July 2009
Lobsterpalooza
May 24 - July 1
Margaree Forks - Cabot Trail, Cape Breton Island
A mouth-watering, fun-filled learning and cuisine experience that showcases Maritime traditions and celebrates all things seafood - led by our lobster heritage!
view details | website
Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo
July 1-8
Halifax - Halifax Metro
This fast moving, exciting, fun-filled spectacular event featuring international, military and civilian performers is for the entire family.
view details | website
Privateer Days
July 2-5
Liverpool - South Shore
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.
view details | website
Stan Rogers Folk Festival
July 3-5
Canso - Eastern Shore
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.
view details | website
Pictou Lobster Carnival’s 75th Anniversary
July 10-12
Pictou - Northumberland Shore
Honouring the lobster industry! Events include entertainment, daily contests (boat races, lobster trap hauling, etc.), parades, buskers, yacht races, lobster dinners and much more!
view details | website
TD Canada Trust Atlantic Jazz Festival
July 10-18
Halifax - Halifax Metro
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.
view details | website
Yarmouth Seafest
July 15-26
Yarmouth - Yarmouth & Acadian Shores
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!
view details | website
Tall Ships Nova Scotia 2009
July 16- August 1
Halifax - Halifax Metro
Ships from around the world will join many of Canada's finest sailing vessels to form the international gathering of world-class Tall Ships® in Halifax.
view details | website
Antigonish Highland Games
July 17-19
Antigonish - Northumberland Shore
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.
view details | website
Halifax Pride Week Festival
July 19-26
Halifax - Halifax Metro
Atlantic Canada’s largest pride celebration with a number of events leading up to the big parade at week’s end.
website
Festival de l’Escaouette
July 22 - August 3
Chéticamp - Cabot Trail, Cape Breton Island
Festival celebrates rich Acadian culture and traditions with a variety of music, dance, theatre and a parade. The highlight of the eight week festival is Le Grand Cercle July 23-26, a musical depiction of the history of Acadie.
website
Festival acadien de Clare
July 30 - August 15
Church Point - Yarmouth & Acadian Shores
Canada's largest and oldest annual Acadian cultural festival with fun-filled activities for all ages promoting our Acadian culture.
view details | website
Mahone Bay Classic Boat Festival
July 30 - August 2
Mahone Bay - South Shore
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.
view details | website
Riverfront Music Jubilee
July 30 - August 2
New Glasgow - Northumberland Shore
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.
view details | website
Alexander Keith’s Natal Day Festival
July 30 - August 3
Halifax - Halifax Metro
Natal Day is the annual birthday celebration of the communities of Halifax and Dartmouth ... citizens, former citizens, guests & visitors celebrate our civic holiday! Take in parades, live entertainment, sporting activities, family events and the biggest, most elaborate fireworks display of the year!
view details | website
August 2009
Festival de l’Escaouette
July 22 - August 3
Chéticamp - Cabot Trail, Cape Breton Island
Festival celebrates rich Acadian culture and traditions with a variety of music, dance, theatre and a parade. The highlight of the eight week festival is Le Grand Cercle July 23-26, a musical depiction of the history of Acadie.
website
Mahone Bay Classic Boat Festival
July 30 - August 2
Mahone Bay - South Shore
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.
view details | website
Riverfront Music Jubilee
July 30 - August 2
New Glasgow - Northumberland Shore
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.
view details | website
Alexander Keith’s Natal Day Festival
July 30 - August 3
Halifax - Halifax Metro
Natal Day is the annual birthday celebration of the communities of Halifax and Dartmouth ... citizens, former citizens, guests & visitors celebrate our civic holiday! Take in parades, live entertainment, sporting activities, family events and the biggest, most elaborate fireworks display of the year!
view details | website
Festival acadien de Clare
July 30 - August 15
Church Point - Yarmouth & Acadian Shores
Canada's largest and oldest annual Acadian cultural festival with fun-filled activities for all ages promoting our Acadian culture.
