Nova Scotias Unmissable Arts And Culture Events

Experience Nova Scotia’s rich arts and culture scene with these unmissable annual events. From music festivals to art shows to the world’s largest food and film festival, we’ve covered every season and interest in our list.

Pop Explosion

In 2017, Pop Explosion celebrated its 25th year, which brings together artists, comedians, and speakers from across the country for a four-day music festival and conference. The event showcases some of Canada’s best talent and takes place every October at various venues throughout Halifax.

FIN: Atlantic International Film Festival

In the Dead of Winter Festival

In the Dead of Winter is a perfect anecdote to the winter blues. Held annually in January, the festival brings together songwriters from around Canada and the U.S. The festival aims to showcase new talent and provide an event for songwriters to connect and network.

Halifax Jazz Festival

Enjoy amazing concerts at Atlantic Canada’s largest music festival, held every July in Halifax. The festival, which draws in over 55,000 visitors annually, features beloved local and international artists, including Lauryn Hill and The War on Drugs.

Devour!: The Food Film Festival

Celebrate all things food and film at Devour!, the largest food and film festival in the world. The festival fittingly takes place in Wolfville, named Canada’s Secret Foodie Destination by the Hollywood Reporter, and offers a selection of fun foodie workshops, demos, and seminars.

Avondale Art Fair

There is something for everyone at the Avondale Art Fair in the Annapolis Valley. Held on the third Sunday in June, the fair celebrates art, food, music, and wine from around the Atlantic Provinces. Visitors will enjoy live art demonstrations, music, food and alcohol tastings, and so much more.

Acoustic Maritime Music Festival

Head to the Annapolis Valley for their annual summer Acoustic Maritime Music Festival! You’ll enjoy three days of live music and concerts from some of Canada’s best singer-songwriters.

Nova Scotia Folk Art Festival

The Nova Scotia Folk Art Festival has been bringing local folk artists together every August for the past 30 years. Stop by this day-long festival in Lunenburg to check out work from over 50 artists.

Celtic Colours International Festival

Experience Cape Breton’s rich culture at the annual nine-day Celtic Colours International Festival. Enjoy the island’s stunning fall colors while attending concerts, dances, community suppers, workshops, and so much more.

Peggy’s Cove Area Festival of the Arts

Discover the amazing local art scene at the 11-day Peggy’s Cove Area Festival of the Arts in July. The festival runs a number of multi-day events that showcase local artists through studio tours, live demonstrations, and more.

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Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.