50 Things to Do This August in Nova Scotia

If you are looking for a whole month of fun, Nova Scotia has you covered.

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 7, 2026.

• Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 (Halifax)
• Art Gallery of Nova Scotia (Halifax)
• Baile nan Gàidheal | Highland Village (Iona)
• Balmoral Grist Mill (Balmoral Mills)
• Black Loyalist Heritage Centre (Birchtown)
• Clifton Museum Park (Windsor)
• Firefighters Museum of Nova Scotia (Yarmouth)
• Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic (Lunenburg)
• Fundy Geological Museum (Parrsboro)
• Historic Acadian Village of Nova Scotia (Lower West Pubnico)
• Maritime Museum of the Atlantic (Halifax)
• Museum of Industry (Stellarton)
• Museum of Natural History (Halifax)
• Old Meeting House (Barrington Passage)
• Ross Farm Museum (New Ross)
• Sherbrooke Village (Sherbrooke)
• The Dory Shop (Shelburne)
• Uniacke Museum Estate Park (Mount Uniacke)

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.
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August 1 – 15, 2026

2. 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.
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July 29 to August 3, 2026

3. Fireworks at Fort Anne

Attend a magical fireworks evening in Annapolis Royal by arriving early, laying out your blanket, and settling in on the scenic grounds. Take in the beautiful open sky and enjoy the town’s spectacular fireworks display from the Town Wharf.
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August 2, 2026

4. Avon River Days

Celebrate as a community at the Avon River Days. Enjoy children’s activities, a car show, Grand Parade, and the classic ‘Barn Dance’ with a new spin.
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July 31 – August 2, 2026

5. Digby Scallop Days

Gather your family and spend the weekend celebrating all things ‘Scallop’ at the Digby Scallop Days. 2026 is the 50th 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.
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August 6 – 9, 2026

6. Halifax Seaport Cider & Beerfest + 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.
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August 13 – 15, 2026

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.
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August 5 – 8, 2026

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.
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August 6 to 9, 2026

9. Not Since Moses 5K and 10K

Race the Tides is a thrilling ocean-floor running event in Five Islands, Nova Scotia, set within the Cliffs of Fundy UNESCO Global Geopark. Participants can take on a muddy 5K, challenging 10K, or youth mud run during the brief window when the Bay of Fundy tides are low enough to run across the exposed seabed.
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August 16, 2026

10. Halifax Citadel Ghost Tour

Prepare for some scares when you join a Halifax Citadel Ghost Tour. During the tour, you will find out if the many legends of ghostly hauntings are true along with the dark past of Halifax and the fort.
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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.
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August 12 – 15, 2026

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.
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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.
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July 30 – August 2, 2026

14. Festival Antigonish

Throughout the summer, the Bauer Theatre stage hosts numerous shows and artistic presentations. The Secret Garden of An Sìthean will be running in August this year.
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July 14 – August 8, 2026

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!
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August 1, 2026

16. Pugwash Harbourfest

Pugwash Harbourfest celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2026 with a special summer weekend of music, community, family fun, and seaside atmosphere in the harbour village of Pugwash. Visitors can enjoy free live music, including The Fabulously Rich, along with food trucks, a waterfront wine and beer bar, the Cardboard Boat Race, Log Rolling, Lobster Crate Race, Kid Zone, hay wagon rides, and more.
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August 7 – 9, 2026

17. Great Hall of the Clans Museum

The Great Hall of the Clans offers interactive cultural experiences exploring the history, migration, and traditions of Highland Scottish settlers and their lasting influence on Cape Breton life. Visitors can explore the Rev. Norman MacLeod Exhibit, which traces his journey from Scotland to St. Ann’s and Waipu, New Zealand, alongside eight interactive displays showcasing traditions that have evolved over more than 200 years.
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Monday – Friday, June 22 – October 8, 2026

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.
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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.
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Fridays, July 3 – August 28, 2026

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.
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Wednesdays, July + August 2026

21. New Glasgow Riverfront Jubilee

Experience 3 days of exceptional music 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.
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July 31 – August 2, 2026

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.
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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.
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August 17 – 22, 2026

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 65th Annual Highland Village Day Concert. Highland Village Day is one of Cape Breton Island’s original Outdoor Scotch Concerts.
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August 1, 2026

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.
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26. Sherbrooke Village Chowderfest

Enjoy a coastal tasting experience celebrating the flavours of Nova Scotia with a choice of award-winning seafood chowder, classic fish chowder, creamy corn chowder, or a chowder flight featuring all three. Each meal includes a fresh biscuit, garden salad, beverage, and house-made dessert, with fish and corn chowders available as vegetarian-friendly options.
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August 7, 2026

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.

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August 1, 2026

28. Festival Savalette

Celebrate Tor Bay Acadian culture and history with activities for all ages.
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August 5 – 9, 2026

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.
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August  1 – 2, 16, 30, 2026

30. Halifax Ghost Walk

The Halifax Ghost Walk is a 1-hour-and-40-minute guided walk through Halifax’s historic streets, sharing eerie tales of ghosts, spirits, forerunners, devils, and local legends. Rooted in Nova Scotia folklore and supported by local history, the tour brings context and atmosphere to the city’s haunted stories. Details

31. Great Outdoors Comedy Festival

Enjoy a wildly hilarious night with an incredible lineup of comedic talent, including Matt Rife, Trevor Wallace, Andrew Schulz, Adam Ray is Dr. Phil Live, Nikki Glaser, and more.
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August 6 – 9, 2026

32. Le Festival acadien de Clare

Celebrate the 71st 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.
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August 1 – 15, 2026

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!
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August 15, 2026

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.
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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 boots 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.
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August 7 & 21, 2026

36. Wedgeport Tuna Tournament & Festival

The Wedgeport Tuna Tournament & Festival is an annual event that takes place near the end of August. This week-long festival will feature many activities, including a community yard sale, fun run, ice cream party, fun activities, fireworks, and more.
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August 16 – 22, 2026

37. Fête de Saint-Louis

Celebrate Fête de St. Louis at the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site with food, drink, and merriment honouring the patron saint of France. This traditional feast day invites visitors to enjoy a festive cultural experience included with the site’s entry fee.
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August 25, 2026

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 your collection.
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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.
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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.
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41. Shakespeare By The Sea

On sunny Summer Days, Shakespeare By The Sea turns Point Pleasant Park into a wonderful stage. The company’s 2026 lineup features Beauty & The Beast, Julius Caesar, and The Unrehearsed Hamlet.
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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.
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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!
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August 8, 2026

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. Grou Tyme Festival

The Grou Tyme Festival returns for three days of free music, culture, food, and festivities celebrating National Acadian Day in the heart of Halifax. Events include family activities and live performances at the Halifax Waterfront, a flag raising ceremony and chef-prepared bites at Grand Parade, and signature food specials with DJ sets at Stillwell Bar.
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August 13-15, 2026

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.
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Fridays, July and August 2026

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.
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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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Explore Nova Scotia