1. It’s time for the 27th Annual Halifax Pride Parade! Each year the collective creativity, talents, and energy of our Halifax communities come together to wow the world, all while celebrating the diversity and variety of life here in the HRM.
1:30 pm – 3:00 pm Free Downtown Halifax (Lower Water St. to Barrington St. to Spring Garden Rd.) on Saturday. And afterwards you can head to Kids Can – Short for “kids can” enjoy pride too, Halifax Pride offers a children’s area where facepainting, arts, crafts, and the Mad Scientists are all waiting! 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm, Free Garrison Grounds, Citadel Hill!
2. Do you know any little ones that loves princesses? MYST: Maritime Youth Standing Together, invites you to their “MYSTical Princess Ball’, with special guests Princesses Ariel, Cinderella and Tiana! It will be an afternoon full of cupcake decorating, princess crafts, and dancing! All funds raised will go towards building schools in Mali, Africa! They have a limited number of tickets available, so get yours today!
3. Come celebrate and enjoy wooden boats in historic Lunenburg all weekend long. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the port of Lunenburg is steeped in history and full of wonderful restaurants, inns, shops and fine establishments where sailors can quench their thirst. Two days of special events with the Wooden Boat Festival will take place along the waterfront, hosted by the fantastic Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic. This is the forth year for this event and all wooden boats are welcome: sailboats, motorboats, punts, canoes, kayaks, pleasure or commercial craft. Saturday will also see the running of the Nova Scotia Schooner Association’s 8th Annual Heritage Cup for schooners and other sailing races, while a highlight of Sunday’s program is the head-turning putt putt race where boats powered by vintage “make and break” engines churn up the waters of Lunenburg harbour while filling the air with their distinctive sound. New for 2014 is a “fast and furious” boatbuilding competition, culminating in a sea trial race where the watercraft, built in just a few hours with limited supplies, will be put to the test afloat.
4. Every year during the last week of July, the Africville Society holds a three-day picnic at Seaview Park at the foot of the A. Murray MacKay Bridge, the former location of the community of Africville. On Friday, the celebration typically kicks off with a dance featuring performances by local talent. On Saturday, there are games for the children and a food court. Sundays are reserved for religious and musical events. The picnic attracts upwards of 1,000 people, many from the community at large. Many comment on the excellent quality of the food and entertainment. The Society also holds social functions during the year and administers an educational trust, based on the compensation received by the Africville community for its church.
5. The Africa Festival of Arts and Culture is an annual festival that showcases the unique cultural heritage and artistic works of people of African descent living in Nova Scotia. The festival will be held this year at the Sackville Landing, Lower Water Street from Friday to Sunday. Major events of the festival includes arts, crafts, visual and performing arts of people of African descent. Artistic work includes arts and craft, drumming, Jazz, hip-hop, gospel music, stand-up comedy, literature, food, and lots more. The festival is open to the public free of charge. Please come and join in on the celebration!
