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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Every big show happening in Halifax (and beyond) in August

The Juno-nominated Montreal indie folk quartet The Barr Brothers have performed at Red Rocks with My Morning Jacket and appeared twice on the Late Show with David Letterman. This Saturday, August 12, they bring their high-energy show to Halifax’s Light House Arts Centre with an opening set from Cape Breton band Villages.

It’s far from the only show in town this month, too: Jerry Seinfeld, Bill Burr, Heather Rankin and Rich Aucoin are just some of the names coming through Halifax in the weeks ahead.

Catch up on all the latest shows near and far in The Coast’s rundown.

Need to know

🗣️ The municipality is holding a public open house to provide details on the planned Bedford West Sub-Areas 1 and 12 Special Planning Area development.

🚨 The death of the 26-year-old Dartmouth man at the Halifax waterfront this past weekend has been ruled a homicide.

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY SONIC CONCERTS

Coming up at the Light House Arts Centre

Atlantic Canadian indie-folk favourites The East Pointers and Fortunates Ones have just announced that they’re teaming up for a fall tour, including Nov 2 in Halifax. The East Pointers recently released some new music and Fortunate Ones had a triumphant opening slot for Fleet Foxes at the TD Halifax Jazz Festival. Tickets go on sale tomorrow, Aug 11 at 10 am. General admission standing and reserved seating available.

Iconic musician, producer, and songwriter Daniel Lanois returns to the city for an intimate show with his trio on Sept 10. Tickets for this reserved seating show are very limited so don’t wait to secure your spot.

Get your tickets for these shows and more from Sonic Concerts!

On The Coast

SPONSORED BY DOWNTOWN HALIFAX

Dog-Friendly Downtown

Downtown Halifax loves dogs! So much so that in addition to all the dog-friendly patios, many shops, accommodations, and attractions (and more!) in the Downtown area will gladly welcome your pet pooch.

Get out and enjoy the dog days of summer with your favourite four-legged friend in Downtown Halifax.

Check out our list of dog-friendly businesses in the Downtown area here.

In other news

🦈 CBC spoke with Paul D’Eon from the Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service on proper protocol for shark sightings following a potential sighting that took place at Queensland Beach.

🌳 Following last year’s Public Gardens vandalization the outlook for dozens of trees was grim, however, the majority of them made a miraculous recovery. Global News spoke with HRM horticulture supervisor Sean Street about the tree's recovery and what to expect in the future.

🫐 Nova Scotia is in the midst of a blueberry boom. Local farmers believe the recent wildfires will increase blueberry crops. Find out how here.

🔌 Nova Scotia Power has released its plan to reduce the number of outages caused by hurricanes.

😔 Robbie Robertson, Lead singer of Canadian/American music group, The Band, has passed away.

SUMMER GUIDE

Dig into the ultimate sandcastle competition

If you’re not careful, it can feel like an act of futility: Since the end result falls under the old adage that nothing good can last, why exert yourself? Why lug the pails full of sand only for the tide to wash it away? For 43 summers now on a beach in Nova Scotia, there’s an afternoon when humankind’s urge to etch something permanent on the face of history is defeated. A scant handful of sun-baked hours when children and adults, artists and hobbyists, tourists and locals—over 10,000 of them, according to HRM’s estimations—break a sweat on the sand, creating metres-high castles, sculptures of Spider Man complete with seaweed “webbing”, even tributes to the revellers no longer able to join the fun.

This year, the Clam Harbour Beach Sandcastle Competition returns on Sunday, August 13 at 9:00am.

Read more on the competition at The Coast. 

🗓 Things to do: Weekend planner

Looking for something to do? Check out these Coast picks:

Thursday

• Halifax Seaport Beerfest: It’s Beerfest this week and this year it’s added hard seltzers, cocktails and sodas to the mix. Check out the full lineup here | August 10-12 | $38.34 - $71.02.

• Halifax Salsa and Bachata Festival: The 5th annual Salsa & Bachata Festival kicks off downtown this week. Enjoy local and international performers, a marketplace and tasty eats. Make sure to secure your spot! | August 10-13 | Free-$65.

• By Divine Right and Washing Machine: Get your tickets to a night of Canadian indie-rock at the Ross Creek Annex | August 10 | 8-11pm | $10-$20.

Friday

• 14th Annual Dark-Sky Weekend: In the mood for a road trip this coming weekend? See planets, galaxies and constellations like never before at Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site | August 11-13 | Free with park admission.

• Afire: Catch a screening of the German film Afire directed by Christian Petzold at Carbon Arc Cinema. Synopsis: “A young writer has his summer retreat upset by an unexpected occupant, Nadia, who forces him to confront his ridiculousness.” | August 11 | 6:30pm | $8-$8.75.

• Handel's Serse: Why choose between the opera and comedy when you can get both? Catch Handel’s Serse, the comedic opera showing at the Lilian Piercey Concert Hall | August 11 | 7:30-9:45pm | $5-$35.

Saturday

• The Bard’s Best Scenes: Shakespeare by the Sea’s Young Company will be performing the best of Bard at the Halifax Central Library | August 12 | 3-4pm | Free.

• Northern Lights Lantern Festival: Celebrate Halifax’s north end at the 20th Annual Northern Lights Lantern Festival. Enjoy an evening of live music, BBQ and fireworks at Merv Sullivan Park | August 12 | 5-9pm | Free.

• Rollernight: Grab your roller blades it's Rollernight at the LeBrun Centre! Join the family-friendly, low-sensory skate from 4-6pm or drop-in to the 16+ skate after 6pm. | August 12 | 4:30-9:30pm | Free-$14.

Sunday

• Comic Arts Festival: Head to Alderney Landing for a day of comics, cartoonists and crafts—a comic version of a farmer’s market. | August 13 | 10am-5pm | Free admission.

• Wildfire Response Appreciation Event: Show your appreciation to the response teams who tackled the Upper Tantallon wildfires earlier this year. Meet these local heroes and enjoy activities, food trucks and more at Hammonds Plains Community Center | August 13 | 2pm-6pm | Free admission.

• Hope and Healing Canada: Drop by the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 and check out Tracey-Mae Chamber’s new exhibit in response to the Canadian residential schools' mass grave sites | June 6 - August 29 | All day.

Find more Halifax events in The Coast listings.