Festival Grou Tyme

Festival Grou Tyme returns to downtown Halifax from August 13 to 15, three days of live music and family activities spread across various sites in the city centre. It's put on by the Conseil communautaire du Grand-Havre, and the whole thing is built around National Acadian Day, which falls on August 15. The festival's logo gives you a good sense of the mix they're going for: the Acadian flag paired with a crocodile and a lobster.

On the music side, Anika Lirette hosts, and the line-up runs through Les Bluecharms, 6 Hearts — which features members of Vishtèn and The East Pointers — and Jacques Surette performing with Johnny Comeau. Chef Joey Martin and DJ French For Horse are also part of the bill, so there's a fair bit of variety to pick from over the three days. Between the sets, there are family-friendly activities and food, and the whole thing is meant to draw the community together around Acadian culture.

Because it's spread across different sites in downtown Halifax, you can drift from one spot to another rather than sticking to a single stage. It's free to attend, with no tickets or registration required, so you can just show up whenever you fancy. The music, the food, and the activities run from August 13 through to August 15.