March Break Activities Around Halifax, NS

MARCH BREAK ACTIVITIES AROUND HALIFAX, NS

March Break is just around the corner, and for those staying in Halifax, there's no shortage of fun and exciting activities to partake in. Whether you're looking to get outdoors, explore the city's rich history and culture, or have some fun with family and friends, there's something for everyone.

Here’s a list of ideas to help you plan your March Break staycation: 

Art Camps & Workshops 

Artworks Day Camps

ArtWorks is an all-ages art studio nestled in Halifax, Nova Scotia, offering classes, camps, parties and workshops. Their programs are fun and interactive, and their variety of classes allow you to experiment with various mediums and materials like pottery, fused glass, watercolour painting, acrylics, drawing, woodworking, and clay wheel. They have a whole list of day camps available for March Break. (Kids must be five and older to attend.) ​

Make Day at Art Gallery NS: Cardboard citie

Make Day is a studio program for emerging artists of all ages. Join them for their all-ages studio drop-in program on March 12 from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia! This month’s Make Day will be led by Intern Architect Isioma Mafiana, who will help you build a cardboard city—drawing inspiration from the Shape of Cities exhibition currently on view. Using cardboard, glue and markers, you’ll work together to create the city of your imagination!

Coffee Breaks

Apartment 3 Espresso

One of my favourite coffee shops, Apartment 3, has a new location ready to serve you the caffeine you’ll need for the week’s adventures. Instead of making your way to Sackville for their delicious treats, you can stop into their downtown Halifax location on South Park Street where they share space with Queensbury Boxing Studio. 

Halifax’s first 2D cafe

If you’re looking for a caffeine fix and new flavours, check out Xena's Bread and Butter, which opened it’s doors on Brunswick street offering traditional cafe offerings alongside Phillapino inspired items for you to enjoy in a cafe that looks like you’re sitting in the pages of a comic book. 

Exhibitions/Museums

Discovery Centre’s Dinosaurs in Motion 

From now until April 16th, you can visit the Discovery Centre and enjoy Dionasaurs In Motion, a showcase of the power of integrating art, science and innovation! Visitors will go on a journey with 14 gigantic dinosaurs and control their movements! Highlights include a 44-foot metal T-rex you can control with pulleys & levers—Dinosaur lovers won’t want to miss it. 

Maritime Museum of the Atlantic

Launched November 9, 2021 at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, Ta'n me'j Tel'keknuo'ltiek: How Unique We Still Are, reflects how Mi’kmaw people remain connected to the lands and waters of Mi’kma’ki. This exhibit featuring Mi'kmaw historian and guest curator Salina Kemp offers a platform for Mi’kmaw people to express their continued experiences with an understanding of the lands and the waters of Mi’kma’ki. Mi’kmaw single-word concepts are represented through personal testimony and histories of individual Mi’kmaw people, featured objects, artifacts, images and symbolic artwork.

Winter Tours of Halifax Citade

Discover how the British soldiers lived in the 19th-century fort and how they survived the cold Halifax winters! Time your tour with the noon gun and experience a Halifax tradition! Runs weekdays from Monday, March 13 to Friday, March 17, from 11 am, 1 pm, and 2 pm. Tours are approximately 45 to 60 minutes, and you can reserve tours online through Eventbrite.

Library Event

There are many free March Break Events at the Halifax Public Libraries, including movies, puppet shows, cooking workshops, games, crafts, mad science demonstrations, music, grab-and-go kits, and much more. Find the library closest to you and see what’s available. 

Outdoor fun

St.Patrick’s Day Parade

The 2023 parade will begin at 1:00 pm on March 12th at Pier 20 and travel along Lower Water Street, through Irishtown, ending at Historic Properties.  

Hot cocoa and icecream at Ross Far

Head out for March Break on the farm and enjoy some Tasty Treats. Sample homemade ice cream in the farm workshop, or decorate a cookie in Rosebank Cottage. Don’t forget to drop by the barn and see our farm animals or take part in a fun artifact hunt. Hot chocolate will be served and, weather permitting, there will be wagon rides.

Family fun at Hatfield Farm

Enjoy a 2-hour family round-up at Hatfield Farms, including a horse-drawn wagon ride, all-you-can-eat hotdogs, unlimited drinks, mini-golf, rubber rodeo, zip lines, petting pens and more. Several departure times are available throughout the week; choose your date and time here. 

Getting around: 

Free Zone B Parking

Enjoy free on-street parking from 11 am to 2 pm in ZONE B for March Break from Monday, March 13 to Friday, March 17. During this timeframe, parking sessions via HotSpot or pay stations within ZONE B will be free.

Note: you must still register for parking sessions via HotSpot or a pay station to avoid receiving a ticket, from March 13 to 17, from 11 am to 2 pm.

Free Ferry Ride

Downtown Halifax and Downtown Dartmouth, in partnership with Halifax Transit, have collaborated to offer people of all ages the opportunity to have a March Break adventure on both sides of the harbour! From Monday, March 13 to Saturday, March 18, the Alderney/Halifax ferry service will be free between 11 am and 2 pm. 

Hotel Packages

Visit NovaScotia.com to get a full list of family packages available for March Break.