view details | website
Digby Scallop Days
August 6-9
Digby - Fundy Shore & Annapolis Valley
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!
view details | website
Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival
August 6-9
Lunenburg - South Shore
Celebrate roots and traditional music at its best! An intimate festival experience not to be missed as musical memories are made by the sea.
view details | website
Halifax International Busker Festival
August 6-16
Halifax - Halifax Metro
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.
view details | website
2009 ICF World Senior Canoe Championships
August 12-16
Dartmouth - Halifax Metro
This prestigious event will bring 1,300 participants from more than 90 countries to the shores of Lake Banook in Dartmouth.
view details | website
Wild Blueberry Harvest Festival
August 14-29
Province-wide
Enjoy a variety of events sharing the wild blueberry theme. view details | website
2009 Laser World Championships
August 20-26, 30, September 1, 3-5
St. Margaret's Bay - South Shore
Halifax will host play host to the 2009 Laser Worlds & the Laser Master Worlds Championships on St. Margaret’s Bay. This event is expected to be the largest sailing event in Canada’s history.
website
September 2009
2009 Laser World Championships
August 20-26, 30, September 1, 3-5
St. Margaret's Bay - South Shore
Halifax will host play host to the 2009 Laser Worlds & the Laser Master Worlds Championships on St. Margaret’s Bay. This event is expected to be the largest sailing event in Canada’s history.
website
Wharf Rat Rally
September 2-7
Digby - Fundy Shore & Annapolis Valley
An action packed weekend for motorcycle enthusiasts!
website
Atlantic Fringe Festival
September 3-12
Halifax - Halifax Metro
Theatre that goes for the edges, presses the form, takes risks, and is offbeat and fresh! New work from emerging / established artists from across Canada, the US and the UK. website
Nova Scotia Fall Wine Festival
September 7 - 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.
website
Hike the Highlands
September 11-20
Ingonish - Cabot Trail, Cape Breton Island
10 days of guide hikes in the Cape Breton Highlands of Cape Breton Island.
website
Nova Scotia International Air Show
September 12-13
Yarmouth - Yarmouth & Acadian Shores
Atlantic Canada’s largest air show featuring outdoor spectator events with air show, aircraft displays and on-ground activities to engage children. This year’s show celebrates 100 Years of Canadian Powered Flight with aerial and static entertainment that draws from the legacy of the past and the power of today.
view details | website
Atlantic Film Festival
September 17-26
Halifax - Halifax Metro
A juried 10-day festival offering current films from the Atlantic region, Canada and around the world.
website
DRUM!
September 18 - October 10
Halifax - Halifax Metro
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.
view details | website
Canadian Deep Roots Music Festival
September 25-27
Wolfville - Fundy Shore & Annapolis Valley
A blending of the music of our founding cultures with modern roots music from across North America and around the world.
view details | website
October 2009
Nova Scotia Fall Wine Festival
September 7 - 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.
website
DRUM!
September 18 - October 10
Halifax - Halifax Metro
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.
view details | website
Valley Pumpkin Festival
October 1-31
Wolfville - Fundy Shore & Annapolis Valley
October is Pumpkin Fest in the Annapolis Valley - a month of food, fun and family events to celebrate our harvest season. Join us for Pumpkin fun, Pumpkin food, Pumpkin art and fresh Valley Pumpkins!
view details | website
Celtic Colors International Festival
October 9-17
Various venues - Cape Breton Island
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.
website
Halifax Pop Explosion
October 20-24
Halifax - Halifax Metro
One of Canada’s most respected festivals of new and emerging music, art and culture.
view details | website
November 2009
Father Christmas Festival
November 28 - December 6
Mahone Bay - South Shore
Larger than life Father Christmas figures are wonderfully adorned throughout the village - it’s a winter wonderland of Christmas festivities!
view details | website
December 2009
Father Christmas Festival
November 28 - December 6
Mahone Bay - South Shore
Larger than life Father Christmas figures are wonderfully adorned throughout the village - it’s a winter wonderland of Christmas festivities!
view details | website