Celtic Colours Festival
A Cultural Celebration on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia
Planning a fall vacation? Head to Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia for the Celtic Colours International Festival, a world-class celebration of cultural heritage
The end of summer doesn’t mean the end of the fun on Cape Breton Island. In fact, fall may even be the best time to visit, as this is when the Celtic Colours International Festival takes place. Each year in early October, musicians, singers, dancers and storytellers come together from around the Celtic world to celebrate the heritage of this island and to increase international awareness of the talent and culture that springs from the roots of this magical place.
Where It’s At
Events happen all over the island, but since Cape Breton is relatively small, it’s no trouble to travel from place to place, enjoying the various festivities along the way. From a Port Hawkesbury Celtic music performance to bardic storytelling in Inverness to a ceilidh in Sydney, you’ll have the time of your life hopping around Cape Breton, dancing, clapping, singing and absorbing the Celtic heritage of the highlands. You’ll be immersed in Cape Breton fiddling, traditional highland dancing, and the strains of the accordion and bag pipes. The hills ring with harmony—of music and voice and people—and you’ll be in the thick of two-hundred-year-old tradition wherever you go.
More than Just Listening
If you really want to steep yourself in Cape Breton heritage, there are many workshops held throughout the festival where you can get hands-on experience in many facets of Gaelic and Celtic culture. Learn to speak the language, play the instruments and dance like the highland lasses, take a cultural tour or attend one of the many lectures available.
Non-Celtic Cultures
Though the island is mostly of Scottish descent, it’s not just Celtic culture that’s celebrated during the festival. Cape Breton is home to many First Nations communities, and their unique culture is truly an unforgettable experience. You’ll hear the traditional music and stories of this island’s first people, and you won’t want to pass up an opportunity participate in an authentic Mi'kmaq ceremony.
Acadian culture is alive and well on the island, too. You’ll have a chance to encounter the stories, music and song of the French descendants along with that of the Métis. In all, it’s a unique and appealing mix of cultures that’s well worth experiencing.
A Celebration of Fall
But a celebration of heritage is also a celebration of place, and aside from the colourful culture the aptly named festival celebrates, the colors of the island will surely enchant you. The fall highlands are awash in reds and gold as far as the eye can see. These are not far-off mountains on the horizon; when you’re on Cape Breton you’re in the mountains, and you’ll feel as if you’re cocooned in the very essence of autumn itself. It’s a photographer’s paradise and the perfect venue for a fall fete.
The Celtic Colours International Festival is nine days of unique cultural exploration, and there’s no doubt you’ll have some colourful stories to take back home. Just be sure to book ahead. The festival is a world-class attraction, and you won’t want to miss out on any of it.
