Festivals and Local Events in Atlantic Canada
Local traditions, music and cuisine make up the unique cultures and characters of the four provinces of Atlantic Canada, all of which are celebrated in festivals throughout the year. Just a six-hour flight from London and with typically warm weather, the many events in the spring and summer months provide the perfect opportunity to experience the enjoyable activities happening in the regions. The provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island all have a wealth of local history and culture that will add special memories to any visit.
From Iceberg festivals to lobster carnivals, there really is something for everyone in Atlantic Canada. We have rounded up a selection of the most interesting festivals and events happening in each of the provinces in the coming months.
NEW BRUNSWICK
Ballet by the Ocean, July 2nd– August
When the COVID-19 pandemic caused performance opportunities to disappear, the Atlantic Ballet had to find a way to continue performing without access to traditional stages. With necessity being the mother of invention, the Ballet’s CEO, Susan Chalmers-Gauvin, offered up her yard overlooking the Northumberland Strait as a locale, and “Ballet by the Ocean” was born. Guests are seated at tables for each performance and are fed a meal of local delicacies while they enjoy a new show performed by the talented artists of the troupe in a beautiful ocean-side wetland setting. Performances are Wednesdays and Saturdays, and the season begins on July 2nd until August.
https://tourismnewbrunswick.ca/festivals-events/ballet-ocean-summer-series
Festival Acadien de Caraquet, 5th-15th August
Celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2022, the Festival Acadien de Caraquet is the premier celebration of Acadian culture in Atlantic Canada. Running from August 5-15, 2022, the festival puts a spotlight on Acadian music, artists, writers and other cultural components.
The entire festival culminates with the “Grand Tintamarre” street parade and celebration on National Acadian Day (August 15), a nod to the year of the deportation of the Acadian people from the Atlantic region.
https://tourismnewbrunswick.ca/festivals-events/festival-acadien-de-caraquet
NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR
Iceberg Festival, 3rd-12th June
Occurring on the first Friday of June, the yearly Iceberg festival celebrates the annual arrival of the icebergs along the eastern coast of Newfoundland and Labrador and the start of Spring in the north. With breath-taking landscapes, local food and drink, as well as a showcase of local musicians, craftsmen and chefs, visitors are guaranteed to have an unforgettable experience.
https://www.theicebergfestival.ca/
Roots, Rants and Roars, 16th-17th September
Every year on the third weekend in September, Elliston in Newfoundland becomes the centre of a two-day celebration of local cuisine and culture, where award-winning chefs showcase the region’s finest delicacies. Visitors can dine on seven course-meals in the wilderness and hike along the rugged coastline, sampling culinary creations while sipping wine and local craft beer. The cod war event is not to be missed, with chefs competing to create the ultimate cod dishes. All of these tasty treats are accompanied by live modern Irish Newfoundland music – the perfect background for dancing the night away.
https://www.newfoundlandlabrador.com/plan-and-book/festivals-and-events/25946099
NOVA SCOTIA
Halifax Busker Festival, 27th July-1st August
Held at the historic Halifax waterfront, the Halifax Busker Festival showcases talent from buskers and performers from around the world in this free-to-attend festival. Hundreds of shows are held over the six days on multiple stages, with everyone from musicians to firebreathers performing at the annual event. Family-friendly and action packed, visitors can expect to be thoroughly entertained. Carnival rides and various shops offering food, clothing and more also add to the fun.
https://www.novascotia.com/events/festivals-and-events/halifax-busker-festival/-1119
Halifax Seaport Cider & Beerfest, 5-6th August
A “beer on the pier” can be enjoyed at Atlantic Canada’s largest gathering of craft beer, cider, and imports. Visitors will have the chance to try award-winning and speciality beers and ciders from over 300 producers from 20 countries. Delicious, locally inspired food and toe-tapping music from live acts and local DJs will also be featured.
https://www.novascotia.com/events/festivals-and-events/halifax-seaport-cider-beerfest/-1362
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
The Charlottetown Festival, 14th June-24th September
Prince Edward Island, otherwise known as ‘the land of Anne’, has long inspired visitors to discover the place that inspired Lucy Maud Montgomery’s classic ‘Anne of Green Gables’. Between June and September in the capital city, the Charlottetown Festival will see the return of the musical ‘Anne’ and three other musicals, all based on real people and stories from Atlantic Canada.
https://www.tourismpei.com/search/OperatorDetails/name/TheCharlottetownFestival/op_id/5337/
Summerside Lobster Carnival, 5th-9th July
Atlantic Canada is known for its seafood, and lobster and Prince Edward Island have a long-established history, dating back to the 1870’s when lobster fishery was in its infancy. Nowadays, it is the primary fishery on the island and a significant part of the island’s way of life. The first lobster festival was held in 1956 to celebrate this connection, and whilst the events may have changed over the years, the parade and harness racing remain key elements, and the carnival overall is a significant event in the Summerside social calendar.
https://festivalspei.com/event/summerside-lobster-carnival-4/