Music, Culture & Heritage

Music, Culture & Heritage

The Ceilidh Trail region of Cape Breton Island is famous for its living Gaelic Culture. One of the best ways to experience this culture is by joining a Ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee), which is a traditional party with music, dancing and often storytelling at a local pub or community hall.

Local musicians take their inspiration from the myriad of cultural influences and ancestors that settled in the community of Inverness and have blended these influences into a unique style and sound. Plan to attend one of the region’s annual music festivals, take in a show at the local Performing Arts Centre or make some time for historical or artistic reflection. The culture is reflected in our landscapes, music, culinary experiences, art, dance and heritage.

The Community of Inverness has a long, rich and storied history. It has always been a tightly knit community, even in the days when coal drew together workers and their families from all over the world. The hard-working, proud character of the town is expressed in images of the blackened faces of miners returning from the pit and in company houses like the Red Rows, which against all odds have outlasted the short decades they were built to stand. Community has always been part of the lives of Inverness’ers, who’ve weathered the changes of two centuries with humour and heart. A visit to the Inverness Miner’s Museum will leave you with a greater knowledge and perspective of our proud history.

Inverness Miner’s Museum

Established in the former Canadian National Railway Station (1901), the museum's purpose is to promote, conserve, research, communicate, and exhibit our history, heritage, and culture to our community and visitors alike. Consisting of extensive displays illustrating and depicting the underground miner, the miner's home, and street scenes with background murals, the relationship with another era…

Inverness Gathering

A week long gathering and celebration welcoming home family and friends with fun for all ages. Dances, street parade, children’s activities, golf tournament, special art exhibit, bingo, boat rides, lobster burgers, pancake breakfast, harness racing, live music, road race and much more. Something for the whole family! Broad Cove's outdoor Scottish concert rounds out the…

Broad Cove Scottish Concert

The largest outdoor Scottish Concert, Broad Cove Scottish Concert holds great significance to the musical culture of local Scottish heritage. Entertainment includes traditional piping, fiddling, dancing and singing. Always held on the last Sunday of July, the concert begins at 3:00pm. The grounds boast 15 acres of available free parking for up to 2000 cars,…

Celtic Colours International Music Festival

Cape Breton Island’s award winning event Celtic Colours International Festival, attracts hundreds of Celtic musicians and fans from all over the world in October, when the fall foliage is at its peak. For nine days Cape Breton Island is alive with music, energy and excitement as together we celebrate our rich culture. From concerts and…

KitchenFest! Feis a Chidsin!

KitchenFest! Feis a Chidsin is an island wide ceilidh always kicking the season off in style – in 26 venues, with 100+ events, and over 150 performers, Cape Breton will welcome one and all to the showcase of all things local; music, food, stories, and warm hospitality. Fiddles and bagpipes, concerts and ceilidhs, food and…

Strathspey Performing Arts Centre

Nestled in the rolling hills of Inverness County, this world class, professional theatre has played host to international and local performers alike. As an integral piece of the community for locals and a “must-see” for visitors, this venue has a passion for performance! From live theatre to international singer-song writers, Strathspey Performing Arts Centre has…