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Community & Festivals

Celebrate Cape Breton’s spirit through seasonal festivals and small-town gatherings filled with local flavour and connection. From high-energy outdoor stages to intimate community events, these traditions bring people together in unforgettable ways. Discover a welcoming community where stories are shared and everyone feels like a local.

60 Results

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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

an assortment of lego bricks

Aug

18

Lego Tuesday at the North Sydney Library

North Sydney & Sydney Mines Area

Jan 27 – Dec 29

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh

Aug

18

Baddeck Gathering Céilidh

Baddeck & Area

Jun 13 – Oct 18

Cape Breton Comedy Showcase – Daniels Taphouse

Aug

18

from
$20

Cape Breton Comedy Showcase – Daniels Taphouse

Sydney & Area

Aug 18

text

Aug

18

Port Hawkesbury Ceilidh at the Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre

Port Hawkesbury & Area

Jun 30 – Oct 6

illustration of carnival rides with text

Aug

19

The Cape Breton Exhibition

North Sydney & Sydney Mines Area

Aug 19 – Aug 22

A Whale of a Tale: Our Ocean World on Aug 19, 2026 in Sydney, NS. Featured themes include grades 3 and up and ocean world.

Aug

19

A Whale of a Tale: Our Ocean World

Sydney & Area

Aug 19

Teddy Bear Picnic - Petersfield Park on Aug 19, 2026 in Sydney, NS. Featured themes include toddler & preschool (0-5) and teddy bear picnic - petersfield park.

Aug

19

Teddy Bear Picnic – Petersfield Park

Sydney & Area

Aug 19

CBC Laugh Out Loud Live Taping – Cape Breton Comedy Festival

Aug

19

from
$55

CBC Laugh Out Loud Live Taping – Cape Breton Comedy Festival

Baddeck & Area

Aug 19

yarn and knitting

Aug

20

Fibre Lunch at the North Sydney Library

North Sydney & Sydney Mines Area

Jan 29 – Dec 17

Born a Woman: A Tribute to the Early Feminist Songs of Rita MacNeil on Aug 20, 2026 in Glace Bay, NS. Featured themes include identity and rita macneil.

Aug

20

Born a Woman: A Tribute to the Early Feminist Songs of Rita MacNeil

Glace Bay & Area

Aug 20

illustrations of various crafts

Aug

21

Friday Crafternoon at the Baddeck Public Library

Baddeck & Area

Jan 23 – Dec 19

Blueberry Festival on Aug 21, 2026 in Marion Bridge, NS. Featured themes include children and dessert.

Aug

21

from
$12

Blueberry Festival

Louisbourg & Area

Aug 21

On The Boardwalk

Aug

22

On The Boardwalk

Sydney & Area

Jul 11 – Sep 5

The Northside Boys Annual Car Show and Family Fun Day

Aug

22

The Northside Boys Annual Car Show and Family Fun Day

North Sydney & Sydney Mines Area

Aug 22

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

Aug

22

from
$5

Céilidh Matinee at the Frolic’n Folk

Iona & Area

Feb 8 – Dec 19

West Mabou Family Square Dances

Aug

22

West Mabou Family Square Dances

Mabou & Area

Jun 13 – Oct 11

Mabou Farmers’ Market

Aug

23

Mabou Farmers’ Market
4.4

Mabou & Area

Jun 7 – Oct 11

Ross Ferry Farm Gate Market

Aug

23

Ross Ferry Farm Gate Market

Bras d'Or & Boularderie Area

Jul 5 – Sep 27

Sunday Ceilidhs at the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre

Aug

23

Sunday Ceilidhs at the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre

Judique

Jun 7 – Dec 6

a group of people playing musical instruments

Aug

23

Cape Breton Celtic Trad Sessions at the Frolic

Iona & Area

Jun 22 – Dec 27

Cape Breton Dockside Ceilidhs

Aug

23

Cape Breton Dockside Ceilidhs

North Sydney & Sydney Mines Area

Jul 26 – Aug 30

Poster

Aug

23

Film Series

North Highlands

Aug 23

Central Park Ceilidhs in Port Hood

Aug

24

Central Park Ceilidhs in Port Hood

Port Hood

Jul 7 – Aug 31

MAILI MACKENZIE & CAMERON MACNEIL | FRIDAY, AUGUST 28 | 7:30–10:30 PM | $12 COVER on Aug 28, 2026 in Mabou, NS. Featured themes include maili mackenzie and cameron macneil.

