Halifax Concerts, Mooseheads & Live Events

Downtown Halifax is the events core, anchored by Scotiabank Centre on Brunswick Street and Casino Nova Scotia on Upper Water Street. The Argyle Street strip between Sackville and Spring Garden is the city's busiest restaurant-and-bar row, with Neptune Theatre, the Carleton Music Bar, the Seahorse Tavern and Yuk Yuk's all on the same few blocks. Scotia Square and Barrington Place malls sit at the heart of the district, with the waterfront boardwalk a five-minute walk east. The Halifax Convention Centre on Argyle hosts conferences and indoor expos. Downtown event-goers walk between venues — most of the district is within a 10-minute radius of the waterfront.

The North End is Halifax's indie-music heart, centred on Gottingen Street between North and Cornwallis. The Marquee Ballroom on Gottingen is the city's premier indie touring venue — 600 cap, two stages, six nights a week of bookings. Gus' Pub on Agricola is a long-running East Coast indie institution. The Bus Stop Theatre on Gottingen handles indie theatre and music. Light House Arts Centre on Cornwallis adds visual-arts gallery shows and music. The neighbourhood is the city's longest-running indie scene, producing East Coast acts from Sloan to Wintersleep to Joel Plaskett. Walking distance from downtown.

Spring Garden Road is the city's central commercial spine, running from the Public Gardens west to Robie Street. The Public Gardens host free outdoor concerts every Sunday afternoon in summer at the bandstand — a Halifax institution since 1867. The Halifax Central Library at Spring Garden and Queen runs year-round programming, author readings and music events. Neptune Theatre is a five-minute walk north on Argyle. The Spring Garden Road merchants' summer street festival closes the strip a few times each summer for outdoor music. Doyle's Coffee, the Bicycle Thief and the strip's restaurants make it a pre-event dinner row.

Dartmouth sits across the harbour from Halifax, connected by the MacDonald and MacKay bridges and by the Halifax-Dartmouth Ferry — one of the oldest continuous saltwater ferry services in North America. Alderney Landing on the Dartmouth waterfront is the centre of the events calendar over there, with a 281-seat theatre, an outdoor performing stage hosting free summer concerts most weekends, the Alderney Gate farmers' market and the year-round Dartmouth gallery scene. The Dartmouth Crossing entertainment district anchors family-event bookings. Multicultural festivals like the Dartmouth Multifest and the Africville Reunion run at venues across the city's east side.

Winter brings indoor concerts at Scotiabank Centre and the Halifax Forum, QMJHL Mooseheads home games every weekend, and a packed indie-venue calendar on Argyle and Gottingen. Neptune Theatre runs its winter mainstage season. The In the Dead of Winter Music Festival in late January is Halifax's indie-music winter anchor. The Symphony Nova Scotia winter concert series runs at the Spatz Theatre.

Mooseheads QMJHL playoffs run through March, with the post-season into April. Neptune Theatre's spring mainstage season opens. The Halifax Comedy Festival in mid-April is the city's signature comedy event, with national headliners at venues citywide over a week. HFX Wanderers FC pre-season programming begins. Symphony Nova Scotia's spring concert series fills the Spatz Theatre, and the Atlantic Independent Wrestling spring tour stops at the Halifax Forum.

The Bluenose Marathon takes over downtown the third weekend of May. HFX Wanderers FC opens its Canadian Premier League season at the Wanderers Grounds. The waterfront boardwalk's summer programming begins. Mooseheads playoff finals if the team advances. The Apple Blossom Festival in the Annapolis Valley draws Halifax-area visitors west for the long weekend.

The Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo runs late June at Scotiabank Centre — the largest annual indoor show in the world, with bagpipes, military bands, gymnastics and acrobatics over a week. HFX Wanderers FC season is in full swing. Free concerts at the Public Gardens bandstand begin every Sunday afternoon. Pride Halifax runs its parade and festival weekend.

Halifax Jazz Festival mid-July is Atlantic Canada's largest music festival, with the Waterfront Stage and venues across downtown. The Halifax International Busker Festival opens in late July, closing the boardwalk for street performers. Canada Day on the waterfront draws huge crowds for free outdoor concerts. The Multicultural Festival at Alderney Landing runs mid-month. Mooseheads end-of-summer training events.

The Busker Festival continues into early August. Halifax Pride takes over downtown in late July or early August. The Africville Reunion brings community programming to the city's north end. Lobster Crawl events run in fishing villages around the metro region. Free outdoor concerts at the Public Gardens, Alderney Landing and the waterfront continue weekly. Tall Ships Halifax visits the harbour every few years for a multi-day festival.

The Atlantic Film Festival opens in September at downtown cinemas. The Halifax Fringe Festival runs early September across downtown venues. The Halifax International Buskers wrap-up. Mooseheads QMJHL season opens late September. Neptune Theatre fall mainstage season begins. Word on the Street book festival fills the waterfront. The Royal Nova Scotia International Air Show runs Labour Day weekend.

Halifax Pop Explosion takes over indie venues late October — a week of touring indie music at the Marquee, Light House, Seahorse and pop-up rooms across the city. Nocturne Halifax art-at-night festival runs the same month. Christmas at the Forum opens in late November with a six-week holiday market, light displays and skating. The Holiday Parade of Lights fills Spring Garden Road. Scotiabank Centre books its biggest December arena concerts. New Year's Eve waterfront fireworks close the year.