Plenty of events this weekend to fill Haligonians with holiday spirit

There's certainly no shortage of events this weekend to fill Haligonians with the holiday spirit.

Friday November 25 

The Evergreen Festival kicks off Friday.

The four-week-long outdoor winter celebration will offer up light displays throughout Halifax and Dartmouth, an open-air market along the Halifax waterfront, movie screenings, and live performances courtesy of the Halifax Jazz Festival Evergreen Stage Series.

Warm up by trying a holiday hot chocolate at several participating local businesses.

The Sackville Christmas tree lighting has been postponed to Saturday due to inclement weather.

And there's a tree lighting scheduled at the Elmsdale Village Square Friday. The event starts at 6 p.m., with the tree lighting at 7 p.m., followed by fireworks.

Woody's Magical Forest opens at Mic Mac Mall. The mirrored light exhibit filled — created in partnership with Mad Secret Lab — will be filled with enchanting trees and twinkling lights. 

It will be open daily until December 23, with hours coinciding with Woody and Santa visits. 

Find it on Level 1 near Mic Mac Tailor Shop and Cinnabon. 

Saturday, November 26 

On Saturday afternoon, there will be a parade of adorable dogs dressed in their holiday finest including reindeer antlers, Santa hats, ugly Christmas sweaters, jingle bells and tutus.

Quinpool Road's Pet Parade will be led by Santa and a Halifax Regional Police officer.

It starts at 11 a.m. at The Oxford Tap Room and will stick to the sidewalk.

It also ends at the Oxford where pets can get a $20 professional digital photo with Santa, with all proceeds going to the SPCA.

The parade coincides with Quinpool's first ever Snow Folk Winter Street Art Festival, where dozens of wooden “Snow Folk” will be displayed in the windows and entrance ways to several businesses.

Halifax's annual Christmas tree lighting goes at Grand Parade Saturday.

Expect live entertainment and a visit from Santa, followed by fireworks.

The City Hall Holiday Projection Show also starts up for the season Saturday. This year it's a three-minute video, inspired by a holiday drawing from local Indigenous youth.

It runs every five minutes from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. until January 1, with the exception of December 6 in observance of the anniversary of the Halifax Explosion. 

And head over to the Halifax Public Gardens for more festive lights. The Public Gardens Holiday Lights includes a corridor of LED lights on the grounds and in the waterways, ending with a coordinated light-and-music display in the bandstand area. It goes nightly until January 1.

And while you're downtown, you might want to pop by the former Halifax Memorial Library at Grafton Park.

A Holiday Light Show is running there every evening from sunset to 11 p.m. until December 26.

The Sackville Christmas tree lighting has been postponed to Saturday night.

Halifax Regional Municipality says to expect slowed traffic, limited parking and significant crowds in the area of Acadia Hall. 

There will be live music, treats and a visit from Santa.

The parking lot 650 Sackville Drive, which includes the Sackville Public Library and Acadia Hall, will be closed from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., then Sackville Drive, between Acadia Lane and Sackville Cross Road, at 8 p.m. for approximately 10 minutes to allow crowds to safely exit.

The North by Night Holiday Market also goes Saturday with in-store specials, local artisans, family activities and live music. 

Agricola Street will shut down from North to Charles streets between 1 p.m. and 10 p.m.

And out in Fall River, there will be another tree lighting event with plenty of live entertainment starting at 5:30 p.m. in the Shoppers Drug Mart parking lot.

Sunday, November 27

The Spryfield Santa Claus Parade goes Sunday afternoon.

It will exit Punch Bowl Drive at 2 p.m., head south on Herring Cove Road, west onto Dentith Road, and disperse at the Spryfield Mall.

Expect traffic delays in the area.

And there's a Christmas tree lighting Sunday at the Cole Harbour Fire Station from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. with entertainment, hot chocolate and an appearance by Santa.

The Africville Church and Tree Lighting is also Sunday at 5 p.m.