September settles beautifully over Cape Breton's western shore, and this week the region delivers a full slate of live music and community culture — from the stomp and fiddle of the West Mabou Family Square Dances on Saturday night to the mid-week warmth of the Thursday Ceilidh Sessions at the Inverness County Centre for the Arts.
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.
A tribute show featuring hits from Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks, Brad Paisley, and George Strait, performed by a full band with live vocals and harmonies. The show covers classic country songs spanning decades of these artists' careers.
Indie-folk singer-songwriter Jack Pine performs with amplified mandolin and acoustic guitars, playing dynamic original songs. Juno and Canadian Folk Music Awards nominated artist. Purchase tickets online.
Singer and multi-instrumentalist Ariana Nasr performs with chromatic accordion, drawing from diverse musical styles and languages. The show offers live music spanning multiple eras and genres.
Traditional square dances held in West Mabou featuring local musicians. Guided sets for beginners start each dance, and all ages are welcome. Runs 9pm-midnight; $12 admission, free for children 12 and under.
A stay near Inverness rewards visitors who take the scenic route. Before diving into the week's music, a stop at The Dancing Goat Cafe & Bakery in Margaree Valley sets the tone — fresh breads, artisanal sandwiches, soups, and quality lattes make it a natural pause along the Cabot Trail corridor.
Wednesday evening, the Thursday Ceilidh Sessions — despite the name, running this week on Wednesday, September 9 — draw locals and visitors alike to the Inverness County Centre for the Arts. The two-hour session of traditional Cape Breton music and dance is welcoming to all skill levels and a genuine window into the island's living Celtic culture.
Friday opens with an afternoon matinee at Strathspey Performing Arts Centre, where the Country Boys Tribute delivers crowd-pleasing hits from country's biggest names at 1:30 p.m. A round of golf at Cabot Cliffs — Canada's top-ranked course, with dramatic ocean-cliff scenery — makes for a memorable afternoon before Jack Pine takes the stage at 7:30 p.m. in Inverness with his blend of indie-folk, amplified mandolin, and acoustic guitars. Visitors staying at Cabot Cape Breton will find themselves ideally positioned for both the links and the evening's music.
Saturday is a full day well spent. Start with breakfast or a browse at The Farmers Daughter Country Market in Whycocomagh, where home-baked goods, gourmet foods, and unique gifts line the shelves on Highway 105. Lunch or an early dinner at Charlene's Bayside Restaurant and Cafe, also in Whycocomagh, pairs award-winning seafood chowder with coastal views. At 6:00 p.m., Ariana Nasr performs in Inverness on chromatic accordion, weaving through multiple styles and languages in a set that stands apart from the week's other offerings. Then, as the night deepens, West Mabou Hall fills with the thunder of feet at the West Mabou Family Square Dances — live traditional music, guided sets for first-timers, and free entry for children under 12 make this one of the most inclusive events on the Cape Breton calendar.
For a quieter close to the weekend, Glenora Distillery's Washback Pub in Mabou offers gourmet Nova Scotia cuisine alongside Glen Breton Rare whisky and, often, live Celtic music — a fitting nightcap for a week soaked in the culture of the western shore.
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
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!
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.
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
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.
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.
The Inverness and Western Shore region in early September offers a rare combination of world-class natural settings and deeply rooted local culture — this week's lineup makes the case for staying a few extra days. Pack for the highlands, come hungry, and leave room for a dance.
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