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Upcoming Events

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Upcoming Events

From the rhythmic pulse of céilidhs, theatre and live music to the rugged thrill of guided hikes and coastal adventures, Cape Breton Island’s culture takes center stage. Savour the Island through harvest events and local markets, or explore our Mi’kmaq, Gaelic and Acadian roots at galleries and artisan shows. Whether joining a seasonal festival, community sport or hands-on workshop, you will find a welcoming spirit where every event makes you feel like a local.

84 Results

man on stage playing guitar and singing
Featured

Jul

09

Open Stage with Brian Cathcart at Daniel’s Taphouse

Sydney & Area

Oct 2 – Dec 18

Music
Featured

Jul

10

Friday Jazz at Daniel’s Taphouse

Sydney & Area

Oct 3 – Dec 18

text
Featured

Sep

04

13th Acoustic Roots Festival at Two Rivers Wildlife Park

Louisbourg & Area

Sep 4 – Sep 6

music
Featured

Apr

08

2027

2027 Canadian Folk Music Awards

Sydney & Area

Apr 8 – Apr 11

a group of people playing musical instruments

Jul

05

Cape Breton Celtic Trad Sessions at the Frolic

Iona & Area

Jun 22 – Dec 27

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh

Jul

05

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh

Baddeck & Area

Jun 13 – Oct 18

Poster

Jul

05

Granville Green 2026

Port Hawkesbury & Area

Jul 5 – Aug 9

3 Works by Ryan Josey

Jul

06

3 Works by Ryan Josey

Sydney & Area

Jun 26 – Sep 5

Lunch Ceilidh

Jul

06

Lunch Ceilidh

Judique

May 18 – Oct 18

Central Park Ceilidhs in Port Hood

Jul

06

Central Park Ceilidhs in Port Hood

Port Hood

Jul 7 – Aug 31

an assortment of lego bricks

Jul

07

Lego Tuesday at the North Sydney Library

North Sydney & Sydney Mines Area

Jan 27 – Dec 29

Dried peas and flowers on a cracker.

Jul

07

from
$185

Experience Table Doucet

Chéticamp & Area

May 19 – Nov 1

Mabou Tuesday Night Ceilidhs

Jul

07

Mabou Tuesday Night Ceilidhs

Mabou & Area

Jun 30 – Aug 18

text

Jul

07

Port Hawkesbury Ceilidh at the Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre

Port Hawkesbury & Area

Jun 30 – Oct 6

three women sitting on the floor sharing a bottle

Jul

07

Theatre Baddeck Presents Myth of the Ostrich by Matt Murray

Baddeck & Area

Jul 2 – Jul 25

Adult Square Dance in Brook Village

Jul

07

Adult Square Dance in Brook Village

Mabou & Area

Jun 30 – Oct 13

Acadian Evenings

Jul

08

Acadian Evenings

Chéticamp & Area

Jul 1 – Aug 26

Inverness Raceway – Live Harness Racing

Jul

08

Inverness Raceway – Live Harness Racing

Inverness

May 31 – Oct 25

text superimposed on a choir singing

Jul

08

Men of the Deeps at the Miners Museum

Glace Bay & Area

Jun 10 – Sep 16

text

Jul

08

Summer Concert Series at The Frolic and Folk Pub

Iona & Area

Jul 1 – Aug 26

yarn and knitting

Jul

09

Fibre Lunch at the North Sydney Library

North Sydney & Sydney Mines Area

Jan 29 – Dec 17

Oysters

Jul

09

Sip & Shuck on the Lakeside Patio

Baddeck & Area

Jul 2 – Aug 30

Makin’ Waves presented by Sydney Credit Union

Jul

09

Makin’ Waves presented by Sydney Credit Union

Sydney & Area

Jul 9 – Aug 6

Glencoe Mills Family Square Dance

Jul

09

Glencoe Mills Family Square Dance

Mabou & Area

Jun 25 – Sep 24

illustrations of various crafts

Jul

10

Friday Crafternoon at the Baddeck Public Library

Baddeck & Area

Jan 23 – Dec 19

Baddeck Farmer’s Market 2026

Jul

11

Baddeck Farmer’s Market 2026

Baddeck & Area

Jun 20 – Oct 10

Pop Up Summer Markets at the Hub!

Jul

11

Pop Up Summer Markets at the Hub!

