Things to explore near Halifax this holiday season

Looking for festive activities to explore near Halifax this month? With the holiday season in full swing, there’s lots of opportunities to get out and enjoy everything our city has to offer. Whether you’re into markets, light displays, or outdoor sports, Halifax is sure to have something to keep you, your family, and friends entertained all season long. Here are some of our suggestions for spending the holidays in Halifax!

Winter Wonderland at Halifax Brewery Farmers Market

Enjoy an evening holiday market experience! You can browse the products of 40 local vendors who will be participating in this market, offering you all sorts of holiday shopping. Apart from the actual shopping, you can also enjoy holiday music and the beautiful setup of the market that will put you in the festive mood. Admission is free, so check out this market as a fun way to spend an evening.

When: December 10th, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. 

Where: Halifax Brewery Farmers Market

Website: Winter Wonderland at Halifax Brewery Farmers Market

Raise your holiday spirits 

If you’re into the holidays and history, this might be an interesting event for you. At the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site, this a tasting tour mixed with a military tour. Visitors enter the site after hours for a guided tour from a 78th Highlander, and learn about the British military holiday traditions. You will get to visit the barrel room where the spirits are stored, and you can taste three unique spirits to get warmed up. This is an original experience that blends military history with spirit tasting, so there’s something for everyone!

When: December 9th, December 16th, and December 17th, 7 p.m.

Where: Halifax Citadel National Historic Site

Website: Raise your holiday spirits

Last minute Christmas craft show

If you tend to leave your holiday shopping to the last minute, this event was made for you! Local artists and vendors will be supplying visitors with handmade art and products to cross everyone off your shopping list. This is a quick and easy holiday experience to explore near Halifax. There’s no admission fee, but any donations made at the door will go towards the not-for-profit group Game Over Cancer.

When: December 17th and 18th, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Where: Halifax Forum

Website: Last minute Christmas craft show

Skiing

While we may not be home to the massive slopes you’ll find on the west coast, there’s still some excellent skiing opportunities to explore near Halifax. Ski Wentworth and Ski Martock are two of the most popular spots for skiers and snowboarders to visit, and it’s a great way to kick off the holiday season. Both locations are situated one to two hours outside of downtown Halifax, so it’s a great way to spend a day trip. Both spots offer lessons if you’re new to the sport, plus night skiing, and various hills ranging in difficulty levels. This means you can take your time on the bunny hills if your friends are double black diamond thrill seekers. When you need a rest, or a break from the cold, you can spend some time in the lodges as well. Be sure to double check the slopes are open before you head out —  they can be weather dependent!

Skating at the Emera Oval

The Emera Oval or Halifax Oval is one of the city’s most impressive landmarks for the winter season. A massive skating rink the size of three NHL rinks, the oval is a well-known spot for families and friends to gather outdoors. The oval is closed in preparation for the winter season right now, with plans to re-open for winter skating between December 15th and 19th. This is a fun, low-cost way to enjoy Halifax during the holiday season, and get a bit of exercise as well!

Holiday lights 

A universally loved part of the holiday season is enjoying the various light displays people put together. Neighbourhood homes, businesses, and government buildings often have festive lights shining throughout December, so why not make it a fun activity to go seek out the best ones? This is an easy, free, and all-ages way to spend some time enjoying the festivities in Halifax. If you’re not sure where to start, you can check out this list, which includes some of the best Christmas light displays throughout the city from 2020 and 2021. Since this list is from last year, we can’t guarantee every address will still have the same great displays, but it’s a good place to start! 

You can also check out the holiday projection show at City Hall. Every night until January 1st, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. you can catch the light show as it transforms the building into a festive display. The only night the light show will not run is December 6th, to mark the anniversary of the Halifax Explosion.

There are lots of opportunities to find holiday activities to explore near Halifax this season. Whether you’re into outdoor sports, craft shows, or light displays, you’ll be able to find something that suits you! Take some time to enjoy the holiday season and everything our city has to offer.

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