Nova Scotia heats up with exciting events and delicious rewards of the harvest season as the warm, sunny summer days give way to the cool autumn weather. September is a great time to visit and travel across Nova Scotia because the leaves are just starting to turn amber and gold, and there is still a lot of fun summer activities to try.
Here are just 50 things to do this September in Nova Scotia.
1. Get Lost
Who is ready to get lost in a maze! Mid to late September is the best time to visit a corn maze before the crowds fill the farms!
2. Visit Nova Scotia’s Sunflower farm
Want to get lost in a field of Sunflowers? Visit Dakeyne Farm near Windsor and take enough pictures to fill your Instagram wall or fly a kite amidst the field of flowers! Visit as early in September as possible before the last petal falls near the end of September.
3. Acoustic Roots Festival – Huntington
If you enjoy bluegrass, blues, folk, Celtic, or country music, you need to check out the Acoustic Roots Festival. This music festival features some of the best East Coast musicians.
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September 1 – 3, 2023
4. Annual Sherbrooke Show and Shine
Bring the family to the Annual Sherbrooke Show and Shine for a weekend of family fun. The weekend starts on Saturday night with a concert. The rest of the weekend, you can see antique and classic vehicles, and watch a road rally.
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September 9 – 10, 2023
5. Cabot Trail Writers Festival – Cabot Trail
If you are a book lover, this event is for you. The week will be filled with engaging activities such as reading, workshops, panel discussions, and conversations with your beloved authors.
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September 22 – 24, 2023
6. FIN: Atlantic International Film Festival – Halifax
The FIN: Atlantic International Film Festival is eight days of celebrating film, music, and media from across the globe. Along with international media, FIN shows many local films to showcase the unique talent and creativity of the charming Nova Scotian filmmakers.
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September 14 – 21, 2023
7. Hike the Highlands – Cape Breton
For over 15 years, hikers from across North America have come to gather to Hike the Highlands. There are going to be challenging parts of the hike, so experience, proper hiking clothes and a light pack are highly recommended for those who participate.
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September 8 – 17, 2023
8. Hants County Exhibition – Windsor
Have fun at this 257th year old tradition! Hants County Exhibition is North America’s Oldest Agricultural Fair established in 1765. During this 16 day exhibition there will be antique engines and tractor displays, animal displays, horse show competitions, vegetable displays and competitions, art & homecraft displays, 4-H and school displays, and more for everyone to enjoy.
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September 15 – 17, 22 – 24, 2023
9. Queens County Fair – Caledonia
Experience a genuine agricultural fair! Enjoy live entertainment, mechanical bull riding, roping, horse shows, and more at Queens County Fair Grounds.
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September 19 – 23, 2023
25 Outdoor Things to Do this Summer in Liverpool and Queens County
10. Lunch Ceilidh at the Celtic Music Centre – Judique
Experience the famous Lunch at the Celtic Music Centre and listen to authentic live Celtic music while you enjoy Nova Scotian signature dishes. The fully licensed bar serves local craft beers, craft ciders, wines, and old-fashioned floats. The seasonal menu takes full advantage of local farms and fisheries to make amazing dishes.
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11. Honey Harvest Fest – Avondale/Newport Landing
Celebrate Nova Scotian honey and support local beekeepers and businesses at the Honey Harvest Festival. Head to the Avon Spirit Shipyard to meet and mingle with the local beekeepers, wineries, brewers, and artisans. The Lydia and Sally cafe will be serving yummy honey-inspired dishes during the event.
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September 9, 2023
12. Hop abroad on the Harbour Cruise! – Halifax
See the best of Halifax by land and sea. Get an exclusive view of our vibrant city’s historic sights, such as the Halifax Public Gardens, and Citadel Hill National Historic Site. Prepare your camera for unique photos of George’s Island, Cable Wharf, and the Halifax waterfront. This fully narrated amphibious tour is one you won’t soon forget!
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13. A Celebration of Queen County Quilts – Gagetown
This new exhibition at Queens County Heritage showcases beautiful displays of Queens County quilts in different styles.
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July 29 – September 23, 2023
14. Kentville Ghost Walk
Be prepared for 2 hours of scares when you buy your Kentville Ghost Walk tickets. Jerome the Grave Keeper and his ghostly friends will explain Kentville’s dark past. The walks take place rain or shine, so remember to wear warm clothes when going on this night tour.
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15. Lunenburg Doc Fest
The Lunenburg Doc Fest promotes local, national, and international filmmakers by showing their documentary films to enrich, inspire, educate, and entertain the public. The four-day festival is a celebration of factual storytelling. The documentaries cover a range of subjects, styles, points of view, and forms.
