About Open City
Open City is an annual celebration of entrepreneurs and the small businesses that make our communities vibrant and welcoming. Taking place annually every May, Open City has stood as the unofficial kick-off to the summer season.
This event continues to grow and evolve every year, and this year is no exception. Created in 2012 by I Love Local HFX, Open City is now being organized by Downtown Dartmouth Business Commission (DDBC), Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC), North End Business Association (NEBA), Quinpool Road Mainstreet District Association (QRMDA), and Spring Garden Area Business Association (SGABA). Open City will be taking place within the Halifax Peninsula and Downtown Dartmouth.
Although the organizers have changed, the goal of the event has not and that is to get people out to visit and experience the best that our small, local businesses have to offer. People are encouraged to make a day of it and visit each of the five areas and as many small businesses participating that they can.
To entice people to come out, businesses will be offering special experiences like back-door takeout, shopping deals, sidewalk sales, unique meet-the-maker experiences, and/or community activations (and more!).
Come out on Saturday, May 11, and celebrate the best of local with Open City!