The Strait Area comes alive this week as the Petit de Gras Acadian Festival Opening Ceremony kicks off a vibrant multi-day celebration of Acadian culture on Isle Madame, while the free Concerts by the Sea - Louisdale and Concerts by the Sea - Arichat draw families to the waterfront for summer evenings well worth lingering over.
Weekly live music series at St. John's Centre for the Arts featuring local performers. August dates include Kelly & Gina (4th), Tyrone David & James Boudreau (11th), Grace McNutt (18th), and Luke Boudreau with Kyle LeVesconte and Jordi Martin (25th). Admission by donation; refreshments available.
Free summer concert series held by the sea in Louisdale, featuring local and regional performers. Shows run 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm and welcome families. Bring a blanket or lawn chair.
Opening ceremony that kicks off the Petit-de-Grat Acadian Festival, a multi-day celebration of Acadian culture held annually in the small Acadian community of Petit-de-Grat in Richmond County. The event features ceremony and music and draws local residents and visitors to mark the start of the festival season on Isle Madame.
Free summer concert series held evenings from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm with a coastal backdrop and family-friendly atmosphere. Bring a blanket or lawn chair to enjoy performances from local and regional talent.
The Tintamarre is a cherished celebration of Acadian culture and heritage , combining a joyous, festive parade with a children's festival that welcomes families of all ages. Revelers make wild noise using everything from noisemakers and horns to pots and pans in a colourful procession through the streets. Dress in the traditional Acadian blue, red, yellow, and white and join the fun — it's a lively and unforgettable slice of Cape Breton's Acadian community spirit.
The Dîner Fricot au Poulet — Community Lunch is one of the signature gather-around-the-table moments of the Festival Acadien de Petit-de-Grat, an annual cultural event that celebrates Acadian culture and heritage on Isle Madame in Cape Breton Island. The lunch takes its name from fricot au poulet, a traditional Acadian chicken stew that has been a staple of community cooking in the region for generations. Hearty and slow-cooked, fricot is as much a cultural touchstone as it is a meal — sharing it in a communal setting is a long-standing expression of Acadian hospitality and togetherness. Centre La Picasse anchors the festival's community programming, and the festival itself could not take place without the many dedicated volunteers who organize activities held over several days, including community suppers. The lunch fits squarely into that tradition, giving both locals and out-of-town visitors a place to sit down together and share something authentically rooted in Isle Madame's Acadian identity. The Petit-de-Grat Acadian Festival takes place on the second weekend of August, showcasing Acadian music, dance, a softball tournament, a community lunch, and more.
A dinner theater event combining a community meal with live performances of Acadian music and cultural traditions. Held as part of the multi-day Festival Acadien de Petit-de-Grat on Isle Madame, the Souper Spectacle brings together local and regional artists. Part of a festival program that also includes art workshops, storytelling, fireworks, and dancing.
A community breakfast serving a hearty morning meal to locals and visitors during the festival. It's an all-ages gathering that's part of the Festival Acadien De Petit-De-Grat tradition.
The week opens gently on Tuesday evening when Tuesday Island Tunes brings local performers to the stage at St. John's Centre for the Arts at 9:30 p.m. Admission is by donation, so it's an easy, low-commitment way to settle into the rhythm of the Strait. Visitors staying in Port Hawkesbury can make a night of it by grabbing dinner first at Miller's Seafood & Chophouse, where a summer patio overlooks the Strait and the menu leans into fresh local seafood and hearty steaks.
Wednesday belongs to the coast. The free Concerts by the Sea - Louisdale begins at 6:00 p.m. at a Louisdale waterfront setting, drawing families for an hour-plus of local and regional music with the sea as a backdrop. Before the show, an afternoon walk along the Ceilidh Coastal Trail (part of Celtic Shores Coastal Trail) — a 22-kilometre linear trail running from the Canso Canal to Long Point — offers sweeping coastal scenery at an easy pace. Those based at Dundee Resort & Golf Club in Dundee are well placed to explore this stretch of the island, with kayaks and paddle boats available at the lakeside adventure centre for a morning on the Bras d'Or.
