Things to Do on a Rainy Day in Halifax

Discover one of the top cultural attractions in Halifax at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, which holds over 19,000 works in Downtown Halifax and stands as the largest art gallery in Atlantic Canada.

The Maud Lewis display is the first stop for many. One of Nova Scotia’s most celebrated folk artists, Maud Lewis lived and worked in her tiny home for over 30 years, using it as both her studio and canvas. Now fully restored inside the gallery, her painted house remains one of the most iconic exhibits in Halifax. Twenty-seven original works line the walls outside her house, including recognizable pieces like Three Black Cats and her colourful rural and ocean scenes.

The Mi’kma’ki Artists Spotlight offers a powerful window into Mi’kmaw culture and artistic expression. This exhibition is ongoing and refreshed regularly with new artists. It tells stories, traditions, and artistic practices of the Mi’kmaq.

Ta’n a’sikatikl sipu’l | Confluence highlights seven guiding topics that collectively build caring relationships: Awareness, Reflection, Sustainability & Treaty, Community, Memory & Remembering, Gathering & Knowledge, and Sharing. It features depictions and stories by Indigenous artists across Canada, including paintings, carvings, textiles, and historic artifacts.

Stop in at the gift shop, which has lots of Maud Lewis clothing, art prints, mugs and coasters. You’ll also find hand-crafted items by artists and makers working in the region.

Looking for a hands-on rainy day activity in Halifax? Hit up Thinking Ceramic on Spring Garden Road where guests of all ages can take home the pottery they painted. You can choose from a wide selection of ready-to-paint bisque pieces or join guided clay projects. Grab a coffee or tea from their café to fully embrace the rainy day vibes.

In Cole Harbour, Best Kind Mud Shop offers pottery classes, take-home kits, and supplies for beginners and experienced makers alike. Afterward, make your way to Downtown Dartmouth and warm up at Two If By Sea Cafe, one of the most well-known cafés in the area.

A classic indoor activity in Halifax, the Museum of Natural History is a great option for all ages. Start by meeting Gus, the 103-year-old gopher tortoise, along with other turtles and tortoises near the entrance, then take your time exploring the rest of the museum.

Check out Pjila’si, an immersive space celebrating Mi’kmaw culture, created in partnership with the Mi’kmaw Advisory Group. Take a walk through, listen to Mi’kmaw stories, learn about Mi’kmaw territory boundaries, the Grand Council, trade, Mi’kmaw art like quillwork, canoes, and basketry, as well as medicine, nature, and cultural belongings from L’nu sites in the Shubenacadie River.

Explore interactive displays and learn how Mi’kmaw medicinal experts used plants and how to pronounce Mi’kmaw words.

See the Marine Gallery and learn about local species and Sable Island’s wild horses. Be sure to look at the intertidal zone, full of starfish, crabs, and even a rare blue lobster.

Take a look into Nova Scotian forests, plants, and animals in the Netukulimk exhibit. The highlight is the live beehive, where a colony of bees produces honey. Watch the bees fly in and out through a tube that connects the hive inside the museum to the outside world.

For a laid-back indoor activity, head to The Board Room Game Cafe in Downtown Halifax and play a board or card game with some friends or the family. They have more than 600 games, ranging from the classics to games you’ve never heard of.

Order from their food menu, offering snacks, burgers, pizza, and more, and a drink menu with various drinks including milkshakes, cocktails & mocktails, beer, and coffee.

One of the most recognizable buildings in Halifax, the Halifax Central Library is more than just a place to read.

Check out this architecturally award-winning building with community rooms, art displays, a large auditorium, and lots of books. Take the Escheresque staircase to the fifth floor, cantilevered out over the front plaza, and grab a coffee from East Cup to sip while you read a book.

Throughout the Halifax Central Library, you’ll find community-access computers, a local history room, displays celebrating African Nova Scotian, Indigenous, and Acadian/Francophone heritage and culture, as well as artwork by local artists. Visitors with young children can visit the Lindsay Children’s Room, a preschool play area with books, toys, and more geared toward young library guests.

Climbing gyms are another great way to spend a rainy day in Halifax. Head to East Peak Climbing on Quinpool Road or one of Seven Bays Bouldering’s three locations on Gottingen Street, in Bayers Lake, or in Burnside. Both offer a welcoming, community-driven atmosphere, with rentals available if you’re new to climbing.