What’s open and what’s closed Christmas and Boxing Day weekend

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

BUSINESSES

It looks like 5 p.m. is the general Christmas shopping deadline. Most grocery stores, malls and NSLC locations indicate they will close their doors for the holidays at that time on Friday, Dec. 24.

Both Christmas Day and Boxing Day are designated retail closing days in Nova Scotia, which means you can expect almost everything to be shut down for those two days.

Some pharmacies may be closed on Christmas and Boxing Day, while others may close early on Christmas Eve, have reduced hours of operation on Dec. 25 and 26. It's best to check with an individual store for more details.

Expect many banks to close early on Christmas Eve and stay closed Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

Several other retail outlets will close early on Christmas Eve and stay closed on the 25th and 26th. Some businesses may be closed on Monday and Tuesday in lieu of Christmas and Boxing Day falling on the weekend. It's best to call ahead or check the website or social media of a specific business to get more details.

In addition, some businesses have decided to close, reduce hours of operation or otherwise modify services with COVID-19 cases rising in the province. It's best to call ahead or check the website or social media of a specific business to get more details.

TRANSPORTATION

It will be free to cross the MacKay and Macdonald bridges on Dec. 25.

On-street parking will be free on Monday, Dec. 27 and Tuesday, Dec. 28.

Halifax Transit buses will be operating on holiday (Sunday) schedules on Christmas and Boxing Day.

The Alderney and Woodside ferries will not be operating on Christmas Day and ferries will run on holiday service (Sunday) schedules on Boxing Day.

Halifax Transit is asking those who plan to take a bus or ferry to check its website or Twitter (@hfxtransit and @hfxtransitalert) for information on service disruptions due to staff availability.

In addition to COVID-related cancellations, many recreation facilities will be operating on irregular schedules between Friday, Dec. 24 and Monday Jan. 3.

The Emera Oval is tentatively set to officially open for the season on Dec. 27.

Residents are invited to visit the Halifax Public Gardens Holiday Lights, a festive trail of holiday lights and music display, which will be open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. each night, until Saturday, Jan. 1.

SERVICES

Garbage, organics and recyclables collection services will not be affected by the holidays.

The Household Special Waste (HSW) Depot will be closed on Saturday, Dec. 25.

The Otter Lake Waste Facility, the municipal recycling plant and the composting facilities will be closed on Saturday, Dec. 25 and Sunday, Dec. 26, but will be open on Friday, Dec. 24 for regular business hours.

Canada Post will be closed on Monday, December 27 and Tuesday, December 28 in lieu of Christmas and Boxing Day falling on the weekend.

The 311 Contact Centre will be closed for general inquiries on Christmas Day, however, residents may call 311 for urgent concerns regarding transportation, municipal operations, facilities, animal services and illegally parked vehicles. 

The three in-person Customer Service Centres will be closed on Monday, Dec. 27 and Tuesday, Dec. 28.

The Planning & Development counter at the municipal Customer Service Centre, located at 7071 Bayers Road, will be closed from Friday, Dec. 24 until Tuesday, Jan. 4.