Thursday doubles the music with the Concerts by the Sea - Arichat at 6:00 p.m., set against the harbour at one of Isle Madame's most photogenic villages. Earlier in the day, it's worth seeking out Jerome Point Lighthouse, a lighthouse with roots going back to 1883 that makes for a scenic detour along the island's shore. And Thursday evening also marks the official start of something special: the Petit de Gras Acadian Festival Opening Ceremony gets underway at 6:00 p.m. in Petit-de-Grat, launching a multi-day celebration of Acadian heritage in Richmond County.
Friday is the festival's centrepiece day. The colourful Festival Acadien De Petit-De-Grat : Tintamarre - Family Parade & Children's Fest fills the streets at 11:00 a.m., followed at 11:30 a.m. by a community lunch of chicken fricot — the hearty Acadian chicken and vegetable soup — at the Festival Acadien De Petit-De-Grat - Diner Fricot au Poulet - Community Lunch - Chicken Fricot. The evening brings the Festival Acadien De Petit-De-Grat Souper Spectacle - Dinner Theater, where live Acadian music weaves through a community dinner in a setting that feels genuinely rooted in place. Visitors looking for a comfortable base near the action will find Maritime Inn Port Hawkesbury a reliable four-star option in Port Hawkesbury, with Papa's Pub and Eatery nearby for craft pizza and a well-stocked wine list when the night calls for something relaxed.
Saturday morning begins at the Festival Acadien De Petit-De-Grat : Dejeuner du Festival - Community Breakfast at 8:00 a.m. — a welcoming all-ages tradition that draws locals and visitors together over a proper morning meal. Afterward, a stroll through Lennox Passage Provincial Park on Isle Madame's north shore offers picnic tables and calm water views, while the short trail to Embree's Brook Falls — just 1.7 kilometres one way and rated easy — makes for a satisfying afternoon hike. Those with more time on the water can book a cruise with Bras d'Or Lake Boat Tours out of St. Peter's for a look at the UNESCO Biosphere reserve from the lake itself. Campers can pitch a tent nearby at Battery Provincial Park Campground in Saint Peter's, which sits close to the canal with saltwater beach access and 53 sites.
Located on the North Shore of Isle Madame, this provincial park has a saltwater beach, picnic areas, and 2 km of walking trails. An operating lighthouse is open to visitors. Swimming, kayaking, and biking are available in summer; snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are possible in winter, though the park is unserviced then and parking is at the gate only.
This 22-km trail runs from the Canso Canal to Chisholm's Brook along the eastern shore, with surfaces ranging from gravel to hard-packed beach. Cell service is available, and dogs are permitted on leash. The route passes through tide-washed sections, abandoned rail bed, and coastal views with interpretive panels about local history and culture.
This square wooden lighthouse was built in 1883 and rebuilt in 1956 without its original attached dwelling. It marks the entrance to St. Peter's Canal National Historic Site, where tidal locks connect the Atlantic Ocean to Bras d'Or Lake. The lighthouse sits at Battery Provincial Park on Highway 4 near the St. Peter's swing bridge.
A 6-meter waterfall accessible via a 1.7 km easy hike from Port Hawkesbury. The trail crosses a brook on a sturdy bridge and wooden stairs before reaching a viewing deck overlooking a ravine, then continues to the main fall carved into shale. The waterfall flows best after heavy rain or during spring melt; watch for a worn side path on your left near the trail intersection to reach the overlook.
Casual dining with a professional touch. Adjoining Maritime Inn Port Hawkesbury, Miller’s offers a casual relaxed atmosphere, with summertime patio dining. Our menu features a variety of local flavours. Start with a delicious seafood appetizer, such as our homemade seafood chowder or crab cakes. Then choose from the wide variety of dishes on our main menu – from steaks and ribs to salmon and mussels – or opt for the nightly feature, carefully chosen and prepared by our culinary team. Port Hawkesbury is a perfect base from which to start your Cape Breton vacation, and Miller’s offers meals for every taste along with the professional, friendly service you will come to expect in Nova Scotia.
