What’s open and closed for New Year’s Day 2024 in the Halifax area

Did someone say three-day weekend?

If you work Monday to Friday, that’s what you’ll be getting this year, since New Year’s Day falls on a Monday. (And if you’re working this weekend, especially in the hospitality industry or retail, thank you.)

So whether you plan on staying home or going out, you’ll want to take into account that most businesses will be closed Monday and may close early Sunday.

Here’s a list of what’s open and what’s closed across the Halifax region over the holiday weekend. 

If you need groceries: 

• Most grocery stores including Atlantic Superstore, Sobeys, Walmart and Costco will be open on New Year’s Eve, but are closed Monday.
• Gateway Meat Market in Dartmouth will close at 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and be closed New Year’s Day. 
• Kingswood Market in Hammonds Plains will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. 
• MediTerra Grocery in Lower Sackville is open Monday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

If you want wine, beer or other spirited beverages:

• NSLC stores are open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday and will be closed Monday. 
• Most craft beverage producers will keep their taprooms and/or storefronts open over the holiday weekend. 

Drugstores: Most pharmacies and drugstores will be open over the holiday weekend. 

Malls and retail: Major retailers and shopping centres such as the Halifax Shopping Centre and Mic Mac Mall will be closed New Year’s Day.

Halifax Public Libraries: All branches will be closed Sunday and Monday. 

Getting around by bus, ferry or car: Buses and ferries will run on a regular schedule on New Year’s Eve, before shifting to a holiday schedule for New Year’s Day. There will be no Woodside or Alderney ferry on New Year’s Day. 

From 6 p.m. onwards, Halifax Transit will offer free, extended bus service in support of MADD Halifax’s regional chapter.  

Parking: On-street paid parking will be free Monday but motorists are reminded to abide by other posted signage such as no-parking zones. 

Waste collection: There will be no garbage, organics or recyclables collection services Monday. Put your items out for collection Saturday (Dec. 30) instead.

Recreational facilities and services: Most municipally operated recreation facilities in Halifax Regional Municipality will be “operating on irregular schedules” between Dec. 23 and Jan. 2.

Custom contact centres: HRM’s 311 contact centre will be closed Monday. Its customer service centres will also be closed Monday for all but urgent requests. 

Canada Post: There will be no collection or delivery of mail by Canada Post on Monday. Post offices will also be closed.

Party like it’s 2023 (one last time)

HRM will hold its free New Year’s Eve celebrations at the Halifax skating oval on Sunday. The family-friendly festivities will feature a concert with Music Nova Scotia 2023 Entertainer of the Year winner Rankin MacInnis headlining the main stage, as well as other musical highlights like Lindsay Misiner and a tribute to 50 years of hip hop with OKAY TK, DJ Grimrock, breakdancers and more. For detailed information, visit halifax.ca.

A family skate will happen from 7 to 9 p.m. with a short fireworks show at the end.