Mark your calendar and have a rollicking time at these family-fun festivals in Nova Scotia! Nova Scotia’s family festivals are an excellent place to learn about the history and culture of Nova Scotia and the Atlantic provinces. From family music festivals to food and fun, you will find plenty of ways to have fun regardless of the season!
Listed below are the family festivals in Nova Scotia taking place during the 2022 summer and fall season for your family to enjoy.
Rhubarb Festival
Come and enjoy mouth-watering rhubarb dishes, homemade with love, while listening to great live local music. There’s no better way to spend a late spring afternoon with your family and friends!
Details
June 9, 2022
91 Old Church Road, Lower West Pubnico, Nova Scotia
Roots to Boots Festival
A unique blend of entertainment to please everyone: storytelling, hiking, food, local talent, concerts, the songwriters’ circle and late night square dances!
Details
June 17 – 19, 2022
15584 Cabot Trail, Chéticamp, B0E 1H0, Cabot Trail
Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo
The Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo is a week-long event held every year. The two-and-a-half hour family show is fast-paced – every scene only lasts about 3-6 minutes, so there is always something new to see and experience. There are bagpipes, highland dancers and military traditions. The Tattoo also features innovative acrobatic acts, modern music, contemporary dancing, trampoline routines and cutting-edge videos. This is a ‘must-see’ festival!
Details
June 25 – July 2, 2022
Scotiabank Centre, Halifax
Free and Ticketed events
Lobster Bash
The Lobster Bash is a celebration to promote the lobster industry in Sou’West Nova. The three-day festival is full of events for all ages, and includes contests and competitions such as: the Best Lobster Chowder, Jumbo Lobster Contest, Rope Coiling and Splicing, Trap Stacking, Lobster Banding, Survival Suit Competition, Row Boat Races, 3k Mud Dash, Fish Tub Derby, Lobster Crate Run, Trap Hauling, Parade of Lights, and the popular Washer Toss Tournament.
Details
July 8 – 10, 2022
Water Street, Digby
Pictou Lobster Carnival
Since it started in 1934, the Pictou Lobster Carnival has become a Signature event in Nova Scotia. This three-day festival celebrates the end of the fishing season in the area, Maritime culture and music and has been ongoing for 88 years!
The event features musical entertainment at the main stage, beer garden, Mardi Gras parade, children’s parade, antique car show, derby races, lobster boat races, mid-way rides, modified boat races, fireworks over the waterfront and many other activities.
Details
July 8-10, 2022
Front Street, Pictou
New Waterford Coal Dust Days
Established in 1983, Coal Dust Days is an annual festival that celebrates New Waterford’s Rich Coal Mining Heritage and embraces New Waterford’s Community Spirit. All your favourites, including the Annual Antique and Custom Car Show, Teddy Bear Picnic, Tavern Tour and Cape Breton’s Biggest Block Party…..Plummer Ave Day plus lots more will be back for this year’s festival.
Details
July 17 – 24, 2022
Colliery Lands Park, 3696 Ellsworth Ave, New Waterford
South Shore Exhibition (The Big Ex)
South Shore Exhibition is the largest agricultural exhibition in Nova Scotia. We have been around since 1891 and are located on 42 acres. The Big EX offers good, old-fashioned horse & oxen pulls daily, light horse competitions, show horse events, arts & crafts, 4-H, beef & dairy displays, rabbit & poultry displays, petting barn, music and performances from local groups. This year the R.C.M.P Musical Ride will be at the exhibition.
Details
July 26 – 31, 2022
50 Exhibition Drive, Bridgewater
Fête du Chocolat
Expert Basque Chocolatier, Rafa Gorrotxategi will be crafting “Food From the Gods” throughout the weekend at the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site. Chocolate activities will be offered, and local Nova Scotia Chocolatiers will have products available for purchase. Come and celebrate all things cacao as we “Basque” in chocolate!
Details
July 17 – 22, 2022
Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site, 259 Park Service Rd, Louisbourg
Nova Multifest
Alderney Landing is home to this popular annual Nova Multifest celebration. Enjoy the colour and excitement of live shows, feast on culinary delights, and enjoy the interesting exhibits from Nova Scotia and around the world. Dance the evening away with live music and celebrate ethnicity and uniqueness.
Details
July 22 – 24, 2022
2 Ochterloney St, Dartmouth
Festival Acadien De Clare
The Festival Acadien de Clare (the oldest Acadian festival in the world!) has always been a celebration of Acadian culture and heritage. Thousands of people from all over the world gather in Saint Mary’s Bay every year for a week filled with activities for all ages, like the lumberjack competition, the parade, the bazaar and so much more!
Concerts take place every year, with music genres varying from Acadian, Cajun and even Bluegrass. The Festival ends on August 15th (National Acadian Day) with a Tintamarre, a traditional celebration where we go from one end of the region to the other while making the most noise possible!
