Massive cities could supply the razzle dazzle of the vacations with Christmas bars, parades, and sprawling Christmas Markets, however typically the heartwarming attraction of a small-town Christmas is what you might want to recapture the vacation pleasure. That was precisely what I discovered in Nova Scotia this December.
Strolling via the Miracle on Dock Avenue celebration in Shelburne, I felt as if I’d stumbled onto the set of a Hallmark Christmas film. Mingling with the locals, I saved ready for the basic scene to unfold earlier than my eyes of the small-town lady getting back from the massive metropolis and bumping into her highschool love or the same Christmas meet-cute situation.
Throughout me, neighbors gathered within the chilly, with youngsters bundled up in snowsuits and stuffed into wagons and strollers, lining as much as meet Santa whereas the kids clustered round hearth pits. Pedestrians wandered down the blocked-off streets, taking a peek on the community-decorated floats that made up the walk-through Christmas Parade.
The farmer’s market was remodeled right into a Christmas craft honest and bake sale, the place an area group was handing out scorching canines and sausages in return for a voluntary donation. Think about that, a vacation celebration that hasn’t been changed into a industrial cash maker!
Earlier than too lengthy, the whole city gathered on the waterfront to absorb the Christmas fireworks, an ideal capstone to a magical night. Toes chilly, coronary heart warmed, it was a brief stroll again to my gorgeous waterfront view room at Albert’s Inn.
Simply as Nova Scotia shouldn’t be a one-season vacation spot, Christmas in Nova Scotia shouldn’t be a one-stop celebration. This Maritime province is a well-liked summer season vacation spot for beachgoers, highway trippers, and cruise passengers, however additionally it is surprisingly festive for the vacations.
From mailing a letter from the city of Christmas Island to exploring the “Christmas Tree Capital of the World” in Lunenburg, there are many methods to have a good time in Nova Scotia.
7 Methods to Have a good time Christmas in Nova Scotia
Editor’s be aware: This publish was written in partnership with Tourism Nova Scotia. My journey was hosted by the Tourism board and I used to be compensated for content material creation however all opinions are my very own.
Halifax Evergreen Pageant
Halifax sparkles with vacation lights that line the Evergreen Vivid Path, which wraps its approach alongside the waterfront. Begin your go to with a scenic stroll via the peaceable Public Gardens and do some vacation buying alongside Spring Backyard Street. Should you get chilly, heat up on the Halifax Central Library or one of many many stops alongside the Evergreen Cocoa Path.
Alongside the waterfront, you will discover a few of Halifax’s prime points of interest, together with Pier 21, the Canadian Museum of Immigration, the Artwork Gallery of Nova Scotia that includes the people artwork of Nova Scotian artist Maud Lewis, and the family-friendly Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, which has an enchanting shipwreck exhibit together with fragments from the Titanic.
If you get hungry, this space can be dotted with eating places and bars, a lot of that are a part of the Nova Scotia Lobster or Chowder Trails, corresponding to The Cable Wharf, Drift, and Waterfront Warehouse. Or, you may seize a candy deal with at COWS Ice Cream or Peace by Chocolate, a premium chocolate firm began by Syrian refugees.
For a really distinctive reward, ebook a perfume-making session on the 7 Virtues Atelier. This clear fragrance firm sells its merchandise via Sephora in 19 international locations, however Halifax is at present the one Atelier location the place you may create a customized mix. Based by Nova Scotian Barb Stegemann with the preliminary purpose of offering a path out of opium and into orange blossom oil for Afghan farmers, the corporate stands by its social justice roots with a deal with empowering women and girls by ending interval poverty.
When the solar goes down, town begins to twinkle with the lights of the Evergreen Pageant. This four-week-long vacation celebration features a small Christmas Market that includes native makers, a stage for reside leisure on choose nights, a winter sports activities zone, and comfy spots for cocktails, just like the Merry & Vivid Patio on the Marriott Halifax Harbourfront Resort.
Snuggle up underneath the lights on the hearth pits within the Evergreen Market and toast marshmallows for s’mores whereas sipping scorching cocoa (or one thing stronger!) Or, strive your hand at mini-curling, warmth up in a waterfront sauna, or discover your approach out of the dockside gentle maze. There’s something for everybody to get pleasure from.
The place to Keep: The Marriott Halifax Harbourfront Resort has an ideal location for exploring the waterfront and spacious rooms with stunning views.
Glow Halifax at Glow Gardens
If you’re visiting Halifax with youngsters, you may’t miss Glow Halifax. However earlier than you wander via the million lights, make a cease on the Mic Mac Mall to pay a go to to Woody the Speaking Christmas Tree. Yearly between mid-November and December twenty third, Woody wakes up for Santa’s grand arrival and customers younger and outdated line up for a fast chat. Woody is such an area legend that there’s even a store upstairs for Woody souvenirs.
