Hali's top femme & queer comics + this week's best events

New Guide

42 femme and queer Halifax comedians to know

Halifax comedy runs way deeper than the same names you see on every poster. Our newest guide rounds up the femmes, gays and theys of the Halifax comedy scene: 42 local comics and 6 featured profiles, along with where you can catch them live, like Neon Sign Comedy, Easy Bake and Comedy Hour. Albums, specials, videos and websites included.

Follow a few, get out to a show, and send this to anyone in your life who loves local comedy.

Meet all 42 comics  →All our guides  →

Natal Day weekend, at a glance

Halifax and Dartmouth turn 129 with the Busker Festival running through Monday and three nights of fireworks.

Saturday: free ferries all day · Crescendo Fest, 7–10 PM, featuring TOBi — the Nigerian-Canadian rapper and singer fresh off his fifth JUNO win, blending hip-hop, R&B, neo-soul and Afrobeats · harbour fireworks, 10 PM

Sunday: Macdonald Bridgewalk, 2–4:30 PM · ANSMA Freedom Festival, 2–9:30 PM · fireworks, 9:30 PM · Wanderers vs. Forge, 7 PM

Monday: Dartmouth parade, 10:30 AM · Family Fun Day at Sullivan's Pond from noon · Tides vs. Ottawa, 3 PM · Lake Banook fireworks, 9:30 PM

Full Natal Day schedule  →

What to see + what to book

This weekend

The Jubilee turns 30 in New Glasgow. Joel Plaskett Emergency and The Stanfields play Saturday; Sam Roberts Band and Kathleen Edwards close it Sunday.

Kathleen Edwards plays Light House Saturday. 8 PM, doors at 7, 19+,  then she heads to the Jubilee Sunday.

The Dirty Nil hit the Seahorse Friday. With Electric Spoonful, Customer Service, and Atay & Jax. 7 PM, 19+.

Still running:RENT at Neptune through Aug 30, plus Shakespeare by the Sea nightly at Point Pleasant.

Tickets to grab

Great Outdoors Comedy Festival takes over Garrison Grounds Aug 6–9. Matt Rife opens Thursday and Friday, Trevor Wallace and Andrew Schulz lead Saturday, and Adam Ray plus Nikki Glaser headline Sunday. Friday is sold out and Thursday is already 85% gone.

Max McNown brings The Summer Vacation Tour to Scotiabank Centre Aug 13. The Band Perry and Sam Burchfield open. Doors at 6:30, show at 7:30, all ages; tickets start at $55 plus fees.

Bump & Grind returns to the Marquee Aug 22. OKAY TK and DJ IV have been selling these R&B parties out since bringing the series back. 9 PM–1 AM, 19+.

Akon and Ne-Yo are coming to Citadel Hill. Magnetic World runs Sept 25 + 26, with Sexyy Red, Swae Lee and Alesso on Friday and Akon + Ne-Yo play Saturday.

Quick Hits

A few more things worth knowing around town this week.

💸 Some ECMA performers are still waiting to be paid. Artists from May's awards in Sydney told Global News they waited more than two months, received less than agreed, or still received nothing. ECMA says its finances are stable and all outstanding artist payments should be cleared by the end of August.

🥇 Ellie Black just made Commonwealth Games history. The Halifax gymnast won all-around gold in Glasgow, becoming the first person ever to win two all-around titles at the Games. 

🏺 Beleza Ceramics opened a permanent studio on Hollis Street. Calista Desousa's pottery nights kept selling out as pop-ups; now 1892 Hollis has drop-in wheel throwing, hand-building and pottery painting.

🎨 The second-biggest Maud Lewis showcase ever is on in Yarmouth.Maud Lewis: Coming Home brings together 74 works at the new Land's End Arts and Culture Centre through September.

🎸 Sloan's Chris Murphy is touring an R.E.M. album with Michael Shannon. The Halifax-raised bassist joins Shannon and Jason Narducy's band for nine UK and Ireland shows performing Lifes Rich Pageant.

📞 Nova Scotia and P.E.I. are getting a third area code. The CRTC approved 851 for May 2028, joining 902 and 782.

🛒 Weekend Markets

16 markets across the region — August 1 + 2.

Saturday

8 AM — Truro · Alderney Landing · Brewery Market · Seaport · Halifax Forum · Hubbards · Novalea

8:30 AM — Wolfville Farmers' Market

9 AM — Sackville Farmers' Market

Sunday

9 AM — The Funky Flea · Halifax Forum Flea

10 AM — Halifax Seaport Farmers' Market · Musquodoboit Harbour

11 AM — Alderney Sunday Artisan Market

Noon — Spryfield Farmers' Market

1 PM — Elmsdale Afternoon Market at Good Robot

Two notes for the long weekend: Musquodoboit Harbour's market is at its summer home on the Railway Museum grounds, and the Warehouse Market has moved into Richmond Yards (2767 King St), open Saturday + Sunday 9 to 4.