June 27-29 Right Some Good
Lucky for us North America's original pop-up food fest has crossed the causeway, and will share with us a little bit of the magic that's been taking place in Cape Breton for the last few summers---Michelin chefs, a feast on a navy ship, master chef competitions and a (free) street food celebration that'll shut down Spring Garden Road and offer up so much good eatin'. Open wide, Halifax.
various locations and prices for dinners, Spring Garden Road fair (June 29), 9:30am-9:30pm, free, rightsomegood.ca
June 21-22 Out Of Town Cold Waters Seafood Festival
Chowder, clams, fish cakes, lobsters, mussels, smoked mackerel, oysters, solomon gundy...it's getting mighty fishy around these parts. At this new festival you won't only find $5 tastes of the aforementioned delicacies, but also live music, dory rides, lobster trap building, paint-your-own-buoy and a touch tank from the Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia.
Memory Lane Heritage
Village, Lake Charlotte, 10am-4pm, $5
July 4-6 Digby Lobster Bash
We know all about Digby Scallop Days (August 6-10, digbyscallopdays.com), an ode to the pride and joy of the town, but don't forget about the lobster. This annual celebration of south west Nova Scotia's lobster industry hosts competitions in trap hauling, rope coiling and lobster banding, plus a mud run, tug of war, parade, live music and lots of the red stuff---lobster chowder, lobster rolls, steamed lobbies. BYOBib.
Digby, lobsterbash.ca
July 12, August 9, September 13;East Coast Outfitters presents: Dock + Dine
Former Fid mastermind Dennis Johnston returns to the dock for a third year running to feed hungry paddlers a wicked post-kayak feast. It's a beautiful combination, hit the waters of Lower Prospect for a two-hour kayaking tour, then return to the boathouse for a locally sourced and foraged meal, prepared by Johnston with love. The July edition welcomes Vancouver Four Seasons chef Ned Bell to the shore.
East Coast Outfitters, 2017 Lower Prospect Road, 4pm (kayak trip), 6:30pm (dinner), $80 (for both), 852-2567
July 29 Busker Feast
Hungry for Busker Fest? Also just hungry in general? Get amped up for the annual waterfront street-performer celebration (which you can read more about that on page 72) at this special dinner at the Westin, where you'll get a taste of what's to come---living statues, music, contortionists, acrobats and general excitement.
Westin Hotel, 1181 Hollis Street, $65 per seat/$650 per table, 429-7205
August 8-9 Seaport Beer Festival
It's the eighth year this annual event has been bringing a beer world tour to the Halifax waterfront, getting people stoked on suds for an entire weekend. This year's Seaport Beer fest will be as great as ever, with every shade of brew out there, musical guests and well-loved beer nerd and guest of honour Nicholas Pashley.
Cunard Centre, 961 Marginal Road, $45 daily, seaportbeerfest.com
August 15-30 Wild Blueberry Harvest Festival
Who hasn't spent a sweaty summer day picking ice-cream buckets full of blueberries at the mere promise of a fresh baked pie in return? All those who say "aye" will understand why the last two weeks of summer are devoted to the magically sweet, classically summer berry. Towns from Truro to Tatamagouche, Oxford to Parrsboro will celebrate this festival, with picnics, pie eatings and baking contests, u-picks, pancake breakfasts and other tasty treats.
various locations across Nova Scotia, wildblue berryfest.com
