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Festivals & Events

Here, music and laughter are always on tap. You’ll find it in our pubs and restaurants across our Island, as our friendly cheer and sense of community often brings everyone together. Explore the Island this summer and take part in local festivals, cèilidhs and events.

Festivals & Events 7

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Trailside Starry Sky Bonfire

Relax and unwind in one of our four season, pet friendly cottages or glamping tents. Nestled among the trees between the rolling waves of the Atlantic Ocean and the stunning mountain range.

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Theatre Baddeck 5

Theatre Baddeck

Audiences say "do not miss Theatre Baddeck on your Cape Breton trip!" Our 9th season features comedies THE FLY FISHER'S COMPANION and THE COMPANY STORE from June 27-August 28.

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Cape Breton Miners Museum – A day in the life of a Cape Breton coal miner

Take an immersive virtual mine tour through the last century of coal mining in Cape Breton. Then journey into the depths of the Ocean Deeps Colliery, a coal mine
located beneath the Museum building.

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Lakeside Luxury Domes

Lakeside Luxury Domes

Situated on stunning Bras d’Or Lake on Cape Breton Island, we offer our guests striking views from every dome.

Experience comfort and extensive amenities, with a luxury glamping getaway experience.

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North River Kayak Tours 4

Stay & Play at North River Kayak

Picture yourself gliding down the river in your kayak with eagles soaring high above. Picture a unique, hand crafted wilderness cabin with you sitting on the deck, coffee in hand gazing at the river.

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Camp Where Mountains Meet The Sea

Camp where mountains meet the sea

Visit Cape Breton Highland National Park’s newest walk-in campground, Mkwesaqtuk/Cap-Rouge. This cliff-side retreat is the perfect spot to launch your adventure, where the mountains meet the sea.

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Unama'ki Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design

Unama’ki Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design in Sydney offers artisan works, exhibitions, & workshops. Use the Artisan Trail Map for a cultural journey. Also visit Customs House in Port Hawkesbury.

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Sunset Yoga

Meet us on the mat this summer for sunset yoga! Relax and unwind with us where water meets green space, cliffside and fireside. Yoga mats provided.

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Albert Bridge Alpacas

A unique and beautiful experience with two alpacas and store with alpaca products and more including personalized bobbleheads and cottage for rent.

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Picnic and Paddle at St. Peters Canal

Discover St. Peters Canal, where the Atlantic meets Bras D'or Lake. Paddle the historic Mi'kmaw route with rentals from Canal Landing. Enjoy a Parks Canada Perfect Picnic & watch boats at the lockage.

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The Ultimate Nova Scotia Road Trip: Cabot Trail Discovery Tour

The Ultimate Nova Scotia Road Trip: Cabot Trail Discovery Tour

An intimate and personalized experience, led by knowledgeable local guides who will take you to "off the beaten path" locations you won't find in the guidebooks.

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Sail Cape Breton

Private Cape Breton Sail Charters

Private sail charters of Cape Breton's coast line or the world famous Bras d'Dor Lakes.

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Upcoming Events

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Whycocomagh Summer Festival

Next Date: Jul 16, 2025

Region: Bras d’Or Lake

Community: Whycocomagh

Community festival celebrating 52 years of locals and visitors gathering and spending a week enjoying local music, games, markets, canoe rac...

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A man and woman playing the fiddle at Governors Pub

Live Music

Like the routes, trails and waterways that bisect our Island, music connects our communities and cultures. Internationally renowned festivals. Weekly jam sessions. Time-honoured traditions and ancient rituals. Hear our spirit in each fiddle reel, bagpipe Biri and drum beat.

Find Your Tune

We encourage you to explore the many types of festivals & events
that our Island has to offer.

  • A man and woman playing the fiddle at Governors Pub

    Cèilidhs & Kitchen Parties

    It simply means social visit, but here, the Cèilidh is a perennial way of life. It’s a weekly family square dance. A community gathering full of food and music. Indulge in a kitchen party and connect with our culture and heritage. Feel the rhythm of our Island through the pulse of music and the warmth of our communities.  Your trip to our Island would not be complete with taking in a Cape Breton ceilidh or a kitchen party! Experience Celtic music like never before with one of these events and understand why we’ve been coined as Canada’s Musical Coast.

  • Festivals & Events

    Performing Arts & Culture

    Arts and culture don’t have an off-season here. From winter jam sessions along Canada’s Musical Coast to sizzling summer festivals and Acadian celebrations along the Cabot Trail. Enjoy music and comedy productions live and experience the rich art and culture that exists across the Island.

  • A woman plays guitar onstage

    Festivals

    History, heritage, community—there’s always a reason to celebrate on our Island. You won’t have to travel far to find a fun festival, but with so many options why not explore the Island?

  • Two pints of beer and a bowl of mussels

    Food & Drink

    Foodie heaven? More like a culinary cloud nine. The culinary scene on Cape Breton Island is truly unlike anything you have experienced and luckily, tasting your way around our Island has never been easier. Follow the Nova Scotia Chowder Trail to a famous lunch cèilidh. Plan your trip around a Highland lobster supper. Experience world-class shellfish, locally grown ingredients, and award-winning sips that connect our heritage to our land. 

  • Girls and boys in blue dance in front of a lighthouse

    Heritage

    Pay ode to the Island’s coal mining history with food, fun and festivities. Discover the roots of our Acadian communities by guided hike. Run head-on into history through a 300-year-old fortress. Our heritage is easy to learn, but even more, fun to live with each event.

  • aerial view of a festival in a green valley

    Community Events

    Over 100 communities. Hundreds of days a year to celebrate. From seasonal festivals and annual sporting tournaments to weekly dances, discover each pocket of our Island with our unique selection of community events.

Illustrated map of Cape Breton Island

Easy to Find. Hard to Leave.

There are direct flights to Sydney from Halifax, Toronto and Montreal and from other North American and European cities via those cities. If traveling by ground, the Trans-Canada Highway 104 leads to Cape Breton Island.

Getting Here and Around

Take a Picture. Leave your heart. #VisitCapeBreton