It’s December in Downtown Halifax!
While the days may be shorter and the nights longer and darker, the sparkling glow of holiday lights help fill the streets of Downtown Halifax with a festive atmosphere.✨
And with the excitement of the holidays comes an exciting lineup of events. From holiday markets to live music, theatre and sports, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this season.
Scroll down to discover all the fun happening in Downtown Halifax this December.
For a full list of events happening this month, visit our online Events Calendar.
DELIGHTFUL DOWNTOWN
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DELIGHTFUL DOWNTOWN is back with a new season of "delightful" light projections and installations throughout the Downtown Halifax area, and includes the beautiful light projection shows on the former Halifax Memorial Library Building at Grafton Park (corner of Spring Garden Road and Grafton Street) that run from 5 - 11 pm.
Here's the schedule for the December light projection shows:
- To December 26: "Everything is Sparkling" Holiday Light Show, featuring Meaghan Smith's hit song "It Snowed"
- December 1 - December 26: The Season's Greetings Light Show
- December 5 – December 7: The Halifax Explosion Light Show (pays homage to Nova Scotia’s first Black doctor, Dr. Clement Ligoure, and Vince Coleman, train dispatcher.)
- December 27 – January 18: The Winter Light Show
- December 30 – January 2*: The New Year Light Show
DELIGHTFUL DOWNTOWN also includes other light installations around the city including the brand new, dazzling, 28-foot-tall winter-themed tree and decorations in Peace and Friendship Park, the trees wrapped with lights in Granville Mall, Raymond Taavel Park, and on Bedford Row, the "DELIGHTFUL" Gift Box on the Halifax Waterfront as part of Evergreen Festival, and the wreaths and sparkling snowflake lights on the light poles around the Downtown area.
Annual Holiday Faves
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The holidays are all about tradition, and these annual events are looked forward to all year around. Don't miss them as you'll have to wait another year for them to come again!
To December 14: Evergreen Festival
The Evergreen Festival is taking place on the Halifax Waterfront until December 14.
Highlights include the Evergreen Market, Evergreen Bright, the Evergreen Stage, the Winter Sports Zone, Spruce's Evergreen Cocoa Trail, AND MORE!
Learn more about the Evergreen Festival here.
December 15: Christmas on the Grand Parade
Enjoy a musical celebration of the season with choral works, readings and carols inside historic St. Pauls' Anglican Church, 1749 Argyle Street. Featuring St. Paul's Choir, the Bedford Brass Quintet, David Christensen on sax, and other musical guests, this free event takes place on December 15, both nights (a free will offering to support Phoenix Youth Programs will be available).
Exciting Sporting Events
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Downtown Halifax is heating up this December — and not just because of the holiday lights. The city plays host to some thrilling live-sports action, starting with the arrival of the PWHL Takeover Tour. On Wednesday, December 17, 2025 at 7:30 PM, catch Montréal Victoire vs. Toronto Sceptres as the PWHL brings top-tier women’s hockey to Halifax.
Just days before, December kicks off with a bang thanks to the Halifax Thunderbirds home opener on Friday, December 5, 2025 at 7:00 PM, when they take on the Oshawa Firewolves. The Thunderbirds don’t stop there — they’ll also be back home on Saturday, December 27, 2025 at 7:00 PM against the Saskatchewan Rush.
Meanwhile, hockey fans have plenty to cheer for with the Halifax Mooseheads. The Mooseheads return to the ice with several home games at Scotiabank Centre this month. Among the highlights:
- Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 7:00 PM — Mooseheads vs. Rouyn‑Noranda Huskies
- Sunday, December 7, 2025 at 3:00 PM — Mooseheads vs. Val-d'Or Foreurs
- Thursday, December 11, 2025 at 7:00 PM — Mooseheads vs. Charlottetown Islanders
Holiday Markets
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There's nothing like a holiday market to get you in the mood for the season, and if you're interested in shopping local, than you'll be sure to find some unique local gifts at one of these festive markets:
November 12 – December 21, 2025: 40 Days of Fine Craft
10am - 7pm, Centre for Craft Nova Scotia (1061 Marginal Rd, Port of Halifax)December 6: Holiday Hygge Market
8 am - 1 pm, Halifax Brewery Market, (1496 Lower Water Street)December 7: Merry Makers Market
10 am - 6 pm, Halifax Seaport Farmers' Market (961 Marginal Road)December 7: Homo for the Holidays
10:30 am - 2:30 pm, Halifax Brewery Market (1496 Lower Water Street)December 15: Haligonian Vendor Market
11 am - 5 pm, Light House Arts Centre (1800 Argyle Street)December 14: The Mom Market
10 am - 2 pm, Halifax Brewery Market (1496 Lower Water Street)December 21: Japanese Holiday Sakura Market
12 - 3 pm, Halifax Brewery Market (1496 Lower Water Street)
Live Music & Theatre
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December is a great time for live music, theatre, and sports. Whether you're looking to enjoy the vibrant energy of a live concert, a captivating theatrical performance, or to cheer on your favorite team, there's something for every one.
Here are just a few (of the many!) events to check out this month:
Live Music
December 2-3: Mac DeMarco
8 - 10:30 pm, Light House Arts Centre (1800 Argyle Street)
December 9: The Once Christmas
7:30-11:30 pm, Light House Arts Centre (1800 Argyle Street)
December 10: Papa Roach, The Used, and Sleep Theory
8 - 10:30 pm: Scotiabank Centre
December 10: A Holly Jolly Jill Barber Christmas
7:30-8:30 pm, Light House Arts Centre (1800 Argyle Street)
December 11: Adam Baldwin
8 - 10:30 pm, Light House Arts Centre (1800 Argyle Street)
December 13: Finger Eleven
8 - 10:30 pm: Scotiabank Centre
Theatre
To December 28: Dickens' A Christmas Carol
Neptune Theatre (1593 Argyle Street)To January 11: Camp Christmas
Grafton Street Dinner Theatre (1741 Grafton Street)To January 11: The Wizard of Oz
Neptune Theatre (1593 Argyle Street)To see all of these events AND MORE, visit the individual websites of each venue or check out our online events calendar here.
New Year's Eve 2025
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There's certainly no shortage of things to do on New Year's Eve!
Most restaurants, pubs, nightclubs and other venues in Downtown Halifax will have specials, parties, and concerts to mark the occasion, but we are excited to announce that the City's annual New Year's Eve celebration is returning to the Grand Parade this year.
Taking place on Wednesday, December 31 from 11 pm - 12:30 am, there will fireworks, music, and tons of fun!
We will update the New Year's Eve 2026 in the Grand Parade page here when details are available.
Other Events & Special Days
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Other events you won't want to miss this month:
December 2: Phoenix Holiday Luncheon
11:15 am - 1:45 pm, Halifax Convention Centre (1650 Argyle Street)Special Days
- December 1, 2025 (Monday): National Secondhand Sunday (shop secondhand at KingsPIER Vintage, The Loot Vintage or Elsie’s Consignment Clothing)
- December 2, 2025 (Tuesday): Cyber Monday
- December 6, 2025 (Saturday): 108th Anniversary of the Halifax Explosion | National Day of Remembrance of Action on Violence Against Women
- December 14, 2025 – December 22: Hanukkah
- December 25, 2025 (Thursday): Christmas Day🎄
- December 26, 2025 (Friday): Boxing Day
- December 26, 2025 – January 1, 2026 (Friday → Thursday): Kwanzaa
- December 31, 2025 (Wednesday): New Year’s Eve 🎆