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September 21–27, 2023
16. Yarmouth Walking Tours – Yarmouth
Every town has its stories and secrets. Experience a fully guided tour that will give you a glimpse into Yarmouth’s past. You won’t want to miss hearing about the history, folklore and legends that make up this seafaring town.
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17. Blas Math Lunchtime Ceilidhs – Englishtown
Enjoy a scrumptious home-cooked meal with live music and dance at the Blas Math Lunchtime Ceilidhs. Get ready to tap your toes to Gaelic songs and traditional maritime music when you attend a Lunchtime Ceilidh.
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18. Halifax Citadel Ghost Tour
Get ready for 70 minutes of scary stories and exploring candlelit tunnels, prison cells, and restricted areas of the Citadel. The Halifax Citadel Ghost Tour guides tell the story of Canada’s most haunted historic site through true accounts of unexplained events.
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19. Shag Harbour UFO Expo – Yarmouth
This is a global UFO symposium that gathers experts, eyewitnesses, and renowned researchers to discuss observations, theories, and research on unidentified flying objects. There will also be feature presentations on the historic 1967 Shag Harbour Incident which is considered Canada’s most significant UFO case.
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September 30 – October 01, 2023
20. Deep Roots Music Festival – Wolfville
The Deep Roots Music Festival is back in and around Grand-Pre. This year welcomes a diverse group of performers and the activities center around music and well-being. Make sure to get your festival passes early as there is a lot to do and see over the 5 days.
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September 22 – 24, 2023
21. Ocean Floor Tour – Noel
Take the family on a tour of the ocean floor to learn about the delicate ecosystems that call the tidal pools and mudflats home from knowledgeable and experienced guides. The Ocean Floor Tours are about 1 hour and 15 minutes long and will take you 1 to 2km at a slow pace across the beach.
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22. Harvest Festival – Pubnico
Celebrate the harvest by enjoying freshly made baked goods at the Le Village Historique Acadien. There will also freshly made preserves for sale.
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September 14, 2023
23. Go Camping
With so much of the great outdoors to explore in Nova Scotia, it makes sense to make your base in the great outdoors. Enjoy the last bit of summer outdoors and go camping before Old Man Winter comes knocking.
24. Enjoy Stargazing – Yarmouth
You can find some of the darkest and clearest skies in North America in Yarmouth. Discover the night sky at the Dep Sky Eye Observatory, just 24 minutes from Yarmouth. This is North America’s first certified Starlight Tourist Destination with an outdoor viewing platform and an indoor 9-foot dome that houses a Celestron 14″ Edge HD telescope on a CGE Pro mount.
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25. Nova Scotia Forest Festival – Lake Charlotte
Join us on September 30th at Memory Lane Heritage Village for the Nova Scotia Forest Festival, celebrating our forest connections. Enjoy activities, the Golden Axe-Throwing Tournament, and hearty meals at the Cookhouse.
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September 30, 2023
26. Climb the Light Experience – Yarmouth
Climb the seventy-seven steps inside the lighthouse to the lantern room and enjoy a full panoramic view of Cape Forchu, Yarmouth Harbour, and the Atlantic Ocean! Learn about the history and life of a lightkeeper.
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Until September 22, 2023
27. Gran Fondo Baie Sainte-Marie
This is Nova Scotia’s biggest cycling event that offers an epic coastal ride for all types of cyclists and prioritizes camaraderie over competition. The event features five rides, from 35 km to 161 km, showcasing stunning landscapes.
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September 9 & 10, 2023
28. Lumière Arts Festival – Sydney
Lumière Cape Breton is a free, contemporary arts festival that showcase public installations and online presentations of art, films and video, as well as panel discussions and artist talks. The festival ends with a Art-at-Night festival. Details
June 30 – September 08, 2023
29. Beaux Vendredis Lobster, Clam and Crab Suppers – Belliveau Cove
Every Friday evening during the summer, Beaux Vendredis offers seafood suppers by the Belliveau Cove waterfront, complemented by live local music. Enjoy scrumptious lobster, snow crab, or clam suppers. Details
September 22 – 24, 2023
30. Lunenburg Heritage House Tour: Behind the Doors – Lunenburg
This year, the Lunenburg Heritage House Tour goes behind the doors of churches, houses, museum and commercial buildings.
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September 9, 2023
31. Parrsboro Film Festival – Parrsboro
The Parrsboro Film Festival offers a dynamic trio of days filled with short film competitions, engaging speakers, and immersive film screenings.
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September 29 – October 1, 2023
32. Bluenose II Harbour Cruises – Lunenburg
Experience the sights, smells and sounds of sailing on a Grand Banks fishing schooner! Bluenose II welcomes passengers on board for 2-hour harbour cruises twice a day in Lunenburg and Halifax.
