrate Tor Bay Acadian culture and history with activities for all ages.
Details
August 6-10, 2025
29. Trecothic Creek & Windsor Railway
Discover Windsor’s 1/8-scale railway in a scenic park setting, offering ride-on model locomotives from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Details
August 2, 3 & 17, 31, 2025
30. Halifax Ghost Walk
Prepared to be scared when you go on North America’s oldest Ghost Walk. Meet at the Old Town Clock at Citadel Hill. You will hear the dark stories of the city while walking through Halifax’s historic city blocks. Details
31. Great Outdoors Comedy Festival
Great Outdoors Comedy Festival
Enjoy a wildly hilarious night with an incredible lineup of comedic talent, including Aziz Ansari, John Mulaney, Jeff Arcuri, Whitney Cummings, Bert Kreischer, and friends.
Details
August 7 – 10, 2025
32. Le Festival acadien de Clare
Celebrate the 70th Anniversary of Le Festival acadien de Clare, the world’s oldest Acadian festival. Many activities for people of all ages take place throughout Clare, providing visitors the opportunity to visit and experience every part of this picturesque and culturally unique region.
Details
July 26 to August 6 and August 15 – 16, 2025
33. Louisbourg Race Through Time
Sign up for an exhilarating road race that will take you from 18th century Fortress of Louisbourg that the French walked upon nearly 300 years ago to modern day and back again!
Details
August 16, 2025
34. Crack Your Way along the Nova Scotia Lobster Trail
Get crack on the way to the many stops along the Nova Scotia Lobster Trail. Feast on fresh lobsters and get inspired by local chefs’ creations. On the Lobster Trail, you will find traditional lobster dinners, lobster rolls, and much more.
Details
35. Dining on the Ocean Floor
Experience the ultimate culinary adventure at the site of the world’s highest tides. Make sure to wear your rubber boats as you walk on the beach at Burntcoat Head Park. During low tides, you can walk on the ocean floor. The 3-course dinner will highlight local indigents and Nova Scotia Tidal Bay wine.
Details
August 5, & 19, 2025
36. Wedgeport Tuna Tournament & Festival
Details
2025 TBA; August 17-24, 2024
37. Parka’s great sleepover
On August 30, you are invited to spend the night at the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site for an evening of family-friendly games presented by Parks Canada and the Fortress Louisbourg Association. Roast marshmallows over a campfire and stargaze at the site of the first observatory in Canada! Enjoy an unforgettable family camping trip in a truly unique location!
Details
August 30 – 31, 2025
38. Joggins Fossil Cliffs
The Joggins Fossil Cliffs are a historic site for working in rocks, stretching back to mining days. These days you can take tours to look for awesome rocks, and you might just find a fossil to add to their collection.
Details
39. Visit Hatfield Farm
Hatfield Farm is a fascinating location because you really can customize your experience with a wide variety of activities. Whether it’s petting the animals, pelting people with paintballs, taking a wagon ride, or just chowing down on great food, there are a lot of activities for you to do down on the farm.
Details
40. Get Lost in a Sunflower Maze
Blooming in August, Sunflowers are a gorgeous sunny reminder that summer is coming to an end. Nova Scotia is the perfect place to see sunflower mazes pop up. From the Instagram-famous Dakeyne Farm’s maze to Elderkin’s Sunflower U-pick, sunflowers are waiting for you to take photos with.
Details
41. Shakespeare By The Sea
On sunny Summer Days, Shakespeare By The Sea turns Point Pleasant Park into a wonderful stage. The company’s 2025 lineup features Robin Hood: The Legendary Musical Comedy and As You Like It: The Walk-About Experience.
Details
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42. Watch a Movie Under the Stars at the Valley Drive-In
See two movies under the stars at one of the last drive-in theatres in Atlantic Canada. The Valley Drive-In is the place to be on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights.
Details
43. Northern Lights Lantern Festival
The Northern Lights Lantern Festival is a day of fun and creativity for all ages. This year, the festival features bouncy castles, live music, on-site food trucks, face painting, a free community BBQ, lantern making, and a fireworks finale!
Details
August 9, 2025
44. Travel back in time to the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site
Feel the ground shake and see French soldiers march down the street at the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site. Play 300-year-old games, chat with fishermen, sailors, and guards, and watch meals be prepared over an open-hearth fire.
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45. Explore the Cabot Trail
Drive the famous Cabot Trail. The trail runs through the beautiful Cape Breton Highlands. While you could drive the trail in a day, it is best experienced over 3 to 5 days depending on what you do and the way you are driving.
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46. Chase Waterfalls
Nova Scotia’s unique landscape creates some magnificent waterfalls for you to find. Some are on the beaten path, while others will take you off paths to find them. Wear some comfortable shoes as it can be a hike to reach the viewing areas.
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47. Wharf Rat Rally
The Wharf Rat Rally is one of Canada’s largest motorcycle rallies, attracting thousands of motorcycles, riders, and spectators to Digby, Nova Scotia. Taking place on the Waterfront and other locations throughout Digby County and beyond on August 28 to August 31, 2025.
Details
August 28 to August 31, 2025
48. “Beaux Vendredis” Seafood Suppers
Enjoy a supper of fresh seafood on the Belliveau Cove wharf at St. Mary’s Bay. “Beaux Vendredis” seafood Suppers are held every Friday evening. Join the locals in enjoying an affordably priced (and delicious!) lobster, snow crab, or clam supper. Each supper is served alongside live local music.
Details
Fridays, July and August 2025
49. Stay at Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp Restore
Meet Yogi Bear and his friends at the Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp Restore and stay overnight at one of the 146 overnight sites or in a camp cabin. Kids and adults alike will have a blast jumping on the giant jumping pillow, playing a round of mini-golf, trying archery, or taking a dip in the pool.
Details
50. Pick Your Own Fruit and Vegetables at U-Pick Farms
It is a well-known fact that Nova Scotia farmers grow some of the most amazing fruits and vegetables. Along with buying freshly picked produce at one of the many farmer’s markets around the province, you can pick your own fruit and vegetables during August. There are many U-pick farms across Nova Scotia where you can pick more than one variety of fruit.
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Quite a variety of activities, but didn’t notice any classical music concerts.