Bras d'Or & Boularderie Area

Jul 11 – Oct 10

Exterior of Building

Jul

11

Sydney Public Market

Sydney & Area

Apr 18 – May 1

fiddler and piano player plauing to a crowd in a pub setting

Jul

11

from
$5

Céilidh Matinee at the Frolic’n Folk

Iona & Area

Feb 8 – Dec 19

Poster

Jul

11

Live Music at Ziggy’s Pub & Grill

Sydney & Area

Mar 7 – Oct 24

closeup shots of people playing bass, guitar and drums

Jul

11

3 Way Stop at Carriage House

Port Hawkesbury & Area

Jan 24 – Jan 1

illustration of a an acoustic guitar headstock plus text

Jul

11

Summer Concert Series at Two Rivers Wildlife Park

Louisbourg & Area

Jul 4 – Aug 29

West Mabou Family Square Dances

Jul

11

West Mabou Family Square Dances

Mabou & Area

Jun 13 – Oct 11

Mabou Farmers’ Market

Jul

12

Mabou Farmers’ Market
4.4

Mabou & Area

Jun 7 – Oct 11

Ross Ferry Farm Gate Market

Jul

12

Ross Ferry Farm Gate Market

Bras d'Or & Boularderie Area

Jul 5 – Sep 27

Sunday Ceilidhs at the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre

Jul

12

Sunday Ceilidhs at the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre

Judique

Jun 7 – Dec 6

Donald Og Day

Jul

17

Donald Og Day

Iona & Area

Jul 17

Poster

Jul

17

from
$51

The Little Church Concert Series – Dave Gunning & Mark Lang

Baddeck & Area

Jul 17

Mabou School of Cape Breton Step Dance

Jul

20

Mabou School of Cape Breton Step Dance

Mabou & Area

Jul 21 – Jul 24

Cape Breton Fiddlers Association: free concert at Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site

Jul

23

Cape Breton Fiddlers Association: free concert at Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site

Baddeck & Area

Jul 23

Poster

Jul

24

Sydney Mines Heritage Festival

North Sydney & Sydney Mines Area

Jul 24

Midsummer Music Series: Maxim and Gervais Cormier at Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site

Jul

25

from
$25

Midsummer Music Series: Maxim and Gervais Cormier at Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site

Baddeck & Area

Jul 25

crowd gathered in front of outdoor stage

Jul

26

70th Broad Cove Scottish Concert

Jul 26

Nicolas Denys Days and Swim the Canal

Jul

27

from
$25

Nicolas Denys Days and Swim the Canal

St Peter's & Area

Jul 27 – Aug 2

Grandmother Moon at Broad Cove Beach

Jul

28

Grandmother Moon at Broad Cove Beach

Jul 28

festival mascot dressed in hat and acadian themed t-shirt

Jul

30

Festival de l’Escaouette in Chéticamp

Chéticamp & Area

Jul 30 – Aug 3

Harbourfest 2026

Jul

30

Harbourfest 2026

Isle Madame

Jul 30 – Aug 2

65th Annual Highland Village Day Concert

Aug

01

65th Annual Highland Village Day Concert

Iona & Area

Aug 1

a building with flowers in the foreground

Aug

02

The Louisbourg Market

Louisbourg & Area

May 4 – Dec 6

Swim the Canal

Aug

02

from
$25

Swim the Canal

St Peter's & Area

Aug 2

Festival Acadien Petit de Grat

Aug

06

Festival Acadien Petit de Grat

Isle Madame

Aug 6 – Aug 9

a man and woman in formal dress with glasses of champagne looking very unhappy against a backdrop of celebratory balloons

Aug

06

Theatre Baddeck presents The Golden Anniversaries by Mark Crawford

Baddeck & Area

Aug 6 – Sep 4

Poster

Aug

07

from
$25

A Century of Music – The Barra MacNeils

Chéticamp & Area

Aug 7 – Aug 8

3 men posed with musical instruments

Aug

07

3 Way Stop at the Ashby Legion

Sydney & Area

Jan 17 – Dec 4

Margaree Highland Games

Aug

08

from
$10

Margaree Highland Games

Margarees

Aug 8 – Aug 9

Storm the Fortress

Aug

08

from
$22

Storm the Fortress

Louisbourg & Area

Aug 8

Midsummer Music Series: Pianist Jennifer King at Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site

Aug

08

from
$25

Midsummer Music Series: Pianist Jennifer King at Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site

