Canada Day in Halifax : What you need to know
Posted Jun 30, 2016 09:41:04 AM.
Last Updated Jun 30, 2016 09:42:42 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
With a sunny and hot Canada Day in the forecast, many Haligonians are expected to be out and about enjoying the long weekend.
The day starts off at 8 a.m. with free pancake breakfasts on both sides of the harbour, at Grand Parade and Alderney Landing.
Families with younger kids might want to check out the Family Fun Fest at the Halifax Common, featuring bouncy castles, face painting and the K9 Hi Flyers Dog Agility Team, those with older kids might want to head to Alderney Landing for the free concert.
The highlight of the day is the waterfront fireworks display.
“We are looking to set those off from the Halifax Harbour at 10 p.m.,” said HRM spokesperson Tiffany Chase. “You’ll have a great vantage point from both the Dartmouth and Halifax waterfronts.”
She said to monitor @hfxcivicevents or @hfxgov on Twitter or the municipality’s website for updated information in case heavy fog or cloud rolls in that would cause them to be cancelled.
Metered on-street parking spots are free Canada Day, as is the ferry, passengers are encouraged to make a donation in lieu of the fare to support FEED NOVA SCOTIA.
Chase said riders may need some patience because it could be busy.
“After the concert, there will be restrictions accessing the Alderney Ferry Terminal to the sliding entry doors, and that’s just for security purposes,” she explained. “We encourage people to que up for the ferry to return to Halifax at that location.”
Halifax Transit buses will run on a holiday schedule and the Macdonald Bridge will stay open until July 4th at 7 p.m.
Halifax Citadel National Historic Site is free, as is The Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo Parade that starts at 10:30 a.m. by the Scotiabank Centre on Brunswick and Duke Streets.
HMCS Summerside will be alongside the Maritime Museum all weekend, and open to visitors from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July 1st.
For anyone looking to cool off, municipal beaches and the outdoor pool at the Halifax Common officially open to the public, many of which are supervised by trained life guards 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, a complete list can be found online.
The majority of municipally-operated recreation facilities will be closed, but the Emera Oval will be open for inline skating.
Residents who would normally have curbside collection on July 1st, will instead have to put out their garbage organics and recycling on the 2nd.
Grocery stores, NSLCs, banks and most other businesses will all be closed.
