Wondering how to make the most of summer's scant time? We're breaking down all the big shows, from Sudan Archives at Jazz Fest to Broadway's Book Of Mormon to the Halifax Pride Parade to the 2023 North American Indigenous Games. Get ready to light up the group chat with some great plans—and if you notice we're missing something, email us!
July's about to be busy, as you will read below. Wanna know more fun stuff happening in your city? We've got the breakdown of 2023's hottest events here.
Antigone: By Fire
Two Planks and A Passion Theatre—the outdoor outpost of drama in Canning, NS—kicks off its 2023 season on June 30. One of the two plays it’ll mount this summer? Kate Besworth’s adaptation of Sophocles' tale of a girl who pushes back against society in the name of family. This show is Two Plank’s fireside show, meaning it happens post-sunset and lit by flame.
Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 9pm from June 30-Aug. 19, tickets from $25 for adults [Theatre]
The Wind in the Willows
Two Planks and A Passion Theatre—the outdoor outpost of drama in Canning, NS—kicks off its 2023 season on June 30. One of the two plays it’ll mount this summer? A new musical adaptation of the all-ages classic The Wind in the Willows, a tale of friendship and belonging.
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 6pm; Sundays at 2pm from June 30-Aug. 19, tickets from $25 for adults [Theatre]
Under The Spire Music Fest
This rural P.E.I. fest sees big Canadian indie names—Dan Mangan, Jeremy Dutcher, Kaia Kater—playing a former church turned concert venue all summer long.
underthespire.ca for details and schedules [Music]
Harbourside Ribfest
June 30-July 2, 11am-10pm; July 3, 11am-5pm; Alderney Landing, $1 entry [Event]
Canada Day Concert
As of press time, this year’s July 1 celebration lineup is still TBD.
July 1, Grand Parade Square, free [Music]
Bedford Days Canada Day Celebration
Bedford favourite Donair Supply headlines this all-day outdoor fun fest at DeWolf Park. After the live music, 10pm fireworks cap things off—but there’s a whole host of things like a pancake breakfast, bouncy castles and a beer garden—that make a case for making a day of it.
July 1, 9am-10pm, DeWolfe Park, free [Event]
Canada Day on the Dartmouth Waterfront w/African Nova Scotian Music Association Concert, fireworks and more
July 1 is a full afternoon here: Live music from the African Nova Scotian Music Association at 7pm is capped off by fireworks at 10pm—but arrive midday for a noontime Snow Birds Air Show, a drumming performance and DJ set. Rain date is July 2.
July 1, noon-10pm, Dartmouth Ferry Terminal Park, free [Music]
Maurice McGaffney
A cabaret pianist set.
July 2, 1-2pm, Halifax Central Library’s Paul O’Regan Hall, free [Music]
Antigonish Highland Games
July 2-9, Antigonish, antigonishhighlandgames.ca for tickets and schedule [Event]
Granville Green
Free, open-air concerts in Port Hawksbury’s downtown are a summer Sunday tradition. Held weekly at 7pm, acts like Adam Baldwin, The Town Heroes and DeeDee Austin are amongst this year’s slate.
Sundays in July, 7pm, Granville Street, Port Hawksbury, free, granvillegreen.ca for lineup and details [Music]
DOA w/The Bloody Hell, Turbo, Novichok
July 2, 8:30pm, Seahorse Tavern, tickets $22.63 in advance $30 on show day [Music]
The Mellotones
July 3, 2pm, Dartmouth Ferry Terminal Park, free [Music]
Cavendish Beach Music Festival
Pack your cowboy boots: Chris Stapleton headlines Prince Edward Island’s annual country fest this year.
July 6-8, Cavendish, PEI, cavendishbeachmusic.com for tickets and details [Music]
Lobster Bash
July 7-9, 90 Water Street, Digby, www.lobsterbash.ca for details [Event]
Peggy’s Cove Area Festival of The Arts
Two weekends of visual art-fuelled fun await at this event: Plein air painting events see attendees capturing the cove on canvas from July 7-9, while self-guided open studio tours sees over 75 artists’ works on view from July 14-16.
