Cape Breton Island 
Thanksgiving weekend is a great time to get together with your family and friends to have memorable times with them, while you all enjoy great food and the cool autumn weather. Listed below you will find some interesting activities to do this Thanksgiving Weekend in Cape Breton.
Credit: Celtic Colours International Festival
Celtic Colours International Festival
Celtic Colours International Festival is back for in-person celebrations. Attend workshops, enjoy live concerts, great food, and shop till you drop at various sales and exhibitions. Details
October 9 – 17, 2026
Various Venues
Varies
Fiddle: Chrissy Crowley + Guest
Chrissy Crowley is a multi-award-winning fiddler from Margaree, Cape Breton, recognized for her “fiery” style that blends Scottish, Irish, and Acadian traditions. As a founding member of the traditional supergroup Còig, she is a Canadian Folk Music Award winner celebrated for her “fearless innovation” and high-energy live performances. Details
October 10, 2026 | 2 PM
15528 Cabot Trail, Chéticamp
Girls Night Out The Show®—Wild Nights 2026 Tour
This high-energy, all-male dance revue will have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish with heart-pumping music, chiseled bodies, seductive routines, cheeky humor, and boy-next-door charm.
This isn’t the kind of show where you just sit and watch! Girls Night Out The Show® is a fully interactive, immersive experience thundering with excitement. Get ready to get a little wild in an empowering, fun-filled atmosphere and embark on an unforgettable night with your friends. Details
October 10, 2026 | 7:30 PM
40 Bentinck St, Sydney
Get Ready to be Spooked
It’s time for all things spooky. Hank’s Farm Market’s haunted house is open. The haunted attraction will run on weekends and holidays from 11 am to 5 pm.
Details
Weekend & Holidays | 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Hank’s Farm Market, 581 King Grove Road, North Sydney
South Haven Weavers’ Fibre Festival ’26
Shop at the South Haven guild of weavers, spinners and dyers show and sale for handcrafted textiles, attend workshops, and more.
Details
October 10 – 13, 2026
BOLD Centre, 490 Chebucto Street, Baddeck
Free
Baddeck Quilt Guild Fibre Arts Festival
Enjoy a beautiful display of quilted items, knitting, and rug hooking while meeting local artisans and watching as they demonstrate time honoured techniques.
Details
October 9 – 13, 2026
St. Mark’s Masonic Lodge, Baddeck
By donation
Be Blown Away by Glass Art
See beautiful works of glass by artists from all over Canada. There are products such as blown glass, fused glass, jewelry, lampworking, iron art sculptures, sandcarving, and so much more.
Details
Daily from 10 am to 6 pm
Glass Artisans Studio & Gallery, 45054 Cabot Trail, Ingonish
Buddy MacMaster School of Fiddle
The Buddy MacMaster School of Fiddling is a five-day series for intermediate and advanced players. Each day features two different instructors chosen from among Cape Breton’s very finest fiddlers, each with their own unique musical signature. Students will learn the nuances of the Cape Breton style in a personal setting.
Details
October 12 – 16, 2026
Celtic Music Centre, 5471 Nova Scotia Trunk 19, Judique
$150/day
West Mabou Square Dance
The West Mabou Hall is best-known as the venue of the West Mabou Family Square Dances which have been held weekly for over 30 years and are a well-established attraction of Cape Breton Island’s Celtic music scene. These dances are attended by locals and visitors alike and feature the island’s best-known traditional musicians. Come join the fun!
Details
select days
2399 Little Mabou Road
Events at Mi-Carême Centre
Experience the rich culture and traditions of Cape Breton and Acadian life at the Mi-Carême Centre. Learn lively Cape Breton step dancing, make traditional Acadian desserts, discover the history and living traditions of Mi-Carême, and explore local flavours through an apple-to-cider tasting experience. With hands-on activities, storytelling, food, music, and local traditions, these experiences offer a memorable way to connect with Cape Breton culture.
October 9 – 10, 12, 2026
Mi-Carême Centre, 51 Old Cabot Trail Road, Grand Étang
$25 – $50 + HST
See Uisge Ban Falls
Located at the Uisge Bàn Falls Provincial Park, the Uisge Bàn Falls is a spectacular 15 m waterfall in a granite gorge. The falls can be accessed via a 1.5 h return hiking trail.
Details
715 North Branch Road
Dive into Chowder
Seafood is a way of life in Nova Scotia. Chowder is the perfect way to warm up on a crisp fall day. There are lots of stops on the Nova Scotia Chowder Trail. Grab your spoon, hit the trail, and eat your way around Nova Scotia!
Details
Drive the Cabot Trail
Millions of fall-coloured trees surround the Cabot Trail attracting thousands of people every year. Go for a drive on the trail to see the amazing views. Even if you only travel a short distance on the trail, it is worth the drive.
Details
Pick the Perfect Pumpkin at Quinn’s U-Pick
Pumpkins, gourds, and squash, oh my! Quinn’s U-Pick offers all the things you need for a spectacular fall display. Take a walk to find the perfect pumpkin to carve into a jack-o-lantern.
Details
45 MacIntosh Road, Little Bras d’Or
Blueberry Jam Harvest Series
Celebrate and promote both the wild blueberry industry of Cape Breton/Nova Scotia as well as the incredible music of the province. The weekend series takes the music from the field and into the barn over the Thanksgiving Long Weekend to celebrate the end of the harvest season.
Details
October 9 – 11, 2026
Big Belle Farm, 891 SW Ridge Rd, Mabou
$50 – $68 plus tax/service fees
Cape Breton Celtic Trad Sessions
Come and enjoy a casual gathering of musicians who have come together to play traditional Cape Breton Celtic music. Details
October 11, 2026 | 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM
The Frolic’n Folk Pub & Grill, 4115 HWY 223, Iona
Check Out What’s In Season at a Local Farmers Market
Pick up everything you need to make a Thanksgiving meal under one roof. Celebrate the harvest season, and eat local this year.
Take a Hike
Work up an appetite and take in the fall colors on a hike. Cape Breton is home to many great trails that you can explore this fall.
Details
Pet some animals at Two Rivers Park
Meet some friendly llamas, goats, and horses at Two Rivers Wildlife. Along with the petting zoo, the park is also home to over 40 varieties of native and exotic wildlife.
Details
Daily from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
4581 Grand Mira North Road, Huntington
$8 – $10
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