What’s open and closed in Halifax on Christmas and Boxing Day

Here’s a list of what’s open and closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day in the Halifax area in 2023:

Groceries

• Gateway Meat Market will be closed on Christmas day, but reopen on Boxing Day from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Sobeys will be closed.
• Atlantic Superstore will be closed. 
• Costco will be closed.
• Walmart will be closed.
• Shoppers Drug Mart will have different hours at different branches. Check their website for more details.

Liquor and beer

• NSLC will be closed. Check their website for more information on local agency stores.
• Bishop’s Cellar will be closed.
• Propeller Brewing Company in the north end will be closed Christmas Day but reopen on Boxing Day from noon to 8 p.m.
• Garrison Brewing Company will be closed on Christmas Day but reopen on Boxing Day from noon to 7 p.m.
• Oxford Tap Room will be closed on Christmas Day but reopen on Boxing Day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Moosehead Cold Beer Store on Windmill Road will be closed on Christmas Day and reopen on Boxing Day from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• RockHead Wine and Beer Market will be closed.
• Nine Locks Brewing Company will be closed.

Malls

• Halifax Shopping Centre will be closed.
• Mic Mac Mall will be closed.
• Sunnyside Mall will be closed.
• Bedford Place Mall will be closed.
• Park Lane Mall will be closed.
• Scotia Square Mall will be closed.

Waste collection

Halifax public libraries

Transit

• Bus services will run on holiday service on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Click here for holiday schedule details.

• The Alderney ferries will not run on Christmas Day, and resume at half-hour frequency on Boxing Day. The first crossing will leave at 7:30 a.m. and the final crossing will depart the Halifax terminal at 11:45 p.m. 

• The Woodside Ferry does not operate on holidays.

• Both Halifax bridges will have no tolls on Christmas Day.

Recreation facilities

Emera Oval

• The Oval is open for the season, weather and ice conditions permitting. The full schedule is available here.

Parking

• Municipal on-street parking will be free on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, but drivers must follow other signs for accessible parking and no-stopping areas.
• Residents are reminded that parking is free on weekdays after 6 p.m. AT, and on weekends and holidays.  

Canada Post

• All post offices will be closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Customer service

• The 311 contact centre is closed to general inquiries on Christmas Day but will still take urgent calls about transportation, municipal operations, facilities, animal services and illegally parked vehicles.
• The three customer service centres that provide in-person access to municipal services and payments will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Virtual health care

• VirtualCareNS, for Nova Scotians without a primary care provider, will be closed on Christmas Day and open regular hours, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Boxing Day.
• Virtual Care, which is a similar but separate program that covers two visits for Nova Scotians with family doctors each year, continues to be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.