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Music & Events

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Music & Events

Cape Breton Island comes alive with music and events that celebrate its culture, creativity and community spirit. From lively concerts and local gatherings to seasonal festivals, there’s always something happening. Wherever you go, you’ll find a warm welcome and a reason to join the celebration.

85 Results

Lumière Art-at-Night Festival
Featured

Sep

27

Lumière Art-at-Night Festival

Sydney Area & Marconi Trail

Sep 27

Musicians play on stage
Featured

Oct

10

Celtic Colours International Festival

Sydney Area & Marconi Trail

Oct 10 – Oct 18

Mi'kmaq guide plays a traditional skin drum.
Featured

Pjila’si Unama’kik – A Great Taste of Canada Experience

Louisbourg & Area

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh

Sep

09

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh

Baddeck & Area

Jun 14 – Oct 19

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Stephanie MacDonald & Susan MacLean

Sep

09

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Stephanie MacDonald & Susan MacLean

Baddeck & Area

Jun 17 – Sep 30

Evening Ceilidh at Glenora Inn and Distillery

Sep

09

Evening Ceilidh at Glenora Inn and Distillery

Inverness

May 29 – Oct 19

logo featuring text and an illustration of a fiddle

Sep

09

Tuesday Tunes at the Doryman

Chéticamp & Area

Aug 12 – Oct 21

The Red Shoe Pub – Live Music Daily

Sep

10

The Red Shoe Pub – Live Music Daily

Mabou & Area

Jun 6 – Oct 20

Joan Jonas Painting

Sep

10

Joan Jonas: We Come from the Sea at Eltuek Arts Centre

Sydney Area & Marconi Trail

Aug 10 – Oct 12

sidewalk market with people sitting under tents

Sep

10

Sydney Public Market

Sydney Area & Marconi Trail

Aug 2 – Dec 27

paintings on a wall

Sep

10

Celeste Friesen: Water – An art Exhibition at the Octagon

North Highlands

Sep 1 – Sep 30

Daily Lunch Céilidh at the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre

Sep

10

Daily Lunch Céilidh at the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre

Judique

Jun 6 – Oct 17

Joan Jonas Painting

Sep

10

Joan Jonas: We Come from the Sea at Inverness County Centre for the Arts

Inverness

Aug 10 – Oct 12

Afternoon Ceilidh at Glenora Inn and Distillery

Sep

10

Afternoon Ceilidh at Glenora Inn and Distillery

Inverness

Jun 10 – Oct 19

man posed with guitar

Sep

10

Ed Woodsworth at Daniels

Sydney Area & Marconi Trail

Sep 5 – Sep 24

Chad Tetford at the Bothy at the North Star

Sep

10

Chad Tetford at the Bothy at the North Star

Louisbourg & Area

Jun 11 – Oct 15

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Dara Smith-MacDonald & Adam Young

Sep

10

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Dara Smith-MacDonald & Adam Young

Baddeck & Area

Jun 18 – Oct 15

large crowd of people playing instruments

Sep

10

The Kimberley Fraser Sessions at the Old Triangle

Sydney Area & Marconi Trail

Aug 27 – Dec 17

people on stage playing instruments and dancing

Sep

10

Wednesday Ceilidhs at Colaisde na Gàidhlig

St. Ann's Bay & North Shore

Aug 20 – Dec 10

smiling man wearing a hat

Sep

11

Jordan Musycsyn at Daniels

Sydney Area & Marconi Trail

Sep 11 – Sep 29

close-up of a man's face

Sep

11

Live & Local with Aaron Lewis

Membertou

Sep 4 – Sep 25

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Melody Cameron & Derrick Cameron

Sep

11

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Melody Cameron & Derrick Cameron

