The Chéticamp and Margaree valleys come alive this week with KitchenFest! bringing a string of all-star Celtic and Acadian performances — including a headline night at KitchenFest! Concert at the Normaway Inn featuring Richard Wood, Evans and Doherty, Darla MacPhee, and Allie Bennett — while St. Michael's Hall keeps the music going every night from Monday through Sunday. It's one of the finest weeks of summer to be on the western shore of Cape Breton.
Joe MacMaster is a Cape Breton fiddler deeply rooted in the music of his native island. A nephew to Natalie MacMaster and grandnephew to Buddy MacMaster — two of the most esteemed Cape Breton fiddlers — Joe has learned from the best. Since beginning his career at 15, he has performed across the United States, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, and Scotland, and released his debut self-titled album in 2022.
Chef-led 8-course dining experience on the Cabot Trail featuring foraged ingredients, local seafood, and seasonal produce prepared by Michelin-trained Chef Cameron Armstrong. Meals are served communal-style at handcrafted tables surrounded by local art, with sommelier-led wine pairings. Offered Tuesday–Saturday until November 1, 2026, at 6:00pm and 6:30pm seatings. $185 per person. Advance booking required; dietary restrictions need 48 hours notice.
Live multi-instrumental concert in the Normaway Inn Barn in Margaree Valley featuring Evans and Doherty, Darla MacPhee, Richard Wood, and Allie Bennett. Book ahead to reserve your spot.
Cape Breton fiddler Rachel Davis and singer-songwriter Buddy MacDonald are beloved local artists who together deliver an evening of traditional Celtic tunes, original songs, and warm island storytelling. Davis, from Baddeck, is a member of the JUNO-nominated group Còig and a Canadian Folk Music Award winner, while MacDonald is a 2022 ECMA Stompin' Tom Award recipient whose songs have been recorded by artists around the world. Catch this celebrated pair for a night of foot-tapping Cape Breton music you won't soon forget.
This afternoon pub event at the Doryman features local musicians Rodney MacDonald, Glenn Graham, Hilda Chiasson, and Brian Doyle performing in a waterside setting. Food and drinks are available, and admission is $10 for ages 19 and up (pay at the door).
kitchen party; traditional music @$ 10 16+
Donna Marie DeWolfe is a Cape Breton fiddler from River Tillard who has been playing traditional music since age 10, rooted in a proud family lineage of musicians. Buddy MacDonald is a Cape Breton performer with regular appearances at venues across the island. Together they bring the lively spirit of Cape Breton's fiddle tradition to the stage.
Afternoon Pub ; @ $10 | 19+ | Pay at the Door Featuring: Darrell Keigan, Hilda Chiasson, Melody Cameron, Derrick Cameron
The week opens on Monday with St. Michael's Hall — Joe MacMaster & Friends, a warm-up for what promises to be a full schedule of traditional music in Chéticamp. Before the show, stretch your legs on the Acadian Trail, a steep but rewarding climb above Chéticamp that opens onto a sweeping panoramic view of the Acadian coastline — one of the finest vantage points on this stretch of the Cabot Trail. Fuel up beforehand with homemade food and a specialty coffee at L'abri Café, Restaurant and Bar, a welcoming stop in the heart of Chéticamp.
Tuesday evening offers something genuinely special: the Experience Table Doucet at 9 p.m. — a chef-led communal dining experience on the Cabot Trail that highlights local seafood, seasonal produce, and the deep Acadian food traditions of this region. It's an ideal way to taste the landscape before spending the rest of the week exploring it. For a more casual dinner, Le Gabriel Restaurant & Lounge in Chéticamp serves fresh seafood and traditional Acadian dishes with homemade desserts that have earned a loyal following among regulars.
Midweek is perfect for longer hikes. The Fishing Cove Trail leads on a long descent to one of the most remote backcountry beaches in Cape Breton Highlands National Park — the only wilderness campground in the park sits at the bottom, making it a worthy overnight for those who pack in a tent. For something gentler, the MacIntosh Brook Trail follows a flat streamside path through towering hardwoods to a small waterfall, a good option for families or anyone wanting a quieter morning. Before or after either hike, a lobster roll and fish and chips at Rusty Anchor Restaurant in Pleasant Bay make for a satisfying reward with views over the water.
