Halifax 
BRAVO: Festival for Young Audiences will bring its first summer edition to Halifax’s Bella Rose Arts Centre with four days of live performance for children ages three to 12.
The festival’s lineup is designed to be sensory-friendly, inclusive and accessible, with theatre, music, dance, puppetry, circus, magic and storytelling on the schedule from August 13 to 16, 2026. Co-Artistic Director Amie Moore says the goal is to give children and families the same sense of discovery and shared celebration that adults often find at summer festivals, but in a space created especially for young audiences.
- The Three Questions, Thursday, August 13, 2 p.m.: Phin Performing Arts opens the festival with a gentle stage adaptation inspired by Jon J. Muth’s illustrated story. Through contemporary dance, shadow puppetry, soft narration and imaginative scenery, the show follows a curious child asking how to do good in the world.
- Michael Harrison, Thursday, August 13, 6 p.m.: Comedian and ventriloquist Michael Harrison brings his VENTASTIC show to Halifax, mixing characters, audience participation and comedy. Harrison has appeared on America’s Got Talent and has spent more than 20 years performing for families on theatre and Disney stages.
- Razzmatazz for Kids, Friday, August 14, 10 a.m.: Sandy Greenberg and Thomas Cormier lead an interactive musical show built around live music, catchy songs and physical comedy. Children are invited to move, imagine and take part throughout the performance, making it a warm, participatory start to Friday’s schedule.
- The Skeleton Dance, Friday, August 14, 2 p.m.: Nova Scotia artists Emma James and Ella MacDonald combine clowning, puppetry, movement and storytelling in a show that tackles a big question: what happens when someone dies? The production approaches the subject with humour, care, curiosity and emotional openness.
- Magical Adventures with Patrick Drake, Friday, August 14, 6 p.m.: Patrick Drake, Canada’s National Champion Magician and People’s Choice Award winner, brings more than 25 years of experience to an interactive magic show. His performance includes comedy, audience involvement and tricks shaped by appearances from Las Vegas to Iqaluit.
- Lullabies From Around the World, Saturday, August 15, 10 a.m.: This free concert features cellist, pianist and vocalist Anna Shabalina, who guides families through lullabies from Norway, Africa, Vietnam, Bolivia, Armenia and beyond. The performance uses music and stories to explore how cultures comfort and sing to children.
- Platypus Play, Saturday, August 15, 2 p.m.: Written by Dan Bray and Colleen Arcturus MacIsaac, this new musical follows an insecure platypus worried about being different. With catchy songs and a lively cast, the show focuses on belonging, self-acceptance and finding people who understand you.
- Bird Watch, Saturday, August 15, 6 p.m.: Two eager birdwatchers travel through Nova Scotia in this aerial circus adventure, searching for remarkable feathered friends. The production blends circus arts, physical comedy and storytelling while inviting young audiences to think about nature, curiosity and the courage to try.
- Adventures of the Fairies, August 16, 10 a.m.: This free show follows five young fairies working to earn wings, a wand, a crown and magical arm cuffs. Through silks and acrobatics, they face challenges together, with the story emphasizing teamwork, perseverance and support for others.
- The Comfort Tree, Sunday, August 16, 2 p.m.: Inspired by Holly Carr’s The Comfort Tree, this immersive performance turns the stage into a forest world. Dance, puppetry and original music guide audiences through the seasons as animals and birds gather around a changing tree.
