Celebrate Canada’s 159th birthday with fun events and activities. Here is a list of fireworks, Canada Day celebrations, and weekend festivals taking place in Halifax Metro.
Things to do on Canada Day long weekend in and around Halifax
Celebrate Canada’s 159th birthday with fun events and activities. Here is a list of fireworks, Canada Day celebrations, and weekend festivals taking place in Halifax Metro.
The information posted on the page was accurate at the time of posting. Do check official websites before planning your trip. The page will be updated with the latest events closer to July 1.
Explore Nova Scotia – Plan a Staycation
Fireworks on Canada Day Weekend
- DeWolf Park, Bedford – July 1 | 10:00 PM
- Haifax-Dartmouth Waterfront – July 1 | 10:00 PM – 10:30 PM
- Firstlake Waterfront, Sackville | July 4 | 10:00 PM
KANA’TA: Canada Day 2026 Celebrations
Join us for KANA’TA: Canada Day 2026 celebrations on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. This re-envisioned format for Canada Day offers a variety of new and refreshed cultural, musical, and family-oriented events to enjoy.
Developed in close collaboration with Indigenous communities, KANA’TA: Canada Day 2026 offers programming that honours the traditions of the Mi’kmaw Nation and celebrates pan-Indigenous communities that call the municipality home.
KANA’TA: Canada Day 2026 programming will include the Mawio’mi on the Halifax Waterfront and Halifax Commons, ANSMA Free Concert on the Dartmouth Waterfront, a Multi-Stage experience on the Halifax Waterfront featuring multiple genres of music and at night the July 1 Fireworks Show returns!
KANA’TA: Canada Day 2026. The Halifax Citadel National Historic site will also offer free admission on Wednesday, July 1 as well!
Desi Summer Music Fest
Desi Summer Music Fest returns on July 1st to the Halifax Waterfront for a vibrant celebration of global beats from around the world. Experience the energy of Desi Bollywood, Folk, Middle Eastern rhythms, Hollywood hits, and EDM vibes. Join us for an unforgettable afternoon of music, culture, and dance that bridges traditions and electrifies the summer spirit.
Wednesday, July 1, 2026 | 600 PM – 10:00 PM
Sands at Salter Main Stage, 1549 Lower Water Street
ANSMA Canada Day Concert
Join the African Nova Scotian Music Association live at Dartmouth Ferry Terminal Park for an incredible evening full of emerging and established black talent from Nova Scotia.
Wednesday, July 1 | 600 PM – 10:00 PM
Dartmouth Sunshine Series Stage – Dartmouth Ferry Terminal Park, 88 Alderney Drive, Dartmouth
Canada Day at Halifax Citadel National Historic Site
In honour of Canada’s 159th birthday, enjoy FREE admission to the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore our newest indoor exhibit, “Fortress Halifax: A City Shaped by Conflict” which offers the most comprehensive and inclusive history of Halifax in one location. Cake will be served! The iconic noon gun signals the official 21-gun salute from the Halifax Citadel saluting battery. Details
Wednesday, July 1, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Halifax Citadel National Historic Site, 5425 Sackville Street
Free admission
Royal NS International Tattoo – Canada Day Parade
Celebrate Canada’s birthday in Halifax with the return of the Sobeys Tattoo Canada Day Parade! On Tuesday, July 1, 2026, join the festivities as the parade kicks off at 10:00 a.m. from the Scotiabank Centre. The route winds through downtown Halifax, featuring over 25 groups and floats, before returning to the starting point. It’s the largest Canada Day parade east of Montreal! Details
Wednesday, July 1, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Downtown Halifax
Starts at Scotiabank Centre, 1800 Argyle Street
Halifax Commons Family Day
Celebrate Family Day at the Halifax Commons on July 1st from 11 AM to 10 PM! Enjoy a full day of free skating, swimming, children’s games, and bouncy castles. Bring the whole family for nonstop fun, laughter, and community celebration in the heart of the city!
Wednesday, July 1, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Halifax Commons, 5775 Cogswell Street
Mawio’mi on the Halifax Waterfront
Let’s celebrate KANA’TA Canada Day together with an afternoon full of traditional art, games, and performances from our indigenous communities. More details to be announced in early June.
