Halifax is a stunning coastal city with a thriving and vibrant queer community. The rainbow flags you'll spot throughout the city are a testament to the many 2SLGBTQIA+ events, venues, artists, and activists that make this a welcoming and dynamic destination for visitors and locals alike.
The city’s rich naval history and numerous post-secondary institutions have helped foster a queer community and history dating back to Halifax’s founding. As the largest city on Canada’s east coast, Halifax has long been a gathering place for queer folk from across the Atlantic provinces. Notably, Nova Scotia boasts the highest proportion of transgender and non-binary people of any province or territory in Canada, and Halifax has the highest number of Rainbow Registered Businesses of any city in the country.
If you plan a trip to Halifax, consider visiting during the Halifax Pride Festival in July. This celebration far exceeds what many cities of a similar size offer, featuring hundreds of signature events, ranging from large outdoor dance parties to intimate community gatherings and opportunities to learn about local activism. If you’re unable to attend Halifax Pride, check out Eastern Shore Pride in Musquodoboit Harbour or Sheet Harbour Pride—smaller in scale yet equally engaging celebrations within the Halifax Regional Municipality.
For year-round queer events, visit Wayves.ca, a local 2SLGBTQIA+ news site with an extensive event listing. Stay updated on upcoming happenings through local drag artists like Elle Noir, Anna Mona-Pia, Richard Rockhard, Zara Matrix, Mya Foxx, and Anita Landback. Live music fans can catch performances by talented musicians such as Mo Kenney, T. Thomason, Stewart Legere, and Rose Cousins. Groups like Nauticus, Dyke Night Halifax, Atlantic Boylesque, and the Halifax Gay Men’s Chorus also host weekly and monthly shows, celebrating the community’s incredible creativity and talent. Numerous other promoters also offer unique events throughout the city.
Explore some of Halifax’s top queer-friendly spaces, such as the recently opened and beautifully designed Stardust, a downtown bar and restaurant hosting trivia, music bingo, drag brunches, and dance parties. Another new addition, Rumours, is a queer bar near the waterfront known for its themed dance nights. While downtown, don’t miss Venus Envy, a renowned bookstore and sex shop offering curated products and expert advice, or stop by the Glitter Bean Café for coffee and delicious baked treats in a welcoming atmosphere.
As you explore the city, you’ll encounter a variety of notable queer landmarks. The Khyber Building, a stunning Victorian-style brick structure with Gothic features, once housed The Turret, the city’s most iconic gay bar. Just across the street, the historic Green Lantern Building, constructed in 1896, has been home to numerous gay-owned businesses over the years. Continuing along Barrington Street, Raymond Taavel Park stands as a modest yet powerful tribute to the beloved activist and journalist who was tragically lost in 2014. Further north on Halifax Common, you’ll find Chosen Family, a colourful art installation by local artist Margot Durling, celebrating gender identities, sexualities, and relationships. In the north end, visit incredible queer-run establishments like The Bus Stop Theatre, home to the 2SLGBTQIA+ theatre festival OutFest, Alteregos Café, and Radstorm. For a deeper dive into the city’s queer history, check out the Halifax Rainbow Encyclopedia.
You don’t have to stay on the Halifax peninsula to explore queer-friendly spaces—take the ferry across the harbour to Dartmouth! Not only will you enjoy stunning views of the city, but downtown Dartmouth also boasts some of the region’s most exciting dining and drinking spots. Culinary highlights include The Canteen and Café GoodLuck, while Dear Friend Bar and Lake City Cider Taproom are perfect for a drink. In the evening, Staggers Pub & Grub often hosts drag shows and queer comedy nights, and Eastern Front Theatre frequently presents queer artists and content at Alderney Landing Theatre. If you want to connect with nature, Crystal Crescent Beach is just a 45-minute drive from the city. Walk to the farthest of its three beaches, and you’ll discover an area popular with nudists and queer folk.
Halifax truly has it all: natural beauty, a rich cultural scene, and a warm, inclusive queer community. Come for a visit—you’re sure to leave longing for more.
Adam Reid (he/him)
Adam is a community organizer, proud queer East Coaster, and Marketing Advisor for the Province of Nova Scotia. Formerly the Executive Director of the Halifax Pride Society and Festival Director of the Queer Acts Theatre Festival, Adam has championed local and national queer-identified performing artists in the HRM. With over 15 years of experience as a cultural administrator, he has worked with organizations, including the FIN Atlantic International Film Festival, the 2011 Canada Winter Games, and Eastern Front Theatre. He is passionate about strengthening community identity and cohesion through culture and events.