4-star property in Port Hawkesbury with a guest rating of 4.2/10 (927 reviews).
Amenities include Wheelchair accessible, Conference space, Cross-country skiing nearby, Hiking/biking trails nearby, Breakfast available (surcharge), Laundry facilities, Garden, Free newspapers in lobby.
Bookable directly through CapeBretonFirst.
Dundee Resort & Golf Club is located in West Bay, Cape Breton Island where you are surrounded by rich forests, lush lawns, a championship golf course and the brilliant Bras d’Or Lakes. Spend the day golfing at our world-class course or visit our onsite Lakeside Adventure Centre and enjoy paddle boats, kayaks, canoes, tennis, volleyball and beach swimming. We are just a short drive from the legendary Cabot Trail and the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site, a preserved and recreated French fortification dating back 300 years. Our accommodations include 61 hotel rooms (Queen, King) with balcony (view of golf course or the Bras d’Or Lakes), some with fireplace or jacuzzi; 38 one- and two-bedroom cottage units (Twin, Double; light housekeeping facilities) with a large deck, lake view; and all with 4-piece bath. No cribs; however, we do have playpens. Cots are available for rooms in the hotel only. Air conditioning and Wi-Fi (in hotel rooms only). Enjoy complimentary scheduled summer recreation activities (July – August) including canoeing and kayaking from our lakeside adventure centre. Guest features include dining room and pub; pro shop; banquet and conference facilities; 18-hole golf course; indoor and outdoor pools; sauna; walking trail; canoe, kayak, and paddleboats; and barbecues. Small pets are permitted in the cottages at a minimal charge. Check out our golf, family and all-inclusive packages! All major credit cards are accepted.
Cruise the UNESCO-designated Bras d'Or Lake Biosphere from the historic St. Peter's Canal. A relaxed, narrated tour through one of the largest inland seas in North America, with eagles, seals, and history at every turn.
Battery Provincial Park is situated on a hillside overlooking St. Peter’s Bay adjacent to the St. Peter’s Canal National Historic Site. The park entrance is on the east side of the bridge at the canal. Battery features a small saltwater beach (unsupervised), an interpretive display, picnic area with ocean frontage, and 3.4 km / 2.1 mi of hiking trails. Jerome Point Lighthouse is located on the entrance road to Battery Provincial Park. Nearby: Point Michaud Beach Provincial Park, Nicolas Denys Museum (St. Peters), and LeNoir Forge Museum (Arichat). Campground accommodations include: 53 open and wooded overnight sites (4 with electrical service, 3 with electrical and water, 46 unserviced). Park amenities include: flush toilets, showers, disposal station, fire grills, wood, and ice. Boat launch nearby. Wireless Internet access available at the administration building. This is a Campground Host park. Leashed pets permitted. Detailed Information: Outdoor activities: Fishing, Hiking, Kayaking, SnowshoeingDirections: On east side of Canal Bridge.
Our restaurant offers a unique dining experience that will leave your taste buds tantalized. Our cuisine is inspired by the best of both worlds – traditional Canadian dishes with a modern flare. Our cuisine is sure to leave you wanting more. Our chefs have crafted a unique menu that includes everything from Starters, Main Course to Dessert. Our wine list is extensive and includes both local and international wines. Our Papa’s Pub and Pizzeria is located in a beautiful town of Port Hawkesbury. Our wait staff is attentive and polite and our atmosphere is warm and inviting. We look forward to serving you and making your dining experience a memorable one.
From free seaside concerts and Acadian community feasts to coastal trails and lighthouse shorelines, the Strait Area offers a full week of genuine Cape Breton character this August. Come for the festival, stay for the scenery.
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