Halifax holiday activities to explore!

The holidays are here! If you’re looking for some Halifax holiday activities to explore, our city is full of ways to enjoy the festive season. From outdoor markets to fantastic light shows and winter sports, we guarantee you will find something to entertain you in the leadup to the holidays. Here are some of our top suggestions!

Get crafty

It wouldn’t be the holidays without a wide selection of Christmas craft markets! If you love local and handmade products, you will certainly find what you’re looking for in Halifax. Here are a few of our top recommendations to check out over the coming month.

Evergreen Market: This is part of Evergreen Festival, a four-week outdoor celebration of Nova Scotia’s best foods, crafts, and arts, and it’s just in time for the holidays. The open-air market is placed right on the Halifax waterfront, where vendors from across the province are set up in wintry wooden chalets. There is no shortage of products to explore, from gifts to bakery items, cocktails, food trucks, and more! You can check out the details here.

Christkrindl Market: Venture just across the harbour into Dartmouth to explore the Alderney Landing Christkrindl Market! This traditional German market celebrates the holiday season with local vendors and festive cheer. From December 6th to 8th, you can check out this market’s performances, entertainment, and shopping. Check out the details here.

Last Chance Christmas Market: If you know you’ll procrastinate when it comes to buying gifts, this provides you with one more chance to finish your shopping. Head over to Fisherman’s Cove on December 21st to enjoy one last shopping splurge and indulge in local handmade gifts and goods! Here are the details.

Light it up

Festive light displays are a staple for Halifax holiday activities. You can explore your own neighbourhood in the hunt for the best decorated house, or check out some professional displays. Here are a couple of the best spots to hit!

Halifax City Hall: City Hall and Grand Parade put on some of the best holiday lights in town. Each night, Grand Parade’s huge Christmas tree is lit up with thousands of sparkling lights and colours. City Hall, meanwhile, projects an amazing light show onto the building’s exterior from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. every evening!

Halifax Public Gardens: Halifax Public Gardens is offering an after-dark experience like no other. Wander through the trail of beautiful lights and find yourself immersed in the festive atmosphere. In the middle of it all, you can enjoy a light and music display at the bandstand that will put you in the holiday spirit.

Glow Gardens: Glow Gardens offers a festive event for all ages! Between the light displays, the interactive activities, and the local vendors and crafts, there’s something for everyone. You can check out everything this has to offer until January 2nd! Find all the details here. 

Classic winter sports

If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, there are a couple fun winter sports activities to try out near Halifax! Perhaps the most popular option is ice skating at the Emera Oval. Located right in Halifax, this massive rink is the size of three NHL rinks! Weather permitting, it will open for its winter season in the days leading up to Christmas. Visitors can rent skates and helmets, so you don’t need to worry about having your own equipment.

There are also some good spots to ski and snowboard in the areas surrounding Halifax. Two of the most popular places are Ski Wentworth and Ski Martock. They each have a range of difficulty levels to test out, and offer night skiing on certain days. These locations both boast some great slopes to try out this season.

Movies under the stars

Finally, take your movie nights outside this holiday season! On three Tuesday evenings in December, you can head out to the Halifax waterfront for a screening of classic Christmas movies. Viewers can enjoy The Polar Express, The Grinch (2018), and Home Alone on the 3rd, 10th, and 17th, respectively. Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase, creating a complete movie theatre vibe. Bring a lawn chair and lots of blankets!

There are lots of Halifax holiday activities you can enjoy in our wonderful city. Whether you’re feeling crafty, adventurous, or just want to relax with a good movie, you’re sure to find something to suit you. We hope you have an excellent kickoff to the holiday season!

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