10 Things To Do in Halifax This July

Gear up for a Canada Day celebration like no other. Halifax will be alive with energy and community spirit to celebrate Canada’s 159th birthday. Check out events, cultural showcases, family-friendly activities, and, of course, fireworks.

Canada Day in Halifax is more than a celebration; it’s an invitation to reflect upon the shared stories that shape this land, honour the beauty, diversity, and resilience of our communities, and acknowledge the deep and ongoing heritage of the Mi’kmaq people who have lived on this ancestral and unceded territory, Mi’kma’ki, for millennia. With free admission to Halifax’s musuems and galleries on Canada Day, deepen your understanding of Mi’kmaw and Indigenous culture and explore the unique perspectives and experiences of Indigenous artists from across Turtle Island through personal stories, artifacts, and artwork at these local exhibits.

From July 1 to 5, the world’s best junior and U23 paddlers are going head to head at the ICF Junior & U23 Canoe Sprint World Championships on Lake Banook, one of the most celebrated flatwater racing venues in the world. You don’t need to know a thing about canoe sprint to enjoy it. Grab a coffee, find a spot along the shore, and watch world-class racing unfold on the water, no tickets required.

For something a little louder, catch a Halifax Wanderers or Halifax Tides home matches at the Wanderers Grounds this month, where the fans’ electric energy turns any match into one of the best ways to spend a few hours in the city.

With the World Cup in full swing, the city’s pubs and patios are buzzing right alongside it. We’ve rounded up some of the best spots in Halifax to catch a match, whether you’re cheering on Canada, your home team, or just there to feel the spirit of Halifax’s soccer fans.

2026 ICF Junior & U23 Canoe Sprint World Championships | July 1-5 | Lake Banook

Halifax Wanderers FC Home Matches | July 1, 24 | Wanderers Grounds

Halifax Tides FC Home Match | July 5 | Wanderers Grounds

For one week each summer, the Halifax Mural Festival turns the city’s streets into open-air galleries, with new murals taking shape in real time along Quinpool Road and across downtown Halifax, and the North End. This festival is best experienced the way Halifax is meant to be: wandering side streets, lingering in spots you might usually walk past, and watching the work come together. We sat down with festival founder Mike Burt to share for an inside look on the festival and what to look out for this year.

Halifax Mural Festival | July 4-11 | Multiple locations  

There’s something to be said for live theatre with a sea breeze. Gather your friends and family and head to Point Pleasant Park to catch whimsical plays staged among the towering trees. This month features Beauty & The Beast and Julius Caesar, both well suited to all ages. Tickets are pay-what-you-can, with premium seats available to reserve for a little extra. Forget your chairs or blankets? You can rent those on site for a small fee.

When the sun goes down, screens go up across the Halifax region. From the Halifax Public Gardens to Acadia Park, you’ll find free outdoor screenings worth bringing a blanket for. Pick a spot, settle in, and watch a movie the way summer intended.

Shakespeare By The Sea | Opens July 4 | Point Pleasant Park

Outdoor Movies Under the Stars | July 4, 18 | The Chickenburger

Movie Night on Quinpool | July 8 | Former Ben’s Bakery Property (6239 Pepperell St)

Sackville Summer Movies in the Park | July 11 | Acadia Park

AIFF Outdoor: The Halifax Pride Edition | July 25 | Halifax Public Gardens

Immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of one of these family-friendly festivals. Dive into a new cuisine and sample authentic gourmet delicacies, enjoy traditional music and dance, and browse artisanal goods to take home with you. With so much to enjoy, there’s no better way to experience the diverse culture of the Halifax region.

Halifax Jollof Festival | July 4 | Tremont Plateau Park

International Food Festival | July 11-12 | Halifax Brewery Market

LatinFax | July 15-18 | Halifax Waterfront Foundation Wharf

Afrifest | July 16-19 | Sackville Landing

Nova MultiFest | July 24-26 | Alderney Landing

Celebrate love, visibility, and community across the Halifax region, with two Pride festivals lighting up the month.

The iconic Halifax Pride Festival is bringing vibrant energy to the city from July 16 to 26. Celebrate the 2SLGBTQIA+ community with a range of events from live music to dance parties, family-friendly gatherings, and so much more. From the So Fetch! Dog Walk to block parties, sunset cruises, live music, workshops, and the iconic Pride Parade, this festival is jam-packed with a fabulous lineup of events to dive into across the city. However you show up, there’s a place for you here.

This month, the Pride celebrations stretch beyond the city. St. Margaret’s Bay Pride comes alive from July 5 to 26 with more than 18 events over 3 weeks, most of them free and family-friendly. Whether you’re interested in fashion, dancing, or a picnic with the community, you’ll find plenty to take part in across Peggy’s Cove, Upper Tantallon, Hubbards, and Bayswater.

