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Things to Do

Music & Events

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Live Music & Céilidhs

Cape Breton Island is alive with music, from the lively fiddle to the rhythm of traditional dance. Join a céilidh (kay-lee) for an evening of Celtic tunes, song and joyful square dancing. From cozy pubs to community halls, live music is at the heart of Island life.

56 Results

Granville Green in Port Hawkesbury
Featured

Aug

10

Granville Green in Port Hawkesbury

Port Hawkesbury

Jul 6 – Aug 10

Acoustic Roots Festival at Two Rivers Wildlife Park
Featured

Aug

29

Acoustic Roots Festival at Two Rivers Wildlife Park

Louisbourg

Aug 29 – Aug 31

Musicians play on stage
Featured

Oct

10

Celtic Colours International Festival

Sydney & Area

Oct 10 – Oct 18

Afternoon Ceilidh at Glenora Inn and Distillery

Aug

06

Afternoon Ceilidh at Glenora Inn and Distillery

Inverness

Jun 10 – Oct 19

Charlo et Zabeth au Cap-Rouge – Mkwesaqtuk / Cap-Rouge Interpretive House

Aug

06

Charlo et Zabeth au Cap-Rouge – Mkwesaqtuk / Cap-Rouge Interpretive House

Chéticamp, Ingonish & Area, North Highlands, Northern Cape Breton, Cape Breton Highlands National Park Area

Jul 2 – Aug 27

Chad Tetford at the Bothy at the North Star

Aug

06

Chad Tetford at the Bothy at the North Star

Louisbourg

Jun 11 – Oct 15

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh

Aug

06

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh

Baddeck & Area

Jun 14 – Oct 19

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Dara Smith-MacDonald & Adam Young

Aug

06

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Dara Smith-MacDonald & Adam Young

Baddeck & Area

Jun 18 – Oct 15

Evening Ceilidh at Glenora Inn and Distillery

Aug

06

Evening Ceilidh at Glenora Inn and Distillery

Inverness

May 29 – Oct 19

Fiddle Ceilidh Concert at the Barn in Margaree

Aug

06

Fiddle Ceilidh Concert at the Barn in Margaree

Margarees

Jul 9 – Aug 27

The Red Shoe Pub – Live Music Daily

Aug

07

The Red Shoe Pub – Live Music Daily

Mabou

Jun 6 – Oct 20

Daily Lunch Céilidh at the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre

Aug

07

Daily Lunch Céilidh at the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre

Judique

Jun 6 – Oct 17

Outdoor Concert Series at La Place du Pêcheur in Chéticamp

Aug

07

Outdoor Concert Series at La Place du Pêcheur in Chéticamp

Chéticamp

Aug 7 – Aug 21

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Melody Cameron & Derrick Cameron

Aug

07

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Melody Cameron & Derrick Cameron

Baddeck & Area

Jun 19 – Oct 16

KitchenRackets Summer Jam Sessions in St. Peter’s

Aug

07

KitchenRackets Summer Jam Sessions in St. Peter’s

St Peter's & Area

Jul 10 – Sep 4

Little Church in Big Baddeck Concert Series: Good Lovelies

Aug

07

Little Church in Big Baddeck Concert Series: Good Lovelies

Baddeck & Area

Aug 7

Neil McDaniel at the Barn in Margaree

Aug

07

Neil McDaniel at the Barn in Margaree

Margarees

Jul 3 – Aug 28

Chad Tetford at the Bothy at the North Star

Aug

08

Chad Tetford at the Bothy at the North Star

Louisbourg

Jun 13 – Oct 17

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Kevin LeVesconte & Neil McDaniel

Aug

08

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Kevin LeVesconte & Neil McDaniel

Baddeck & Area

Jun 27 – Oct 10

Howie MacDonald & Beverly MacLean at the Barn in Margaree

Aug

08

Howie MacDonald & Beverly MacLean at the Barn in Margaree

Margarees

Jun 27 – Aug 29

Sunset Series – Poet of the Common Man: A Tribute to Merle Haggard

Aug

09

Sunset Series – Poet of the Common Man: A Tribute to Merle Haggard

Inverness

Aug 9

text superimposed on detail of antique cars

Aug

10

15th Annual Show ‘n’ Shine

Iona & Area

Aug 10

people gathered on Chebucto Street in Baddeck

Aug

11

Festiville Baddeck

Baddeck & Area

Aug 11

Central Park Ceilidhs in Port Hood

Aug

11

Central Park Ceilidhs in Port Hood

Port Hood

Jul 7 – Aug 25

Intimate Musical Soirees In the Park

Aug

11

Intimate Musical Soirees In the Park

Chéticamp, Ingonish & Area, North Highlands, Northern Cape Breton, Cape Breton Highlands National Park Area

