40th anniversary of the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo

The Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo is making a comeback to the Scotia Bank Centre, June 26-July 2, 2018. The week-long show will be celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

“Our mission is really to honour and salute members of the Canadian Armed Forces. We do that by mingling in a bunch of international performers. Everything from acrobats, gymnasts and dancing, to anything you can imagine,” said Jennie King, Managing Director/Executive Producer.

The show is held every year in Nova Scotia in partnership with the Government of Canada, the Province of Nova Scotia, the Canadian Armed Forces, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Halifax and the Corporate Community. This year’s theme will be Heroes and Legends.

The tradition began in the 17th century when drummers would march through the streets of the Dutch Villages, summoning the British soldiers to return to their quarters. The drumbeat signalled innkeepers to “doe den tap toe” or “turn off the taps,” later shortened to “tattoo.”

The first Nova Scotia Tattoo was held in 1979, marking the visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother to Nova Scotia for the International Gathering of the Clans. The show has been held every year since and in 2006, the show was granted Royal Status by Her Majesty the Queen in celebration of her 80th birthday.

The show brings in around 50,000 to 60,000 people every year. This year, as a special one-off, King said they have decided to include local businesses from the downtown area to participate in this year’s show.

“Sort of celebrating heroes that have paved the way and kind of just a promotion that we were doing to kind of just engage downtown and engage the downtown business to encourage them to also have a heroes and legends theme,” King added.

Tickets are still available for purchase, either on their website or by calling the Scotia Bank Centre directly at 1-877-451-1221.