Baddeck & Area

Jun 19 – Oct 16

three men posed with musical instruments

Sep

11

Talent Night at the Doryman

Chéticamp & Area

Aug 14 – Oct 13

Glencoe Mills Family Square Dance

Sep

11

Glencoe Mills Family Square Dance

Mabou & Area

Jul 3 – Sep 26

close-up of antique car grill

Sep

12

Cape Breton Classic Cruisers Fall Classic Show & Shine

Sydney Area & Marconi Trail

Sep 12 – Sep 13

Chad Tetford at the Bothy at the North Star

Sep

12

Chad Tetford at the Bothy at the North Star

Louisbourg & Area

Jun 13 – Oct 17

text superimposed on scenic background

Sep

12

Friday Nights at Baddeck Legion

Baddeck & Area

Sep 5 – Sep 26

man playing guitar

Sep

12

Louis Arsenault at the Doryman

Chéticamp & Area

Aug 22 – Dec 19

man leaning against a wall playing electric guitar through an amplifier

Sep

12

K-OS at The Hat

Sydney Area & Marconi Trail

Sep 12

crowd gathered in parking lot for market with flowers in the foreground

Sep

13

Baddeck Community Market

Baddeck & Area

Aug 2 – Oct 11

woman playing guitar and singing

Sep

13

Danielle MacDonald at Daniels

Sydney Area & Marconi Trail

Sep 9 – Sep 27

painting of two men on a sailboat

Sep

13

Saturday Afternoon Fiddle Matinee at the Doryman

Chéticamp & Area

Aug 16 – Dec 27

22nd Annual Hike the Highlands Festival

Sep

13

22nd Annual Hike the Highlands Festival

Ingonish & Area

Sep 13 – Sep 19

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Mckayla MacNeil & Myles Davidson & Harold Davidson

Sep

13

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Mckayla MacNeil & Myles Davidson & Harold Davidson

Baddeck & Area

Sep 13 – Sep 14

five men on stage playing musical instruments

Sep

13

Risin’ Tide at the Doryman

Chéticamp & Area

Aug 30 – Oct 12

West Mabou Family Square Dances

Sep

13

West Mabou Family Square Dances

Mabou & Area

Jun 14 – Oct 12

Mabou Farmers’ Market

Sep

14

Mabou Farmers’ Market

Mabou & Area

Jun 1 – Oct 12

CrestCrush Adventures

Sep

14

CrestCrush Adventures

Bras d'Or & Boularderie Area

Aug 3 – Oct 31

text superimposed on stylized illustration of a garden

Sep

14

Ross Ferry Farm Market

Bras d'Or & Boularderie Area

Jul 6 – Sep 21

a white church with blue skies in the background

Sep

14

Pioneer Shrine – Annual Feast Day Celebration

Mabou & Area

Sep 14

a group of people playing musical instruments

Sep

14

Trad Sessions at the Doryman

Chéticamp & Area

Aug 17 – Oct 19

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Gillian Head & Jason Roach

Sep

15

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Gillian Head & Jason Roach

Baddeck & Area

Sep 15 – Sep 22

Neil McDaniel in the Music Room at the Barn in Margaree

Sep

15

Neil McDaniel in the Music Room at the Barn in Margaree

Margarees

Jun 30 – Oct 20

Adult Square Dance in Brook Village

Sep

15

Adult Square Dance in Brook Village

Mabou & Area

Jul 28 – Oct 14

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Howie MacDonald & Beverly MacLean

Sep

16

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Howie MacDonald & Beverly MacLean

Baddeck & Area

Jun 24 – Oct 7

male and female duplicated and posed with instruments

Sep

18

An evening with the Red Dirt Skinners

Sydney Area & Marconi Trail

Sep 18

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Kevin LeVesconte & Neil McDaniel

Sep

19

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Kevin LeVesconte & Neil McDaniel

Baddeck & Area

Jun 27 – Oct 10

man singing into microphone

Sep

19

Luke Combs UK at the Savoy

Glace Bay & Area

Sep 19

three men posing with musical equipment

Sep

19

Conductor / Ivy Gardens / 10 Slip at Daniels

Sydney Area & Marconi Trail

Sep 19

Fête du chocolat at the Fortress of Louisbourg

Sep

20

Fête du chocolat at the Fortress of Louisbourg

Louisbourg & Area

Sep 20 – Sep 21

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Rachel Davis and Buddy MacDonald

Sep

20

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Rachel Davis and Buddy MacDonald

Baddeck & Area

Sep 20

three people with musical instruments

Sep

20

Buddy MacDonald with Rachel Davis and Darren McMullen at the Octagon

North Highlands

Sep 20

man at piano keyboard with painting of boat as backdrop

Sep

26

Martin Aucoin at the Doryman

Chéticamp & Area

Sep 26 – Nov 28

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Abigail MacDonald & Malcolm MacNeil

Sep

26

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Abigail MacDonald & Malcolm MacNeil

Baddeck & Area

Jul 25 – Sep 26

colourful illustration of traditional chinese arts

Sep

27

The Lotus Lantern at The HAT

Sydney Area & Marconi Trail

Sep 27 – Sep 28

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Rachel Davis and Darren McMullen

Sep

27

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Rachel Davis and Darren McMullen