Because the solar units, it’s time to head over to the Halifax Exhibition Centre for the magical lights experiences at Glow Halifax. There are photograph alternatives galore with a maze of brightly lit large ornaments, gentle tunnels, magical timber, and winter characters. Little youngsters will enjoyment of vacation play with inflatables, arcade video games, mini golf, a Santa prepare, curler skating, and even an enormous swing experience.
Stay music for adults or kids, meals stalls, and mini-bars serving up native beers and spirits are scattered all through the exhibit house. This 12 months, children will get pleasure from trying to find Santa’s elves with a brand new “Jolly Jumble” theme.
New Ross “Christmas Tree Capital of the World”
New Ross is called the Christmas Tree Capital of the World, with native tree farms delivery its fascinating Nova Scotia Balsam Fir timber as far-off as Europe and California. Nova Scotia even sends a Christmas tree to Boston yearly as a thanks for the assistance town supplied after the devastating Halifax Explosion in 1917.
On the primary weekend in December, the New Ross Christmas Pageant gathers a whole bunch of individuals for a group supper, adopted by a Christmas Tree lighting. The weekend is full of craft festivals, home-cooked meals, caroling, Christmas tree u-picks, kids’s enjoyable, and magical leisure with singing and dancing.
A spotlight is mountaineering up Ruby’s Path via the evergreens to get pleasure from expansive views of the village and rolling hills past. Even higher, you will discover Twig’s Chalet. “Twig” is an enthralling elf clad in Nova Scotian tartan who got here to life when an errant pinecone fell off Santa’s sleigh and landed in Nova Scotia. Throughout the vacation season, you will discover Twig in his woodland cottage, watching over all of the Balsam Fir Christmas timber in Nova Scotia.
When you are on the town, make a cease on the Ross Farm Museum, a dwelling museum of agriculture that continues to be largely the identical because it was within the 1800s. It gives day by day actions like wool spinning, candle making, and ox shoeing, and you’ll chat with costumed interpreters, hike the scenic path, take a wagon experience, meet the animals, and even get pleasure from a winter sleigh experience.
The Season of Father Christmas, Mahone Bay
The walkable, waterfront city of Mahone Bay is charming year-round, however the festive Christmas shows and vacation lights make it additional particular — notably the do-it-yourself gnome decorations (My Gnome Bay – Mahone Bay, get it?) The Father Christmas Pageant takes place from late November via Christmas Eve and consists of every little thing from church luncheons to family-friendly actions.
On the night I visited, Kedy’s Touchdown was serving up scorching cider, cookies, and s’mores by the hearth pits, whereas a number of the group gathered at St. James Parish Corridor for Ye Olde Christmas Market & Celebration, with handmade crafts, reside music, and baked items. Afterward, there was music and extra at St. John’s Church, with a bell choir and swing band.
Different competition actions embrace a group tree lighting, vacation markets, story occasions, a toy boat brigade, concert events, a enjoyable run, a Christmas cookie stroll, a teddy bear parade, images with Santa, and extra.
Mahone Bay additionally has loads of cute retailers in your vacation buying wants, such because the Teazer Reward Store, Tea Brewery, Suttles and Seawards, and Amos Pewter, the place you may watch the artisans in motion on the open studio. There are many drink and eating choices too from the Saltbox Brewery to Mateus Bistro (scrumptious pork stomach tacos btw) or Betty’s at The Kitch.
The place to Keep: Kitch’Inn is a small mattress and breakfast inside strolling distance to downtown with spacious and trendy rooms.
Lunenburg Christmas Craft Pageant
Lunenburg is a picture-postcard Nova Scotian city with colourful buildings and former mansions with fascinating structure from Gothic towers to elegant verandas. Outdated City Lunenburg is a delegated UNESCO World Heritage Web site, with a historical past that dates again to 1753 that dabbles in rum working and shipbuilding. With retailers and eating places, breweries, and distilleries, Lunenburg is a vacationer’s dream.
On the waterfront, you may see Nova Scotia’s well-known racing schooner, Bluenose II (which can be featured on the Canadian 10-cent piece.) It’s also the place you will discover a towering lobster lure Christmas tree in the course of the holidays.
For the vacations, Lunenburg additionally hosts the most important Christmas Craft Pageant I’ve ever skilled. Throughout the first weekend in December, a whole bunch of Nova Scotian Artisans and Crafters collect on the Lunenburg Christmas Craft Pageant, which takes place throughout the Lunenburg Neighborhood Centre, Curling Membership, and Bluenose Academy. A $5.00 payment features you admission to all three and a $5.00 voucher that’s accepted by many distributors.
You can see handcrafted pottery, woodcarvings, glass, sculptures, wreaths, and extra, together with meals distributors providing fudge, preserves, dips, and baked items, plus a wide range of native wines, spirits, liqueurs, and ciders to place you within the Vacation spirit.
