Comic Arts Festival kicks off a month of fun summer events in Dartmouth

It is summer in Dartmouth, and summer fun just keeps on coming.

On August 8 and 9, the Dartmouth Comic Arts Festival is coming again to Alderney Landing. On Saturday, there are a variety of talks and events at the Alderney Library, while on Sunday there will be comic arts vendors at the market area in Alderney Landing. You can meet artists, chat, browse, and, of course, buy comics from Nova Scotia and Canadian comic artists. It is a free, family-friendly celebration.

A week later, from August 14 to 16, Alderney Landing will vibe with classic rock beats as “Rock the Harbour” hits town. With three days of iconic Canadian classic rock (the lineup is impressive), this festival has become a summer tradition for music fans in Atlantic Canada.

Another local tradition is the Cole Harbour Heritage Farm Museum’s “Farmyard Movie Night” on August 29. This is a free community outdoor movie event - bring your own lawn chair or blanket and settle in the farm yard for the screening on the barn wall. You can buy snacks and drinks from the on-site tearoom.

As for regular events, the Shubenacadie Canal Flume House at the intersection of Prince Albert Road and Pleasant Street is open for free tours every Tuesday and Thursday between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Here you can see just how boats were transported between the harbour and the Shubie Canal system that starts at Sullivan’s Pond — a local engineering marvel unlike many others.

Speaking of Sullivan’s Pond, the Sullivan’s Pond Concert Series is in full swing, with regular outdoor concerts every Sunday in August between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Bring your own lawn chair or blanket, and enjoy the music. The concert series ends on September 6 with “Picnic at the Pond” between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m, with performances by Isabelle Foster and The Mellotones. There will also be the opportunity to buy beverages on site that day.