Nova Scotia

What's open and closed in the Halifax area on Natal Day 2020

This year marks the 125th Natal Day in the Halifax region, and what is usually a busy weekend of events will likely be an ordinary long weekend due to COVID-19.

Annual Natal Day celebrations are cancelled due to COVID-19

Door signs that say 'sorry we're closed' and 'come in, we're open.'
Natal Day is not a designated retail closing day in Nova Scotia, which means many stores will be open, but some may have reduced hours. (CBC)

This year marks the 125th Natal Day in the Halifax region, and what is usually a busy weekend of events will likely be an ordinary long weekend due to COVID-19.

The Halifax Regional Municipality has cancelled all Natal Day events, including the parade and annual fireworks display.

More details about the cancellations can be found on the Natal Day website.

What's open Monday

Natal Day is not a designated retail closing day in Nova Scotia, which means many stores will be open. However, some may have reduced hours.

Many Sobeys and Atlantic Superstores will be only open from noon until 6 p.m. Some pharmacies may have reduced hours as well.

Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation outlets will have reduced hours, opening from noon to 6 p.m.

Mic Mac MallHalifax Shopping CentreDartmouth Crossing and Sunnyside Mall will only be open from noon to 5 p.m. on Monday. Scotia Square will be open from 9:30 to 5 p.m. Monday.

Municipal services affected

All branches of Halifax Public Libraries will be closed Monday.

Halifax Transit buses and ferries will be operating on a holiday schedule on Monday. Fare collection has resumed and masks continue to be mandatory on all municipal transit.

Many municipal recreation centres will be closed for Natal Day, but most beaches and splash pads will be open.

Mail collection and delivery by Canada Post will be suspended Monday but will resume Tuesday.

The municipal recycling plant and the Otter Lake waste facility will be closed Monday. The household special waste depot continues to be closed.

There will also be no curbside waste collection on Natal Day. Residents who normally receive pickup on Mondays had their weekly service on Saturday.