Cabot Trail Writers Festival

Every fall, as the Highlands blaze with autumn colour, writers and readers from across the country may be found in the heart of Cape Breton for a three-day celebration of the written word. Here, at the Gaelic College in St. Ann’s Bay, we put aside all pretension for a sincere and wholehearted celebration of the relationship between reader, writer, and literature. Our intimate venues, packed wall to wall with devoted readers, and the lively Cape Breton spirit that suffuses every festival event bring readers and writers into a uniquely close connection. Year after year, we’ve heard our authors and our audiences say they’ve never had so much fun at a literary event.

COVID-19 Update: A Note on the 2020 Festival…

This year, in lieu of the usual in-person, indoor festival format, our events will take place over a number of different platforms, from online to on-air (with our radio partners) to outdoors (weather willing!). All of our festival will be free this year so that it is accessible to everyone. Wherever you are, you will be able to take part in at least some of our events and programming. The theme of this year’s festival is The Resilience of Art and Community, and together, we’ll explore the experience of this time we’re in, the ways it has challenged and inspired us, bringing us together even as we’ve been apart.

Featured Artists: 

• Marina Endicott
• Ian Williams
• Rebecca Thomas
• Andre Fenton
• Morgan Murray
• Marjorie Simmins