July 7-9 and 14-16, Peggy’s Cove, peggyscoveareafestivalofthearts.com for details [Event]
Crypthand
The play that re-imagines the coming-of-age of Anne Lister (A.K.A. Gentleman Jack, one of the earliest recorded lesbians in English history) and her boarding school girlfriend, Crypthand’s tender comedy comes to Ship’s Company Theatre this July after a successful run at The Bus Stop Theatre last fall.
July 5-16, Ship’s Company Theatre, Parrsborro, tickets from $15 [Theatre]
Avery Dakin album release w/Lindsay Misiner & The 7th Mystic, Shay Pitts
July 7, The Seahorse, tickets $15 in advance, $20 on show day [Music]
Abbas Wahab
The podcast and TikTok-famous comic stops at The Carleton on his You’re Hired tour.
July 8, 7pm, tickets $25 [Comedy]
Walrus w/Aquasocks, Creep & The Pervs, Century Samuel
July 8, The Seahorse, tickets $20 in advance $25 on show day [Music]
Brooklyn Blackmore & Friends
One of the city’s top country acts.
July 8, 2pm, Dartmouth Ferry Terminal Park, free [Music]
Pinocchio
Shakespeare By The Sea’s original musical.
July 8-Sept 2, showtimes and tickets available at SBTS’s website [Theatre]
Morgan Davis w/Cyd, Marty and Dave
July 9, 1:30pm, Dartmouth Ferry Terminal Park, free [Music]
Halifax Jazz Festival
The region’s biggest music fest returns! Headline shows listed individually below but be sure to peep the fest site for full listings.
July 11-16, Halifax, halifaxjazzfest.ca for full listings and details [Music]
Feist w/Jenn Grant at Jazz Fest
July 11, Jazz Fest Main Stage, 8:15pm, tickets $54.79 [Music]
Shaggy w/Jah’Mila at Jazz Fest
July 12, Jazz Fest Main Stage, 8:15pm, tickets $71.27 [Music]
Mike Murley Septet at Jazz Fest
July 12, 6:30pm, St. Matthew’s United Church, tickets $28.16 [Music]
The Last Waltz Halifax at Jazz Fest
July 13, Jazz Fest Main Stage, 7:30pm free/by donation [Music]
Tanika Charles at Jazz Fest
July 13, 6:30pm, St. Matthew’s United Church, tickets $28.16 [Music]
Sudan Archives w/BADBADNOTGOOD at Jazz Fest
Sudan Archives is one of the buzziest new acts in music today, making waves for her violin and vocals based music. She’s got fans at Pitchfork, NPR and, soon, in the crowd at Jazz Fest.
July 14, 8:15pm, Jazz Fest Main Stage, tickets $44.14 [Music]
The Bad Plus at Jazz Fest
July 14, 6:30pm, St. Matthew’s United Church, tickets $46.79 [Music]
Found Money LP release show w/LXVNDR, Tachichi, Superfluid, Keeper E., Kye Clayton and more
July 14, 10pm, The Seahorse, tickets $15 in advance, $20 on show day [Music]
Sommo Festival
PEI’s newest music fest, with Maggie Rogers and Mumford and Sons headlining.
July 14-15, Cavendish, PEI, sommofest.com for tickets and details [Music]
Halifax Jazz Festival showcase
July 15, 10am, Dartmouth Ferry Terminal Park, free [Music]
Mali Obomsawin at Jazz Fest
July 15, 6:30pm, St. Matthew’s United Church, tickets $28.16 [Music]
Digable Planets w/Maestro Fresh West at Jazz Fest
A double dose of hip hop elder statespeople.
July 15, 8:15pm, Jazz Fest Main Stage, tickets $33.49 [Music]
Glitz & Glam Drag Makeover Extravaganza
Legendary local drag queen Rouge Fatale hosts a makeover party complete with selfie station.
July 15, 3-4pm, Dartmouth North Public Library [Event]
Atlantic Kite Festival
July 15-16, 10am-7pm, Garrison Grounds, Citadel Hill, free [Event]
North American Indigenous Games
The 10th celebration of Indigenous games comes to Kjipuktuk to host competitions in 16 sports across 23 locations.
