The final week of August brings a full slate of traditional Cape Breton music and dance to Inverness and the western shore, headlined by the beloved West Mabou Family Square Dances on Sunday night and a stirring double-fiddle set from Stephanie MacDonald & Susan MacLean at the Red Shoe on Saturday afternoon.
Weekly ceilidh sessions run Thursday evenings from 6:30pm to 8:30pm at Inverness County Centre for the Arts, featuring local musicians and dancers along with Gaelic language and folklore. Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for seniors, and free for children.
Singer-songwriter Stephen Poirier performs Thursday, August 27 from 7–10 pm with no cover charge. His set mixes folk, country and classic rock covers with original songs rooted in Cape Breton.
Two fiddle and piano musicians perform traditional Cape Breton music at the Red Shoe on August 29 from 5 to 7 pm. No cover charge.
Square dances held in West Mabou featuring traditional Cape Breton musicians, running for over 30 years. Guided instruction is offered for newcomers, and the dances run from 9pm to midnight. All ages welcome; admission is $12, free for children 12 and under.
Start the week with a midweek ritual that Cape Breton locals treasure: the Thursday Ceilidh Sessions at the Inverness County Centre for the Arts, where local musicians and dancers gather for an evening of authentic Gaelic-rooted music. Before heading in, fuel up with a stop at The Dancing Goat Cafe & Bakery in Margaree Valley — the made-from-scratch breads and artisanal sandwiches make it a natural waypoint whether you're arriving from the Cabot Trail or heading toward Inverness.
Thursday evening, the village of Mabou takes centre stage. Singer-songwriter Stephen Poirier performs at Steak Night at the Red Shoe from 7 to 10 PM with no cover charge — a convivial Cape Breton tradition where live music and a hearty meal go hand in hand. Visitors staying near Inverness can make the most of the area's world-class links at Cabot Cape Breton, where oceanview accommodations and upscale dining complement a round on one of Canada's most celebrated golf courses.
For golfers chasing a bucket-list round, Cabot Cliffs offers a walking-only links experience carved along dramatic ocean cliffs — Canada's top-ranked course rewards an early tee time before the weekend's cultural calendar kicks into gear. Afterwards, settle into dinner at Glenora Distillery's Washback Pub in the Mabou Highlands, where gourmet Nova Scotia cuisine meets Glen Breton Rare whisky and the occasional live Celtic session.
Saturday afternoon belongs to the fiddle. Stephanie MacDonald & Susan MacLean perform traditional Cape Breton music with piano at the Red Shoe from 5 to 7 PM — a free, intimate session that showcases the living tradition this island is known for. Visitors travelling the Highway 105 corridor can round out the day with a stop at The Farmers Daughter Country Market in Whycocomagh for home-baked goods and local gifts, or settle in for award-winning seafood chowder at Charlene's Bayside Restaurant and Cafe, also in Whycocomagh.
Sunday closes the week with the most participatory tradition on the western shore: the West Mabou Family Square Dances at West Mabou Hall. Running from 9 PM to midnight with guided sets for first-timers and free admission for children under 12, this is Cape Breton culture at its most welcoming — dancing not as spectacle but as community.
Located on over a mile of sandy beach along the coast of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia—and nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the picturesque town of Inverness—Cabot Cape Breton features 46 holes of exhilarating golf and one of the best resort experiences in Canada. With two acclaimed World Top 100 courses, 72 rooms of award-winning accommodation, 19 upscale Golf Villas, and exquisite dining in three on-site restaurants, Cabot Cape Breton is intended to excite and inspire at every turn. Resort Overview 2 acclaimed World Top 100 golf courses, Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs 1 Par 3, 10-hole short course, The Nest 72 rooms of award-winning hotel accommodation 19 upscale Golf Villas 30 Luxurious Homes 4 restaurants; Panorama, Cabot Bar, The Barn, Whit’s Public House 2 beach accesses within walking distance of the resort Awards ScoreGolf—Top Canadian Public Courses (Cabot Cliffs #1, Cabot Links #2) Golf Digests—World’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses (Cabot Cliffs #10, Cabot Links #39) Conde Nast Traveler—Top 10 Resorts in Canada (Cabot Cape Breton No. 10) Golf Digest—Best Golf Resorts in Canada (Cabot Cape Breton) Forbes—Top 10 Best Golf Trips around the World Forbes – Top 10 Best Golf Resorts With Private Cottages or Cabins Travel+Leisure – Top 10 Resort Hotels in Canada (Cabot Links Lodge #8) Facilities/Services Cabot Links Golf Course: Rod Whitman design. Par 70, 6854 yards. Walking course (carts available if medically required) Golf Digest World’s 100 Greatest Courses: #10 Cabot Cliffs Golf Course: Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw design. Par 72, 6764 yards. Walking course (carts available if medically required) Practice range Golf Digest World’s 100 Greatest Courses: #39 The Nest Short Course: Rod Whitman & Dave Axland design. Par 3, 10-hole Night Golf Lodging: 72 Oceanview rooms at the Cabot Links Lodge 49 Upscale homes ranging