Jul 14 – Aug 18

Neil McDaniel in the Music Room at the Barn in Margaree

Aug

11

Neil McDaniel in the Music Room at the Barn in Margaree

Margarees

Jun 30 – Oct 20

man playing the fiddle

Aug

12

27th Annual Gaelic Concert Series: Suas leis a’ Ghàidhlig [Up With the Gaelic]

Iona & Area

Aug 12

Mabou Tuesday Night Ceilidhs

Aug

12

Mabou Tuesday Night Ceilidhs

Mabou

Jul 1 – Aug 19

Rock the Fiddle: Thursday

Aug

14

Rock the Fiddle: Thursday

Sydney & Area

Aug 14

illustration of people in front of a bandshell-type structure adorned with a flag of india

Aug

15

India’s Independence Day Celebration

Sydney & Area

Aug 15

Rock the Fiddle: Friday

Aug

15

Rock the Fiddle: Friday

Sydney & Area

Aug 15

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Abigail MacDonald & Malcolm MacNeil

Aug

15

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Abigail MacDonald & Malcolm MacNeil

Baddeck & Area

Jul 25 – Sep 26

text superimposed on blue sky

Aug

16

2025 Festival of Cape Breton Fiddling

St. Ann's Bay & North Shore

Aug 16

Rock The Fiddle: Saturday

Aug

16

Rock The Fiddle: Saturday

Sydney & Area

Aug 16

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Rachel Davis and Darren McMullen

Aug

17

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Rachel Davis and Darren McMullen

Baddeck & Area

Aug 17

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Gillian Head & Jason Roach

Aug

18

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Gillian Head & Jason Roach

Baddeck & Area

Aug 18 – Aug 25

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Stephanie MacDonald & Susan MacLean

Aug

19

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Stephanie MacDonald & Susan MacLean

Baddeck & Area

Jun 17 – Sep 30

log

Aug

21

Louisdale Summer Fest

Isle Madame

Aug 21 – Aug 25

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Rachel Davis and Buddy MacDonald

Aug

23

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Rachel Davis and Buddy MacDonald

Baddeck & Area

Aug 23 – Aug 24

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Howie MacDonald & Beverly MacLean

Aug

26

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Howie MacDonald & Beverly MacLean

Baddeck & Area

Jun 24 – Oct 7

Sunset Series at ICCA

Aug

30

Sunset Series at ICCA

Inverness

Aug 30

Little Church in Big Baddeck Concert Series: Lennie Gallant

Sep

05

Little Church in Big Baddeck Concert Series: Lennie Gallant

Baddeck & Area

Sep 5

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Rachel Davis and Buddy MacDonald

Sep

06

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Rachel Davis and Buddy MacDonald

Baddeck & Area

Sep 6 – Sep 7

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Margie Beaton & Dawn Beaton & Jason Roach

Sep

08

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Margie Beaton & Dawn Beaton & Jason Roach

Baddeck & Area

Sep 8

close-up of antique car grill

Sep

12

Cape Breton Classic Cruisers Fall Classic Show & Shine

Sydney & Area

Sep 12 – Sep 13

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

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Gillian Head & Jason Roach

Sep

15

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Gillian Head & Jason Roach

Baddeck & Area

Sep 15 – Sep 22

male and female duplicated and posed with instruments

Sep

18

An evening with the Red Dirt Skinners

Sydney & Area

Sep 18

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Rachel Davis and Buddy MacDonald

Sep

20

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Rachel Davis and Buddy MacDonald

Baddeck & Area

Sep 20

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Rachel Davis and Darren McMullen

Sep

27

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Rachel Davis and Darren McMullen

Baddeck & Area

Sep 27 – Sep 28

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

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Gillian Head & Jason Roach

Oct

06

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh: Gillian Head & Jason Roach

Baddeck & Area

Oct 6 – 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

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

Little Church in Big Baddeck Concert Series: The Once

Dec

13

Little Church in Big Baddeck Concert Series: The Once

Baddeck & Area

Dec 13