Friday is when KitchenFest! takes centre stage in the Margaree Valley. The KitchenFest! Concert at the Normaway Inn begins at 8 p.m. in the Normaway Inn Barn — a storied venue that has hosted Cape Breton's finest musicians for generations. Evans and Doherty, Darla MacPhee, Richard Wood, and Allie Bennett bring a mix of Celtic, Cape Breton fiddle, and Acadian influences to one stage. Pick up a meat pie or a loaf of crusty bread at Aucoin Bakery in Chéticamp earlier in the day to sustain the drive up through the valley.
The weekend crescendos on Saturday with back-to-back options: KitchenFest! Afternoon Pub at the Doryman kicks off at 6 p.m. at The Doryman Pub & Grill, Chéticamp's longtime social hub for live Acadian music and a hearty lobster roll. The $10 traditional kitchen party at St. Michael's Parish Hall follows at 7 p.m. for those who want to keep the evening going. Sunday afternoon brings one final, lingering send-off: Donne Marie DeWolfe and Buddy MacDonald at St. Michael's Hall, followed by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #53 — Afternoon Pub at 4 p.m. — four local musicians and a dance floor that rarely stays empty.
Starting right behind the Cheticamp Visitor Centre, the Acadian Trail loops up the canyon wall through mature maple and birch forest, gaining roughly 360 metres before levelling out at a series of viewpoints over the village, harbour, and Cheticamp Island. The climb is sustained and rocky in places; trekking poles help on the descent. Interpretive panels along the route highlight the Acadian heritage of the surrounding communities. Allow three to four hours and carry water—there is no reliable source on the trail.
Fishing Cove drops nearly 335 metres over eight kilometres to a hidden cove that was once home to a small Scottish fishing settlement. The trail is steep in spots but well graded, weaving through hardwood and conifer stands before delivering hikers to a grassy meadow above a wild Gulf of St. Lawrence beach. Eight backcountry tent sites sit just back from the shore—reservations are required. Day-trippers should plan a full day for the return climb. Carry plenty of water and watch for moose along the upper section.
MacIntosh Brook is a gentle 1.7-kilometre return walk along a clear stream beneath towering yellow birch and sugar maple to a modest cascade at the trail's end. It is a great wet-weather option since the canopy keeps much of the rain off. Roots and rocks make the footing uneven; sturdy shoes recommended.
Enragée Point Lighthouse stands on the western tip of Cheticamp Island, an octagonal wooden tower painted bright white. A gravel road and short walk lead out to the point, with sweeping views back to the Cheticamp village waterfront and west to the open Gulf. Wind here is often fierce, as the name (French for "enraged") suggests.
Chéticamp's social hub — Acadian fiddle, hearty pub plates, and a lobster roll that's worth a detour. The Doryman is more than a music venue; it's the room everyone in town ends up at on a Saturday.
Le Gabriel, with its unique lighthouse entrance, is situated on the Cabot Trail in Cheticamp. Our varied menu includes fresh seafood such as lobster, crab, sole. Experience Acadian culture with traditional dishes, fricot, and paté à la viande. Complete your meal with a selection from our delicious homemade desserts.
A three-generation Acadian bakery in Chéticamp turning out meat pies, crusty bread, and sweets the way the Aucoin family has always made them. If you're driving the Cabot Trail and want a taste of Acadian home cooking you can eat with your hands, this is the stop.
L’abri café, restaurant and bar is located along the Cabot Trail in Chéticamp, NS. We serve homemade food and fresh baked goods to go with our deliciously brewed lattes, cappuccinos, and coffee! Come check out our patio and our local brews on tap.
The Rusty Anchor is Cape Breton’s best kept secret!The halfway point on the Cabot Trail, serving the best lobster roll and fish n chips in the area. Come for the food and stay for the view!
From backcountry beaches and lighthouse coastlines to communal feasts and barn concerts, the week of June 22–28 offers a full and unhurried taste of everything that makes the Chéticamp and Margaree region one of Cape Breton's most beloved destinations. Come for a night and plan to stay the week.
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