🗞️ Culture vultures

Happy Friday Halifax,

When I saw the headline “Don’t Go Into The Woods” I was like “Uh, duh”, there could be a teddy bear’s picnic or some other sort of doom I can’t even imagine going on in there. If I even stumble off one of the main paths in Point Pleasant, I immediately go full…

@the.horror.hive

#Horror #horrortiktok #horroroftiktok #horrormovies #horrorfan #horrorfilm #horrormovie #movie #movies #fypツ #scary #theblairwitchproject

But for those of you outdoors enthusiasts, let’s get to the bottom of what the government means by “woods” and what you can and can’t do in these hot, dry conditions.

According to Nova Scotia’s Forests Act, the woods includes the following: forested land, rock barren, brush land, dry marsh, bog or muskeg. Bad news for those looking to enjoy some “bog fun” this weekend.

So basically, all travel and recreational activity—including fishing, hiking, camping and driving vehicles—in any of the above areas defined as “woods” is a no-no. Trail systems through the woods are closed, camping is only allowed in official campgrounds and parks that are entirely wooded are closed.

Parks that are not wooded, such as green spaces, playgrounds, sports fields and ball diamonds, are open. BUT in parks with both wooded and non-wooded areas, the wooded areas are closed, while the non-wooded areas remain open. Like Point Pleasant, for example.

You know what? This is confusing me just typing it, so I’ve made you a helpful flowchart:

Have a safe and restful weekend!

– Julie

📷 @editorjulesl

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: ☀️ 28°

Tomorrow: ☀️ 28°

Next Day: ☀️ 27°

🚗 Driving, biking or busing today? Check out the current traffic conditions and ongoing road closures.

💨 Here is Halifax’s Air Quality Index and the smoke report.

EVENTS

Halifax transforms into cultural powerhouse this week: Here’s everything that’s going on.

From savouring summer in an ice cream scoop to outdoor comedy festivals, pop-up stores, and waterfront performances, something is happening on every corner. Whether you're a style enthusiast excited for The Mills Halifax Fashion Week, a live music lover, or just looking for a reason to get out and explore, the city is buzzing with can't-miss moments.

As always, The Coast has you covered with all the can’t miss events this weekend.

🤔 Need To Know

💜 The Nova Scotia government is calling on residents with personal, professional or community-based experience surrounding gender-based violence to apply to join the new ministers’ table on gender-based violence.

🏥 Nova Scotia Health is planning to ramp up security at hospitals across the province this fall by installing metal detectors that use artificial intelligence to identify weapons—the move comes after three employees were attacked by a patient at the Halifax Infirmary in January.

🚜 Hilarious! The Nova Scotia Backcountry Games make sport of rural ways. Grab your buddies to compete in good-humoured games at this summer’s most unique event!*

🍻 If you know, you really know. The Pint is the summer move—next-level bites, unbeatable drinks, and East Coast patio energy that slaps. Your hot take? It’s right here.*

*Sponsored Post

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ARTS + CULTURE

Sweet Angel Baby’s theatrical release is coming to Halifax with a special twist

The Carbon Arc Cinema will be hosting the first theatrical screening of Sweet Angel Baby, a queer-centred story of rural politics and storytelling in the digital age.

The film screening is planned for 6pm on Saturday, Aug. 16 and will feature a Q&A section with director Melanie Oates, who won the Atlantic International Film Festival’s Michael Weir Award for Best Atlantic Screenwriter for the film.

Sweet Angel Baby stars Michaela Kurimsky as Eliza, a woman from a fishing town who is heavily involved in the community, even helping organize a fundraiser for her church when it looks like it will be sold off. However, Eliza has a secret: she has been posting artistic, sexually explicit self-portraits online.

The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer has more on this ground-breaking movie about queer identity in rural spaces.

🗞️ In Other News

🔥 An organization is calling on the provincial government to reconsider its ban on activities in the woods—the Canadian Constitution Foundation has sent a letter to the premier, outlining the organization’s concern that the ban “arbitrarily infringes on the rights and freedoms of Nova Scotians.”

😓 Low-income renters are pressing governments for ways to cool apartments in heat waves—a movement advocates call the “right to cooling” is gaining attention across the country.

⚖️ A 26-year-old Halifax man has opted for a judge-alone trial on a charge of second-degree murder—the lawyer for Treyton Alexander Marsman announced the re-election during an appearance in Nova Scotia Supreme Court Thursday morning.

🪲 Ravaging rose bushes and feasting on backyard crops, Japanese beetles are an ongoing issue for gardeners in the Halifax area—experts say the trick is learning to live with them.

SPONSORED BY NEPTUNE THEATRE

SEASON TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

We’ve got nine months of entertainment available for purchase!

Whether you’re interested in the big musicals, the more intimate shows, or everything in between, Neptune Theatre has something for everyone in our 2025-2026 Season. What shows are YOU coming to see this season?

SPONSORED BY CRAFT NOVA SCOTIA

Craft Nova Scotia Presents Figments of the Imagination

Craft Nova Scotia proudly reopens the Mary E. Black Gallery with Figments of the Imagination—a bold ceramic showcase by NSCAD students and grads. Curated by Rachel de Condé, this forward-looking exhibition celebrates innovation, material mastery, and the vibrant future of contemporary craft in Nova Scotia. Exhibit ends August 12.

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

➡️ The MSC Daisy container ship leaves Halifax for Abu Dhabi at 5am.

🚢➡️ The MSC England container ship arrives in Halifax from Sines, France at 5:45am and leaves for Montreal at 5pm.

🚢➡️ The Volendam cruise ship arrives in Halifax at 10am and leaves for Canadian seas at 7pm.

➡️ The Algoscotia oil tanker leaves Halifax for Sydney at 12:30pm.

➡️ The Nolhan Ava container ship leaves Halifax for Argentia at 6pm.

➡️ The Oceanex Sanderling container ship leaves Halifax for St. John’s at 6pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🦐 The Gambas (king prawns) are having a moment at Gio: brandy-kissed shrimp, crispy pancetta and lots of garlic. 

🍝 There are a few new delicious gems on the menu at Bar Kismet: Spaghetti Alla Chittara (summer squash), grilled char (hazelnut veloute and choy sum), cherry and hazelnut meringue, and soprese smoked mussels (fennel).

👀 In Case You Missed It

🐟 There’s something beautifully simple, and endlessly debatable, about who makes the best fish and chips. Is it the freshness of fish, the batter or the combination of fish, fries and accompaniments like coleslaw and tartare sauce?  I personally place the greatest on the former, although great home cut fries do have a way of swaying me and inciting fond childhood memories of afternoons eating Bud the Spud fries while sitting on the wall outside the old Halifax Public Library. So, where’s the best fish and chips in HRM? The Coast’s food and wine writer Mark DeWolf seeks to answer this very important question.

🖼️ Artists with disabilities from across Nova Scotia will be in the spotlight this Saturday at the 13th Annual Art of Disability Festival, hosted by Independent Living Nova Scotia. Taking place at Pier 21 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the free, family-friendly event aims to showcase the creative work and voices of artists living with disabilities. More than 35 artists are set to participate, presenting original pieces ranging from paintings and photography to jewelry, baked goods, and poetry. The Coast’s Warren D’Silva spoke with program director Cameron Pye about what we can expect from the 13th annual edition of this unique festival.

That’s it!

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