from 2 to 5 bedrooms Dining: Whit’s Public House Panorama Cabot Bar The Barn Services: Transportation between Links & Cliffs properties Airport, local and other transportation available Local activity bookings Bell service Accommodation Types: Resort Rooms • Floor to ceiling windows • Walk-in rainfall showers • Plush pillow top beds • Nespresso Machine • Italian Terry cloth towels and robes Villa Rentals 19 upscale Golf Villas (ranging from 2 to 4 bedrooms) Open-concept living space Custom kitchen with premium appliances Private deck Cabot Cliffs An 18-hole invitation to take the road less travelled, with the freedom of unfamiliar terrain beneath your feet and uncommon beauty as far as the eye can see. Cabot Cliffs is designed by legendary course designers, Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, and carved out of the Cape Breton coastline. From high cliffs to rolling dunes Cabot Cliffs is 6,765 yards and Par 72 Cabot Links Set against a breathtaking landscape and designed by Canadian golf course architect, Rod Whitman, this is golf as it was meant to be. Each of the 18holesoffers an ocean view and five holes play directly adjacent to the beach. This is the first authentic links in Canada, and one of the world’s greatest courses. The place that speaks to golf’s elemental and undeniable truthis6,854 yards and Par 70 The Nest Opened for the 2021 season, the new short course is a Par 3, 10-hole routing perched on the highest point of Cabot Cliffs, affording some of the best views on property. The Rod Whitman/Dave Axland design has a great deal of variety and shot value and is modelled after the same style of golf as Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs. Your golf day can also extend well beyond sundown with night golf at offered at The Nest!
Exquisitely carved out of the breathtaking Cape Breton landscape, with postcard worthy panoramas vying for your attention and rich, rolling fairways waiting to reward your creativity, this is linksland golf at its best. A chance to follow in the legendary footsteps of course designers Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. From cliff to cliff and across rolling sand dunes, experience the game in its most visceral sense: with a stiff coastal wind at your back and a sense of purpose in your swing. Ranked #1 in Canada in SCOREGolf’s Top 100 best golf courses in Canada, #13 in Golf Digest’s World’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses and #11 in Golfweek’s Top 100 International Golf Courses in 2024, Cabot Cliffs alongside its sister course Cabot Links, has transformed Cape Breton Island into one of North America’s most noteworthy golf destinations. Cabot Cliffs is a walking-only course, a style of play that heightens the experience of the game, connecting the golfer with the landscape and inviting creativity into every shot. Of course, exceptions can be made – and carts provided – for those of our guests with medical limitations. In addition, experienced caddies are ready to provide helpful advice on everything from shot selection to the course’s various topographical nuances. “Midway through my maiden round at Cabot Cliffs, strung along ocean bluffs above the town of Inverness, Nova Scotia, I became overwhelmed by an emotion best described as giddy. (…) The sense of awe and discovery was so intense. (…) By round’s end, I’d lost all objectivity. This is the second coming of Cypress Point, which in my mind was previously unmatched in its beauty, variety and thrills.”- Ron Whitten, Golf Digest Visit our website for a hole-by-hole tour at https://cabotcapebreton.com/golf/cabot-cliffs
Cradled in the picturesque hills of the Mabou Highlands, our unsurpassed view is perfect for gourmet cuisine. Savour the freshest of Nova Scotia and international cuisine in our Pub and Dining Room, featured in ’Where to Eat in Canada’. Celtic music and a dram of Canadian single malt whisky, Glen Breton Rare, lay the groundwork for your unique Cape Breton experience. Glenora Inn features nine rooms and six highland chalets. You can also enjoy a guided tour of the distillery and private tastings.
The bustling ‘made from scratch’ roadside café, Dancing Goat Café and Bakery, is a favourite stop along the Cabot Trail for locals and visitors alike. With delicious sweet treats, fresh breads, artisanal sandwiches and soups, and lattes that would rival any top coffee house, the Dancing Goat is a culinary gem tucked in the hills of the Margaree Valley. Serving breakfast and lunch all year long. We are wheelchair accessible.
Home to Charlene’s Multi-Award Winning Famous Seafood Chowder. A great family dining experience enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. Renowned for great service, amazing food and its overall welcoming atmosphere. Stop by and see for yourself! Open Monday – Friday: 8:00am – 6:00pm Take Out Services Available
Nestled in the heart of Cape Breton, The Farmer’s Daughter Country Store offers a unique selection of sweet treats, express meals, home baked goods, gourmet foods, gifts and apparel.
Whether the draw is a cliffside fairway, a fiddle ringing off the walls of a village hall, or a bowl of chowder beside the water, Inverness and the western shore offer a week that feels genuinely Cape Breton. Arrive with a flexible schedule and leave with a few new favourites.
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