The week of August 24–30 brings a rich stretch of Cape Breton culture to Sydney and the surrounding communities, headlined by the Men of the Deeps at the Miners Museum on Wednesday evening and a rousing Cape Breton Dockside Ceilidhs to close out the weekend on Sunday night.
This is a showcase of emerging Cape Breton musicians performing at the historic Savoy Theatre. The August 24th show at 7:00 pm features Dawson Murphy, Bethany Reid, Victoria McDougall, Mackenzie Sechi, and Cali Croney, hosted by Sarah Walker. Members get $3 off tickets (maximum 6).
Outdoor market hosted by Breton Brewing at their location on Keltic Drive, featuring local crafts, food, and beverages.
A choir of working and retired coal miners performs at the Cape Breton Miners Museum. Members must have worked in the mines; ages range from mid-thirties to upper-seventies, with some performing since the group's formation in 1966. They perform in traditional mining coveralls and hard hats with helmet lamps. Main doors open 6:30pm, theatre doors 6:45pm, performance at 7pm. Tickets available online, in person, or by phone 902-849-4522.
A food truck serving hot dogs and sausages will be at the Keltic drive Taproom on Thursday, August 27th from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Pairs well with craft beer if you're stopping by.
Trivia competition held every Thursday from 6–8 PM at Breton Brewing. Teams compete while a $5 door donation supports a rotating local charity each month. Reservations recommended due to limited space.
Live music series at Breton Brewing featuring local and traveling musicians. This Friday features Stay Tuned from 4pm to 7pm, and there's no cover charge.
Free outdoor activities run Saturdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Sydney waterfront beside Sydney Public Market. The rotating program includes yoga, Latin dance, cultural experiences, and community activities for all ages, with local vendors and live entertainment.
Outdoor ceilidhs held Sunday evenings starting July 26th on the North Sydney waterfront, featuring live music and dancing with MacArthur Dancers and Friends.
Kick off the week on Monday evening in Glace Bay, where Cape Breton's Rising Stars 3 brings a fresh wave of local musical talent to the Savoy Theatre at 10:00 p.m. It's a late-night showcase worth staying up for, and a fine excuse to spend the early part of Monday exploring the Cape Breton Miners Museum — a world-class attraction featuring underground tours of the Ocean Deeps Colliery and a recreated miners' village that tells the story of the communities that once powered the island.
Wednesday is a particularly full day. Head back to Glace Bay by 7:00 p.m. for Men of the Deeps at the Miners Museum, where a choir of working and retired coal miners performs in one of Cape Breton's most moving and distinctly local musical traditions. Earlier in the afternoon, Breton Brewing opens its green space at 364 Keltic Drive for a Pop-Up Outdoor Market at 4:00 p.m., featuring crafts, food, and local goods — a relaxed way to browse and sample before the evening's concert.
Thursday at Breton Brewing doubles up on good reasons to visit. The Food Truck Pop-Up – Stephen's Dogs and Sausages runs from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m., followed by Thursday Night Trivia from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., with a $5 door donation supporting a local charity. It's a convivial evening that rewards both knowledge and appetite. For dinner in downtown Sydney, Governors Pub & Eatery serves elevated comfort food in a beautifully restored 19th-century heritage building, while The Old Triangle Irish Alehouse has been one of the city's premier spots for pub dining and live music since 2013.
The weekend opens on Friday afternoon with Friday – Music on Tap at Breton Brewing — no cover, good beer, and live music from local and traveling performers starting at 4:00 p.m. On Saturday, the Sydney waterfront boardwalk comes alive at 1:00 p.m. with On The Boardwalk, offering free outdoor yoga, Latin dance, and cultural programming at the NSCC Sydney Waterfront Campus. Guests staying at The Simon Hotel Sydney are perfectly positioned for both — the waterfront suite hotel sits right on the harbour boardwalk with 144 rooms and a full range of amenities. Sunday winds down with the Cape Breton Dockside Ceilidhs at The Cellar Bar in North Sydney at 9:00 p.m. — authentic, foot-stomping Cape Breton music to close out the week on exactly the right note.
The Simon Hotel Sydney comes complete with 144 non-smoking suites/rooms with air conditioning, flat screen TV’s, digital cable, mini fridge, and microwave. Large wheelchair accessible main floor suite with separate bedroom and living area, lowered queen size bed and roll-in shower. Amenities include parking, free WiFi, breakfast, on-site restaurant and lounge and roof top patio, fitness centre, and free YMCA access. We are pet friendly. Located on the beautiful harbour boardwalk within walking distance to shops, banks, restaurants and attractions, we are the only suite property located in downtown Sydney.
The Cape Breton Miners’ Museum in Glace Bay pays tribute to the contribution of the region’s coal miners and coal mining industry. The museum also features a fascinating exhibit on the geological development of Cape Breton’s coal field. The Miners’ Village, located next to the museum, allows you to step back in time and visit a company store and a home from the period 1850–1900. Take an underground guided tour of the Ocean Deeps Colliery, a coal mine beneath the museum. If you are visiting during the summer months, be sure to attend a “Men of the Deeps” concert (contact us for more details). After touring our wheelchair accessible museum, stop by our gift shop where you will find local Cape Breton-made arts and crafts.
Pub and restaurant in a restored 19th-century building in downtown Sydney serving elevated comfort food with Maritime-inspired daily features. The wood-and-brick interior has high ceilings and big windows; it draws both locals and visitors. Reservations recommended for dinner, family-friendly through dinner service, open year-round.
Visit Cape Breton’s authentic Irish Pub located in the heart of downtown Sydney. Opened in 2013, The Old Triangle has become a downtown mainstay, a must-dining destination, and an entertainment magnet. Whether it’s a business lunch, a celebratory party in our private room (Finnigan’s Snug), or to sing and dance along with some of the best musicians the Maritimes has to offer, we fit the bill. Here, we live by our philosophy: "Food for the Body, Drink for the Spirit and Music for the Soul".
A & K Lick-A-Chick has the best tasting fried chicken in Little Bras d’Or! Bring the family for a picnic-style lunch or dinner and enjoy some delicious, crispy seasoned chicken. Don’t forget all the “fixins,” like coleslaw, potato salad, and fresh-cut taters. Finish off your meal with a delightfully decadent ice cream novelty or cake. Or maybe some warm apple pie? It’s hard to decide with so many choices! Our family has always been in business for itself. A & K Lick-A-Chick was founded in 1969 and we bought this restaurant in 1983. Here we are today! We plan to continue what we’ve been doing—serve delicious and affordable home-style food to our loyal patrons. We are well known and pride ourselves on the quality of our cuisine. Come stop by and see what all the fuss is about! Visit us today to order quality and tasty food.
Marine Atlantic runs the constitutional ferry service between North Sydney and Newfoundland: the year-round 7-hour Port aux Basques run, and the seasonal 16-hour Argentia run that operates roughly mid-June through late September.
Drive-on vehicles enter through ticket booths off the Trans-Canada Highway; passenger drop-off is on Prince Street at the terminal building. Plan to arrive 90 minutes before departure with a reservation, two hours without. The terminal has a cafeteria, lockers, paid parking ($12+/day for crossings) and free Wi-Fi in the main waiting area.
Reservations are strongly recommended in summer; the website handles drive-on, walk-on, cabin and pet bookings. Cancellation rules tighten within 48 hours of sailing.
Sydney and the broader CBRM region offer a week that moves from coal-country heritage to harbour-side dancing without missing a beat — the kind of Cape Breton experience that stays with visitors long after the ferry or the highway takes them home.
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