What’s open and what’s closed Natal Day weekend

Here's a look at what will be open and closed on the Natal Day weekend:

BUSINESSES

Natal Day is not a designated retail closing day in Nova Scotia, which means you can expect many stores to be open, however some may have reduced hours of operation.

Many grocery stores in HRM indicate they will be opening at noon and closing at 5 p.m. or 6 p.m.

NSLCS in the HRM will only be open from noon until 6 p.m. If you're leaving town for the long weekend, liquor stores in other parts of the province will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Some pharmacies may also have reduced hours.

Area malls are open, however many indicate they will only be operating from noon to 5 p.m. on Monday.

Some banks may be closed on both Sunday and Monday.

Halifax Public Libraries branches will be closed on Monday.

Other businesses may be closed or have reduced operating hours on Monday, it's best to call ahead or check social media/websites before heading out.

TRANSPORTATION

On-street parking will be free on Natal Day.

Halifax Transit buses will be operating on holiday service on Monday, August 1.

On Saturday, July 30, Alderney Ferry service will run at half-hour frequency from 6:30 a.m. until noon, 15-minute frequency from 12:15 p.m. to 11 p.m., and half-hour frequency from 11 p.m. to midnight.

On Monday, August 1, Alderney Ferry service will run at half-hour frequency. The first crossing will depart the Alderney terminal at 7:30 a.m. and the final crossing will depart the Halifax terminal at 11:45 p.m. 

Halifax Transit buses will be free Friday. Then they will be operating on holiday schedule on Monday. Some routes will be detoured throughout the weekend to accommodate events, including those that require the Macdonald Bridge to be closed.

The Alderney Ferry will be free Saturday.

There will be no Woodside ferry service on Monday.

For detailed bus and ferry schedules, click here.

The Macdonald Bridge will be closed Sunday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the MACPASS Miles road race and the annual Bridge Walk.

The Macdonald Bridge will also be closed on Monday from 8 a.m. to noon for the Natal Day parade

EVENTS

There will be plenty of events to keep Haligonians busy.

The Buskers Festival runs until Monday, August 1 at various locations on both Halifax and Dartmouth waterfronts.

The Halifax-Dartmouth Natal Day Harbour Fireworks are scheduled for 10 p.m. Saturday, with a rain date of Sunday.

On Sunday, the MACPASS Miles road race starts at 8 am., followed by the Macdonald Bridge Walk at 2 p.m. 

The 114th Annual Dartmouth Natal Day Road Race starts Monday at 8 a.m. and the Natal Day Parade goes at 10 a.m. starting in the Hydrostone, heading across the Macdonald bridge and ending in Dartmouth at Sullivan's Pond.

Emancipation Day is also August 1, with the following programming planned to recognize the history and impacts of slavery in our region:

• The Dartmouth Summer Sunshine Series will host the African Nova Scotian Music Association’s Freedom Festival on Sunday, July 31, beginning at 1:30 p.m. at the Dartmouth Waterfront Terminal Park.
• The United African Canadian Women’s Association will serve as grand marshals at the 125th Pepsi Natal Day Parade on Monday, August 1, beginning at 10 a.m.
• The Grand Oasis concert series will also host an Emancipation Day Celebration at Grand Parade on Monday, August 1, beginning at 6 p.m.

Residents are also reminded of possible traffic impacts in advance of Canoe '22 taking place on Lake Banook from August 3 to 7.

RECREATION

You can check the status of your favourite municipal swimming spot online. 

The Emera Oval will be open on Monday, with equipment lending from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., weather permitting.

Many other municipally operated recreation facilities will be closed on Monday. Residents are advised to call ahead to their respective facility for operating hours and program information

SERVICES

There will be no solid waste collection on Monday. If that's your day, you're asked to put your garbage, organics or recyclables on Saturday, July 30.

There will be no collection or delivery of mail by Canada Post on Monday.

The Otter Lake Waste Management Facility, the Halifax recycling facility and municipal composting facilities will be closed on Monday.

The 311 Contact Centre will be operating on regular hours on Monday.

The three Customer Service Centres that provide in-person access to municipal services and payments will be closed on Monday.