Halifax is a city about to bust loose! We are thaaaaat close to the biggest summer party of the year as the 2009 Natal Day Weekend Festivities are about to kick off! My previous post told you when and where things are happening. Tonight I am just going to recommend that if you are 19 or over, you make sure you head for the Halifax Waterfront! The party tent is there, along with lots of other activities and the nightlife of "downtown Halifax" is just up the street a bit! That means no matter where you turn, there will be a party happening. Plus, from the Halifax Harbour waterfront you can jump on the ferry and catch a ride to the Dartmouth side, to take in some of the musical events happening at Alderney Landing.
As my previous post indicated, there is lots going on, but for my money, there is no place like the waterfront on Natal Day Weekend, plus you can catch the firework display!
Halifax Waterfront Natal Day!
Halifax Natal Day Weekend 2009
In Nova Scotia, we know that summer is turning a corner when we hit Natal Day....so it looks like the corner is coming up, this weekend, August 1,2 and 3 is the Natal Day Weekend, a big civic holiday in the Halifax Regional Municipality.
Halifax is a party town, and this is a parteeeee!! Natal Day weekend is a fine old time in Halifax, a city founded in 1749.
The party officially gets underway on Thursday at noon with the Alexander Keith's Natal Day Festival Official Kick Off at Sackville Landing on the Halifax Waterfront.
At 4:00 the Q104 Concert begins at the Natal Day Festival Tent with lots of East Coast Rock music!
On Friday August 1st check out the Blues Bash from 4 pm - 12 at the Festival Tent.
On Saturday the Annual Esso Amateur Talent Show starts at Dartmouth Alderney Landing Events Plaza at 2:00 p.m. This is always a great opportunity to see some up and coming talent, vying for prizes of $1200, $600 and $300 The finals are from
7:00-8:30 p.m.
The Black Freedom 175 Concert happens at the Natal Day Festival Tent from 3:30-12:30 on Saturday.
Saturday night is the fireworks concert at Alderney Landing starting at 9:15 with Blueberry Grunt.
The Halifax Natal Day Fireworks start at 10 p.m. Saturday August 1st with great views from either Dartmouth or Halifax waterfronts.
From the Fireworks Saturday Night there are ongoing parites and fun for the next two days, including the bridgewalk, concerts, tea parties. Don't miss the great concerts going on at the Festival Tent on the waterfront and the Canadian Forces Halifax Rock Fest 2009 on Citadel Hill Sunday afternoon. That's gonna be good, in honor of our deployed military men and women with bands Our Lady Peace, Sloan, Finger Eleven and Chickenfoot. You can get more details at Halifax Rock Fest
The road races, a tradition on Natal day as long as there has been a Halifax Dartmouth Natal Day, start at 8:00 a.m. on Monday at Ochterloney Street in Dartmouth. It is one of the oldest consecutive road races in Canada. My grandfather ran in these races. Registered runners will get a t-shirt! Find out the details Here
There is a pancake breakfast on Monday morning at the MacDonald Bridge Toll Plaza starting at 8:00 until 9:30 a.m.
At 10:00 a.m. get yourself situated to watch the 114th Pepsi Natal Day Parade. It starts on Novalea Drive in Halifax, crosses the MacDonald Bridge, and ends at Sullivan's Pond in Dartmouth. It's always a big parade with floats, bands, and even some clowns....in addition to the Mayor and members of the Regional Council...difficult to tell them apart, but the clowns wear face paint usually....
Banook Lake will be in it's glory on Monday with the 114th Dartmouth natal Day Regatta, from 9:00 to 4:00 on Monday.
Andrew Gillis & The Jump Band will be jumping at Sullivan's Pond Park at 12:30-1:00
Also at Sullivan's Pond in Dartmouth from 12:00 - 6:00 p.m. you and your family can enjoy the Pirates of Sullivan's Pond Family Fun Day. Wear your pirate costume and see some animated readings of "The Terrible Horrible Smelly Pirate but children's authors, Carrie Muller and Jacqueline Halsey. There is lots going on, including a prize for the best dressed pirate and pirate family.
Don't forget the Bridge Walk from 2:00-4:00 on Monday, rain or shine!
The Mayor's Tea Party starts at 1:30-4:30 p.m. at Sullivan's Pond. It's a pirate tea party, with live entertainment.
Sullivan's Pond Park is also the scene for the AFM-MPF Dartmouth Natal Day Concert from 3:30-8:00 p.m. Alex Vaughn & The Swell Guys, Frank McKay Band and Stuart MacLean.
Closing out what will have been a fabulous Natal Day Weekend is "Tribute Night" starting at 3:00 p.m. and running until 1:00 a.m. at the Natal Day Festival Tent, presented by Alexander Keith's on the Halifax Waterfront. Great music tributes to some of the legends, from Joe Murphy,(Blues Legends) Gypsy,(Fleetwood Mac) Abby Road, (The Beatles) Love Guns, (KISS) and Dirty Deeds, (AC/DC) There is a $3.00 cover charge for this one!
There ya go, everything I could find on the Halifax Natal Day Festival! But if you need to know more, call 490-6776.