St. Margaret’s Bay Pride Festival | July 5-26 | Multiple locations

Halifax Pride Festival | July 16-26 | Multiple locations

Halifax Pride Parade | July 18 | Downtown Halifax

Gear up for two iconic music festivals happening at exciting venues this month.

The TD Halifax Jazz Festival kicks the month off, marking its 40th anniversary. From July 7 to 12, the Halifax Waterfront is lighting up with incredible live music against wide-open harbour views. The lineup spans Tower of Power, Bahamas, Men I Trust, Broken Social Scene, and Rose Cousins, to name a few. Free daytime Jazz Labs and shows round out the programming, so there are plenty of ways to take part no matter your age or taste in music.

Later this month, head to Porters Lake for Trunk 7 Music Festival, for two days of live tunes. Ria Mae and Adam Baldwin lead the bill, with The Mellotones, Town Heroes, Andre Pettipas, and more bringing the high spirits.

Halifax Jazz Festival | July 7-12 | Multiple locations

Trunk 7 Music Festival | July 17-18 | Porters Lake Superstore

Take a cruisy coastal drive out to Peggy’s Cove for a day of scenic views and incredible art, where coastal landscapes meet canvases during the Peggy’s Cove Area Festival of the Arts. Running from July 8 to 19, this festival has become a must-do for visitors and locals alike.

From July 10 to 12, Paint Peggy’s Cove takes centre stage as artists from several provinces bring their brushes, oils, watercolours, pastels, and pencils, and set up on the rocks, wharves, and park areas to create new works inspired by the charming fishing village right before your eyes. Each day’s finished pieces, along with studio work by the same artists, go on view and up for sale in a large Mongolian yurt, a short walk from the Peggy’s Cove Information Centre. Fall in love with a painting? You can purchase it onsite.

If you’re looking for a fun road trip, embark on a self-guided Studio Tour around St. Margaret’s Bay, happening from July 17 to 19. With 45 locations showcasing 70 artists, there’s no shortage of stops to make. Explore quaint communities, coves and harbours, witness the artistic process at work through demonstrations and displays, and enter your name in a draw for a $500 art gift certificate while you’re at it.

Feeling hungry along the way? Grab a bite at a nearby restaurant at Watermark Restaurant, Tom’s Lobster Shack, Margaret’s, Hunky Dory, White Sails Bakery, or Labour Day Picnic Café, and savour the local flavours of the Peggy’s Cove Coastal Region. Looking for more things to see and do in the area after you’ve checked out the festival? Step off the beaten path to discover this breathtaking coastal region’s hidden gems and offbeat wonders.

Peggy’s Cove Area Festival of the Arts | July 8-19 | Multiple locations

Paint Peggy’s Cove | July 10-12 | The village of Peggy’s Cove

Studio Tour | July 17-19 | Multiple locations

Gather the kids and head out for a thrilling day of kite flying at the East Coast Kite Festival. Purchase a kite online or onsite and get ready to soar sky-high. Don’t feel like flying a kite? No problem – sit back and watch dozens of kites dance in the sky. With food trucks, face painting, bouncy castles, and more, this free event makes for the ultimate family outing.

East Coast Kite Festival | July 11-12 | Garrison Grounds 

Gear up for the annual Halifax Busker Festival, 6 days of show-stopping entertainment from some of the best performers across the globe. This year marks a major milestone, 40 years of acrobats, fire breathers, and street magic on the Halifax Waterfront, running from July 29 to August 3.

This is when summer in Halifax feels at its liveliest. Crowds gather along the water through warm days and into the evenings, moving from one jaw-dropping act to the next while the whole waterfront hums with energy. There’s something for every kind of crowd, and between performances you’ll find the Glow Party Family Fun Zone at Sands at Salter, plus a lineup of vendors and food trucks to cool down and fuel up with.

Halifax Busker Festival | July 29 – August 3 | Halifax Waterfront 

Now that summer is officially here, Halifax’s wild side is calling. With more than 13,300 kilometres of coastline, the ocean is never far, and neither are the ways to enjoy it, from clam digging, snorkelling, and surfing to long, lazy afternoons stretched out on a sandy beach. Take to the water on a guided tour, or rent a canoe, kayak, or paddleboard and chart your own course across serene lakes, winding rivers, calm canals, and the open Atlantic. On land, you’ll find breathtaking trails to hike, granite boulders to climb, and guided foraging experiences that connect you to the landscape. The geography is rugged and wild, with so much beauty and variety to discover across the region.