Wednesday, July 1, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Halifax Emera Oval, 5775 Cogswell St, Halifax
10th Annual Canada Day Drumming Celebration
Join us on July 1, 2026, for the 10th Annual Canada Day Drumming event! From coast to coast, cities will be hosting drumming events. Bring your drums, pots & pans!! Nova Scotia will be hosting their own event filled with drum performances from various cultures and uniting at 2:30PM AST to drum together for 6 minutes, celebrating unity and diversity among all cultures. Don’t miss out on this incredible experience! Details
Wednesday, July 1, 2026 | 2:00 PM AST
Simultaneous drumming starts | 3:00 PM
Sullivan’s Pond – Bandshell Stage, Halifax
Sullivan’s Pond Concert
Enjoy a FREE concert featuring Dartmouth Community Concert Band at the Bandshell Stage at Sullivan’s Pond. Bring a blanket or a fold-up chair and sit back and enjoy this wonderful free summer concert. Details
Wednesday, July 1, 2026 | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Sullivan’s Pond Bandshell Stage, Sullivan’s Pond, Dartmouth
Fireworks KANA’TA Supported by Canadian Heritage
Finish off your Canada Day celebrations with fireworks over the Halifax Harbour. The best locations to view the show is from the Dartmouth Ferry Terminal Park and Foundation Wharf in Halifax.
Wednesday, July 1 | 10:00 PM – 10:30 PM
Halifax-Dartmouth Waterfront
The status of fireworks for events is subject to change. Notification of changes will be shared via the municipality’s Civic Events’ Facebook page and Twitter channel.
Bedford Days
Bedford Days kicks off on June 25 with a Seniors Dinner hosted by the Bedford Lions Club. The festivities continue with family-friendly activities till July 1st. Highlights on June 30 include Glow’s Fun Land and an outdoor screening of A Minecraft Movie. Celebrations culminate on Canada Day, July 1, with pancakes, amusement rides, live entertainment, a beer fest, and a fireworks finale at DeWolf Park. Details
June 25 – July 1, 2026
Canada Day Pancake Breakfast | July 1 | 9 AM – 11 AM
Family Fun Entertainment | July 1 | 10 AM – Noon
Kids’ Canada Day Party | July 1 | 1 PM – 4 PM
Glow’s Fun Land | July 1 | 10 AM – 4 PM & 6 PM – 9:45 PM
Canada Day Celebrations | July 1 | 7 PM – 10 PM
Canada Day Sail Past | July 1 | 8 PM
Canada Day Fireworks | July 1 | 10:00 PM
DeWolf Park, Bedford
Free admission
Sackville Community Days 2026
Join us on the little hill at First Lake park for an unforgettable evening of live music, culture, and community spirit!
Headlining the stage is the high-energy band Quicksilver, ready to light up the night with their powerhouse performance. Food trucks, local talent, and a vibrant festival atmosphere. The evening wraps with a banging fireworks show at 10 PM, lighting up the sky and ending the night on a high note. Details
June 26 – July 4, 2026
Family Fun Night | June 30
Parade | July 1 | 9 AM @ Walter N Regan Park to Rock Church
Teddy Bear Picnic | July 1 | 1 PM – 3 PM @ Sackville Arena
Fireworks | July 4 | 10:00 PM @ Kinsmen Park First Lake
Various venues, Sackville
Most events are Free
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II. Things to Do on Canada Day
Canada Day at the Museum
Enjoy live music, activities, a cookie scavenger hunt, and visit the Museum’s exhibitions for free, including our new interactive exhibition eat make share: a taste of immigration. Visitors can also witness a citizenship ceremony or visit our Scotiabank Family History Centre to research their family roots. Details
Wednesday, July 1, 2026 | 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Citizenship Ceremony (open to public): 10:00 am
Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, 1055 Marginal Road, Halifax
Free admission
Dominion Day “Old Time” Village Fair and Memory Lane’s Birthday
Enjoy a free freshly made donut from our vintage Belshaw Donut Robot, then explore the Village, filled with games and demonstrations. Check out the schedule below for the full list of activities. Details
Wednesday, July 1, 2026 | 10:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Memory Lane, 5435 Clam Harbour Road, Lake Charlotte
Free; Donations Appreciated
2026 Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo
The Tattoo is a national treasure featuring more than 2,000 world-class performers from around the world. In this two-and-a-half hour show, prepare to be amazed by everything from the traditional pipes and drums to intense acrobatics. Details
July 1 – 5, 2026
July 1 | 2:00 PM
Scotiabank Centre, Halifax
$20 – $100
The Tattoo Canada Day Parade