Details
July 30 – August 6, and Aug 15, 2022
Yarmouth & Acadian Shores
Halifax International Busker Festival
Every summer, the Halifax Busker Festival entertains thousands across Halifax’s beautiful and historic downtown waterfront and this year events will also be held on the Dartmouth waterfront. Featuring the hilarious, wacky, and breathtaking entertainment that can only be found at the annual Halifax Busker Festival – crowds are 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 27 – August 1, 2022
1601 Lower Water St., Halifax
Nova Scotia Folk Art Festival
Over 50 amazing Nova Scotian artists are featured at the Nova Scotia Folk Art Festival. If you are looking for unique art pieces, or gifts, this is the place to be. You can also meet the artists, and chat with them about their art and inspirations.
Details
July 31, 2022
Green Street, Lunenburg
Digby Scallop Days
Digby Scallop Days is a 4-day celebration that takes place during the second weekend of August. This festival reflects on the local scallops and the fishermen who harvest them. Scallops from Digby, the Scallop Capital of the World, are known worldwide for their unique and succulent taste.
The events include AquaGolf, DSD Scallop BBQ, 50/50 Draw, costume pet show, scallop shucking and demonstration events, children’s activities, lots of vendors with locally crafted items of all kinds, a huge car show and an awesome fireworks display to celebrate. Come enjoy some of the many events planned for children of all ages.
Bring a lawn chair to listen to one of the many bands that will be playing, watch the kids activities, or try to shuck a scallop fresh from the water while talking to one of our scallop fishermen about life on the sea harvesting the World Famous Digby Scallops. Take a stroll along the waterfront, visit the wonderful shops and enjoy the scallop specials from one of the many local restaurants and enjoy the festivities.
Details
August 4 – 7, 2022
Water St, Digby
Paranormal Investigations Weekend
With over 300-years of history, there is no wonder that the Fortress is claimed to be one of the most haunted sites in Nova Scotia. Spend the night camping inside the fortress walls and do some ghost hunting with your brave kids. The stories will have shivers going up your spine.
Details
August 5 – 6, 2022
Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site, 259 Park Service Rd, Louisbourg
Margaree Highland Games
Margaree Highland Games are one of Cape Breton’s most exciting new events. Hosted in the beautiful Margaree River Valley – a meeting place of Scottish, Irish and Acadian cultures – the games blend traditional heavy events with bag-piping & highland dancing, running races, children’s games and much more.
Details
August 12 – 14, 2022
1181 East Margaree Road, Margaree
Parka’s Great Sleepover
Parka’s Great Sleepover caps off the summer at the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site. Spend the night in the Fortress. The evening is packed with family-friendly games and roasting marshmallows over a roaring fire.
Details
August 27, 2022
Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site, 259 Park Service Rd, Louisbourg
St. Peter’s Pirate Days
Ahoy matey’s – St. Peter’s is the place to be for Pirate Days celebrations! Find your inner pirate at this event. The weekend is full of fun activities for the whole family. Pirates are coming from near and far. But keep your wits about you–you don’t want to be shanghaied!
Details
September 2022
Grenville Street, St. Peter’s
Kentville Pumpkin People Festival
Harvest Festival launches the appearance of Pumpkin People all through Kentville! Bring the whole family for some small town harvest fun! Join in the fun with the Pumpkin People building workshop, food vendors, flea market, live music, face painting, and pumpkin carving. There are other events like the Pumpkin walk, u-picks, and concerts during the rest of the month.
Details
October
Kentville
Celtic Colours International Festival
The Celtic Colours International Festival is a unique celebration of Cape Breton Island’s living traditional culture. For nine days in October, there are hundreds of events and activities taking place in communities around the Island for families to enjoy.
Details
October 7 – 15, 2022
Baddeck, Cabot Trail
Acoustic Roots Festival
The best country, folk, blues, bluegrass, and Celtic on the East Coast can be found at the Acoustic Roots Festival. The Festival is taking place at the wonderful Two River Wildlife Park. Dance the days and evenings away and meet the friendly animals at the petting zoo.
Details
September 2 -4, 2022
4581 Grand Mira North Road, Huntington
$12
Nocturne
When the sun goes down during Nocturne, Halifax becomes a spectacular work of art. Nocturne brings art and energy to the streets of this vibrant city showcasing and celebrating the visual arts scene of this beautiful province. Throughout the city, you can find outdoor and indoor exhibitions that will make you feel ‘all’ the emotions.
Details
October 13 -18, 2022
Halifax
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 since 2005. The 1.2 km stretch of the main street is closed to nothing but motorcycles and foot traffic, with events taking place in both the streetscape and the surrounding area.
Details
September 1- 4, 2022
Digby
Nova Scotia Music Week
Each year Music Nova Scotia brings together artists, fans, and music industry from across Nova Scotia and around the globe to experience the best talent the province has to offer. Over three days, over 150 acts will take the stage.
Details
November 3 – 6, 2022
300 Esplanade, Sydney
$40 – $175