Baddeck & Area

Aug 8

FestiVille Baddeck

Aug

10

FestiVille Baddeck

Baddeck & Area

Aug 10

Poster

Aug

11

from
$45

Donair: The Musical

Glace Bay & Area

Aug 11

five people gathered around an upright piano playing musical instruments

Aug

11

from
$50

Barra MacNeils 40th Anniversary Tour at The HAT

Sydney & Area

Aug 11

Star Party at Mkwesaqtuk / Cap-Rouge

Aug

12

Star Party at Mkwesaqtuk / Cap-Rouge

Cape Breton Highlands National Park

Aug 12

Star Party at Bog Trail

Aug

13

Star Party at Bog Trail

Cape Breton Highlands National Park

Aug 13

Star Party at Black Brook

Aug

14

Star Party at Black Brook

Cape Breton Highlands National Park

Aug 14

Poster

Aug

15

from
$68

The Little Church Concert Series – John McDermott with Drew Jurecka & Jason Fowler

Baddeck & Area

Aug 15

illustration of carnival rides with text

Aug

19

The Cape Breton Exhibition

North Sydney & Sydney Mines Area

Aug 19 – Aug 22

closeup shots of people playing bass, guitar and drums

Aug

22

3 Way Stop at the Main Event

Glace Bay & Area

Jan 10 – Dec 27

Grandmother Moon at Chéticamp Campground

Aug

28

Grandmother Moon at Chéticamp Campground

Chéticamp & Area

Aug 28

Parka’s Great Sleepover

Aug

29

Parka’s Great Sleepover

Louisbourg & Area

Aug 29 – Aug 30

Poster

Sep

10

from
$50

The Little Church Concert Series – Valdy

Baddeck & Area

Sep 10

Candles

Sep

20

Autumn Equinox Magick Market

Mabou & Area

Sep 20

Cape Breton Pro Rodeo

Sep

24

Cape Breton Pro Rodeo

Sydney & Area

Sep 24 – Sep 27

Paranormal Investigation at the Fortress – all ages event

Sep

25

Paranormal Investigation at the Fortress – all ages event

Louisbourg & Area

Sep 25

Paranormal Investigation at the Fortress – 19+ overnight event

Sep

26

from
$75

Paranormal Investigation at the Fortress – 19+ overnight event

Louisbourg & Area

Sep 26 – Sep 27

Buddy MacMaster School of Fiddle

Oct

09

Buddy MacMaster School of Fiddle

Judique

Oct 9 – Oct 17

blue and green logo on white background

Oct

09

Celtic Colours International Festival

St. Ann's Bay & North Shore

Oct 9 – Oct 18

Cape Breton Fiddlers Marathon Event

Oct

17

from
$45

Cape Breton Fiddlers Marathon Event

Sydney & Area

Oct 17 – Oct 18

Candles

Oct

25

Samhain Magick Market

Mabou & Area

Oct 25

Spectacle – Zachary Richard

Nov

01

from
$25

Spectacle – Zachary Richard

Isle Madame

Nov 1

Poster

Nov

17

Grand Slam Of Curling National

Sydney & Area

Nov 17 – Nov 22

Poster

Nov

20

from
$44

The Little Church Concert Series – Harry Manx

Baddeck & Area

Nov 20

poster

Nov

27

from
$1

Dr. Seuss’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas!

Glace Bay & Area

Nov 27 – Nov 29

Fortress Noël

Dec

05

Fortress Noël

Louisbourg & Area

Dec 5

Gene Simmons Band

Dec

12

Gene Simmons Band

Sydney & Area

Dec 12

Festival Chocolat Chaud

Feb

12

2027

Festival Chocolat Chaud

Chéticamp & Area

Feb 12 – Feb 14

Locals Know Blog

Planning a Trip to Inverness? Here’s What to Know Before You Go

Inverness is one of Cape Breton Island's most beloved stops — a stretch of coastline where championship golf meets a wide sandy beach, a scenic boardwalk and a warm small-town welcome. If it's on your itinerary...

2 Minute Read

Whale Watching on Cape Breton Island: What to Look For (and Where to Find Them)

There's something that stops you in your tracks when you first see a whale. Maybe it's the sheer scale of a humpback's fluke rising from the Gulf of St. Lawrence, dripping and impossibly large. Whatever it...

5 Minute Read

Puffins on Cape Breton Island: Where to See the Island’s Most Colourful Seabirds

Every summer, one of the most charming wildlife experiences on Cape Breton Island returns to the cliffs and waters just off the coast. Atlantic puffins, often called the clowns of the sea, arrive at the Bird...

5 Minute Read
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