Spring has officially sprung, and May in Downtown Halifax is bursting with energy, excitement, and something for everyone! The arts are in full bloom with festivals celebrating comedy, music, and burlesque. 🌷
Sip and shop your way through local food and craft events, catch big-name performances, and don’t forget to treat Mom for Mother’s Day!
With patios heating up, Open City festivities, and so much more, there’s no better time to explore Downtown Halifax.
For a full list of events happening this month, visit our online Events Calendar.
Special Days in May
There's no shortage of special days in May. Here are a few to mark in your calendar:
May 4: Star Wars Day ("May the 4th" be with you!) ⭐
May 5: Cinco de Mayo
May 11: Mother's Day 💐
May 19: Victoria Day
Open City
Open City, the annual event that celebrates entrepreneurs and small, local businesses, is taking place on Saturday, May 10, all across the Halifax peninsula and downtown Dartmouth.
Get out and visit your favourite local businesses and maybe discover a few new ones too!
See all the participating Downtown Halifax businesses here.
Learn more about Open City here.
Arts Festivals
If you're a fan of live music, dancing, and a good laugh, then you're in for a real treat — May is bursting with a lineup of exciting, multi-day live events that will keep you entertained all month long. Some of the highlights include:
May 7-10: Halifax Comedy Festival
To May 23: NSCC Nova Fest - see shows in Downtown Halifax here
May 30-31: Atlantic Burlesque Festival
Try Something New
Looking to try a new experience this month? Then check out these events:
May 1: Rappel down the Westin with Altitude Zone
May 3, 10-11: Working Class Heritage Walking Tour
Food & Craft Events
From rare wine tastings to thrift fashion, spring markets, and cultural pop-ups — May is packed with flavor, style, and east coast vibes. Don’t miss these must-attend events:
May 2: Savour Rare and Fine Wine Tasting
May 2: 3rd Annual Abundance Thrift Fashion Show & Market
May 3-4: Halifax Crafters Spring Market
May 15-18: Peggy's Cove Pop-Up at The Prow Gallery
May 17: East Coast Cider Festival
May 29 - June 1: Taste Asia Food & Culture Festival
Concerts & Shows
Halifax is rocking this May, catch an incredible lineup of concerts:
May 2: Ennis Sisters, Light House Arts Centre
May 9: Bush - Loaded: The Greatest Hits Tour, Scotiabank Centre
May 12: Steel Panther & Buckcherry, Light House Arts Centre
May 20: Avril Lavigne: The Greatest Hits, Scotiabank Centre
May 29: 21 Gun Salute an Explosive Tribute to AC/DC!, Light House Arts Centre
May 30: Jann Arden - The Mix Tape Tour, Scotiabank Centre
PLUS, Downtown venues like The Carleton, Durty Nelly's Irish Pub, The Old Triangle Irish Alehouse, Bearly's House of Blues & Ribs, Pacifico, The Lower Deck, and more, have regular live music to enjoy all year round. Make sure to check their web and social sites for up to date information about their live music schedules
Sports & Recreation
If sporting action is more your thing, then make sure you mark these events in your calendar:
May 1: Harlem Globetrotters, Scotiabank Centre
May 3: Halifax Thunderbirds Semifinals (Game 1)
May 4: Kidical Mass Waterfront Ride
May 16-18: Bluenose Marathon
Patio Season is Heating Up
And finally, May ushers in the start of patio season as the weather warms up and the days get longer.
With over 80 patios to choose from, ranging from sidewalk cafes to waterfront beer gardens, you can dine al fresco on a different patio every day!
Check out all the patios in Downtown Halifax here (note that we are still updating this page for the 2025 season).
See a full list of events happening in Downtown Halifax here.