Lantern Festival, Photo by Alex Solak 

August continues to be packed full of fun family events here in the HRM. For Saturday, I'm torn between the Northern Lights Lantern Festival in north-end Halifax, with lantern making, bouncy castles, pony rides, face painting, music, fireworks and more, and the Community Potluck & BBQ for Newcomers and Residents at Halifax Common, with an international craft display, face painting, art-making, Korean and African drumming, a soccer game and more. Oh, decisions, decisions. Of course, they *are* at different times on Saturday, so technically we could do both…

Also on this weekend is the Seaside Festival in Sheet Harbour (it also continues until next weekend) and the Eastern Passage/Cow Summer Carnival. It's also the Busker's Festival first weekend and Family Sunday at the Art Gallery. Family Sunday is on my list for this weekend too – we always seem to keep missing it, but whenever we do make it, Alex loves it!

A bit farther afield is the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival, which starts today and runs until Sunday. Everyday at 1:30pm there is a Children's Stage with entertainment for kids, along with of course all the awesome grown-up music from Lennie Gallant, The Marigolds, Stephen Fearing, The Dardanelles, The Nields and lots more.

If you are still looking for ideas, check out our activity calendar, find a new playground to hang out at with our Playground Directory, or go laze at one of HRM's beaches.

Have a great weekend!