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Whatever your interests, you’re sure to find good times and memorable experiences throughout Antigonish and the Eastern Shore.
If, in the immortal words of Shakespeare, the play’s the thing, you’ll be entertained by the productions of Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre, the Bi-centennial Theatre or Mulgrave Road Co-op Theatre. If talented performers and singers are music to your ears, the Stan Rogers Folk Festival in Canso will have you on your feet. And if your heart is in the highlands, come join us for all the pageantry, competition and tasty food of the Antigonish Highland Games. Or, you could visit our many art galleries, studios and boutiques, where one-of-a-kind, handcrafted mementos of your time here await you.
Acting Out
The stage is set for you here in Antigonish and the Eastern Shore with a wide array of award-winning, critically acclaimed local theatre companies and festivals. Launched in 1988, Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre presents a wide array of dramatic, musical and comedic works guaranteed to delight audiences of all ages. The Mulgrave Road Theatre is a nationally renowned touring theatre that, for more than 25 years, has created and presented plays focused on the distinct culture and experiences of Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore. And the Bi-centennial Theatre in Middle Musquodoboit is a 325-seat performing arts theatre that offers a rich mix of plays and concerts featuring local and regional performers.
Let the Games Begin
For generations, Antigonish has been Nova Scotia’s bastion of Gaelic culture, language and music. That heritage is celebrated every summer at the Antigonish Highland Games. Each July, hundreds of athletes and musicians gather to participate in what has become the oldest and largest highland games festival outside Scotland. Competitions include dancers, pipe bands and several thrilling feats of strength, including the famous caber toss.
Agricultural Activities
Many communities along the interior of Antigonish County and in the Musquodoboit Valley found prosperity in harvesting the soil. That agricultural culture is celebrated each summer at the Eastern Nova Scotia Exhibition in Antigonish, and at the Halifax County Exhibition in the Musquodoboit Valley.
Festivals and Fairs
There’s good music, good food and good times to be had all throughout Antigonish and the Eastern Shore. Not a week goes by without a festival or fair at any of the many communities, and there’s an open invitation to everyone to join in the fun. Please check with our nine Visitor Information Centres throughout the region for the most up-to-date information on festivals and events.
Unbelievable Bargains
Each September, people flock from across North America to the Eastern Shore in search of rare treasures, unique antiques and low-priced household items at the 50-Mile Yard Sale in the Musquodoboit Valley.
Music in the Air
Stan Rogers was one of Canada’s most beloved folk music artists. And every July, more than 15,000 people gather to celebrate his legacy at the Stan Rogers Folk Festival in Canso. This three-day musical event, one of North America’s fastest growing folk festivals, brings the finest contemporary singers, musicians and performers in folk and Maritime music to this picturesque fishing community, once home to Rogers’s mother. Affectionately known as Stanfest, the festival’s six stages offer more than 100 performers and a mix of Celtic, blues, jazz, gospel and bluegrass artists that is sure to please everyone. You’ll also hear great Celtic and Maritime music at the Seacoast Celtic Music Concert series, held annually from July until September at the Petpeswick Yacht Club in Musquodoboit Harbour.
The Stone Soup Festival in Moser River is a two-day musical event that also features storytellers, poets, writers, campers and shunpikers. Visitors can also enjoy folk, Maritime traditional, or Celtic music in the wonderful setting provided by Sherbrooke Village’s historic Courthouse. Ceilidhs and concerts take place throughout the season from July to December.
Great Tastes
One thing you can say about Antigonish and the Eastern Shore is that we have great taste. A visit to any of our many restaurants, cafes and bistros will convince you of that. You’ll find a mix of local and international cuisine here — not to mention the world’s best seafood — with everything from fine dining to family menus to please you. One way to experience the range of flavour found here is The Memory Lane Heritage Dinners, a series of special dinners with different themes, including German, French, Italian and Octoberfest. You should also visit J. Willy Krauch & Sons Smokeshop for its world-famous array of wood-smoked fish. And remember to check out the fun and food to be had at Antigonish Farmers’ Market, open each Saturday morning from mid-June to late October. ]
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