With people celebrating the birthday of Halifax this weekend, you may want food and drink to enjoy, but if you’re planning to shop, make sure to give yourself plenty of time.
Though many businesses are open on Monday, don’t plan to do last-minute shopping for the evening.
Here’s a list of stores and services that are open and closed in Halifax:
The Halifax Shopping Centre, Mic Mac Mall and Park Lane are all open Monday but on reduced hours from 12 p.m. until 5 p.m. Scotia Square is closed.
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Sobeys, Atlantic Superstore and NSLC locations in Halifax are also open, but like shopping centres, are only open from 12 p.m. until 6 p.m. Walmart locations are open until 5 p.m.
Drug stores in the region, including Shoppers Drug Mart and Lawtons are open, but some may operate on reduced hours.
If you’re looking to purchase from your favourite local independent liquor store or small business, the best thing to do is call ahead to find out if they’ll be open and what time they’ll close.
All Halifax Public Library branches will be closed on Monday.
Canada Post offices will also be closed for Natal Day, but those operated by the private sector will be open according to that business’s hours of service.
Municipal beaches and outdoor pools at the Halifax Common and in Bedford will be open to the public on Monday. Beaches across Halifax will be supervised by trained lifeguards from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The Emera Oval is also open on Natal Day. Recreation centres operated by the municipality will be closed, however, and people are advised to call their respective facility for operating hours.
On-street parking is free on Natal Day but people are reminded to abide by other posted signage.
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The 311 Contact Centre will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., but the five that provide in-person access to services and payments will be closed on Monday.
Municipal solid waste collection will not take place on Monday. Otter Lake and Halifax’s recycling facility and municipal composting facilities will be closed Monday. The Household Special Waste Depot in Bayers Lake will be closed Saturday.
The MacDonald Bridge will also have varying hours during the Natal Day weekend. The bridge will be open starting at 5:30 a.m. Friday and stay open all day Saturday. On Sunday the bridge will close at 7 a.m. and reopen at 5 p.m. for the MACPASS Miles and Bridgewalk events. Then on Monday, it will close at 8:30 a.m. and reopen at 2 p.m. after the Natal Day parade. The sidewalk and bike lane will remain open throughout the weekend.
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Halifax Transit will be operating its standard Friday, Saturday and Sunday schedules though it will have extra buses on standby if needed. It will operate on its holiday service on Monday.
The Alderney Ferry will also run normally on Friday, Saturday and Sunday but will have 15-minute service between certain hours depending on the day. On Monday, it will operate on a holiday service but will have 15-minute service from 7:15 a.m. until 11:45 p.m. Buses will still require the standard fare, but the Alderney Ferry will be free all day Saturday.