Driving into city within the morning, I noticed teams of individuals strolling in the identical course. I assumed to myself, all of those folks couldn’t presumably be going to the craft honest, and I continued on to search out nearer parking. Positive sufficient, the parking heaps have been full and I quickly was a type of folks parking additional away and strolling via the chilly to the craft honest corridor bursting with folks.
It is a city that it would be best to spend time in…at any time of 12 months. In the summertime you can too go to the close by fishing village of Blue Rocks, with its lighthouse, blue slate rocks, and dealing fishing vessels.
Miracle on Dock Avenue, Shelburne
As I described above, Miracle on Dock Avenue is a candy vacation competition that’s simply dripping with small-town attraction. Plan a go to throughout this weekend occasion and benefit from the stationary floats of the walk-through parade, store on the craft distributors on the Shelburne Guild Corridor Market, roast marshmallows over the hearth pits dotting the streets, and cease for warm chocolate, heat chowder, and even oysters (that is Nova Scotia in spite of everything). Youngsters can go to Santa on the Dory Store, watch an out of doors Christmas film, or stroll via Who-ville in Atlantic Home Park.
Snap a household photograph in entrance of the wooden barrel tree exterior of the Shelburne Barrel Manufacturing facility after which collect on the waterfront to look at the fireworks that shut out the night time.
Within the morning, you may discover the fascinating historical past of this Loyalist stronghold, which turned a boomtown in the course of the American Revolution when Loyalists decamped New York Metropolis and landed in Shelburne. Close by, you may drive out to see the Sandy Level Lighthouse, which sits on a sand bar on the entrance of Shelburne Harbour and at low tide, you may benefit from the sandy seaside and stroll out to the lighthouse.
It’s also lower than a 30-minute drive to Barrington, which is the Lobster Capital of Canada, and an ideal spot for recent seafood. I’m a purist in terms of lobster and like mine recent, steamed, and dipped in butter. Typically different preparations style fishy to me. However not at Captain Kat’s Lobster Shack. You can even meet Lucy the Lobster, the native climate prognosticator, however because it was raining once I visited, I used to be extra involved in consuming the lobster than assembly one.
To battle off the chilly, I began with lobster chowder, with recent chunks of tasty lobster and never a hint of fishiness. I used to be tempted by a full lobster dinner however that was greater than my pockets or abdomen might deal with, so I attempted the lobster grilled cheese with low expectations that have been blown out of the water. As soon as once more the lobster was recent and juicy, the bread crisply toasted with completely melted cheese and even a lobster butter sauce for dipping.
On a great day, you may stroll the close by white sand seashores, expertise among the best birding locations in Jap Canada, and take a look at the world’s greatest lighthouses. Throughout the holidays, you can too try the lobster buoy timber on the Northeast Level Seashore Gazebo or the Dennis Level Wharf.
The place to Keep: Albert’s Inn has a wonderful waterfront location proper in downtown Shelburne with private service and gorgeous rooms. My harbourview king suite was immense, extra like a loft residence with a lounge, eating desk, kitchen, whirlpool tub, walk-in closet, and wrap-around water-view home windows.
Winter Glamping, White Level Seashore Resort
For a novel approach to have a good time the vacations or ring within the New Yr, why not strive winter glamping? Sound chilly? It’s not. White Level Seashore Resort is perched on the coast, with a surprising stretch of seaside. This full-service resort has been welcoming visitors for over 90 years and gives lodge rooms, cabins, trip houses, and luxurious glamping domes (or glomes).
The glomes supply privateness, the place you may go to sleep to the sound of water and wake to gorgeous sunrises, but you will have the facilities of a resort, together with a full calendar of actions, only a quick stroll or drive away. The Glomes characteristic a king mattress, gasoline fire, heating (and air con in the summertime), kitchenette, and a full lavatory. Every Glome has a non-public deck with a grill, scorching tub, and Adirondack chairs dealing with the water.
I’ve stayed in lots of glamping resorts, together with a dome in New Brunswick, and this was my coziest keep ever, regardless of the chilly and wet climate exterior.
This go to to Nova Scotia for Christmas confirmed two issues in my thoughts: 1) Canadians simply know how one can do winter one of the best, and a couple of) vacation journey can rekindle Christmas pleasure.
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Tamara Gruber is the Founder and Writer of We3Travel. A former advertising govt and journey advisor, Tamara is an award-winning journey author and acknowledged knowledgeable in household journey. Tamara is a member of SATW, NATJA, IFWTWA, and the Journey Journey Commerce Affiliation, and serves on the Board of the Household Journey Affiliation. She can be the writer of YourTimetoFly.com and the co-host of the Trip Professionals journey podcast.