Get ready for spooky family fun and great events this October! There are festivals, fall activities, and, of course, lots of crazy fun events taking place to celebrate Halloween. The East Coast boasts some of the best fall weather in the country, so be sure to spend time in the great outdoors, too.
Mi’kmaq Heritage Month | All Month Long
📍Various Locations
Across Nova Scotia every October, Mi’kmaq History Month is celebrated, and community activities and events share and showcase Mi’kmaw history. This year’s theme is Nepisulti’k – We Are Healers.
Mahone Bay Scarecrow Festival | September 25 – October 12 | FREE
📍Around Mahone Bay, NS
Watch the beautiful town of Mahone Bay come to life with over 250 handmade, life-size scarecrows. With pumpkin patches, kids’ activities and more, this is the perfect event to celebrate the joys of this magical season.
Bluenose Ghosts Festival | October 4 – October 31
📍Alderney Landing, Dartmouth
The Bluenose Ghosts Festival at Alderney Landing has something for those who crave spooky, including a Haunted House, an Escape Room, a Crypt Ride and more!
Nocturne Halifax: Art at Night | October 15 – 18 | FREE
📍Various Around Halifax & Dartmouth
Enjoy a nocturnal perspective of art in the streets of Halifax and Dartmouth. This FREE festival includes family-friendly exhibits staged across galleries and public spaces of downtown Halifax and Dartmouth. Check out the program guide for all the details.
Fire and Water Cultural Festival | October 17 | FREE
📍Alderney Landing, Dartmouth
This free celebration will be an evening of captivating fire performances, traditional cultural performances, interactive activities, food and fun, with the beautiful Halifax Harbour as the backdrop.
Curbside Giveaway Weekend | October 17 & 18 | FREE
📍Various Around HRM
FREE up some space and get some FREE stuff on Halifax’s curbside giveaway weekend. Check their new interactive map!
McNabs Island Fall Foliage Tours | October 18
📍McNabs Island, Halifax Harbour
Join the Friends of McNabs Island Society for our Fall Foliage Tours of McNabs Island. See the island in its autumn splendour and participate in guided heritage, nature, adventure or family tours.
Downtown Dartmouth Food Crawl | October 22
📍Various Around Downtown Dartmouth
Discover new eateries or rediscover your old faves at the Fall Edition of the Downtown Dartmouth Food Crawl. Some retail shops will also be hosting pop-up food vendors.
Scotoberfest | October 22 – 24 | FREE Activities
📍Queen’s Marque and Historic Properties, Halifax Waterfront
For three days, October 22nd-24th, Queen’s Marque and Historic Properties will be filled with Scottish-inspired food, drink, live music, family activities, movies, games, friendly competition, and laughs. Whether you come for the contests, the entertainment, or simply a great time by the water, Scotoberfest has something for the whole clan!
Francofest 2026 | October 23-31 | FREE Activities
📍Various Around Halifax
An annual festival celebrating Francophone diversity, Francofest is led by a dedicated organizing committee and the Conseil Communautaire du Grand-Havre. This year marks the 15th edition! This year’s theme is Flowers of the Francophonie.
Apple Picking Near Halifax
There’s nothing like the juicy crunch of a freshly picked apple and no better feeling than picking that apple yourself! With so many beautiful orchards, families in Nova Scotia have plenty of choices when it comes to places to go apple-picking. Here is our list of fun places to go apple-picking with your family in Nova Scotia. Some farms might be cash only, so check before you go!
Corn Mazes & Pumpkin Patches
Fall has arrived in Halifax with cooler weather and changing leaves, and it’s the perfect time to visit a pumpkin patch or corn maze. We’ve compiled the top spots in the area to enjoy these classic autumn activities. Make great family memories with the lovely, inviting backdrop of the fall season.
Fall Walks Around HRM
If you’re looking for a great way to spend a fall day outdoors with your family, here are 5 local spots to enjoy the season’s colours and frolic in falling leaves. Grab your walking shoes, pack a picnic, and get ready to enjoy the fresh fall air.
October Road Trips to Check Out NS Fall Festivals
Festivals celebrating the end-of-season harvest, Autumn colours, or the spooky season are taking place across the province. Check out our list of great October road trip destinations and explore the province.
Halloween Guide
It’s Halloween season, and time to get spooky! If you’re looking for the best Family Halloween Events in Halifax and surrounding areas for Halloween 2026, you’ve come to the right place. Here is our freak-alicious Ultimate Guide to Spooktacular Family Halloween Events in Halifax – and Beyond. Be sure to keep checking back because this guide will be updated throughout the month.
But Wait… There’s More!
Love seeing the Family Fun Events in Halifax in October, but want MORE? Keep tabs on everything happening in #YHZ with our calendar, and stay tuned to all the best local family events through our Facebook, Instagram and TikTok!
Did you know you can submit your family-friendly event to us? Fill out the form with your event details, and we’ll do our best to add it to our busy events calendar.
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