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As the days grow shorter, Halifax lights up with a vibrant energy all its own. This November, the city begins to transition from autumn’s glow to the first sparkle of the holiday season. It’s a month for reflection and remembrance, for cozying up in warm dining spots, and for embracing Halifax’s holiday charm. From heartwarming live performances to the thrill of Olympic-level curling, here are 10 things to do in Halifax this November.
1. Meet your favourite author at a literary festival
Calling all bookworms – AfterWords Literary Festival is bringing a stellar lineup of authors and hosts from across Canada, the United States, and abroad together for readings and workshops at 8+ venues across Halifax and Millbrook First Nation. Enjoy readings, conversations, Q&As, workshops, and more with your favourite authors during this week-long festival.
Afterwords Literary Festival | November 1-9 | Multiple locations
Great for families
2. Let Halifax’s stages warm your heart
From enchanting plays to intimate concerts, treat yourself to some live entertainment this month. As the days grow shorter, Halifax’s stages light up, offering the perfect opportunity to get out in the city for a show you won’t forget.
The Wizard of Oz | November 4 – January 4 | Neptune Theatre
Maritime Mistletoe – A Holiday Folk Experience | November 27 | Sanctuary Arts Centre
Dickens’ A Christmas Carol | November 27 – December 28 | Neptune Theatre
A Gunning & Cormier Christmas | November 28-29 | Rebecca Cohn
NSYO: True North | November 29 | St. Andrew’s United Church
Great for families
3. Find the perfect gift at a holiday market
Halifax is bursting with craft markets this month, making it the perfect excuse to get ahead on holiday shopping. Check out a holiday market to browse locally crafted artisan goods of all kinds – with so many markets and vendors to shop from, you’re sure to find the perfect gift for everyone on your list.
Christmas at the Forum | November 6-9 | Halifax Forum
40 Days of Fine Craft | November 12 – December 21 | Centre for Craft Nova Scotia & Mary E. Black Gallery
Seaside Christmas | November 14-16 | Multiple locations
Agricola Street Holiday Market | November 16 | Agricola Street
Holiday Atlantic Maker Market | November 21-22 | Cedar Event Centre
Halifax Crafters Society Winter Show | November 21-23 | Light House Arts Centre
Holiday Night Market at the Brewery | November 23 | Halifax Brewery Market
Christkindl Market | November 28-30 | Alderney Landing
Vintage Christmas Show | November 29-30 | Light House Arts Centre
Tiny Xmas Market | November 30 | Espresso 46
Haligonian Vendor Market | November 30 | Halifax Brewery Market
Great for families
4. Commemorate Remembrance Day at a local ceremony
Remembrance Day is a day to honour those who have served and sacrificed for our country in times of war, conflict, and peace. This day marks the end of hostilities in World War I, which ceased at 11am on November 11, 1918. Every year at the eleventh hour, Canadians observe two minutes of silence to reflect on these sacrifices. The poppy is worn as a powerful symbol of remembrance.
Attend a local Remembrance Day ceremony to pay tribute and reflect at one of the city’s commemorative ceremonies. Hundreds of people will gather at Grand Parade to honour our veterans and remember those who have served. The Halifax Citadel National Historic Site will also host a ceremony, where the 1st Field Artillery Regiment will fire a 21-gun salute at 11am, followed by the traditional firing of the noon gun. The Army Museum will also be open to visitors from 10am to 2pm. More local Remembrance Day ceremonies can be found here.
Remembrance Day at Grand Parade | November 11 | Grand Parade
Remembrance Day at the Halifax Citadel | November 11 | Halifax Citadel National Historic Site
Great for families
5. Spark your holiday spirit at a festive event
November is jam-packed with holiday events. From iconic parades to tree lightings and festive light shows, there’s holiday magic happening in every corner of the Halifax region.
NS Power Holiday Parade of Lights | November 15 | Downtown Halifax
Light Up Bedford Parade | November 16 | DeWolf Park
Sambro’s Lobster Trap Tree Lighting | November 16 | Mishoo’s
Glow Halifax | November 20 – January 3 | Halifax Exhibition Centre
Halifax Christmas Tree Lighting | November 22 | Grand Parade
Cole Harbour Christmas Tree Lighting | November 23 | Cole Harbour Fire Station
Sackville Christmas Tree Lighting | November 29 | Acadia Park
Quinpool Road Annual Pet Parade | November 29 | Quinpool Road & Oxford Taproom
Spryfield Santa Claus Parade | November 30 | Herring Cove Road
Great for families
6. Find warmth in Halifax’s dining scene
As the season begins to shift and temperatures begin to drop, find some warmth and comfort in Halifax’s dining scene. Whether you’re seeking cozy corners to welcome you in from exploring Halifax’s windswept trails and rugged coastlines, historic pubs that carry spine-tingling blends of fact and folklore, or the warmth of a blazing hearth from live-fire dining, let Halifax’s dining scene turn November’s chill into charm.
Great for families
7. Turn back the clock for the holidays
Step back in time and mix history with the holidays at a festive event this month. Get cozy over a traditional Christmas dinner or embark on a festive stroll this month at Memory Lane Heritage Village, an award-winning living history museum depicting coastal rural life in Nova Scotia during the 1940s. The Halifax Citadel is also stepping back in time to get festive during Victorian Christmas, a celebration filled with Victorian music, games and, of course, Father Christmas.
Traditional 1940s Christmas Dinner | November 15-16 | Memory Lane Heritage Village
Walk Through Christmas Past | November 22-23 | Memory Lane Heritage Village
Victorian Christmas | November 22-23 | Halifax Citadel National Historic Site
8. Check out a new business
Check out these brand-new businesses opening in Halifax – you just might discover your new favourite spot.
Teapothecary | 2739 Agricola St | Now open
Verve Craft Gallery | 1573 Barrington St | Opening November 7
Public – Café, Bakery & Bar | 1589 South Park St | Opening soon
Great for families
9. Step into a winter wonderland at Halifax's most magical holiday festival
Evergreen Festival returns to Halifax this month, spreading festive cheer throughout the city. Bundle up and head down to the Halifax Waterfront to enjoy an outdoor holiday market, live music, interactive games, and more. Enjoy dazzling light displays throughout the city, warm up with toasty drinks along Spruce’s Evergreen Cocoa Trail, and be merry during this 4-week-long festival.
Evergreen Festival | November 21 – December 14 | Multiple locations
Great for families
10. Witness history in the making at the Canadian Curling Trials
Cheer on Canada’s top curling teams at the Canadian Curling Trials as they battle it out for the chance to represent Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics being held in Italy.
Canada’s top eight men’s and women’s teams will compete for the chance to represent Canada at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games. After a seven-game round robin, the top three teams advance to the playoffs, with the second- and third-place teams meeting in a semifinal. The winner moves on to a first-of-its-kind best-of-three final.
Grab tickets to catch the heart-pounding action at the Scotiabank Centre, or take it all in at The Patch, legendary for being “curling’s party place”, where fans can come together and feel the spirit of the sport, highlighted by a nightly lineup of live entertainment, and fuelled by a selection of food and beverages. The best part? The Patch is open to everyone, and it’s completely free.
Note: Minors are welcome at The Patch until 8pm every evening.
2025 Canadian Curling Trials | November 22-30 | Scotiabank Centre
