Visiting Halifax? Five Events for Your Summer Trip to Nova Scotia
Summers in Halifax are teeming at the rim with fun and exciting things to do. From its top tourist attractions to its vibrant and engaging nightlife, Halifax is best enjoyed with the inviting comforts of its warm season. However, the actual draw to the city that attracts thousands of visitors to its Atlantic shores is the diverse cultural festivals it hosts every July, August, and September.
With dozens of annual events making up the city’s celebratory lineup, choosing which Halifax Festivals are the absolute pinnacle of the city’s offerings can be challenging. But, of course, within its diverse catalogue, there are a handful of weekends that all others pale in comparison to. These are the five must-see Halifax events that will make your summer trip to the city a visit to remember.
- TD Halifax Jazz Festival
- Nova Multifest
- Halifax International Busker Festival
- Halifax Seaport Cider & Beer Festival
- FIN: Atlantic International Film Festival
TD Halifax Jazz Festival
• When: July 13-17
• Where: Four Stages Spread Throughout the City
• Admissions: $189 for Standard Pass to all events
• Website: https://www.halifaxjazzfestival.ca/
Originally known as the Atlantic Jazz Festival, the TD Halifax Jazz Festival has brought the sweet smooth sounds of the genre to the streets of Halifax since 1987.
Attracting up to 65,000 visitors each year, the festival has been designated a Hallmark Event by the Halifax Regional Municipality and is the oldest jazz event in Nova Scotia.
The festival’s main stage is along the city’s waterfront, where it hosts an engaging lineup of performers over five days. Additional stages can be found throughout the city at St. Matthew’s United Church, The Seahorse Tavern, and The Carleton.
Nova Multifest
• When: July 22-24
• Where: 2 Ochterloney St, Dartmouth, NS
• Admissions: Free Admission
• Website: https://multifestns.ca/
As one of the best events in Halifax, the Nova Multifest is a celebration of the multicultural traditions and diversity of Nova Scotia. A conglomerate community of several international heritages, Halifax is an interwoven society of numerous cultural backgrounds that have worked together to make the province the unique and vibrant place it is today.
Held at Alderney Landing in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, the Nova Multifest celebrates the city’s diverse cultural background through the sharing of music, art, displays, and a massive selection of international cuisines and delicacies unique to each culture.
Halifax International Busker Festival
• When: July 22-Aug 1
• Where: Halifax & Dartmouth Waterfronts
• Admissions: Admission is Free but tipping the performers is encouraged
• Website: https://www.buskers.ca/
Of the summer festivals in Halifax in July, the International Busker Festival is perhaps the liveliest and most engaging. Showcasing some of the world’s best street performers, visitors to the event will be treated to exciting and unique displays of acrobatics, music, comedy, fire juggling, and visual arts.
Located along the beautiful downtown waterfronts of Halifax and Dartmouth, the Halifax International Busker Festival offers free admission to the grounds. With that said, busking is a renowned art form, and tipping the street performers is encouraged.
Halifax Seaport Cider & Beer Festival
• When: August 4-6
• Where: 209 Marginal Rd, Halifax NS
• Admissions: $39.53 General Admission Day Pass
• Website: https://seaportbeerfest.com/
Featuring over 300 unique products from over 110 producers across Nova Scotia and other specialty regions in Canada, the Halifax Seaport Cider & Beer Festival is one of the most anticipated events in Nova Scotia in August every year.
Visitors to the festival are invited to explore Nova Scotia’s local breweries with various craft beers, hard ciders, seltzers, and pre-mixed cocktails. Ten drink tickets are complimentary with every day pass, and additional drink tickets are available on the premises.
The Seaport Cider & Beer Festival is a fantastic way to explore the venue’s seaside location while sampling Atlantic Canada’s largest gathering of craft beer, specialty, import, and cider.
FIN: Atlantic International Film Festival
• When: September 15-22
• Where: 1892 Hollis St, Halifax, NS
• Admissions: $10-$25
• Website: https://www.finfestival.ca/
Hosted every year since 1980, the Atlantic International Film Festival is the largest Canadian Film Festival east of Montreal. Featuring a variety of films over an 8-day run, the film festival is regularly the most discussed event in Halifax in September and attracts many celebrities and officials from across the movie industry.
The event’s selection committee is open to submissions until the beginning of July for those looking to participate in the event. Chosen filmmakers will be notified by August 19, and tickets will go on sale when showtimes have been scheduled.
While these are the top five summer festivals in Halifax that all tourists need to attend, they are also only the tip of the iceberg. With plenty of additional fun and exciting events occurring between July and September, visitors to the city require accommodation that offers accessibility to them all.
Located directly downtown and within walking distance of all the best venues, Cameo Suites invites guests to explore everything the town offers. Check availability before visiting, and book your room in advance.