Aug

28

from
$12

MAILI MACKENZIE & CAMERON MACNEIL | FRIDAY, AUGUST 28 | 7:30–10:30 PM | $12 COVER

Mabou & Area

Aug 28

Parka’s Great Sleepover

Aug

29

Parka’s Great Sleepover

Louisbourg & Area

Aug 29 – Aug 30

AUGUST 30 - Red Farm Kitchen Party Series Featuring Stressed Out Charlee on Aug 30, 2026 in Sydney, NS. This is an all-day event with themes including august 30 - red farm kitchen party series featuring stressed out charlee and stressed out charlee.

Aug

30

AUGUST 30 – Red Farm Kitchen Party Series Featuring Stressed Out Charlee

Sydney & Area

Aug 30

Marion Bridge Guitar Circle Fall on Sep 4, 2026 in Marion Bridge, NS. Featured themes include cash bar and guitar circle.

Sep

04

Marion Bridge Guitar Circle Fall

Louisbourg & Area

Sep 4

SEPTEMBER 13 - Red Farm Kitchen Party Series Featuring Jacob Noonan on Sep 13, 2026 in Sydney, NS. This is an all-day event with themes including september 13 - red farm kitchen party series featuring jacob noonan and Food & Drink.

Sep

13

SEPTEMBER 13 – Red Farm Kitchen Party Series Featuring Jacob Noonan

Sydney & Area

Sep 13

Thunder From Down Under on Sep 16, 2026 in Glace Bay, NS. Featured themes include thunder from down under and Music & Entertainment.

Sep

16

Thunder From Down Under

Glace Bay & Area

Sep 16

Baddeck Farmer’s Market 2026 on Sep 19, 2026 in Baddeck, NS. Featured themes include farmers market and food and drink.

Sep

19

Baddeck Farmer’s Market 2026

Baddeck & Area

Sep 19

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

High Society and The Privateers on Sep 25, 2026 in D'Escousse, NS. Featured themes include Clubs and arichat, nova scotia.

Sep

25

High Society and The Privateers

Isle Madame

Sep 25

SEPTEMBER 30 - Mike Murley Trio with Jeff Johnson & Jake Hanlon - Cape Breton Jazz Festival on Sep 30, 2026 in Sydney, NS. This is an all-day event with themes including september 30 - mike murley trio with jeff johnson & jake hanlon - cape breton jazz festival and mike murley trio.

Sep

30

from
$30

SEPTEMBER 30 – Mike Murley Trio with Jeff Johnson & Jake Hanlon – Cape Breton Jazz Festival

Sydney & Area

Sep 30

Buddy MacMaster School of Fiddle

Oct

09

Buddy MacMaster School of Fiddle

Judique

Oct 9 – Oct 17

Katherine Knight- Film Screening (Night 1) on Oct 9, 2026 in Inverness, NS. Featured themes include film screenings and intimate portrait.

Oct

09

Katherine Knight- Film Screening (Night 1)

Inverness

Oct 9

blue and green logo on white background

Oct

09

Celtic Colours International Festival

St. Ann's Bay & North Shore

Oct 9 – Oct 17

Oct 10th: Sydney, NS Canada - GIRLS NIGHT OUT LAS VEGAS TAKEOVER at Highland Arts Theatre on Oct 10, 2026 in Sydney, NS. Featured themes include oct 10th: sydney, ns canada - girls night out las vegas takeover at highland arts theatre and Lifestyle.

Oct

10

from
$50

Oct 10th: Sydney, NS Canada – GIRLS NIGHT OUT LAS VEGAS TAKEOVER at Highland Arts Theatre

Sydney & Area

Oct 10

Celtic Colours community event: Pumpkin Carving

Oct

11

Celtic Colours community event: Pumpkin Carving

Chéticamp & Area

Oct 11

Celtic Colours / Huckle Buckle Festival Pumpkin Carving

Oct

15

Celtic Colours / Huckle Buckle Festival Pumpkin Carving

Ingonish & Area

Oct 15

The Bee Gees Revisited - The Tribute Show on Oct 21, 2026 in Glace Bay, NS. Featured themes include live performance and the bee gees revisited - the tribute show.

