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Fall is a beautiful time to be in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The crisp air and colourful leaves are complimented by fantastic fall festivals and events like Nocturne, Halifax Urban Folk Festival, Hal-Con, and many more.
Halifax Colour Festival
When: September 6, 2025
Where: Alderney Landing
This annual event is a festival of colour, dancing, and music. Admission is free, for all ages, and will feature games with take-home prizes.
Atlantic International Film Festival
When: September 10-17, 2025
Where: Cineplex Cinemas Park Lane
Every September for more than 40 years, the Atlantic International Film Festival transforms the city of Halifax into an international hub for the arts; filmmakers, industry types, and cinema lovers alike, flooding the streets for an eight-day celebration of film.
Halifax Urban Folk Festival (HUFF)
When: September 29-October 5, 2025
Where: The Carleton, The Basement, and The Seahorse Tavern
The Halifax Urban Folk Festival runs September 29–October 5 across three city venues, celebrating songwriters, their songs, and the stories that inspire them.
Prismatic Arts Festival
When: September 26-October 5, 2025
Where: Various venues across Kjipuktuk (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
The Prismatic Arts Festival is an annual, multidisciplinary arts festival that showcases and celebrates innovative work by Indigenous artists and artists of colour from across Canada.
Nova Scotia Forest Festival
When: October 4, 2025
Where: Memory Lane Heritage Village
Head to the Eastern Shore for the annual Nova Scotia Forest Festival, where you can learn and engage with all the ways Nova Scotians connect with the forests. This festival is interactive and true to its roots, complete with a guided nature walk, axe throwing, live horse logging demonstrations, traditional lumberjack meals on enamelware, and more.
Nocturne Halifax
When: October 16-19, 2025
Where: Downtown Halifax, North End Halifax, and Downtown Dartmouth
Nocturne is an outdoor visual art festival that brings energy and creativity to the streets of Kjipuktuk/Halifax each year, lighting up the city from October 16 to 19. Art installations, performances, and enthusiastic eventgoers will fill the streets and shops, creating a magical experience you won’t want to miss.
AfterWords Literary Festival
When: November 1-9, 2025
Where: Various venues across Halifax, Nova Scotia
AfterWords Literary Festival is where writers and readers meet. Featuring a packed schedule of conversations and readings, workshops and panel discussions, and celebratory events, AfterWords unfolds from November 1 to 9.
Hal-Con Sci-Fi & Fantasy Convention
When: November 7-9, 2025
Where: Halifax Convention Centre
Hal-Con is Atlantic Canada’s biggest sci-fi and gaming convention, featuring a jam-packed schedule of panels, games, workshops, and appearances by actors, authors, and artists from across the sci-fi, fantasy, and gaming communities.
Evergreen Festival
When: November 21-December 14, 2025
Where: Halifax Waterfront, Downtown Halifax, and Downtown Dartmouth
Halifax’s most beloved winter festival is back, spreading holiday magic throughout the city. From festive markets and live performances to seasonal food and drink, there are countless ways to enjoy this enchanting festival. The main activations take place on the Halifax Waterfront, with additional elements found throughout Downtown Halifax and Downtown Dartmouth.