Baddeck & Area

Sep 27 – Sep 28

illustration of four men singing

Sep

30

The Suits at the HAT

Sydney Area & Marconi Trail

Sep 30

painting of woman reading a book in the forest with text

Oct

03

Cabot Trail Writers Festival

St. Ann's Bay & North Shore

Oct 3 – Oct 5

Paranormal Investigations at the Fortress of Lousiburg

Oct

03

Paranormal Investigations at the Fortress of Lousiburg

Louisbourg & Area

Oct 3 – Oct 5

Little Church in Big Baddeck Concert Series: Madison Violet

Oct

03

Little Church in Big Baddeck Concert Series: Madison Violet

Baddeck & Area

Oct 3

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Rachel Davis and Buddy MacDonald

Oct

04

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Rachel Davis and Buddy MacDonald

Baddeck & Area

Oct 4 – Oct 5

image of a building in the woods with text superimposed

Oct

04

North of Smokey Songwriters’ Circle at the Octagon

Oct 4

a building with flowers in the foreground

Oct

05

The Louisbourg Market

Louisbourg & Area

May 4 – Dec 7

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Gillian Head & Jason Roach

Oct

06

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Gillian Head & Jason Roach

Baddeck & Area

Oct 6 – Oct 13

gobblefest logo duplicated

Oct

09

Gobblefest XXXI

Sydney Area & Marconi Trail, Glace Bay & Area

Oct 9 – Oct 13

stylized illustration

Oct

10

Blueberry Jam Harvest Series

Mabou & Area

Oct 10 – Oct 13

two men with musical instruments

Oct

10

Claude Bourgeois & Chester Delaney at the Doryman

Chéticamp & Area

Sep 5 – Dec 12

Image of the Barra MacNeils

Oct

10

The Grand Opening of Celtic Colours

Port Hawkesbury & Area

Oct 10

The South Haven Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers Fibre Festival

Oct

11

The South Haven Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers Fibre Festival

Baddeck & Area

Oct 11 – Oct 13

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Mckayla MacNeil & Myles Davidson & Harold Davidson

Oct

11

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Mckayla MacNeil & Myles Davidson & Harold Davidson

Baddeck & Area

Oct 11 – Oct 12

man posed with guitar

Oct

12

Suppertime Music at the Doryman with Brian LeBlanc

Chéticamp & Area

Oct 12

man playing guitar

Oct

13

Louis Arsenault at the Doryman

Chéticamp & Area

Oct 13

image of two men and a woman posed with musical instruments

Oct

15

River’s Bend at The Doryman

Chéticamp & Area

Aug 13 – Oct 15

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Rachel Davis & Buddy MacDonald & Darren McMullen

Oct

18

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Rachel Davis & Buddy MacDonald & Darren McMullen

Baddeck & Area

Oct 18 – Oct 19

Image of Jimmy Rankin performing

Oct

18

The Grand Finale of Celtic Colours

Sydney Area & Marconi Trail

Oct 18

man playing guitar

Oct

24

Rick Roach at the Doryman

Chéticamp & Area

Oct 24

Sinister Soiree at the Fortress of Louisbourg

Oct

25

Sinister Soiree at the Fortress of Louisbourg

Louisbourg & Area

Oct 25

text against a curtained stage background

Oct

25

The Savoy Unmasked

Glace Bay & Area

Oct 25

five men posed in front of wall

Oct

25

Pretty Archie at the Octagon

Oct 25

Theatre Baddeck presents Charles Dickens Writes A Christmas Carol [Preview Performance]

Dec

04

Theatre Baddeck presents Charles Dickens Writes A Christmas Carol [Preview Performance]

Baddeck & Area

Dec 4

Theatre Baddeck presents Charles Dickens Writes A Christmas Carol

Dec

05

Theatre Baddeck presents Charles Dickens Writes A Christmas Carol

Baddeck & Area

Dec 5 – Dec 6

Theatre Baddeck presents Charles Dickens Writes A Christmas Carol

Dec

06

Theatre Baddeck presents Charles Dickens Writes A Christmas Carol

Baddeck & Area

Dec 6 – Dec 13

Theatre Baddeck presents Charles Dickens Writes A Christmas Carol

Dec

07

Theatre Baddeck presents Charles Dickens Writes A Christmas Carol

Baddeck & Area

Dec 7 – Dec 14

Theatre Baddeck presents Charles Dickens Writes A Christmas Carol

Dec

09

Theatre Baddeck presents Charles Dickens Writes A Christmas Carol

Baddeck & Area

Dec 9 – Dec 13

Little Church in Big Baddeck Concert Series: The Once

Dec

13

Little Church in Big Baddeck Concert Series: The Once

Baddeck & Area

Dec 13