Upcoming Nova Scotia Events & Festivals

Nova Scotians love to celebrate. Communities across the province open their doors and their hearts to you and invite you to join in — the atmosphere is always festive and the party always hearty! With hundreds of community festivals and events, this guide makes it easy to find out what’s going on!

Signature Festivals & Events
View events for: July | August | September | October

July
Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo July 1-8 | Halifax This fast moving, exciting, fun-filled spectacular event featuring international, military and civilian performers is for the entire family. www.nstattoo.ca Privateer Days July 3-6 | Liverpool This historically based festival strives to recreate the privateering era with reenactments, a downtown festival, sporting events, music and more! Step back to 1780 for a celebration of the area's colourful privateering history. www.privateerdays.com Pictou Lobster Carnival July 4-6 | Pictou Honouring the lobster industry! Events include entertainment, daily contests (boat races, lobster trap hauling, etc.), parades, buskers, yacht races, lobster dinners and much more! www.townofpictou.com Stan Rogers Folk Festival July 4-6 | Canso A musical adventure that pays tribute to a great Canadian singer/ songwriter. The world of folk music, jazz, celtic, gospel, bluegrass and more is yours to discover in this seaside setting. www.stanfest.com TD Canada Trust Atlantic Jazz Festival July 11-19 | Halifax The groove kicks in when Halifax comes alive with an eclectic smorgasbord of Jazz, World Beat, Blues and Urban Groove at this annual 9 day festival featuring the best of the east coast alongside a strong international line up. www.jazzeast.com Loyalist Landing 2008 July 11-27 | Shelburne Celebrating the 225th anniversary of the "first" landing of United Empire Loyalists in Canada with historical, multi-cultural, contemporary and participative events. www.loyalistsatshelburne.com 2008 Atlantic Regional H.O.G. Rally July 16-20 | Sydney The Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.) was founded in 1983 and annually holds rallies across Canada and around the world. These rallies give motorcycle enthusiasts a chance to experience the culture of the host city - this year, Sydney! www.capebretonhog.com	Antigonish Highland Games July 18-20 | Antigonish A traditional Scottish Highland Games including clan gatherings and concerts, piping, dancing, drumming and heavy event competitions, along with one of Canada's finest outdoor tattoos and the Concert Under The Stars. www.antigonishhighlandgames.com Halifax Pride Week Festival July 20-27 | Halifax Atlantic Canada's largest pride celebration with a number of events leading up to the big parade at week’s end. www.halifaxpride.com Louisbourg Encampment 2008 July 25-27 | Louisbourg Commemorating the 250th anniversary of the second siege of Louisbourg with an encampment of military and civilian French, British and Native re enactors and sutlers - a truly unique opportunity to experience life inside an 18th century town and fortress. www.louisbourg2008.com Festival Acadien de Clare July 26 - Aug 15 | Municipality of Clare Canada's largest and oldest annual Acadian cultural festival with fun filled activities for all ages promoting our Acadian culture. www.festivalacadiendeclare.ca Mahone Bay Classic Boat Festival July 31 - Aug 3 | Mahone Bay A family festival celebrating Mahone Bay's heritage as a wooden boat building community. See classic boats in the water and on the wharf, take in the workshops and enjoy the parade, fireworks and entertainment. www.mahonebayclassicboatfestival.org Riverfront Music Jubilee July 31 - Aug 3 | New Glasgow A celebration of music from Country to Celtic, Rock to Blues, Children's entertainment and even some alternative musical styles, there is something for every music lover whatever their taste. www.newglasgow.ca Alexander Keith's Natal Day Festival July 31 - Aug 4 | Halifax Natal Day is the annual birthday celebration of the communities of Halifax and Dartmouth ... a time where citizens, former citizens, guests and visitors celebrate our civic holiday. Take in parades, live entertainment, sporting activities, family events and the biggest, most elaborate fireworks display of the year! www.natalday.org
Yarmouth Seafest July 16-27 | Yarmouth This festival of the sea features a pageant, giant sidewalk sale, open air concerts, the Great Nova Scotia Fishfeast, parades, dory and rum running races and more! www.seafest.ca
August
Digby Scallop Days Aug 6-10 | Digby Celebrate one of the world’s largest scallop fleets. Come and taste how many ways succulent scallops can be prepared. Musical events, scallop shucking competitions, parades, and more! www.digbyscallopdays.com Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival Aug 7-10 | Lunenburg Celebrate roots and traditional music at its best! An intimate festival experience not to be missed as musical memories are made by the sea. www.folkharbour.com Halifax International Busker Festival Aug 8-17 | Halifax Street performers from all over the world come to town for this 11 day event. Music, magic and fun for the whole family along the waterfront. www.buskers.ca Tent Dwellers Centennial Canoe Festival (Kejimkujik) Aug 15-17 | Maitland Bridge 2008 marks the 100th anniversary of the publication of The Tent Dwellers by Albert Bigelow Paine, a book chronicling a wonderful canoe and trout fishing trip through the interior of southwestern Nova Scotia in the early 1900s. More exciting events are planned for the festival between May and September. www.friendsofkeji.ns.ca	Wild Blueberry Harvest Festival Aug 15-30 | Province-wide Enjoy a variety of events sharing the wild blueberry theme. www.wildblueberryfest.com Atlantic Fringe Festival Aug 28 - Sept 7 | Halifax Theatre that goes for the edges, presses the form, takes risks, is offbeat and fresh! New work from emerging / established artists from across Canada, the US and the UK. www.atlanticfringe.ca Wharf Rat Rally Aug 29 - Sept 1 | Digby An action packed weekend for motorcycle enthusiasts! www.wharfratrally.com
September
Discover the Wines of Nova Scotia Fall Festival Sept 5 - October 30 | Province-wide Discover the passion and artistry of Nova Scotia's winemakers and some of our province's finest chefs de cuisine. Wine tastings, grape stomps, classes and wine pairing events all await your palate. www.winesofnovascotia.ca Atlantic Film Festival Sept 11-20| Halifax A juried 10 day festival offering current films from the Atlantic region, Canada and around the world. www.atlanticfilm.com	Hike the Highlands Sept 12-21 | Ingonish 10 days of guide hikes in the Cape Breton Highlands of Cape Breton Island. www.hikethehighlandsfestival.com DRUM! Sept 12 - Oct 12 | Halifax One of Nova Scotia's finest musical productions, featuring our four founding cultures – Aboriginal, Black, Celtic, and Acadian – in a heart-pumping spectacle of music, dance, rhythm, and song. www.drumshow.ca
Canadian Deep Roots Music Festival Sept 26-28 | Wolfville A blending of the music of our founding cultures with modern roots music from across North America and around the world. www.deeprootsmusic.ca
October
Celtic Colors International Festival Oct 10-18 | Cape Breton Autumn is the time when the sounds of fiddles, pipes and voices in song echo over the island with Celtic Colours International Festival. An event to remember with over 250 musicians, dancers, singers, and storytellers at venues across the Island. www.celtic-colours.com	Halifax Pop Explosion Oct 16-20 | Halifax One of Canada's most respected festivals of new and emerging music, art and culture. www.halifaxpopexplosion.com
Maritime Fall Fair Oct 10-19 | Halifax Mark your calenders for Halifax’s premier family fall event - bringing the country to the city! www.maritimefallfair.com

Download complete upcoming Nova Scotia Festivals & Events guide (PDF 1.57MB)