Dartmouth events kicking off as weather starts to warm
Spring may be slow in coming to Dartmouth this year, but spring activities are lining up thick and fast.
Even before the regular summer season starts, the Back to the Sea Centre (close to King’s Wharf) is hosting weekly “Nature Pop-Ups” every Saturday in April from 9 a.m. to noon, with a different theme every week. This is in advance of their season opening on May 16.
The North Woodside Community Centre spring registration starts on April 9 (April 8 for Elite Members). As usual in this busy community space, the program lineup is packed with sports, music, and dance activities for all ages. There are also some special events planned, including a merchandise bingo on the evening of April 24.
The day after, please join the Pleasant-Woodside Neighbourhood Association in our annual neighbourhood clean up. This event will be on Saturday, April 25, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., meeting at the community centre. Gloves and bags will be supplied and, in addition to some cleanup tips, the organizers will assign teams of two or three to areas most in need of being tackled. Refreshments will be provided.
There are many great events at the Sanctuary Arts Centre this spring. This includes, on May 1 and May 2, “The Last Five Years,” a celebrated musical by Jason Robert Brown. This powerful, contemporary love story follows the complex relationship between Cathy, an aspiring actress, and Jamie, a successful novelist. Through heartfelt songs and innovative storytelling, the show explores the highs and lows of their five-year romance, from passionate beginnings to inevitable heartbreak. In a unique narrative structure, Cathy’s story unfolds backward, while Jamie’s moves forward in time, intertwining to reveal the painful and beautiful moments that define their relationship.
Shortly after, Old Man Luedeke will be playing at the Sanctuary Arts Centre on May 8. Luedecke will bring his signature banjo tunes and storytelling charm, joined by Halifax favourites The McMillian’s Camp Boys, whose high-energy fiddling and clawhammer banjo will have you dancing in the aisle.
More music can also be found regularly right in the heart of Pleasant-Woodside, with local bands playing every Friday and Saturday nights (and sometimes on Thursdays) at the Woodside Tavern. Their program lineup can be found on woodsidetavern.ca. Local music talent can also be experienced at Nova Fest, a two-day music festival hosted by Music Arts students at Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) that takes place at Alderney Landing on May 16 and 17. The event showcases current talent (student ensembles and bands), as well as emerging acts from alumni and community members. This is a family-friendly event. Come spend your holiday weekend connecting with your local community through art and music!