Family festival, indie heart.
Family festival, indie heart.
September 12-13, 2026
Alderney Landing Dartmouth, Nova scotIa
A new festival experience
Loud in the right ways.
FamFest Atlantic is not a bouncy castle parking lot or a "let's just try and kill time this afternoon" event. It’s an indie arts festival made for families who still like good stuff.
Taking place at Alderney Landing on September 12–13, FamFest delivers live music, theatre, dance, magic, comedy, circus, and hands on creative madness in a format that actually respects adults and fully includes kids. Produced by Atlantic Canadian parents with decades of event experience, this is the sweet spot: a festival where kids feel inspired and adults feel entertained, not trapped.
Expect quality live music from national and regional artists, high energy variety shows, and interactive performances.Explore a Silent Disco, creative activity zones, great local food, and zero pressure to sit still.
Join us on September 12-13 for an event created to share culture, creativity, and fun across generations (and yes, that includes Halifax’s first ever Parent Olympics). No watered-down programming. No devices needed to keep your kids entertained. Just a bold new family tradition with an indie heart in an inclusive space for everyone to enjoy.
By Atlantic parents, for Atlantic parents.
FamFest Atlantic is produced by Ultrasound Music and spearheaded by local industry veterans Craig Mercer and Allegra Swanson, in partnership with the MacPhee Centre for Creative Learning.
Craig and Allegra, Dartmouth neighbours and fellow parents, each raising their own families in the community, identified a distinct gap in the Atlantic events calendar: existing festivals were built primarily for adults or purely for young children. What they truly wanted - a music festival that was fun, safe, and designed for families - didn’t yet exist. So they decided to launch FamFest Atlantic and bring their vision to life.
As professionals who have executed major events across Canada, our co-founders know exactly what it takes to deliver a safe, high-quality festival experience that parents and children will love.
Designed by Proven Producers
25+ years producing major regional and national events
Deep local relationships with suppliers, venues, and media
Established trust in the Dartmouth community
PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
We’re inviting community-minded brands to partner with us in our inaugural year. This is a unique opportunity to move beyond traditional advertising, co-create meaningful on-site expereinces, and help shape a new community tradition that Atlantic families are sure to look forward to year after year!
About our partner
The MacPhee Centre for Creative Learning
The MacPhee Centre empowers youth through art in a welcoming, inclusive environment supported by the community.
Their mission: To provide a safe, youth-driven space for exploration and self-expression.
Their vision: A world where empathy and diversity thrive, and challenges become opportunities for growth.
Their impact: By inspiring leadership, collaboration, and innovation through the transformative power of art, the Centre is shaping a future where every young person can realize their full potential.
The Partnership: The MacPhee Centre will support the curation and integration of programming for FamFest Atlantic.
MacPhee Centre for Creative Learning Impact in 2024
130+ Outreach programs
1,200+ Programming Hours
830+ Individual Youth Participants
September 12-13 2026
Alderney Landing
Dartmouth
Nova Scotia
Two days of family fun with live performances by indie artists, interactive arts experiences, immersive activation zones, and local food vendors.