Don’t miss the biggest Canada Day Parade east of Montreal! Details
Wednesday, July 1, 2026 | 10:00 AM
Downtown Halifax
The Tattoo Canada Day Parade starts and ends at the Scotiabank Centre
Free
Tattoo Festival
Don’t miss the Tattoo Festival: FREE events happening this summer! Details
July 1 – 5, 2026
Various locations, Halifax
Free
Halifax Wanderers
vs. Pacific FC on Friday, June 26, 2026 | 7:00 PM
vs. Atlético Ottawa on Wednesday, July 1, 2026 | 5:00 PM
Wanderer Grounds, 5819 Sackville St, Halifax
$17 – $60+
Canada Day Fireworks Party Cruise
Looking for the ultimate Canada Day party? Climb aboard the Tall Ship Silva for a night of music, dancing, and unbeatable views of Halifax Harbour. With DJ Codak spinning all night long, you’ll enjoy an incredible party atmosphere before watching the Canada Day fireworks light up the sky from the water. There’s no better place to celebrate Canada’s birthday. Must be 19+ with valid, government issued ID. Details
Wednesday, July 1, 2026 | 9:30 PM
The Cable Wharf, 1751 Lower Water Street, Halifax
Adult: $40.63
Canada Day Block Party
Join Six by the Sea for their 2026 Canada Day Block Party — a seaside celebration with food, music, games, and more festive fun in the heart of Peggy’s Cove village. Details
Wednesday, July 1, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
110 Peggy’s Point Road, Peggy’s Cove
Free
Canada Day Mini Pet Expo
Locally curated to showcase you only the best our city has to offer our pets + pet parents + animal lovers! Check out some live animals, enter in to win some giveaways, enjoy a pup cup on us, take home a keepsake with from our pet photographer & check out some super cool vendors! Details
Wednesday, July 1, 2026 | 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Alderney Landing, 2 Ochterloney St, Dartmouth
Free
III. Things to do During Canada Day Weekend
Halifax Music Fest
Halifax Music Fest is a major, multi-genre summer music festival held at the historic Garrison Grounds at Citadel Hill in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Produced by Sonic Concerts and Mighty Quinton Concerts, it brings high-profile national and international artists to the city, fostering a vibrant outdoor concert experience. Details
June 26 – 27, 2026
Garrison Grounds, Halifax
$177 abd up
Singing by the Sea
HFX Jazz Fest & Build Nova Scotia is bringing you a The Big Sing experience on the waterfront! We’ll teach and you’ll sing!! Details
Saturday, June 27, 2026 | 1:00 PM
Queen’s Marque, 1715 Lower Water St, Halifax
Free
Dartmouth Yard Party + Pop Up Market
Outdoor vendor market + food vendors + local brews + patio tables and green space + live music + bubble party @ 12 and 4pm (bring your own bubbles or borrow ours)! Details
Saturday, June 27, 2026 | 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Burnside Brewing Company, 21 Frazee Ave, Dartmouth
Free
Steve Earle – 51 Years Of Songs & Stories
Steve Earle is one of the most acclaimed singer-songwriters of his generation, blending rock, country, and folk into a sound that is both gritty and deeply human. A protégé of legendary songwriter Townes Van Zandt, Earle emerged in the mid-1980s with his breakthrough album Guitar Town, quickly earning a reputation for sharp storytelling and unflinching authenticity. Steve Earle delivers a powerful live experience filled with raw energy, masterful songwriting, and songs that resonate long after the final note. Details
Saturday, June 27, 2026 | 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM
The Bruce Guthro Theatre, 1983 Upper Water St, Halifax
$148 and up
The ICF Masters & ICF Junior & U23 Canoe Sprint World Championships
This Summer, Lake Banook hosts the ICF Masters, Junior, and U23 Canoe Sprint World Championships, two landmark international events bringing elite competition, global attention, and the world paddling community to Nova Scotia. Details
The ICF Masters Canoe Sprint World Championships | June 25-27, 2026
ICF Junior & U23 Canoe Sprint World Championships | July 1 – 5, 2026
Lake Banook, Dartmouth
Free
IV. More Things to Do
Get Splashed
Ride and slide at Splash Adventure. Enjoy rides, slides, mini-golf, go-karts, batting cages, kids pool, carousel and more here. Details
Daily from June 14, 2026 | 10 AM – 6 PM
Atlantic Splash Adventure, 1200 Lucasville Rd, Lucasville
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Plan a Daytrip
Explore the great outdoors and take in the amazing views of this beautiful province. Try a staycation in Nova Scotia this year and explore HRM’s best waterways by paddling.