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33. Age of the Mastodon Exhibit – Yarmouth
Explore this exhibit for a captivating journey through time, transporting you thousands of years back to an era when colossal giants wandered the earth. Marvel at a life-sized Mastodon and a captivating array of remarkable fossils and specimens, all as you embark on a voyage to the enthralling Age of the Mastodon! Details
on until September 30, 2023
34. Terra Fondo
Get ready to ride! The Terra Fondo is a mountain bike ride along the Rails-to-Trails multi-use system along with more challenging trails in the Acadian region of Clare.
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September 10, 2023
35. Hector 250 – Pictou
Commemorate the bicentenary of The Ship Hector’s arrival on the Pictou shores, a historic moment that introduced the inaugural surge of Scottish settlers to Canada in 1773. Join us for the Hector 250 marquee events from September 15 to 17, 2023. Experience Ship Hector Tours, witness the Hector 250 Tattoo, partake in the Bluenose II Visit & Regatta, immerse yourself in the Hector Ceilidh, and engage in various Gaelic Cultural Events. Details
September 15 – 17, 2023
36. Lebanese Festival – Halifax
Savour the sights, sounds, and tastes of everything Lebanese at this fun festival.
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September 8-10, 2023
37. The Hydrofoil Mystery – Baddeck
Experience the return of a hit Cape Breton play in 2023, featuring a teenage boy’s summer with inventor Alexander Graham Bell in 1917 Nova Scotia. As he navigates his own interests and a secretive project, the play weaves mystery, adventure, and history, showcasing a lesser-known facet of Canadian history in an engaging and family-friendly way.
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August 18 – September 23, 2023
38. Halifax Wanderers FC
Cheer on Canadian Premier League’s newest member and enjoy watching a game of professional soccer.
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Various dates
39. Kesite’tasikl: Honoring Ancestors Through Collections – Halifax
This exhibit showcases the diverse collections of the Nova Scotia Museum and private citizens. The term ‘Kesite’tasikl’ conveys cherishing, reflecting the reasons behind collecting objects. Each object holds a unique story, mirroring human experiences. Objects, like people, have lifecycles, but collecting forms a lasting connection, symbolizing gratitude, history appreciation, and recognition of humanity within each item.
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on until November 04, 2023
40. Markets at Meander – Ashdale
Nab all your farm fresh essentials and locally made goods at this outdoor pop-up market from local farmers and artisans. Live musi, food truck, and refreshing beverages!
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September 17, 2023
41. Wharf Rat Rally – Digby
Join the biggest multi-day motorcycle rally in Canada – the Wharf Rat Rally. The rally transforms a 1.2km stretch of Digby’s main street into a motorcycle and pedestrian zone, featuring live music, stunt shows, biker games, guided tours, vendor booths, and custom builder showcases.
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August 31 – September 03, 2023
42. CaperCon 2023 – Sydney
CaperCon is Cape Breton’s only annual fan convention dedicated to cosplay, sci-fi, fantasy, comic books, and video games! This 3-day event will be filled with special guest appearances, panels, workshops, demos, a dance, contests for everything from costuming to video games, and much more.
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September 15 – 17, 2023
43. Music on the Riverbank – Bridgewater
Join with friends and family at Pijinuiskaq Park on King Street in Downtown Bridgewater as the acclaimed Music on the Riverbank free concert series returns for the season!
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September 5, 12, 2023
44. Halifax Colour Festival
Dance to the music and play with colours at the annual Halifax Colour Festival. You could win prizes at the Tug of War and Beat the Beans contests.
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September 2, 2023
45. Great Halifax Hunt
Have a fun time when you take part in the biggest scavenger hunt of the year. Explore the waterfront and find the items on your list to try to win prizes.
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September 9, 2023
46. Halifax Urban Folk Festival – Halifax
Celebrating its 14th year in 2023, HUFF is a boutique festival that celebrates songwriters and the songs they create.
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September 24 – October 1, 2023
47. Pick Your Own Apples
September is the start of apple season and when many of the apple u-picks open for the season. Gather up your family or friends for a fun day on a farm. Some farms even have wagon rides for you to get to the orchards.
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48. Explore Nova Scotia Food Trails
Nova Scotia is famous for seafood, and the culinary trails created by Taste of Nova Scotia help you experience so much of it. Grab a passport from the site and set out on a search for either chowder or lobster-based dishes.
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49. Shubenacadie Provincial Wildlife Park
Cooler days are some of the best times to visit the Shubenacadie Provincial Wildlife Park because the animals tend to be more active. The Park is home to many animals from Nova Scotia, alongside other exotic that live at the park.
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50. Relax with a Fall Getaway
While summer is the most popular to take a getaway, fall offers less crowded resorts and there are often specials. Across Nova Scotia, you can find breathtaking views and world-class resorts.
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