Wednesday, July 30, 2014 (Halifax, NS) – There’s something for every resident to enjoy when the Bell Aliant Natal Day Festival kick offs this Thursday, July 31, celebrating the 119th Natal Day.

The five-day celebration includes free family events, live concerts, a parade through Halifax and Dartmouth and an elaborate fireworks show launched from the Angus L. Macdonald Bridge on Saturday, Aug. 2. This is the last year for the bridge fireworks until 2017, so don’t miss it!

To accommodate the many citizens attending Natal Day events, Metro Transit is offering free ferry service at its Alderney and Halifax terminals all day on Saturday, Aug. 2, and expanded ferry service on Sunday, Aug. 3. Regular fares apply on Sunday. For detailed schedules visit http://www.halifax.ca/metrotransit/natalday.php.

A complete list of Natal Day events is available online at www.natalday.org. Some highlights include the following:

• Join Mayor Mike Savage and members of Regional Council at a garden party at the Halifax Public Gardens on Saturday, presented by Southwest Properties. There will be live music at the bandstand, refreshments and children’s activities. Event runs from 1-5 p.m.
• The Bell Aliant Natal Day Great Lake Swimmers & 101.3 The Bounce concert gets going at 6 p.m. Saturday at Alderney Landing in Dartmouth. This year’s free show includes great acts like Ashelin, Sherman Downey & the Ambiguous Case, and Rich Aucoin.
• Catch the Halifax Harbour Bridges Natal Day Fireworks Saturday evening at 10 p.m. Watch from the concert at Alderney Landing or anywhere along the waterfront that the bridge is visible. The rain date is 10 p.m. Sunday.
• The Natal Day Family Celebration on the Common, presented by GoodLife Fitness, runs from noon to 7 p.m. on Sunday. The fun will include live entertainment by the African Nova Scotia Music Association, train rides, bouncy castles and other free children’s activities. The event will be capped off with a small fireworks show on the Common at 9:30 p.m.
• The 119th Pepsi Natal Day Parade presented by The Chronicle Herald and MacPhee Ford takes place Monday, Aug. 4. The parade starts on Novalea Drive at 10:00 a.m., continues across the Macdonald Bridge to Sullivan's Pond. See the route map at www.natalday.org.
• The Sobeys Pirates of Sullivan’s Pond Family Fun Day runs from noon to 5 p.m. Monday. Don’t miss the live entertainment, train rides, bouncy castles and other free children’s activities. Sobeys will present prizes at 3:30 p.m. for the best dressed pirate and family costume.
• Residents can take a walk across the Macdonald Bridge during the Halifax Harbour Bridges 32nd annual Bridge Walk from 2-4 p.m. Monday.

In the event of any cancellations due to weather, updates will be available on www.natalday.org, through @hfxcivicevents on Twitter or by calling 311.

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Media Contacts:

Tim Rissesco
Chair Bell Aliant 2014 Natal Day Committee
902-430-8236
timothyrissesco@ns.sympatico.ca

Jennifer Stairs
Halifax Regional Municipality
Public Affairs
902-476-5975
stewarj@halifax.ca