Halifax Parade of Sail
Don't forget to get yourself somewhere near the Halifax Harbour waterfront tomorrow for the Parade of Sale, as the Tall Ships gather and prepare to depart Halifax! It is truly a magnificent sight to see! The Parade of Sail begins at 12:00 and runs until 3:00! Don't wait though, get down to the waterfront at noon!
Tall Ships Nova Scotia Festival 2009 Halifax
There is no place as exciting as the Halifax Harbour downtown and waterfront on a nice warm summer evening like tonight. The Tall Ships are coming, so the place has takes on a bit of a buzz, people are out around, walking, touring, bar-hopping and taking in the sights and sounds of a busy port city at night.
The women are especially beautiful this time of year as mini skirts and high heels are everywhere, and young and old couples in love stroll the boardwalk, enjoying the middle of summer in Nova Scotia!
But wait until the Tall Ships arrive July 16th to August 1st! Then the city will really be alive with visitors, sailors, tourists, residents and everyone else, hitting the waterfront and taking in the beautiful sailing ships along the waterfront. The ships officially arrive in Halifax Harbour on Thursday, July 16 and the Parade of Sail is Monday, July 20. Then the ships head for some other Nova Scotia destinations, some to Cape Breton and some to the South Shore. The Tall Ships Nova Scotia Festival 2009 has something in the vicinity of 40-50 tall ships visiting, a parade, fireworks, tent parties on the waterfront, music and lots more!! You can purchase a pass and go aboard some of the ships too, which can be an entertaining way to spend a day.
You can find the full Tall Ships Nova Scotia Festival schedule of events Here!!
The Halifax Harbour Hopper
One of the most popular tours available in Halifax is the Harbour Hopper. The Harbour Hopper is an amphibious vehicle that takes you on a tour of downtown Halifax and then for a ride on the Harbour without leaving the vehicle.
It's actually a converted U.S. Military vehicle, called a Lark V, that was built during the sixties for use in the Viet Nam war transporting troops and cargo from ship to shore and further inland. There were about 900 made, and Halifax has a few of them! Actually, of the 900 and some odd that were built, more than half were sunk on purpose when the U.S. pulled out of Viet Nam. There are still some in use by the Military, but now they are getting pretty old.
It's actually a LARC V which in U.S. Military speak means "Lighter, Amphibious Re-Supply Cargo" These were first designed in 1959 but not built until about 1963. There are several versions of landing craft with the LARC name, most are bigger and designed to carry jeeps and tanks as well as troops and supplies. The smaller LARC V is mostly a designed as a personnel carrier and smaller supplies.
The Lark V can carry about 40 passenger and two crew members and travels about 10 miles per hour in the water. Passengers enjoy a high view as the vehicle has huge wheels and sits high above the street. A tour guide points out all of the major downtown Halifax sights, a little bit of history and some fun thrown in! It's a great trip and sure to delight young and old.
Here are two Harbour Hoppers passing in the harbour! 
The Harbour Hopper is operated by Murphy's On The Water, you can find out more, including how to book a tour for you and your family or a group Here
Want your very own Lark V amphibious landing craft? There is one for sale Here but hurry, they only have one left!
Enjoying The Halifax Boardwalk Sunshine
I couldn't help myself, I had to snap a pic of this old fella soaking up the sun on the Halifax Harbour boardwalk last week. Considering all the rain and the lack of sun this year, I guess he couldn't resist getting his vitamin D !! 
It was such a nice day, lots of folks were out enjoying the warm Halifax weather. 
Halifax Canada Day 2009
Happy Canada Day Halifax!!
There is lots going on around Halifax today in recognition of Canada Day, but I wanted to point out a couple of things that I think are going to be great! The concert at the waterfront in Dartmouth, and the Canada Day Halifax Fireworks!
First, here is the lineup for the Canada Day Concert at the Dartmouth waterfront, Alderney Landing!
Nova Scotia Music at Alderney Landing Presented by Nova Scotia Come to life and Dartmouth Crossing
Jul 1, 2009 1:00 PM - 11:59 PM
LIVE MUSIC FEATURING:
3:00 pm: Maritime Fiddle Festival Kickoff (45 Minutes)
4:05 pm: Q-104 & Monte's Rock Show Down Winner presented by Molson Canadian (60 Minutes)
5:25 pm: ASIA & NuGruv (50 Minutes)
6:35 pm: Under The Sun (80 Minutes)
8:25 pm The Joel plaskett Emergency (90 minutes)
10:00 pm: Dartmouth Crossing FIREWORKS (10 minutes)
10:20 pm: Blueberry Grunt (90 Minutes)
12:00 midnight: FINISH
Molson Beer Garden opens at 2:30 pm w/ cover charge.
The Canada Day Fireworks are set to happen, tonight, July 1, 2009 10:00 PM - 10:10 PM over the Halifax Harbour, pick your vantage point, perhaps Alderney Landing, or the Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk, and get set for a great fireworks display!
There are all kinds of Canada Dy Activities happening around Halifax today, you can find out more about them at the Halifax-Dartmouth Canada Day Events Website
