Discover Nova Scotia’s Vibrant Culture With Top Favourite Celebrations

 

From lobster to Acadian joie-de-vivre; wine to apples; music to pumpkins and everything else in between, Nova Scotia is home to an myriad of celebrations throughout the year. Festivals are a great way to mingle with the locals and celebrate a few of the things that make Nova Scotia so unique. Here are our top picks:

 

Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival | May 28 – June 2, 2025: from its creation in 1933 as a tribute to the blossoms of the many apple orchards, traditions and agricultural heritage of the Annapolis Valley, the Festival has grown to be a yearly homecoming for families and friends.

 

Eastern Shore Cold Waters Seafood Festival | 7 – 8 June, 2025: Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore culture is anchored in the coves, harbours, and inlets that form the wild shores of this region. These cold, clear waters yield some of the best seafood in the province, and that coastal connection is celebrated in a big way. From contemporary dishes, to simple steamed shellfish, or tried and true traditional favourites, there’s something for everyone.

 

Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo | June 27 – July 1, 2025: a celebration of harmony, remembrance, and resilience through music, dance, and cultural traditions. Since its inception in 1979, this international event honours those who paved the way for peace and freedom in flourish.

 

Pictou Lobster Carnival | 4 – 6 July, 2025: this year will see the Pictou Lobster Carnival celebrating 90 years! Enjoy succulent seafood, live music featuring headliner bands, carnival fair rides, crate run (a new favourite), boat races, lobster banding competition, lobster trap hauling contest, a street parade, and of course, delicious lobster suppers.

 

Antigonish Highland Games | 6 – 13 July, 2025: a weekend full of cultural, athletic and musical experiences sponsored by the Antigonish Highland Society. Founded in 1861, about 75 years after the Gaels first began arriving on nearby shores, the Society has kept alive numerous Scottish traditions and events that help to define the character of Antigonish town and county.

 

TD Halifax Jazz Festival | 15 – 20 July, 2025: returning for their 39th annual event, TD Halifax is the oldest jazz festival and largest summer festival in Atlantic Canada. Halifax Jazz Festival brings international artists to the maritimes and platforms local musicians.

 

Festival acadien de Clare | July 26 – August 15, 2025: the oldest Acadian festival in the world celebrates Acadian heritage gathering thousands of people from all over the world along the shores of the Bay of Fundy in Saint Mary’s Bay. A packed programme includes activities for all ages, like the lumberjack competition, a street parade, bazaar and so much more! Concerts also take place, with music genres varying from Acadian, Cajun and even Bluegrass. The festival wraps up by celebrating National Acadian Day on August 15th, a vibrant cultural celebration for the Acadian people throughout Canada and particularly in Nova Scotia. It commemorates the rich heritage and history of Acadian communities, descendants of French settlers who first settled in the area in the 17th century.

 

Halifax Busker Festival | July 30 – August 4: running for six days over Nova Scotia’s Natal Day long weekend (late July/early August), with hundreds of shows, Buskers is Nova Scotia’s favourite summer festival and can’t be missed on a visit to Halifax. Founded in 1986, the Busker Festival scours the globe for the best street performers and musicians to perform at the annual event along Halifax’s historic waterfront and boardwalk.

 

Digby Scallop Days | 7 – 10 August: Digby Scallop Days is a celebration that takes place annually during the second weekend of August to celebrate Nova Scotia’s heritage in the scallop fishing industry and to savour in the culinary delight of the famous Digby Scallop.  The festival is celebrated over a four day period and reflects on the area’s local scallops and the fishermen that harvest them. Scallops from Digby, the scallop capital of the world, are known worldwide for their unique and succulent taste and there is no better time or place to savour their unique and succulent taste.

 

Celtic Colours International Festival | 10 – 18 October: A unique celebration of Cape Breton Island’s living traditional culture. For nine days in October discover hundreds of events and activities taking place in communities around the Island. Since its introduction in 1997, Celtic Colours has grown to become one of Canada’s premiere musical events and a cultural highlight in Nova Scotia. Showcasing the musical culture of Cape Breton it gathers tens of thousands of visitors from more than two dozen countries.

 

Nova Scotia Lobster Crawl Festival | February 1-28, 2026:  Nova Scotia isn’t just a summer destination.  Every February – for the entire month – the province throws a fantastically tasty event, the Nova Scotia Lobster Crawl Festival. February just happens to be the peak of the lobster fishing season in Southwest Nova Scotia, so from Barrington (the Lobster Capital of Canada) to Peggy’s Cove and every port in between, you can expect all kinds of celebrations in salute to that the province’s favourite crustacean.

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