Nova Scotia Escapes

Celebrate Celtic Culture

The Celtic Colours International Festival has proudly celebrated the only living Celtic culture in North America every year since October 1997. This annual celebration of music and culture features hundreds of musicians from around the world and takes places over the course of 9 days while the fall colours are at their best. Communities around Cape Breton Island host a variety of concerts and workshops so visitors get to witness breathtaking scenery as they travel to their next event.

The festival’s schedule is always jammed-packed with concerts, workshops and events, so there’s never a dull moment. With as many as eight concerts per day, it’s truly impossible to pack it all in. Pick and choose according to your interests, and enjoy events featuring Gaelic singing, Cape Breton fiddling, step-dancing, accordion playing, bag piping and much more.

Year after year, Celtic Colours attracts performers and visitors from all over the world. Past visitors would surely tell you that Nova Scotia is a top quality tourism destination. Just recently, Travel + Leisure magazine has recognized Cape Breton Island as a world-class vacation destination. Cape Breton Island ranks 10th on the list of Top 10 islands overall in the world in 2008’s survey and is the only Canadian island ranked in the Top 10.

This past October, the 12th annual edition of the Celtic Colours festival was once again, a real hit! The festival featured 45 performances from October 10th to 18th, 2008 and more than 260 community and educational events, including a wonderful tribute to singer / songwriter and Cape Breton local Rita MacNeil.

Plan your next fall vacation to Nova Scotia around the Celtic Colours International Festival. Mark your calendars for October 9th to 17th, 2009. The performance schedule will be released around June 22, 2009 and tickets will go on sale at the Celtic Colours Box Office on July 6, 2009.

Summer and Fall are two of the most beautiful times to visit Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, especially when touring the famous Cabot Trail. Every turn brings breathtaking scenery – rugged cliffs and gorgeous waters on one side and striking mountains on the other.

There’s always plenty to do in Cape Breton! This Fall brings many festivals and events, such as the Celtic Colours International Festival, a week-long music festival in October celebrating Celtic culture with over 250 musicians, dancers, singers, and storytellers at venues across the Island.

For the athlete in you, why not Hike the Highlands, a festival allowing you to enjoy 10 days of guided hikes in the Highlands of Cape Breton Island this September. You can also try sailing the Bras d’Or Lakes, golfing at a gorgeous golf course, kayaking along the coastline, trying your luck at deep-sea fishing or enjoying the scenery on a whale-watching tour.

Accommodations range from larger hotels and resorts, to small historic inns and heartwarming B&Bs. There’s something for everyone and every budget in Cape Breton! Whether you decide to discover a colourful fishing village, historic town or small city, you’re sure to discover some of the best hospitality in the Maritimes.

Start planning your trip to Cape Breton and discover this island paradise, as ranked by Fodor’s Travel News in 2008. Request a vacation guide or contact one of our travel professionals at 1-888-322-5333 to book your Cape Breton Island holiday.