Oct

21

The Bee Gees Revisited – The Tribute Show

Glace Bay & Area

Oct 21

Candles

Oct

25

Samhain Magick Market

Mabou & Area

Oct 25

Spectacle – Zachary Richard

Nov

01

from
$25

Spectacle – Zachary Richard

Isle Madame

Nov 1

The Men of the Deeps - 60th Anniversary Gala on Nov 1, 2026 in Glace Bay, NS. Featured themes include Arts and Festivals/Fairs.

Nov

01

The Men of the Deeps – 60th Anniversary Gala

Glace Bay & Area

Nov 1

Christmas Bazaar on Nov 7, 2026 in Sydney, NS. Featured themes include seasonal and sydney, nova scotia.

Nov

07

Christmas Bazaar

Sydney & Area

Nov 7

Men of the Deeps 60th Anniversary on Nov 15, 2026 in Port Hawkesbury, NS. Featured themes include coal miners and men of the deeps.

Nov

15

Men of the Deeps 60th Anniversary

Port Hawkesbury & Area

Nov 15

poster

Nov

27

from
$1

Dr. Seuss’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas!

Glace Bay & Area

Nov 27 – Nov 29

The Grand Tour Christmas on Nov 27, 2026 in Port Hawkesbury, NS. Featured themes include electrifying performances and nostalgic celebration.

Nov

27

The Grand Tour Christmas

Port Hawkesbury & Area

Nov 27

Christmas Carol 2026 on Nov 30, 2026 in Sydney, NS. This is an all-day event with themes including Seasonal & Holiday and Arts.

Nov

30

from
$50

Christmas Carol 2026

Sydney & Area

Nov 30 – Dec 5

Christmas in Cape Breton '26 on Dec 4, 2026 in Glace Bay, NS. Featured themes include christmas in cape breton '26 and christmas in cape breton.

Dec

04

from
$54

Christmas in Cape Breton ’26

Glace Bay & Area

Dec 4

Christmas with Johnny Reid, Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy on Dec 4, 2026 in Sydney, NS. Featured themes include centre 200 and christmas.

Dec

04

from
$126

Christmas with Johnny Reid, Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy

Sydney & Area

Dec 4

Fortress Noël

Dec

05

Fortress Noël

Louisbourg & Area

Dec 5

Lennie Gallant: The Innkeeper’s Christmas on Dec 6, 2026 in Sydney, NS. Featured themes include seasonal and the innkeeper’s christmas.

Dec

06

Lennie Gallant: The Innkeeper’s Christmas

Sydney & Area

Dec 6

The Barra MacNeils - East Coast Christmas '26 on Dec 21, 2026 in Glace Bay, NS. Featured themes include christmas concerts and family group.

Dec

21

The Barra MacNeils – East Coast Christmas ’26

Glace Bay & Area

Dec 21

Festival Chocolat Chaud

Feb

12

2027

Festival Chocolat Chaud

Chéticamp & Area

Feb 12 – Feb 14

Highwaymen Show - Great Outlaws Tribute on Feb 13, 2027 in Glace Bay, NS. Featured themes include greatest hits and highwaymen show - great outlaws tribute.

Feb

13

2027

Highwaymen Show – Great Outlaws Tribute

Glace Bay & Area

Feb 13

National Indigenous Peoples Day on Jun 21, 2027 in Iona, NS. Featured themes include community connection and cultural contributions.

Jun

21

2027

National Indigenous Peoples Day

Iona & Area

Jun 21

Locals Know Blog

Best Fall Stops Along the Cabot Trail

Golf with a view, chowder that hits different in the fall air and fiddle music to end the night. Here's how we'd spend a fall road trip on the Cabot Trail.

5 Minute Read

The Ultimate 7-Day Fall Cape Breton Road Trip

Plan the perfect fall road trip on Cape Breton Island. This 7-day itinerary loops the whole Island, from Sydney to Inverness to St. Peter's, with the best fall colour hikes, cozy stays and where to eat...

10 Minute Read

10 Events Not to Miss This August on Cape Breton Island

August on Cape Breton Island means festivals, céilidhs and community gatherings from Chéticamp to Sydney. Whether you're drawn to Acadian culture, Highland tradition or a good old-fashioned exhibition, here are ten events worth building your visit...

4 Minute Read
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