July 15-23, details and schedules at naig2023.com [Event]
North American Indigenous Games Opening Ceremony
July 16, 7:30pm, Scotiabank Centre, tickets from $44.25 [Event]
Rankin McInness
July 16, 2pm, Dartmouth Ferry Terminal Park, free [Music]
Fleet Foxes w/Fortunate Ones at Jazz Fest
July 16, 8:15pm, Jazz Fest Main Stage, tickets $81.92 [Music]
Broadway In Halifax: Book of Mormon
July 18-20, Scotiabank Centre, tickets from $85 [Theatre]
Festival of Dance Annapolis Royal
July 18-22, Annapolis Royal, fodar.ca for tickets and details [Performance]
Danny Michel
July 20, 7:30pm, The Carleton, tickets $28.75 [Music]
Wannabe
The ultimate Spice Girls tribute band returns to Neptune!
July 20-22, 7:30pm, Neptune Theatre, tickets from $36 [Music]
Stanfest
Canso’s biggest music celebration returns.
July 20-23, Canso, Cape Breton, stanfest.com for tickets and details [Music]
Halifax Pride Festival
July 20-30, various locations, halifaxpride.com for details [Event]
Every Brilliant Thing
Chester Playhouse stages this play, about a child’s attempt to remind his depressed mother why life is worth living by listing every brilliant thing.
July 21, 7:30pm, Chester Legion Hall, Chester, tickets from $17.50 [Theatre]
Andre Pettipas & The Giants album release show w/Brad Milligan, June Body
July 21, 8pm, The Carleton, tickets $23 [Music]
Planet Pride
A dance party taking over multiple floors of The Marquee building, with DJ Fadzwa and DJ Kittybass adding oomph to the bill.
July 21, 9pm, The Marquee, tickets $15 in advance, $30 on show day [Music]
Fiddles & Feet
Ship’s Company Theatre in Parrsborro keeps the kitchen party vibe going with this concert that combines step-dancing with fiddle music.
July 21-23, Ship’s Company Theatre, Parrsborro, tickets from $15 [Music]
Nova Multifest 2023
July 21-23, Alderney Landing [Event]
Romeo & Juliet
Shakespeare By The Sea takes on the ultimate teen tale at Cambridge Battery.
July 21-Sept 1, showtime details and tickets via SBTS’ site [Theatre]
Jimmy Swift Band w/Grand Theft Bus
July 22, 9pm, The Marquee, tickets $35 in advance, $50 on show day [Music]
The Town Heroes
July 22, 2pm, Dartmouth Ferry Terminal Park, free [Music]
Lunenburg Arts Festival
July 22-23, Lunenburg waterfront [Event]
Halifax Summer Opera Festival
The 17th annual celebration of local opera returns to perform two fully-staged operas: Offenbach’s La jolie parfumeuse and Handel’s Serse. As of press time, tickets and location details were still TBD.
July 22-Aug 19, halifaxsummeroperafestival.com [Theatre]
Halifax Pride Parade
July 23, 2pm, chart parade route here [Event]
Brigid w/The Bombadils and Ellen Gibling
July 23, 1:30pm, Dartmouth Ferry Terminal Park, free [Music]
T. Thomason w/Chudi Harris
Pop phenom T. Thomason has long been known for his songwriting, winning the John Lennon songwriting award while still a teen. These days, he rocks harder than ever, bringing a Troye Sivan-influenced sound to the stage for an edgy take on indie pop.
July 26, 7:30pm, Halifax Central Library’s Paul O’Regan Hall, free [Music]
The National Youth Orchestra
July 26, 7:30pm, Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, tickets free-$75 [Music]
Rum Ragged
July 27, The Carleton, tickets 28.75 [Music]
Harmony Bazaar
The women and song fest returns with Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Michelle Wright headlining.
July 28-30, Lockeport, NS, harmonybazarr.com for tickets and details [Music]
Hillsburn
July 29, 8pm, The Carleton, tickets $34.50 [Music]
Caribbean Diaspora Multicultural Celebration
July 30, 1pm, Dartmouth Ferry Terminal Park, free [Event]
