What's open and closed in Halifax on Natal Day 2025

Many stores will be operating with reduced hours on Natal Day in Halifax. Halifax Transit will operate on a holiday schedule.

CBC News · Posted: Aug 04, 2025 5:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 6 hours ago

Nova Scotia flag waving in the wind. — Natal Day is not a statutory holiday in Nova Scotia. It means many businesses will be open in Halifax on Monday, but some will have reduced hours. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

Monday is Natal Day, but it isn't a designated retail closing day in Nova Scotia.

Many stores in Halifax will open, but some may have reduced hours.

Sobeys locations in Halifax will be open from noon to 6 p.m.

Atlantic Superstores will be open from noon until 6 p.m.

Walmart will be open from noon until 6 p.m

Some pharmacies may be closed or have reduced hours.

All NSLC stores in Halifax Regional Municipality, with the exception of its Hubbards location, will open from noon to 6 p.m. The Hubbards store will open for regular business hours from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Halifax Shopping Centre, Mic Mac Mall, Sunnyside Mall and Dartmouth Crossing will be open from noon to 5 p.m.

Municipal services affected

All branches of Halifax Public Libraries will be closed Monday.

Halifax Transit buses and ferries will operate on a holiday schedule.

Both Alderney Ferry service and Woodside Ferry service will be operating on 30-minute schedules on Monday.

The first trip for Alderney Ferry service will depart Alderney Ferry Terminal at 7:30 a.m. The last trip will depart Halifax Ferry Terminal at 11:45 p.m.

The first trip for Woodside Ferry service will depart Woodside Ferry Terminal at 7:37 a.m. The last trip will depart Halifax Ferry Terminal at 8:52 p.m.

The Halifax Common Pool, Bedford and Cole Harbour outdoor pools, as well as supervised municipal beaches are open. The Bayers-Westwood, George Dixon, Isleville Street, Cole Harbour, Shirley's, Westmount and Sackville splashpads are also open.

The Emera Oval will be open on Monday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Equipment will be available if weather and surface conditions permit.

Many municipal recreation centres will be closed for Natal Day.

Canada Post will have no collection and delivery Monday.

The municipal recycling plant and the Otter Lake waste facility will be open on Saturday from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., but closed Monday. The household special waste depot in Bayers Lake will be closed on Saturday.

There will be no garbage, organics or recyclables collection services on Monday.

Fire safety

A provincewide burn ban is in effect.

While the provincial burn ban is in place, use of consumer fireworks is prohibited across the municipality.

However, professional fireworks displays with permits, such as those planned for Natal Day, will move forward as scheduled if the weather allows. These shows are conducted by licensed companies that follow federal safety regulations.