- Day Trips From Halifax: Explore Nova Scotia From Lakes, Bays and the Ocean
- 20 Must Visit Places In And Around Halifax
- 15 Ideas For a Girls Night Out in Halifax
- 15 Day Trips from Halifax
Discover St. Margaret’s Bay
Located just a few minutes drive from Halifax, St. Margaret’s Bay is home to the Village of Peggy’s Cove, the Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse, Peggy’s Cove Preservation Area, the SS Atlantic Heritage Park, and the impressive Hooked Rug Museum of North America in Queensland. Details
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Resilience on the Move: Roma People in Canada
This landmark exhibition shares the longstanding presence and contributions of Roma in Canada. It is the first national exhibition about Roma, a distinct and diverse peoples and the largest ethnic minority throughout Europe, often called “Gypsies,” an inaccurate term most Roma find offensive. Today, Toronto and Hamilton are home to the largest per-capita Roma populations outside of Europe. Learn about Roma history, culture and experiences in this Community Presents exhibition. Details
March 4 to July 12, 2026
Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, 1055 Marginal Road, Halifax
Regular admission
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Mission: Astronaut
Your mission awaits. Do you accept? Mission: Astronaut is a highly interactive exhibition that reveals what it truly takes to live and work in space. Blast off on a journey through astronaut training! This immersive experience invites visitors of all ages to step into the role of an astronaut and tackle real-world challenges inspired by space missions past, present, and future.
With robotics, hands-on interactives, and STEM-based challenges, Mission: Astronaut visitors discover how teamwork and innovation make life beyond Earth possible. Details
Daily | 9 AM – 4 PM
Discovery Centre, 1215 Lower Water Street, Halifax
$14.50 – $17.50 + HST
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Hike the Shaw Wilderness Park
Shaw Wilderness Park is a wilderness park with trails that crisscross the park. All the trails are not mapped, do take along a map and a compass as you set out on an adventure!
For more trails to hike, see our article,
- 25 of the Best Trails In and Around Halifax
- 25 Scenic Hikes and Lookouts in Nova Scotia
- Top 25 Hikes in Nova Scotia
Have a Picnic
With many beautiful places to choose from, there is no dearth of places to enjoy a lovely picnic with friends or family! So why not pack a picnic basket or grab some treats from your local restaurant, bakery and brewery and set out!
You might like: 25 Nature Attractions & Parks in and Around Halifax
Stroll the Halifax Public Gardens
This exotic garden is built in the style of a Victorian Garden. See the floral displays, stroll along the path, and enjoy this beautiful piece of natural oasis. Details
Daily | 8 AM to 1/2 hour before Sunset
5665 Spring Garden Road, Halifax
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Camp Outside
Located just minutes from downtown Halifax is Laurie Provincial Park. Enjoy the lake by going for a swim, or go on a fun water adventure by paddling or water skiing around the lake. Set up camp at one of the wooded sites in the park and spend a relaxing night under the stars. Details
Laurie Provincial Park, 4949 Nova Scotia Trunk 2, Grand Lake
Regular admission
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Enjoy Glow-in-the-Dark Fun
Enjoy holes of glow-in-the-dark fun at the Putting Edge’s unique glow-in-the-dark golf course. They also feature a glow-in-the-dark arcade. Details
Putting Edge, 182 Chain Lake Drive, Halifax
Explore the City
Rediscover the city you live in!
- Beautiful Buildings And Structures to See in Halifax
- 24 Ways to Discover Halifax in 24 Hours
- 15 Things to Do on The Halifax Waterfront
2026 FAMILY ROUND UP
Perfect for all ages, the Family Round Up is a 2-hour package of fun on the Farm. Join us to connect with nature, animals, and each other. Operating on select weekends all year long…this 2-hour adventure includes a horse-drawn wagon ride to and from Fort Clayton, time in our Rubber Rodeo, a hotdog, fries and beverage for lunch, followed by time on the ziplines and playgrounds. Details
Sunday, June 28, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Hatfield Farm, 1840 Hammonds Plains Road, Hammonds Plains
$31.85 plus HST (children Under 24 months are free)
Explore Nova Scotia – Plan a Staycation
View Comments (1)
Worst Canada day parade I seen in my life and the fireworks was almost non existant what a joke.