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 the song It Snowed by Meaghan Smith
December 6-7: Halifax Explosion Light Show (The Holiday Show will not run while the Halifax Explosion Show is running.)
December 27-January 12: Winter Light Show
December 30 - January 2: New Year's Show (The New Year's Show will run alongside the Winter Show except on Wednesday, January 1, 2025, when just the New Year's Show will run. On New Year's Eve, the New Year's Show will run until 1:00 am.)
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 15: Evergreen Festival
The Evergreen Festival is taking place on the Halifax Waterfront until December 15.
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 8: Nova Scotia Power Holiday Parade of Lights presented by Eastlink
The 29th annual Nova Scotia Power Holiday Parade of Lights presented by Eastlink is back and will be lighting up the streets of Downtown Halifax on Sunday, December 8. The parade kicks-off at 5 pm at the Cogswell Street roundabout and will end at Barrington and George Streets.
Learn more about the Parade here.
December 16 & 24: 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 16 & December 24, at 7 pm both nights (a free will offering to support Phoenix Youth Programs will be available).
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 30 - December 1: The Curio Collective's Vintage Christmas Show,
10 am - 5 pm, Light House Arts Centre (1800 Argyle Street)December 1: Merry Makers Market
10 am - 6 pm, Halifax Seaport Farmers' Market (961 Marginal Road)December 7: Holiday Hygge Market
8 am - 1 pm, Halifax Brewery Market, (1496 Lower Water Street)December 7: NSCAD's Winter Maker's Market
11 am - 5 pm, NSCAD Waterfront Port Campus (1107 Marginal Road)December 8: 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 15: The Mom Market
10 am - 2 pm, Halifax Brewery Market (1496 Lower Water Street)
Live Music, Theatre & Sports
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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 5: Tim Baker & All Hands
8 - 10:30 pm, Light House Arts Centre (1800 Argyle Street)December 14: The Hopping Penquins' Holiday Soiree
8:30 - 11:30 pm, The Carleton (1685 Argyle Street)December 19: Choir! Choir! Choir! Un-Silent Night
8 - 11 pm, Light House Arts Centre (1800 Argyle Street)December 20: Jake Vaadeland & the Sturgeon River Boys: Goodness Gracious It’s Christmas!
8 pm, Casino Nova Scotia, (1983 Upper Water Street)Theatre
To January 11: Curmudgeon Christmas
Grafton Street Dinner Theatre (1741 Grafton Street)To January 19: Disney's Frozen
Neptune Theatre (1593 Argyle Street)December 5 - 29: Dickens' A Christmas Carol
Neptune Theatre (1593 Argyle Street)Sports
December 7: Halifax Thunderbirds Home Opener v Calgary Roughnecks
6 pm, Scotiabank CentreDecember 31: Halifax Mooseheads v Cape Breton Eagles
2 pm, Scotiabank CentreTo 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 Tuesday, December 31 from 11 pm - 12:30 am, there will fireworks, music, and tons of fun!
Stay up to date with New Year's Eve 2025 in the Grand Parade here.
Other Events & Special Days
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Other events you won't want to miss this month:
December 3: Phoenix Holiday Luncheon
11:15 am - 1:45 pm, Halifax Convention Centre (1650 Argyle Street)December 5: "Home for the Holidays" Art Exhibit
3 - 5 pm, Art 1274 HollisDecember 7: Gallery Hop - An Afternoon of Art & Special Events
12 - 5 pm, Various Galleries including The Prow Gallery, Argyle Fine Art, Art 1274 Hollis, and Zwickers GalleryDecember 12: Dreamers' Gala 2024
6 - 11 pm, Halifax Convention Centre, (1650 Argyle Street)December 28: Home for the Holidays
8 pm - 1 am, Halifax Marriott Harbourfront (1919 Upper Water Street)Special Days
December 1: National Secondhand Sunday (shop secondhand at KingsPIER Vintage, The Loot Vintage or Elsie's Consignment Clothing)
December 2: Cyber Monday
December 3: Giving Tuesday (Donate to DHBC's Navigator Outreach Program)
December 6: 106th Anniversary of the Halifax Explosion | National Day of Remembrance of Action on Violence Against Women
December 25: Christmas Day 🎄
December 25 - January 2: Hanukkah
December 26: Boxing Day
December 26 - January 1: Kwanzaa
December 31: New Year's Eve 🎆
