What’s open, what’s closed and what’s going on throughout the Canada Day long weekend

Here's a look at what will be open and closed, and what will be happening in HRM on the Canada Day long weekend:

BUSINESSES

Canada Day is a designated retail closing day in Nova Scotia, which means you can expect most stores and businesses to be shut down on Monday. 

This includes grocery stores, NSLCs and malls.

Many pharmacies will be open, however they may have reduced hours of operation on July 1.

Expect banks to be closed Monday.

Several other businesses may be closed or have reduced operating hours on Monday, it's best to call ahead.

TRANSPORTATION

Halifax Transit will have free Alderney ferry service all day on Canada Day to accommodate those going to and from the festivities at Alderney Landing. The ferry will run from 7:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. with 15 minute service between 10 a.m. until 1 a.m. Donations to Feed Nova Scotia will be accepted.

There will be no Woodside ferry service on Canada Day, July 1. 

Halifax Transit buses will operate on a holiday service Monday and more information can be found online.

On-street parking meter spaces will be free on Monday, however motorists are reminded to abide by other posted signage.

SERVICES

All branches and departments of Halifax Public Libraries will be closed on Monday, July 1 for Canada Day.

Canada Post will not be collecting or delivering mail on Monday.

With Canada Day falling on Monday, if that's your curbside collection day, you'll need to put your garbage, compost and recycling out for pickup on Saturday, June 29.

Starting this weekend, green cart collection will take place on a weekly basis in Halifax Regional Municipality until Friday, September 27.

Beginning Saturday, June 29 all splash pads, with the exception of the Common splash pad, will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., daily. The Halifax Common pool and splash pad will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Canada Day.

Lifeguards return to provincial beaches on Saturday.

Municipal beaches and the outdoor pools at the Halifax Common and Bedford (Shore Drive) officially open to the public on Monday, July 1.

The Emera Oval is open on Canada Day and a number of events will be taking place at that location (see the events section below).

Several municipal recreation facilities will be closed on Canada Day and residents are asked to contact their local facility for specific details.

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

The Household Special Waste Depot in Bayers Lake will be closed Saturday, June 29, and will re-open for regular operating hours on Saturday, July 6. 

The 311 Contact Centre will be operating on regular hours on Monday, July 1 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The five Customer Service Centres that provide in-person access to municipal services and payments will be closed on Monday, July 1, re-opening for regular business hours on Tuesday, July 2.

EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

There are a number of events taking place this weekend in HRM including:

Friday night concert and fireworks at Dartmouth Crossing.

Bedford Days runs from Thursday to Monday, with several planned events, including fireworks on July 1 at DeWolf Park starting at 10 p.m.

Tidal League Inc. will be celebrating Canada Day on Sunday with the Toronto Raptors' Danny Green. – UPDATE: The outdoor event will now be moved indoors – Full Story

Free pancake breakfasts at Grand Parade in Halifax and Alderney Landing in Dartmouth from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and Bedford's DeWolf Park from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

The Tattoo Canada Day parade starts at 10 a.m. Monday.

Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 is celebrating Canada Day and its 20^thanniversary with free admission, live multicultural music and performances, family-friendly activities, crafts, delicious treats and so much more, There will also be an official Citizenship Ceremony from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Parks Canada will be offering free admission to Halifax Citadel National Historic Site. Doors open at noon with the firing of the iconic noon gun followed by the traditional 21-gun salute at the front entrance. There will also be cake and performances by the 78th Highlanders.

The Emera Oval will host both Family Fun Fest and the Fuse Festival starting at noon. Expect to see the Skyhawks Parachute Team landing in the middle of the Halifax Common sometime between 11:45 a.m. and 12:15 p.m., and a flash mob at 2 p.m.

Sullivan's Pond and the Halifax Public Gardens will both host concerts from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

HRM's main Canada Day event starts at 5 p.m. at Alderney Landing. The free outdoor concert features A-Trak and other performers, including Ellevator, KALLITECHNIS, The Sorority and Cape Breton’s own Carmen Townsend.

The official waterfront fireworks are scheduled to start at 10 p.m. Monday.

Kejimkujik National Park Seaside will be closed Saturday, Sunday and Monday due to increased black bear activity. The closure does not impact Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site, which will have Canada Day camping, programs and events all weekend long.